Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-12-22

To-day is the anniversary Of the landing oil
the Pilgrims at Plymouth 1t is the popular
imnression that the landing was accomplished
under somewhat dscouraging circumstances.
The voyage had been stormy one; and there
wasn't much in the old colony then to give the
wanderers promise OF comfort and cheer. 1t
has imptoved since Some of the traditions
saw the coast was "rocky;' others that II was
"ice.bound." Probably the rocks and theise
had little more than a fguratye existence,
Though the voyasers did have Il rocky time of
it for while after they landed and there was
ice enough in those early days to chill the en-
thusasm of men less earnest and resolute
than the sturdy builders of that colony were.
Doubtless, the faith of some of them some
times grew faint; and some human frailty,
Struggled into the Mayfower at Delft Haven,
wresled fearfully with the courage of the best
of them. But they won the victory. Look
ing at them through the shadows of nearly
two centuries and half the glamour of per-
feet courage and virtue surrounds and glOri-
fies them. Other pilgrims came after them;
and it wasn't long before Plymouth had new
colonies planted by its side. It's well enough
for us to believe that it was the salt of the
seventeenth century which was brought to
Massachusetts. But there were not wanting,
even then, those who spoke of it as of salt
that had lost its SAVIOR. One Robert Ryece of
Preston, ian accomplished gentleman, and a
great preserver OF the antiquities Of his coun-
ty," spoke for them in a tract ON the New
England enterprise, now published here for
the first time, we believe, in Mr.. Wiuthrop's
new book -
MANY in these parties" says he, "havinge spento
there estates, and ashamed here to stryke sayle,
have gone for this plantation thinknge there for
1--WE at lower rate, with something's remaynmgei
but changinge only We seyle, s. not ye course Of
these degenerate tymes, to waste all in drynke s.
Tobacco, that when ye hands cannot teede
mOuthe, nor clothe backe, then they soone
starve pyne awaye. And when the Presidente
and Cownsell admitteth such TO 1--WE there, can
not woOrke, but 1--WE ydle, nor have any to woorke
for them, nor able there to compasse any meanes,
whereupon to 1--WE & settle 'hymselte, What shall
become on them! Wysdome is not geven to sgt
styll and to 1--WE yde, but it doothe drecte all
Yirtuous endeayomes. And Slothe and Idlenesse,
web is the norsery OF all eyille in Common.
wealths, hsstenethe We rhyme and dissolution Of ye
who'll bodyeSld frame OF ye Statsn
But the Preston antquary was not so Use
as the Adventures whom he dlstrusted-men
who like himself had been ''broughte vp
amonge boockes & learned men," yet had
courage to adventure a new civilization sin a
barbarous place, where was no learnynge &
lesse, cYyillYte." They knew the art of max
less consequence to them whether they founC
it or not. They worked faithfully and sue
cessfully-building upon strong foundations
and were rewarded in the belief before they
died that they had made the beginning of al
enduring and immortal state. We DO owl
them debt of gratitude which we shall bes
repay by emulating something of their forti
tude and heroic valor.