Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1878-04-20
New York SUM-
PLYMOUTH ROCK.

PLYMOUTH ROCK.
And the Oldest Representative Of
the Old Pilgrim Stock.
Plymouth Rock. Mass, Feb. 27-I
have spent the day 10 company With
Mr.. Avery Of the Old Colony Memo
rial 10 examining the land, rock. and
water marks Of Plymouth Colony.
How large is lhe town Of Ply
mouth :" asked Mr.. Avery. "a We
stood in the old Puritan graveyard
overlooking the town. aud looked over
cbimneys aud church spires into
great f0an,ing, lasbiug sea.
"lt's not q iOwn, sir, it's q city.
with 5000 people. all lighted with
gas" said the editor. pointing TO big
gas tank. situated under the bill where
Miles Standish used to conceal the
graves of the dead Pilgrims from the
ewes of the hostile Indians.
To learn that the descendants OF
Miles Standish aud Priscilla are
lighted with gas somewhat ostonisbed
me, but cot enough to prevent the
continuation of my researches.
The beautiful town Of Plymouth is
built around Plymouth Rock. The
rock itself is . granite boulder weigh
ing several tons. 1t was once partly
in the water, but now it is few feet
INLAND. From the rock. straight up .
steep bill, is the 6rst street ever laid
out in America. 1t was up this street
that the Pilgrims used to als. With
their guns on their shoulders. to wor-
ship 10 their rude church on the bill.
mounted with four brass csnnons on
the roof to ecare OF the Indians.
Yes, / was looking at the very rock
on which little Mary Chiffon. the
youngest of the Pilgrims. jumped 90
The morning of the 2lst Of December,
1920. Then followed Miles Stsodish
and fifteen men. "every man With his
musket, sword, and corselst." Near
tho rock is The sane fresh water brook
where the Pilgrim narrator says, I'VE
sat Us downe aud drunke our first
| New England water With as much
delight as ever we druuke drink 10 oil
our lives"
Over Plymouth Rock they have
built . Greek psgoda Of solid granite.
This little temple or psgods locks
like the temple Of Vesta 10 Rome.
% the pseods there is 10 inscription.
They trust to the memory OF the peo.
pie not to forget The birthplace Of
Christian freedom.
A Few years ago . large granite
slab wss blasted from tho original
rock and placed in front Of Memorial
Hall, wbere it now rests surrounded
BY % iron feoce, on which are cast
in iron letters the names of the Pill
grims who came over in The May
flower.
The fishermen about Cape Cod al
agree with the historians that tba
Pilgrims were driven into Plymouth
BY Q heavy Deccmber storm. Tb'
coast 10 sill dangerous, for within tb'
last month boat loaded With thirteeI
people WAS wrecked Oh the reef, ant
oil were drowned. Indeed, it is ,
very common thing. after . storm. 4
6nd the dead bodies of wrecked fish
eruen on the bare reefs, which ruI
out for several miles, forming break
water in front Of the town.
The country around Plymouth
desolste indeed. l do uot wOnde
that msoy Of the Pilgrims starved t
; death. In fact, If The 5000 resident
, Of Plymouth could not depend o1
Boston for food, even now they woul'
, stsrve to death in . few months
Nothing seeWs TO grow on the soil el
cept sand hill pine and white birch.
On the bill above the town is th
old Pilgrim graveyard. full Of qusin
: old grsvesl ones dating back to 1851
Here ! raw lbe graves Of Understand
4 ing Porter and Consider Perkins
a Here were Faith Atwaler and Hop
+; Gardiuer, and Abrahsms, Issscs. sn
!. Jacobs enough TO start new Jerus'
!. len.
The tombstone Of old Gov. Bra
!. ford reads thus:
Under this stone
rest tho ashes Of
WV. BRADR0RD,
, Jealous Puritan
and sincere Christian.
e Governor Of Plymouth Colony
. from April. 1881, to 1851.
' the year be died,
aged So,
except Eve years. which 10
: declined.
In . quaint old colonial house
called on Ruth Southard, who is II
years and 8 months old. She b
ius, finishsi her weekly washing, u
was engaged ia making some pilIo
slips. At the ago Of 80 Ruth Sou'
ard walked 70 Boston, and since th
shs has cooked hsr own meals, do
her own work, asd pisesd - b
Quilts.