The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-05-07

food sufficient for ton men," and in another
for twenty is further proof required Of his
reckless disregard OF tho truthi II he says in
ono place that his Indian escort numbered ten
and in another about n dozen, Is n writer SO
loose to be- accepted rs historic authority so
they go. the worthy critics whose p.dantlc
pride, oNclaimS DR.. Egglcston. loves TO show
to knowledge BY undressing the heroes OF his
tory" Take that. Ecntlomon and especially
Mr. Ncill. whose phrase "grscon and beGgar'
irrltatas Dr. F;glc5ton. You arc pedantic, you
Hre proud you essail The horoos Of history. TO
show your knowlodgol
The documentary and moral evidence OF tho
truth Of tho Pocahontas legend IL briefly this:
4 fJw days atlor Smiths return from captivity.
Pocahontas. II girl Of ID. appeared at James
town with an Indian escort bringing full sup
plies OF food. The English required 1T. sihco
We ave told that it saved many that had else
starved with hunger Afterward, III tho winter
Of zoos when Smith was raiding on tho YORK.
she came alone, through night and storm. TO
warn him Of an intended attack upon him.
Aftnrward sho saved nm Englishmnn and then
al, Enslish hoy. aud finally she married Master
John Rolfo and went to London. Whatwas the
meaning Of this remarkable interest, from the
very ilrst. in the enemies OF her peoplcH II is
necessary to account for IL and for her fearless
visit 10 jamestown even afior Smiths release
by Puwhatan.
In autumn OF tho year 1909 Smith went back
TO England and reported in writing to tho
London Company that Pocahontas had pre-
served his lifc Atterward. in he Now Eng
land Trials" he wrote, God made P"'n-
hontns the Kings daughter. the means to de-
liver me-" and Ia the General History he
reiterated the Same statement. ii II had been
uatruc, there were hundreds Of persons to
/ L.; In
brother Of the Fart Of Northumberland, and
Francis West. brother of Lord Delaware. who
| had blcn In YirgiGIa, and wcrI then " living
in England"
| The letter to the Queen in lGiG is. however
| the strongest evidence of the truth OF the
| lu-,cnd and would certainly establish tho fact
| in "A court OF Justice pocahontas had married
| Eulic, aud her arrival ut Grayysrnd was an
| nouucrd in London WHOM Smith who was in
| the city busily arranging for u voyage to New
! England wrote In the Queen urging her claims
! 10 royal favor The tone Of this letter is ear
nest-thut OF man who Is discharging great
debt OF gratitude. "PocahOntas. the Kings
most dear and weil-belovcd daughter. had
! haaArdcl the beating out OF her brains to save
| his :" nfterwari she Ind come through the
| irksomr woods aud dark night" to warn the
| English and during two or three years she.
| next under Cod was still tho instrument to
preserve this colony from death. famine. and
utter confusion" The letter had the desired
! cffoct The statements were never questioned
| and the Indian princess w.ls received IA tho
! daughter of a King" had her place at the royal
! Mosques WAS presented Mt court and James |.
| scowled ut Roife, his pIcsumptuous subject
| for making a roya! alliancel
Is it to be believed that Smiths statements
! In thi, letter were "A tissue OF fa!sehoods? The
! lao ba hnl
not occurred about eight years before. and a
| plenty OF persons waikin. about London had il
! in their power TO brand tho falschood pocn-
| hontas herself and her husband John Rolfe.
were certainly able to do so: and it is ncc.s-
sary to destroy tho characters Of both to estab-
leh the untruth OF the incident. Tho historic
douhtars have not boon able 10 effect that.
and have not oven attempted It, Tho charac-
tiers of both are perfectly we'll known. Eolfe
| by the testimony of Sir Thomas Dale and
others who knew him, WIS II gentleman Of
discreet character" and a main Of devOut picty
and Pccahontas is described as person OF great
"aptness and Willingness to receive any good
| impression" and II strong desire " to be taught
and instructed in this knowledge Of God" All
that is known OF her eontrildicts tho theory
that she countenanced falschood by rema n
ia. sicnt-and it was no secret from her or
| anybody that her reception in London was due
to the lcttcr containin. the alleged fnlsehood
This is the ease markedly stated. and the his
torc doubters have found it u hard nut Il
crack. AS tho moral evidence is strong. u
moral theory is urged to meet it. Can't. Smith
was q wandering adyenturer it IL said, and
aimed at attracting attention to himself. since
the story of the rescue made him the hero OF q
| romantic incident. Tho reply is that he was
not at the time wandering advcnturer. but q
distinguished man since the King had com
missioned him Admiral of New England.
and he was favorits OF Prince Charles. the
heir apparent. afterward Charles 1. His close
friendship with Sir Robert Cotton. John Douno
the Earl of Pembroke, and others ought to as
tablish his social rank which nobody ever Iues
toned until il was necessary to discredit him.
1t was absolutely necessary to do 80, or tc
leave tn" famous legend its place In history al
an historic event. For some unknown reason
the historicdoubterss seem to have sworn that il
shall not go remain. 1t is assailed from every
quarter and in every fashion. One looks side
wise at it and smiles: another shakes his head
q third shruSs his shoulders and. raising his
eyebrows. passes II by In silence. It Ia only Mr.