Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-09-26
SUPPLEMENT.
For the Oxford Democrat.
A VISIT TO PLYMOUTH, MASS.
WEST PARIS, Sept, 's2.
BY T. II. j.

month the writer departed On the stauncn
steamer Stamford, from Fosters Wharf,
Boston, bound to "old Plymouth" Mass.
ia poor description OF the visit, and
OF the
-" holy ground
The soil where frst they trod,"
will be Of interest, you can put it into
type.
Leaving Boston, with q band OF music
on board, we move out into the harbor.
1t Is lovely morning. The water, smooth
as glass, spsrklss In the sun. The music
is delightful; the breeze refreshing. Half
a-dozen boats are ut this wharf; scores At
other landings; while others are splash
ing across the oriny deep" We pass
lighthouses, forts and ships, until, IT
length, can just see the great dome Of the
State House and the tall tower on Bunker
Hill. We have pleasant trip, OF forty
miles, reaching Plymouth ct noon. After
leaving the boat, the nrst and nearest OBJ
iect OF interest Is the far-famed Rock"
10 whose fst top was steercd the Pilgrim
shallop, containing the exploring party
from the Mayfower then In Cape Cod Bay.
The day before-Sunday-they spent on
Clark's Island-the nrst landing; but II
was here, upon the wild and unknown
shore OF . new world; here, upon this
great boulder, that the
LANDING oY THE FoRErATHKRs
was completed.
With reverence. We stand by
"a Rock in the wilderness. that welcomed our
From bondage far over the dark rolling sea
On that holy altar they kindicd the fircs.
Jehovah. which glow In our Blossoms for
Thee"
Over the Rock Is Q beautiful canopy, sup
ported by four columns. In chamber OF
the canopy are the bones OF the Pilgrims
found on Coles Hill. Passing up the broad
stone steps, one hundred yards from the
Rock on the blun overlooking IL, Is the
well-kept " Plymouth Rock House" From
here Is q nne view Of the Bay, with beau
tiful panorama Of interesting and historic
places. On this (Cole's) hill were buried
one-half OF the little band during the sad
winter after the landing. Going up North
St, and Q little way along Court, We come
10 the Court House, one Of the finest build
ings of the kind IN the State, with elegant
grounds and statuary, etc. Here Are early
records, deeds, orders for the nrst jury
trial, ETC., In the quaint writing Of Brad
ford, Brewster, Standish and others OF the
rrst settlers. short distance from the
Court House Is
PILGRIM HALL,
with Doric portico and fine allegorical
.Landiny" In demi. relief To the left OF
the building Is q monumental slab with the
original Compact" signed 10 the cabin
of the MAY flower, Inscribed thereon. On
the "heraldric curtains nj the tops or the
iron bars iuclosing the Compact, are the
names OF the Al sigpers. AT the right, as
we enter Pilgrim Hall, Is IN ante-room con.
tanning pictures, q visitors book, and
clock, once owned by Governor Hancock,
nearly two hundred years old, and still cor
rectly recording the rapid flight Of Time.
In the main hall opposite the entrance Is
large picture Of the Landing, by Henry
Sargent, OF Boston, valued at $4,000. The
frame cost about 500. The size Is thir-
teen by sixteen feet. In the middle OF the
right wall, a. we enter, is painting, eight
by twelve feet, q copy Of Wier's Embark
aiion nom Delhi Haven, the original OF
which IL in the Capitol at Washington.
Opposite this, on the LEFT, hangs picture
OF the Embsrkation, nine by thirteen feet,
by Charles Lucy. which received, in ls4s,
the prize OF 81 900 given by the British
government at the Westminster exhibit
ton. II Is OF great value and Is the gin
OF Hon. A. II. Rice. In the hall are also
many interesting relics: chairs Of large
pattern owned by Elder Brewster and Gov
ernor Carver; an old spinning-wheel; the
cradle In which was rocked the first-born
ehild-Peregrine White; a model Of the
Mayhower, etc. There are also many old
manuscripts, books, deeds, pieces Of furni-
ture, coins, spectacles, q massive old table
brought over in the Mayfower. etc, etc.
Here are old weapons: q dirk and pistol
belonging to John Thompson: the gun far-
rel, q shot from which killed King Philip.
Here is pot, platter and sword owned by
Captain Miles Standish. II Is said that
General Grant, who was here In 1880. was
much interested in this famous Damascus
blade. The Arabic inscriptions were I'M
decipherable until June, 1881, when Prof.
James Rosedale Of Jerusalem, examined II
and pronounced one Cutie, the other an
cient medieval Arabic; the latter he trans
IV,fb nance Cod rUIgd His SfHres.