The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1884-07-31
Pilgrimage to Plymouth, Martha's
VINEYARD and Nantucket.
THE ANNUAL EXCURSION OF THE MAINE PRESS
ASSOCItT

V1n6VArQ ana N antuck6t.
THE AN NUAL EXCURSION OF THE MAINE PRESS
ASSOCIATION.
/ There is nothing that produces such a sense
of isolation as to be surrounded by dense fog.
| When ones vision is circumscribed within
few rods it seems as though you were at least
a thousand miles from anywhere. Seated at
breakfast Monday morning July 14th in
modest domicile on the shore of Penobscot Bay
it was hard to realize that we should sup
that night in Old Plymouth, Massachusetts,
Yet that was the programme for the first day
of the excursion of the Maine Press Associa-
ton, and on that well as on succeeding days
it was carried out to the letter. The fog was
soon left behind, to be succeeded by showers,
and these in turn were followed by sunshine
and refreshing northwest breeze. The Maine
Central with its usual courtesy had started
special ear from Bangor that morning which
took up the party en- route and conveyed them
to Boston without change. At the Eastern
depot, Boston, coaches We're in waiting to
transfer the eXcursonsts to the Old Colony
station, and the ride through the crowded
streets on the top of these vehicles was much
enjoyed. The Old Colony also favored Us with
private car, and it was run as a special train
from South Abingdon to Plymouth, making the
distance of 16 miles in Is minutes. The early
part of the ride was in daylight and the tourists
had glimpses of many thriving towns and
residences. AT North Easton the value to a
community of rich man-of the right kind
was slrikingy illustrated. This is the home of
Oliver AmeS, and to his liberality the town is
indebted for Il Memorial building a handsome
school house, and other benefacionS. The rail-
way station here, architectural gem, of
which an illustration was given in The Century
for July. is, we were told mainly due to Mr.
AmeS, whose costly residence and handsome
grounds also add greatly to the attractions of
the place.
Soon we are skirting the coast and on hi>tor-
lie ground, and have Il twilight view Of the
Myles Standish monument Just before reaching
our destination for the night. Landed in the
Plymouth station the latter day Pilgrims with
their grip sacks took up the line of march for
the Samoset House. where supper and comfor
table quarters awaited them Later in the
evening the visitors We're serenaded by the
Plymouth Band, who gave fine concert in
front of the hotel, Mr.. Elwel of the Tran
script returning The thanks of the party in a
few well chosen words. Messrs. Avery Il
Doten of the Old Colony Memorial, and ID. w.
newspapers, called during the evening to well
come the visiting brethren and prolfer their SER
vices as guides on the following day and we
beg here to acknowledge their exceeding cOur-
tesy and kind attentions.
The party as registered at the Samoset House
made up as follows: John NJ. Adams,
President, and wife, Eastern Argus, Portland !;
II. X. Baker and wife, (Honorarv), HaloweIl !;
Albro T. Chase and wife, Globe, Portland; f.
Ii. Elwell and wife, Transcript. Portland; j.
F. Ferris and wife. Live Stock Monthly. Port
land; j. A. Homan, Treasurer, Augusta; VIM.
B. Lapham and wife, Gospel Banner, Augusta;
Charles E. Nash and son, Maine Farmers
Almanac. Augusta; Howard Owen and wife,
Maine Farmer, Augusta; G. A. Pisbury,
Republican journal, Belfast; j. T.. burlington,
journal, Pennington; George A. Quimby, Ken
nebec journal. Augusta; NJ. n. Rich and wife,
Secretary Board of Trade Portland f. g.
i.cu anu W lie, lOD printer, IOTtldnu, r.. kOWel
and wife, Honorary. Hallowcll; George G..
Rowell and wife, Advertiser, Portland; Fran K
X. Smith and wife, job printer, Bangor; A. W.
Smith and wife, Sentinel, Eastport; L. r.
Simonton, Herald, Camden; George H. Wat
kins, Democrat, Paris; Miss NJ. q. Lapham,
Augusta; Miss Susan Adams. Portland: Miss
: Gussie Libby. Augusta; Miss Mary Riley, Bus
ton; Miss Anne w. Simonton, Camden Miss
W. Harper, Pennington.
DAY WITH THE PILGRIMS.
Tuesday was devoted to sight seeing in Fly
mouth, and it was day well spent Most of
the party were in Plymouth for the first time.
Some were sceptcal and subjected their guides
, to severe cross examination. Others were of
antiquarian tastes, and close students of histo-
ry, and it is safe to say that all enjoyed them
selves TO the utmost Pilgrim Hall was the
first place visited. This is a substantial Sruct-
ure erected in 1924 by the Pilgrim Society as a
= monumental hall to the memory of the Pill
grims, and rebuilt in 1880 in fire proof man
ner to ensure the security of the relics here
, preserved. The catalogue of these articles fills !.
pamphlet of 80 pages. There are furniture
and other household goods brought over in the
Maytiower; portraits of many of the Pilgrims
some very fine historical paintings. including a
; recent one of the Mayfower on her arrival in
Plymouth harbor, by Walter f. Halsel. of
Boston; old manuscripts and records: auto
graphs, and relics of every description. In
one Of the cases was seen the original manu-
script of the hymn 1.-The Breaking Waves
dashed high" by Mrs. Felicia Hemans and an
autograph poem, ''The Pilgrim Fathers" by
, EbeneZer Elliott, the corn law rlymer. In the
ante room John Hancocks clock made in 100
which has very handsome tall case, was keep
ing standard time. The collections in Pilgrim
Hall include many curious and ancient things
not connected with the Maytlower's passengers.
but which are none the less interesting. 1t was
remarked by some of the party, after inspect
ing the massive furniture and other effects of
the Pilgrims, that it was evident they were of
> better class than the emigrants of day, but
IN those days cheap veneers and shoddy were
unknown and household goods were heir-looms
For forty-slX years a portion of Plymouth
Rock was enclosed in an iron fence on the
northerly side of the building. but after its
removal to the landing place slab was erecte d
, 1850 MS lily NoiuthS VI LIE 1ouiIldcl lauG III
the cabin Of the Maytlower, and the names of
the forty-one siSners appear on the heraldc
curtains of the fence.
From the Hall the party proceeded to The
Rock, under the handsome linden trees which
shade the streets of Plymouth. The Rock is
sad to occupy It's original site, the only change
having been to raise it up at different times
from its shore bed. The portion split off, and
| before mentioned as at Pilgrim Hall has been
firmly cemented on and the whole is protected
by handsome granite canopy supported on
four pillars of the same material, with iron
gates between which are closed at night to pre-
vent vandalism. Local historians claim that
this is beyond dispute the original rock on
which the Pilgrims first set foot and as there is
no other rock in the neighborhood there can be
little room for scepticsm. 1t was suggested,
however, that the Pilgrims might have brought
the rock over with them to land upon. And so
these Pilgrims from Maine, some reyerently,
and others in merry mood, placed their feet on
this historic stone. Near at hand Coles Hill.
the first burial place of the Pilgrims, rises
abruptly. On the Sth of October, 1888. during
repairs on the hill, one of the Pilgrim graves
was fOun1 and ON tho 9th nf tba