The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-08-30
Plymouth Of the PILGRIMS.
PEEPS At TIE OLDEST TOWN IN NEW EN-
LAND AND ITS CURIOSITIEs.

Correspondence of the Journal.
"No; | have never been to Plymouth. I'm
ashamed to own it-but its the truth. OF
course it is place where we all ought to 90,
and that early in life. | travel one-third the
distance there every night at present for am
living with my family at Nantasket during the
summer. Although I'm native of Massachtl-
sets. have never seen Plymouth Rock.' Thus
exclaimed an active business man of Boston to
the writer when visiting his Office on the re-
turn from Pilgrims land 1t is something
more of an effort for a Rhode Islander than
Bostonans to visit Plymouth, vet all Amcri-
cans should esteem it duty to utilize the first
opportunity to tread the soil where religious;
liberty was born and nurtured. But perhaps
Mr.. Editor, you do not consi,tcr that every
visitor at the shrine of our f0refather> is obli-
gated TO send you column Of nonpareil stat
ing the fact. Possibly YOU prefer that con-
tributors in the Bay State should care for their
own territory. What is more to the point,
probably all the topics hereinafter Introduced
have previously received better treatment at
the hands of some of your many correspond
ents But my pen is growing ru>ty in your
|
spring elections. Since some one las recently
ventured to send you Il letter upon Newport
rs, why-here goes for m invasion of
Massachusetts,
III who finds himself in Boston with the
hours between $50 A. NJ. and 6 T. NJ. at dis
posal, can easily inspect Plymouth. That i, to
say the trip can be made by steamer within
that period. Probably the railway timetables
cover about the same hours. but in summer the
| dusty cars bear no comparison with the pleas
ures of sailing for those not ayer>e to a little
motion of the vessel. Embarking Oh the new
steamer Shrewsbury delightful views are soon
obtained of the beautiful islands Of Boston
harbor, after which Nanta>ket Beach. the not
cd Minot's Ledge Lighthouse. Marshliell and
| DuXbury succeed each other in claiming the
travellers attention. Upon rounding Gurnct
twin lights at the extremity of Clark's Island
the
| CHARMING TOWN OF PLYMOUTH
challenges the eye. The village is only five
miles away, but treacheroil> shoals ut She up-
per end OF the habor force the steamer to
| thread a crcuitous route of eight miles 10
| reach the wharf. once landed the excursion
lst may proceed past the Plymouth Rock Hotel
| to the main street Of the town and turning
north soon find at his left hand the imposing
| Court House OH Court Square. One dav might
we'll he spent in this temple of justice cNamin-
| my the ponderous records Of Ply mouth Colony.
| which silently reveal the first transactions Of
the hardy pioneers. and are in the handwriting
of Bradford, standi>h and other wortheS.
! rpt tn T.. ~
afternoon boat, these may only be glanced at
| The will of Miles Standi>h. the original patent
and Indian signatures must also he left after q
| hasty inspection, while the traveller la>tenS On
| to
| PILGRIM HALL.
which is just beyond and on the opposite side
| of the street. Admission tickets cost twenty
| five cents. ON presenting the same one is con-
| fronted with the mammoth register which all
| visitors are requested to sign. Entering the
museum Il distractng display Of Maylower
| and other relics causes the stranger to halt and
gaze hc>itatngly about. Rare paintings of
| mammoth proportions cover central spaces on
| the sides of the hall. The renainin. surface is
| enbclli>hed with equally mertorious works of
art of lesser dimensions. Capital portrait. Of
chief actors in our earliest history look down
upon the spectator. while the fatherly counte-
nance of Washington and the au>tcre face of
| Webster show that due prominence has been
given TO leaders in subsequent day. .Antiqu-
ties crowd the many show eases. ail one could
pass hours in studying the identity of each hv
| consulting the copiou> catalogue Each pN-
| hihit in the various departments has number
| attached to guide the student in his search
| But time flies ana permits only an examination,
of a full model Of the Maytlower. The Bible Of
John Alden. the cradle in which the first Pill
| grim child was rocked sword of Mile, Stan
| dish, chairs of Brewster and Governor Brad
ford, and the patent granted to the Plymouth
| colonsts which is the oldest State paper in the
United States. In the lower hall are relics Of
| older days hespcakiny both warikc and peace
full pursuits.
| NATIONAL MONUMENT TO THE ORETAIIiEES
After returning to the shady sidewalk one
may saunter along few blocks, turn 70 the
| left and IN Il few minutes reach the National
| Monument. which has been erected upon Il con-
| spicuous eminence in rear suburb Of the town.
Work upon this monument was commenced hy
nearly reached completion; only a few tab
lets and reliefs remain to be placed in position
| 1t is hoped these will be ready the present sea-
son. The total height of the structure is eighty
feet. Above the principal pedestal towers Il
| figure of Faith with the open Bible in the left
hand. while the right hand uprai>cd points with
| the index finger to the God of our fathers.
This representation of Faith is said to be the
| largest and finest piece of granite statuary in
| the world. 1t was designed by Billings and
| presented by Oliver AmeS. 4 native Of i'lv-
| mouth. the expense being Saa GOO SOME idea
of its proportions may be gained from the state
| ment that it is two hundred and sixteen times
| life size The site of this monument commands
wide view of the surrounding country. D.
| rectly across the bay may be seen the twin
| lights of Gurnet. A little to the left, and be-
| tween ClarkS Island and the mainland the
Maytlower swung at anchor during the event
full first Sunday. Still further to tho left and
eight miles distant rise the outlines of Captains
| Hill, DuNbury, the home Of Miles Standish.
| The monument reared in honor of the doughty
chieftain can be plainly seen it is now ready
for the statue which is to surmount it.
| BURIAL HILL
| should next be visited. A short journey south
| ward leads to Leyden street, the first thorough
| fare laid out in New England. The upper end
| Of this street is called Town Square. On the
hill above the square lie the bones of many Pill
| grims and their descendants. Tablets inform
| visitors of the location of the Old Fort and
Watch Tower. strolling among the graves of
historic persons one quickly finds headStones
bearing dates nearly two centuries back. Final
| ly is discovered the name of John Howard,
| who died Feb %. 1872. This is said to be the
oldest of them ALL and a tablet calls attention to
the fact TINT he was the last man left of those
that came over in the Mayflower also, that his
wife Elizabeth was the daughter of Governor
Carver. The first church erected in Plymouth
stands at the entrance to Burial Hill.
But time flies and the tourist grows impatient
| to see
| PLYMOUTH ROCK.
The principal attraction has been left until
the last, fearing that if it were first visited the
traveller might be lost in spcculatons concern
ing it and so neglect other points of interest.
The path back to the steamer leads directly by
it. On the way may be seen the site of the first