The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-05-12

other hard. asserted prerogailye lDai
fotrNrr r-fnb.i bel The principles 10
,o,uisr E.n.,iy. srd f)reshanOwed the
cor,inr Of The sfe,i A,ucrican Nepubhc
Il uouid tr sn iuiere ting inquiry
wt. toe, ms. ore e tnr 'tI"r cOiOnies
eon.d tsg, successfully cIaf,nief against
A.. .dy..fse cir.na,-ianr rs " I'D Do they
,y.re .il .oyiran..l. b % Virginia f,i'tl 10
ma.niain 81, u ~ rtni geese fc'NS
enn,i vi, Au fot tili'k 90 t'uH ~" I"'u
done vs. prihrs g. were toe c"n'. 'i"' or
her f.us, en-. or fn- -aiuIrl'r "' h.f r.l-
mai.or i,f g.I.i 90 soil or Zee So Dol iifi l'l
some, &c.. d. cuiiar pr..u'i-. o." iH'i ir
mains ih,i. .lnough settle 0nIY 70 De-"
,,.,,s before her sister colonies. sDe -O 10
'u,strinf them I'M an the race Tor wealth,
cover and influence In the face of the
,cU facts thu, hurrcdly thrown together
100 are constrained 10 enquire Why is
mat ,,n inheritance has ever been attached
to ,he anniversary of The settlement OF
his great State by her own people, ouch
ouestion would assume gfeaier signih-
cance were they made finn liar wiih the
history of their Commonwealth. In other
states nothing is neglected. nothing al-
loned 20 he lost which. in the smallest
yav. can add no the traditions or history
a. their communities.
When the traveller passes by the ora
/ flower that L. now lefi The solitary re-
minder Of an event that brought about
such tremendous changes la ihe history
of the world nemsy Wifh truth eNp'
/ lie nee emotions of wonder aud surprise
/ q the melancholy spectacle before hiin
/ His a.ionishment would not be- dimin
/ i.hed should he be- Informed that within
the past hundred years hut one ca t""
/ feeble efforts had been made iO give Tee
IGNITION 90 this historic spot J. was
once the centre OF wealth ami refinement
lis inhabitants were cultivated, thrifty
and p0lished In manners. II had been
tbe seat Of vicc-rcgal government
where the forms of etiquette, the dignity
of station ana the requirements al good
brerdinr were strictly observed. In the
immediate ncithiorlODd we're the coun.
t.y seats of eenlltmfn whose style 90
living cXCcliet even that oi the citizens
Iofthe town. Nhon, however W iiiians-
burg was built The impOitm.e of lm 's-
town coa.eI. !, had hocndtsirotei hN hfe
several Times. Was rendered insa'ubnous
bg if4 .ituniion. aud cv,rsincei bad been
IoatetAreateued with desiruciio hy trum
wells fleet had been con, dend GOO
much rXa0scd fo the attacks ui infcieu
enemy A. 1t began to go to decay DO
was deserted hy ms inhabitants. lNt
waters of the James seemed disposed 'o
lake their places, aud have in thc years
zone greatly encroached upon The site OF
Inc ancient capital Some years ago,
under the effects of a prolonged drought
and the continued recurrence OF
westerly Wini-. the WAGER rtceded
considerably from iis usual level over The
adjacent n IS. The consequence was
mat the brick foundations of houses
were exposed tO view which probably
had not been seen for q century, aud lhc
lines of streets were traced, along which
mo- living creature hai gone i0r perhaps
the same length of time. EXCEPT the silent
swimmers of the deep. Il Was during
tnis condition of things that negro
man. while walking along the ehhing
margin Of the river, saw a shining Object
detained between the crcNices OF an
ancient foundation. Upon inspection b.
proved To bee valuable diamond ring
and was afterwards Identified hy am in-
scripton upon it which discovered DC Co
have been owned hy y family whose de-
,eendsnls were then living in Williams
burg
10 day "a ve look back two hundred
aud eighiy.tw0 ye4l- and see To- imagina-
ton the small sfOm-WOrn fleet and IFS
crew of bold adyeuturers swinging at
anchor la wildeue-s, bul making
, ready 90 found Am empire on the morroF,
! let the hope be encouraged that before
another anniversary of the landing nj
jamestown shall have come round tO us
something, meantime, may Doe suggested
or done hs which the visitor 90 tui- bal
b lowed spot may not be ever constrained
b 10 cxclaim.
70 Shrine OF the mllh.y can ithD
That thi. f4 all remains ODD thee