The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-08
THE COLONIAL DAME.
Her Influence on the History Of the Conn
try, Past and Present.

Her Influence on the History Of the Coun-
try, Past and Present.
1t is essential to the prosperity and Sue
cess of society for 1t to be composed OF
an element in full sympathy with the OBJ
iects of the society. 1t is peculiarly
proper that the members of the Colonial
Danes should trace from a coioriai an
cestor "who contributed in some way to
the founding Of this great and powerful
patton" because this Incident, under
the laws of nature, will make the gather
ing OF the fragments that remain rela-
tive to the by-gone days a labor Of love
and OF hlial duty With them Aid TINS
hlial stimulus really implies maternal
incentive, also, because the inhCe nee OF
the original colonial dame was as great
in her sphere as was that Of the fore
father In his. She performed all tie du-
ties that fell TO her lot, whether in peace
or In war; in prosperity or in adversely
in the wild woods or in the settled lands.
with as constant. as patient and as faith
ful resolution as did the forefather him
self; and it was frequently the case that
the dame was not only the forefather's
hepmate, but that she had to take his
place and perform his duties as well as
her own, and that she was equal TO the
emergency Ii was these Christening cares
and grave respons Utilities resting upon
her which moulded her character with
that dignity and Roman frmness which
commanded the respect and sained the
love of our heroic ancestors, inspiring
them with the ability and valor to with
stand the sufferngs and accomplish the
achievements which are beyond all
praise" which made the mark Of her
noble influence so broad and so distinct
Il d, nd
has left an example and memory TO her
descendants-our Colonial Dames-that
must inspire them with a personal inter-
est in our past history. and which should
make them feel that it is the personal
duty Of each one of them to carry out
faithfully and reverently, I'm the true
spirit of sisterbood and patriotism, the
objects Of their society.
As the original colonial danes were
such faithful and efficient co-laborers with
the forefathers in the making of our past
history, by the same token the women of
to-day can be, land of right ought TO be,
as faithful and as efficient co-labOrers
with the men in Preserving and in cher
ishing that history. Aud such societies
as the Colonial Danes, If properly con-
Quoted and sustained, must be Of the
greatest possible assistance 10 the His
torical Society. not only in collecting his
torical material, but also in inspiring hus
bands, fathers, brothers. sons, sweet
hearts," and every heart within the range
of infiuence-and that heart that is not
within this range is without the range OF
worthy inhuence-with a genuine love OF
their country and reverence for her his
tory.
While 10 seems to me eminently proper
that every member Of the Colonial Danes
should take a real interest in aiding and
encouraging the historian in the collect
Ing of all authentic documents, relics,
n1ementt es, etc. of the past which may be
available TO them. believe that 1t should
be the especial task of each one to collect
and TO contribute matter relative to that
ones own ancestors, because they might
naturally take the most interest In doing
this, be the better qualified therefor, and
therefore the more apt to make the whole
collection OF their society, when COM
pIeted. of an especial, and 1t may be, OF
an unique value.
AS some personal motive must underlie
all personal appeals, and as men have
always devoted themselves more to writ
ings in their own interest, or In the In
terest Of some party, or person, or theory,
or opinion, or for some other purpose than
simply giving the unvarnished facts-the
historian, Hto has to give "a systematic
account OF facts and events" is thus
Obliged first to incur the expense OF the
research, and take the necessary pains
to bring together all the evidences, with
out which the truth cannot be ascertained,
and then to undergo the drudgery of stiff
ing the facts from the fiction. And az the
general reader prefers fiction TO fact,
romance 10 history, it will be readily seen
A.. -. f-fA la 81 nd
need OF some sustaining influence, like
that which can be given by such societies
as this, than the writer who is free TO
cater to the public taste. and thereby
secures popular applause and pecuniary
reward with little trouble and at small
cost
And 1t so happens that no history needs
the helping hands Of the colonial dame
more than the colonial history Of Ntr-
ginia. For generations Virginians look
ing upon old England as home. regarded
her grand old history as theirs and II
was not until after the final separation
from the mother country that any con-
siderable desire seems to have arisen al
Virginia for a history Of Der own. And
II is almost within the memory Of man
that any real interest has been taken
I'm the search for and In the securing
OF the evidences without which her true
history could not be written.
In the official papers to Raleigh and his
partners the land OF Virginia was not
definitely bounded. This was done for
the first time In an official paper by the
charter Of April 10. 1905. as being between
the 34th and 18th degrees of north iati-
tude. and the same charter granted. on
certain conditions. limited areas therein
to two Virginia companies. BY the char
ter OF May g. 1909. all of this territory
south Of the 10Th degree OF north latitude
was assigned to the Virginia Company,
of London, but the whole boundary re-
taiued the original name OF Virginia-or
North and So1th Virginia-until the IL
suing of the New England charter OF
November g. l6o. which added three de-
yrees TO the original northern boundary.
and changed the name OF North Virginia
TO New England. Thus at this time, and
since from time to time. under the crown
lone Colony after another-and under
the Republic--one State after another
has been taken from the side of the grand
old mother--untii now the only portion Of
the vast territory OF the original Virginia,
which retains the original name Is en-
braced within the present comparative
w limited bounds OF West Virginia. and
az our own beloved Virginia. The original
virginia is now occupied by the United
states. and figuratively speaking. the
territory is now held by the heirs or
: -.,gra ~ tha first fOunderA who e.