The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-11-11
HISTORIC SPOTS.
Interesting Points for Americans
to Visit and Study.
Much Valuable Information to BE 'Ob-
tained by Viewing the Battlehelds
Where Freedom Was Fought
for and Won.

During the past summer company
! of persons spent brief vacation sea-
son in visiting some of the places
made historic by important events of
the revolutionary war. They spent
several days in Boston and at other
convenient points, and when the trip
was ended the members of the party
! were amazed that so much was to be
learned by an actual visit to these his
toric spots
Better than that. says the Youths
COMPANION, the dcsire for thorough
Information about the notable events
of the revolution, as well as of the
causes which led to that revolt for
liberty, was greatly stimulated. Many
OF the party of pilgrims intend next
year TO go to other places, like Valley
Forge, Brandywine and Yorktown,
and by study on the spot to become
familiar with the reverses and tri-
unphs of those important days
The experiment was in every way so
successful that it is quite likely that
others will initiate the example of this
excuraion party. Certainly it is one
which might be followed with profit
by students in the colleges, and by
young men and women whose knowl-
edge OF the stirring scenes of the days
which gave independence to the coun-
try is vague and often inaccurate.
In Germany it is the custom Of the
youth to spend a part of their vaca-
tons in making excursions to places of
historic interest, where the events
which made the region famous are de-
scribed with accuracy by persons who
have made study Of them
In two or three years of such vaca-
ton study one might gain a thorough
knowledge of the battles, the causes of
the reverses, and the strategy which
led to the triumphs of the war of the
revolution Recently public spirit has
caused many places which for many
years were unmarked to be designated
by appropriate monuments. BY OBJ
serving on the spot the topography of
Bunker Hill, Dorchester Heights and
other places near Boston, one may
learn in two or three days more of the
history of the first campaigns of that
war than can be- obtained by long
study from the books.
The brilliant retreat OF Washington
after the battle of Long Island, and
that battle itself, as well as those in
and around New York, can be brought
wildly to the mind by actual presence
on the ground, and when that story is
thus told it is found as thrilling and
romantic as any tale of history.
So, too, that swift and unexpected
march of Washington across the Jer-
seys to the Chesapeake, thence to
Yorktown, could be easily covered in
an excursion of three or four days, and
the trip is one which some of those
whose interest was stimulated this sum-
mer will take next year.
But not alone to revolutionary times
are the possibilities of informing ex-
cursions of this kind limited In every
part of the country there are historic
associations. some of them most excit-
ing. all of them worthy to be learned,
which an excursion of a few days or
weeks would make familiar to those
who live in the vicinity. The opening
up of the west. the traditions of the
heroes who suffered and yet were brave
in those exploits, would give abundant
opportunity for excursions of this sort;
but there should always be with the
party some person of authoritative
knowledge who would be able to ex-
plain and to tell the story, and thus i'm
press it upon the mind.
The impulse which has led to the
designation of important places by
monuments is so great that in few
years probably most of the places that
have historic associations connected
with the building of the nation, and
many of those connected with the civil
war, will be marked by permanent me-
mortal stones. And the impulse will
be much strengthed if it shall become
the habit, in the pleasant season Of the
year. for scholars and those of maturer
years to spend few days il visiting
Sa,ah nlaeaS