Arizona weekly citizen., 1894-12-15
HISTORIC SPOTS.
Interesting Points for Americans
 to Visit and Study.
Much Valuable Information to Be ,Ob- tained by Viewing the Battlefields Where Freedom Was Fought
 for and Won.


 of persons spent a 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 desire 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- umphs 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 excursion party. Certainly it is one
 
 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 part of their vaca- tions 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- tion study one might gain 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 ob- 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 vividly 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- morial 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 a few days in visiting ,11anaS