Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-29


!: !: !:
kNGk q group of places in
close proximity which
HE STTA were the scenes of
NSSfC many of the most i'm
portant and signifi-
cant events in Amer
lean history. No
where else in all the land is so great and
varied interest concentrated In SO small a
compass as is to be found in the little PENN
sula inclosed by the waters Of Chesapeake
bay and the James and York rivers.
In company with two friends, one July
evening l went on board a Norfolk steamer
at its pier In Washington, and after a
bright moonlight sail down the upper Po-
tomac enjoyed from the deck of the vessel,
a night Of refreshing sleep In a commodious,
neatly furnished state room. and, on deck
again. an early morning view of the Chesa-
peake, dotted over with a great variety of
vessels Fastening, each to its destination,
toward all points Of the compass, landed
at Old Point Comfort at o'clock In the
morning.
The "Pocahontas." from Norfolk, was In
sight, crossing Hampton Roads, and In q
few moments we were on board the trim lit
tie craft and seated at the breakfast table
heartily enjoying q delicious meal Here
were served the best Of bread, butter coffee
and tea, the richest milk, vegetables and
fruits OF the season, and the choicest fresh
fish in which these waters abound. We
crossed Hampton Roads, made a call at
Newport News, had a glimpse at its great
docks and piers and huge transatlantic
steamers lying alongside. and steamed
away up the beautiful river. which the In
dams called Powhatan. but the English, in
honor Of their king, named the James. A
three hours sail, passing among other
points or interest Homewood, an island Of
x tctr
farm and looking as green as a leek even in
this dry season, from which we are told
tnat our boat gets most of its supplies, and
we land at old jamestown, the capital Of
years. -lsil-
Landing of the First Slaves.
Here, in 1907, the first English settlement
In this country was made, and 1t was to this
spot that Dutch ship. in 1920. brought
from Africa the first twenty slaves. and
thus laid the foundation of negro slavery In
the United States. tHpw wonderful the
streams that have flowed from these orig
inal fountains DOWN through the almost
three centuries followingai
jamestown was the first capital Of the
virginia colony, and 40 gears ago the pala-
ttal mansion Of the royal governors here
overlooked the rivero. Flew vestiges of its
past splendor remain. one Of which is the
Uncovered ruin Of Jthe old brick tower
which formed the entrance to the church
built on the site Of the one in which Poca-
hontas was baptized. Around this tower
are few scattered gravestones- brok-
en- In pieces and others with words scarcely
legible The names and dates may still be
deciphered upon few. One bore the follow
ing inscription:
Here lyeth William Sherwood that was
born In the parish Of White Chappen near
London-a Great Sinner waiting for a joyful
resurrection" -,.----t .
During the lapse Of centuries the river has
encroached upon It's banks, and 1t Is thought
that the sites Of many houses have been
gradually washed away. This theory seems
correct. for at low tide traces Of brick
foundations may be seen near the shore; as,
for instance. the remains Of the massive
brick walls Of an old powder magazine.
Inc only house now standing was at one
time the residence Of Gov. Berkeley. The
walls alone belong to the original mansion,
Tor fires during war times deprived 1t Of
most OF Its wood work, pillared porticoes
and wings.
virginia's Second Capital.
The island on which jamestown Is now
located contains ]. 400 acres and Is owned
by Col. Barney, formerly Of Ohio. who IN
tends to make a hotel Of the old Berkeley
mansion. to accommodate the increasing
tide Of visiting pilgrims. He has presented
to the Ladies' Historical Society Of Virginia
twenty acres Of the island on which the first
settlement was made and the old church
tower now stands; This ground has been
inciosed and will be put in order and pre-
served with care hereafter. A superinten-
dent resides here in q cottage built In the
midst OF the remains of q fort constructed
during the late war. He furnishes to the
visitor as souvenir a sprig Of English ivy
from the ruins of the church. transplanted
IN little vase. on which he has rudely
sketched the old tower.
After the state house at jamestown was
burned an act directing the building of a
new capitol was passed. and in 1895 the seat
OF government was removed from James,
town to q place called the Middle Planta-
Ion. ana the name was changed to VIII
liamsburg.
At that time the middle plantation was
considered more healthful than jamestown.
from Jamestown by a delightful ride of
seven miles over q country road. through
the oio forests. profusely decorated with
the virginia creeper and the trumpet flower,
with Its gorgeous cluster Of scarlet bios
SONS. passing here and there a cleared space
grim reaches Williamsburg, the famous sec
ond capital Of Virginia from 1898 to l77S q
period Of eighty years.
Williamsburg was once the center of the
ar1stocracy, wealth. fashion and learning Of
the Old Dominion. and they left their now
faded impressions upon the place, manners
and characteristics Of the Inhabitants Of the
city.
The original plan of this second capital
was In the form Of a cipher made Of the
letters w and M, the initials Of William and
Mary; At present there Is one main street.
styled the Duke Of Gloucester street, more
aristocratic in name thah In appearance 1t
Is broad and level avenue. three-quarters
OF mile in length, and bordered on each
side by rows of large Old paper mulberry
trees, whose trunks are &ondrously gnarled
and rugged: Along this boulevard rumble
heavy-wheeled OK carts, driven by the typi-
cal negro of the south. oOftentimes one OK
Is seen harnessed alone between shafts.
Patrick HenrSs fEloquence.
At one end Of this avenue, amid venerable
shade trees. lie the ruined foundations Of
the old capitol, in which the house Of bur-
gesses met. and where Patrick Henry made
his famous Revolutionary speech. ending
with 'If this be treason. make the most of
it." Within its halls were uttered the most
fiery denunciations Of arbitrary government
and oppression and the most ultra-demo-
cratic theories were boldly advocated. That
so radical democracy should have come
out of so exclusive an aristocracy seems a
paradox and reminds one Of SIMPSONS rid
die.
Facing this at the other end of the avenue