Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-01
THE FIRST SETTLERS.
Tablet Commemorative Their Land
ing Unveiled.

ing Unveiled.
NORFOLK, VA, April S0.-(Special.)-
The 2S9th anniversary of the landing
there OF the first Virginia Colony was
/ celebrated yesterday at Cape Henry by
| the unwilling OF a bronze tablet on the
old lighthouse tower. The ceremonies
were under the direct auspices of the
| Association for the Preservation OF Nir-
| ginia Antiquities. whose headquarters are
| in Richmond and by some inadvertence
an invitation to the Norfolk branch was
overlooked. Only Judge Theodore s. Gar
nett. from this city. was invited. and he
by direct invitation Of Mrs. Bryan. In
consequence Of this omission Norfolk
was not officially represented, and few
| from this city attended.
The exercises took place in the parlors
/ OF thee Hotel Princess Anne at Virginia
Beach. and an address. which was most
appropriate to the occasion. was delivered
by Rev. Bryan OF Hampton. Prayer was
offered by Bishop A. NJ Randolph, and
an original poem, by Mr.. Charles Wash
ington Coleman, Of Williamsburg, still
further graced the occasion:
Mr.. Colemans poem was as follows:
Near this spot landed April 2s. 1907
Capt. Gabriel Archer Hon. George ;.
Percy. Christopher Newport, Bartholo-
new GosnOld, Edward Maria Wingfield
with twenty-five others, who, calling the
place Cape Henry, planted a cross, April
p. 1907. Del gratia Virginia condita."
The clearest call that a mans heart hears,
When the beat Of the blood leaps strong
like fire.
Is the cali of the sea. through the circed
years.
A longing that may nor rest nor tire;
And the siren eternal sings and sings.
TIL the heart of the man takes magic
wings.
Where no sail spreads, no rudder steers,
To win the haven Of Hearts Desire.
Hand-shadowed eyes have seaward
Ger the purple way to the rim of the
To the fabulous realms by fancy felgned
With their palaces sun-kissed, dream
impaired;
Hath lain between! An the sea were
past
The hope of a mans heart were attained.
The wings of his wanting forever furled.
/ SO men went down TO the sea in ships
In quest Of many a marvelled truth,
Reading the radiant apocalypse
In the sunsets gold and crimson sooth;
| And some went forth for a golden fleece,
| And some for an earthly heaven or peace,
/ And some to lave their thirsty lips
In the tabled fountain Of endless youth.
And ever the siren song allured
Through the limitless waste OF the
throbbing seas.
And wealth seemed dear at the price
Of ease;
To hearts grown weary in toll and ruth
Just rest were as sweet as eternal youth,
A cleft in the rock from the wind secured
IS the palms OF the famed Hesperides.
The world Is girdled now
And all the gorgeous dreams,
That lured the adYenturers Prov
Are faded sunset CLEANS.
The lost Atlantis sleeps
Untroubled meath the seas;
The dragon, fable, keeps
It's fair Hesperides;
The earthly paradise
May wistful poets sing;
Knows only youth where lies
Eternal youths clear spring.
No magic seas we plough,
4 marvel fair 10 prove;
The world Is girdled now,
We know the bounds thereof.
Against no namless strand
The white-lipped waves are curled,
For. 10, the adventurous band
Hath won for us the world.
They found not what they sought,
Those sturdy men CT yore,
But stout and true for the work TO do
Were the hearts and the arms they bore.
They found not what they sought,
But famine. disease, and cold,
And death in his might they grappied IN
fight
And theirs was the stronger hold.
They found not what they sought,
But fame. with her bay-wreath dowers
That hardy band, for they won the land,
And the land that they won rs ours.
Then for us is lordller trust,
And a graver work to do,
And the guerdon OF grace is the veal OF
the race,
An the brain and the heart be true.
And the nations have turned their eyes
TO the land 'twixt the sea and the sea;
And for us ia the care that her fame be
Amen, so mote it be.
Here is the worlds Hesperia-its last
The tabled West stands real, virgin
white
Crowned with the wreath Of freedom; In
The wisdom of the ages for light.
To gid the paths of her engirdled seas,
That they who seek her through no
darkness grope;
Her arm outstretched for those VINO clasp
Her PEOPLES trust, mankind's white
radiant hope.