The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-14
and closed his stirring lyric with these

Virginia.
Earth's only paradise"
EARLY ADVENTURES
Tho character and motives OF these
early Adventures have been the subject
OF much discussion. Among them were
men of the highest rank In England, no.
tably. George Percy. brother OF the Earl
OF Northumberland. and twice president
OF the colony. Others, we are told, pos
sessed estates OF 1000 pounds year. II
can hardly be supposed that the more
sordld consideration Of mercantile enter
prise controlled them, as some would
have us believe. 1t would seem that the
main spring OF the expedition was the
old chivalric spirit of adventure, which
was still strong In the breasts OF many.
And some had Il at heart to convert the
Indians. bearing in mind what Richard
Crashaw had told them. that the END
OF this voyage meant the destruction OF
tile devils kingdom.
Christopher Newport had charge OF the
feet The ships tossed about for two or
three weeks in the English Channel, after
which they took the old Southern route
for the West Indies. At these islands
they soiourned for some time. Driven by
q storm to the capes OF Virginia, they
made their first landing at Cape Henry,
and next reached a place when they
named Point Comfort. They said that
they were at the mouth OF great river,
and up this river they sailed about forty
miles. On May 13, 1907 two hundred and
ninety years ago. they landed at this
island. and made upon 1t the first perma-
nent English settlement in America. The
exact spot Of their landing was probably
about where we are now standing, as we
are told that they tied their ships TO the
trees in six fathoms of water. And we
know that In after years the settlement
was moved westward beyond yonder
church.
Although nature had welcomed the col
| onists with balmy smiles, everything soon
conspired to make them suffer miseries
unspeakable. The tremendous vegetation,
which covered the island, made its re-
| ductiOn TO culture a thing OF immense
| labor. The Indians grew jealous OF the
Englishmen, and attacked the fort. Ana
we hear one of the old writers saying:
"Our drink was water, our daliy looa
was half a pint OF damaged wheat OF
| barley, and our dwellings were castles
| IN the air." Tho water was as bad as
the food. for they had to drink the warm
| muddy water Of the river Probably no
| human leadership could have ameliorated
] this pitiablc condition. Wingheld, the
president though an honest man ana
brave soldier. was not perhaps the man
for the place, and in September he was
! deposed.
BRIGHTER DAYS.
Soon the indians ceased their hostilities,
| and the autumn winds blew away the
/ malaria from the rank vegetation. New
I life and energy were infused into the
| colony. and there it was seen that wing
| field had been unjustly condemned in the
hasty manner common to all ages
II would take too long to follow the
settlement in its joys. its sorrows, and the
-. hon
| detracting from the merits OF other noble
leaders. and discarding that hypercriticism
which would reverse the judgment OF his
tory. we must acknowledge in all loyalty
| the services of that gallant young Eng
| lsh captain, John Smith, who was ever
| ready to shed his blood in behalf OF the
colony. This acknowledgment Is not di-
minished, even II like old Timotheus, we
| compel him ito divide the crown To-
day we renew our love and admiration
for the brave Indian princess, Pocahon-
tas who more than once saved the colony
| from starvation, famine and utter con-
| fusion:" for George Percy, who left the
| honors of old England TO suffer sickness
and untold misery In n wild and moving
| wilderness: for Christopher Newport. who
more than once came TO the relief OF the
| responding colnsts; for Nathaniel POW
| ell. Thomas Savage, and Henry Spellman'
| and scores OF OlUtI IiANt eDN-i- e~HNt~
men. who left all behind to plant the
cross and English civilization in America
And vet the three years spent under the
/ first charter-the sacrifices or Smlin,
| Wingfeld and all the rest. were not SUM-
cent TO establish the colony. There came
| the great starvation period OF 1909 ana the
! departure of the colonsts for England.
! But their salvation came in new expedi-
| ton planned by the friends of the colony
| I'm England. among whom the names OF
| Sir Thomas Smith Henry WriOtheley, the
| Earl of Southampton. the Ferrars, and
Sir Edwin Sundys should not be for
gotten. From the West came another
| hero Of the nobility. bearing the sugges-
| tive name OF the quarter from which ne
| hailed Thomas West, the sixth Earl or
| Delaware He restored the work so glo-
riousy so periodically begun on this
! hitsoric spot. and history to-day ranks
| Lord Delaware among the most popular
and revered Of Virginias early Governors.
| lie In turn delivered the work over 10
| Sir Thomas Gates. Sir Thomas Dale. SIT
| Samuel Argal and Sir George Yeardley.
! What II mistakes were made and the
spirit of envy and selhshness arose 10
paralyze the enterprise
WHO CAN JUDGE?
All human endeavor is subject to such
| drawbacks, and it Is more than probable
| lldI the pItStHb Eti~A HNiyii 49,
acted lust as unwisely II they had been
placed under the same difficulties. All
| honor to Henry Wrfothesley, the noble
| Earl of Southampton for the charter
granting representative government 10
! Virginia. and to the beloved Sir George
Yeardley for conyoking the first Generai
| Assembly that ever met In America. Up
wards OF a year before the Mayilower
left England, Virginia's representative
body was discussing the affairs OF the
colony at the capital.
BY 1919 the victory was nearly won. Inc
| last onset OF the princes OF evil was
! made in 1922 when the Indians made
! one fell blow and butchercd mercilessly
| 3i7 Of the colonists. English bravery.
raised to the sublmest heights of herOism
by trial and endurance. met the assault
! and vanquished the assailant. Hereafter
! the colony ceased to be an experiment,
| and became Success. The future great
| ness OF this country was from this time
established, and civilization, no longer In
doubt, began TO plume its flight for the
| Alleghanies and thence for the Rocky
| Mountains and the success OF James
town became I'm time consummation OF
the greatest republic on earth.
GOVERNMENT OF THE COLONY.
Mr.. ]. VI. White the next speaker COM
plcted the history of the Islands in early
days so auspiciousiy commenced by the
preceding speakers in the following
|