The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-07-02

beaIltlful streets. ana Day PL "dtet
which has been described with much
beauty and grace in the following stallza
entitled
''EDENTON BAY"
Ilandward with fringes of sdlyery spray
Roll the. e.sweet billows of Edenton bay,
Yonder the Roanoke rolls in from the
West,
Nearer the Chowan ungirdleS her breast
Beautiful rivers that flash IN the sun
broadening and ningling and flowing as
one:
Watching their union but brighter than
they,
Roll the sweet pillows of Edenton bay.
"ris but the child of broader expanse
Left by itself i'm the sunshine to dance,
lis but an arm of Il far-reaching sea.
Less in its width than league. 1t may be
Yet were ii larger. its beauty and grace
Dimmed by the distance, We're harder t.
trace;
Just as it is ! would have it for aye
This gem of the Southland. sweet Eden.
tom bay.
Slol,ng as If for Il clasping of hands,
Close to It's margin fair Edenton stands
Verdue wreathed Edenton. fairer by
night,
And fairer by day for this beautiful
sight:
White sails are seen by it zephcr-swep'
tide.
Lovers at evening stroll oft by its side
Seen in its beauty. for many day.
,xth 81
bay.
| The author. Mr.. j. NJ. Fletcher. !;
Northern man, wrote the above Will
under the inspiration of the scene in tbs
rhythm of so much beauty and grace. A
gentleman. who had Travelled much said
while standing on the shores of this beau
tiful sheet of water: Certainly nature
has fashioned no more peaceful or love
her spot upon which the human eye an,
the human senses would WISH to rest
Bishop Lyman used tn say when he long
ed for the beauties Cf the bay OF Naples
he felt like starting for Edenton ana
resting his eyes upon these waters. Iht
scenes. however. are so different. IT Il
said. that comparison between the twt
seems impossible. Let that be as il may
its beauty and loveliness is none the less
fact, and the following statement
seems warranted ITO the hustiin-
Americans. who have sought chang
from the busy halmts of daily toll ano
every day anxiety in the Somber outlines
of the Alleghanies. ON the rapids of the
St Lawrence. on even in the awful stil
ness OF the Yosemite and the Crane
Cannon, this scene comes like the re
freslling sleep to- the fevered patient at
ter he has exhausted the soporihcs Of ,hs
Phorinacopoeia. 1t is a relief to think
there is one spot in our continent where
we can enjoy that quiet contentedneSs
which the speaking silence of beauty
alone can induce and yet .ind ourselves
not nu.awed or eXiled from association
with cur fe, ,!owman. Tie neaury Of III,
town does not he alone as stated III the
beauty uf IT'S bay. hut in its Wid" >,r"els
and beautiful sin ale trees as WEI. VIII
venture the statement that there Is not i
more beautiful street in America than
Broad street with its three rows OF elns
in rich foliage forming perfect arches.
There are many points of historic lnter-
est among them the court house built oi
brick brought from England in wlmCll
court was held in 1717 or IT'S. anid Il
session of the legislature in 1I2O. at
which Edenton was named in honor OF
Charly Eden, who had been chosen GOV
ernor in 1713. and who came over in
1714 Governor Eden had by his popr'
larity and grace won the good will of the
people who. alnhca,gh the, town had beec
established before. named it Edenton o
show their Appreciation Of the man
The court house is in a fine state Of
preservation and, and will compare fa
yorably with some modern buildings.
Strangers when gazing upon it can hard
~ realize its age. The Episcopal church
was built of brick and in the same
solid workmanship as that used iii build
ing the court honse. Soma say 1t was
commenced in 17OS: at any rate it was
completed in 173J. 1t is splendid old
building. whose foundations were lais'
due east and west after the Oriental
style. The records ram back TO 11O1 alIsl
filled with many amusing things. The
church yard has some old tombstones of
ancient dates and rare inscriptions
among them the following: I'm memory
of Jeremiah Gallcp January ii, 11g.