The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-12-20
IN PILGRIM PLYMOUTH.

81 uot ACO yCdlo dSo, OH tllo CWCuGy-
first day of December in the year 1920
the Pilgrims landed on the New Eng
land shore at what is now Plymouth.
This town, which has a population of
about 5000, is situated thirty-seven
miles from Boston. Considerable manu-
featuring, of a diversified nature, is
carried on and the manufactured pro-
ducts are of excellent quality, particu-
larly that of cordage and cotton duck,
which stand highest in reputation in
the United States. The factories are
so situated, however, as to attract
little notice, and the general impression
given to the visitor is that the place is
quiet, with but little going on in the
way of business. Never were few
hours more delightfully."- spent than
those which the writer was privileged
to pass III this old historic town. On
nearing the harbor we pass the twin
light houses ON Gurnet. Near these
stands a station of the United States
Life Saving Service. Here also can be
seen Clark Island-named for the
mate of the ''Maytlower' where the
Pilgrims spent their first Sunday.
1t is something of shock TO find the
stern and rock-bound coast more
poetry than fact, for the beach is low
stretch of yellow-gray sand. Still we
can easily imagine il must have been
cold and bleak enough when that band
of exiles moored their bark" on the
wintry coast.
After landing on the pier we make
1irst for the cornerstone of this great
Acknowledgements Rock. The rock is
now some distance from the water. the
wharyes having been built out beyond
1t; but in those long ago days the sea
must have washed its sides. The part
Of the rock i'll view Of the visitor has
had rather an adventurous career; for
i'll ia the top was split off and carried
10 Town Square. where it remained I'll
til 1884, when, on the Fourth of July, il
was removed to the front yard of Pill
grim hail. Meanwhile the remainder
of the rock was left on the original site,
and in 1889 the present canopy over it
was begun. In 1880 the top was restored
to its old reSting-place and it now lies
within the canopy, reunited to it's fel-
low-rock
In 1741, when it was proposed to con-
struct wharf over the rock, Elder
Thomas Faunce of Duxbury, then near
ly ninety-hve years of age, was brought
thither in an armchair, and sitting up
on the rock publicly declared that when
boy he had been frequently told by
the Pilgrims themselves, and also by
his father, who came over in the Ann
in 1923, that this was the Identical stone
upon which the landing was made.
Rising near the rock is Coles Hill,
where i'll the severe winter that follow
ed the landing the Pilgrims buried
half their number, levelling the graves,
and in the following spring planted
corn above them in order that the In
dams might not be able by counting
the mounds. to learn the terrible story.
Passing along by the handsome Court
House we come to the Pilgrim Hall.
To the left of the entrance is seen. en-
closed by an iron fence, a marble tablet
bearing as an inscription the words of
that memorable compact signed in
che cabin of the Maytiower. Entering
the main hall, the large picture. thir-
teen by sixteen feet, of the Landing"
painted by Henry Sargent catches the
eye Its value is estimated at So. 600,
There are two other notable paintings
here, one fine' copy of Weirs En-
barkation' (the original Of which is i'm
the Capitol at Washington, the other
Lucy's great painting of the Embark
alton from Delft Haven, Holland" To
this picture the British government
prize of one thousand pounds was
awarded at Westminster Hall, London.
in 1913.
In the Hall are many relics of pill
grim and colonial days. Suffice it to
mention the chairs of Governor Carver
and Elder Brewster, which were brought
over i'll the Maytiower. Here also may
be seen John Alden's Bible and the
cradle of Peregrine White, the first
white child born in New England. There
are many things which belonged to
Miles Standish, and among them the
sword, with the Arabic inscriptions on
the blade, to which Longfellow alludes:
''Spake, in the pride of his heart, Myles
StandlSh the Captain OF Plymouth.
This is the sword of Damascus | fought
with in Flanders"
Hours could be delightfully."- spent here
IN Pilgrim Hall, but we hasten to the
hill from which the National Monu-
ment to the Forefathers overlooks
town and harbor The cornerstone
was laid in 1859, but it was not com
pleted until 1877. The vast granite
pile is surmounted by massive statue
of Faith, forty feet high. One hand is
holding a Bible, the other pointing up
ward On the four corners of the
pedestal are emblematic figures of
Morality, Law, Education and Free
dom, representing the principles upon
which the Pilgrims founded their Col
ony. The total height of the monu-
ment, which is said to be the finest
piece of granite statury in the world, is
eighty-one feet
Leaving the monument, and crossing
the town, the visitor reaches Burial
Hill. Here is he last resting place
of many Of those first corners. The
marble obelisk to Governor Bradford is
conspicuous. A small marble tablet
marks the spot where the fort of the
little colony, which also served for
their church, was located. The lovers
of the quaint and curious will find
much in the epitaphs on the old stones to