The Washington times., 1902-01-12
HIN SMITH By Katharine Pearson Woods. d

mush for breakfast, dinner, and supper.
all three of which were usually eaten at
| the same time. Moreover. the lingering
| of the ship account of the gold find
consumed what provision was left them,
for her own special stores having been
injured by leakage and ship rats, the col
onists were forced to share with the sail
ors their own meagre supplies, so that be-
tween a low diet and the bitter weather
more than half the settlers died. And
meanwhile, there was no talk, no hope
but dig gold. wash gold refine gold, load
gold; suck bruit of gold that one mad
sands, lest they should by their art make
gold of his bones. We're it that
Captain Smith would not applaud all these
golden inventions because they admitted
him not to the sight of their trials and
golden consultations, l know not; but
have heard him oft question with Cap
tain Martin, and tell him. except he could
show him more substantial trial, he was
not enamored of their dirty skill breath
ing out these and many other passions.
Never id anything more torment him
than to see all necessary business neg
lected to freight such a drunken ship
with so much gilded dirt. Till
then we had never counted Captain New
port refiner.'"
If there is anything in fiction more
dramatic than this episode it is hard to
find. Here were a group of men on the
shores of a desolate foreign land, living
Oh mush and spending all their time in
digging and refining gilded mica under
the impression that it was gold, and, as
this historian says, "neglecting all neces-
sary duties" And here was their leader,
who had brought them through more than
one difficult situation, discredited and re-
viled because he was not as crazy as
they were. At least that is the view
which the present historian takes, and it |
seems to be well founded
President of the Colony.
The story of Smiths dealings with the |
Indians is an instructive one. and so is
the story of his career as president OF the
Jamestown Colony. In this connection
the historian says:
"The presidents object was to get the
greatest amount of work out of the great
est number, for it is quite evident that
he fundamental mistake of the colony
vas its communistic organization. And
It may be worth while for those interested
n coEmunstic experiments to note the |
obvious lesson that such an organization |
for it's success rather high
legree of moral and spiritual develop ,
nent, and that If it were possible to de- |
troy at blow all rights of private prop
rty and all authority, and to trust 20 the
ense Of duty of each man to every other
or the security and happiness of the COM
nunity, the result would be, at the state
4 development which at this present
ime we seem to have reached, not very
mike that which we find in the colony
4 Virginia.
"As an old soldier and a practical man
affairs, Smith knew very well that the
ne remedy which he was able to apply
Ias stringent military discipline, and he
pplied it forthwith and with the strong
and. Occupations were apportioned and
ours of work and of recreation laid off
ute wisely, as it seems to one observer
t a distance of nearly three centuries;
Hers we're warned that the ancient law:
lie that will not work neither shall he ]
at, fitted their case TO a dot; but for the T