The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-01-26
Leads all North Carolina Daiiesin News and Circulation
THE CHARM OF ROANOKE ISLAND.

we'll night dense enough to form town.
Two huge steamboats, stop on the west
ern edge daily and leave laden with fish
for northern markets, while the bay and
sounds are being traversed by sail boats
catching and carrying oysters to market.
Sail and gasoline boats are constantly
on the way between here and Elizabeth
City bringing goods to Manteo with it's
four hundred inhabitants, and which at
certain seasons especially, is the scene
of 3sceaseless activity. The people are
not. ignorant in the common acceptation
of the term as has been so often sug-
gested. There are schools here as we'll
equipped as you usually find and those
who have not enjoyed their advantages
have an intuitive discrimination which
recognizes the fakir and commands the
sWindler to be gone.
Such is the place and such is the char
acter OF it's inhabitants. And l often
think that could .Amadas and Barlowe re-
turn they would stand surprised to see
what the little island. then but spot
rude and neglected in the seas has been
transformed.
Here. every movement that concerns
the celebration is very carefully watch
ed. The proposition to ask Congress for
the appropriation and the partial for
nation of the company in Raleigh slim
ulated interest and put business men to
| thinking. In the streets, in the stores
and offices, plans have been formed and
whispered suggestions have been made.
II can be readily seen that when that
| population of Roanoke Island. and espe-
cially Manteo will be permanently in
creased. New buildings must be erected,
new enterprises projected, and ample ac-
commodations of all kinds must be ar
| forded. This can and will be done with
| the aid which is almost in sight. And
thus will the place which is the scene Of
an these important events be left beau
tiful to the eye as we'll as sacred to the
heart, and 2 moro invigorated and pa
! triotic devotion will be stirred among
| the citizens for the spot where began the
! greatest government on the face of the
| earth
| While the natives of the Island as we'll
as those here who were reared elsewhere
/ are fully cognizant OF what a stimulus
| to trade and what a financial enrichment
| the celebration would necessarily be, yet
4 it<would be exaggeratory and unjust to
iSdy lHHt lHelT interest is nn0OlF SeiIlSh,
! patriotic and abiding as is their appre-
citation Of what that gathering will rep
| resent. And surely the sentiment which
urges the country to commemorate the
birth of the greatest civilization in the
history of mankind, is easily worthy of
the attention and efforts OF those to
| whom tho business Of it's promotion must
needs be assigned. Hero as we'll as else
where in North Carolina. and doubtless
| all over the Original Thirteen" there
| has been an awakening to the now evil
dent truth that the comniemoration of
these important happenings has seen too
! sadly neglected and too long delayed
| Monumental marble has lowered high in
our capital city in honor OF ilustrious
sons, but until recently a spirited move
ment to fittingly celebrate that which
made it all possible. has been unknown.
| d. N. SPRINGFIELD.
| ManteO, n. c., Jan. %.