The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-05
1.-THE CONTRAST
| SHOWS PROGRESS
Raleigh Gentleman Finds Story Of
Jamestown Jubilee 100 Years Ago
Which Makes Interesting Reading
and Strange Contrast With
Magnificent Exposition
Proposed.

in his library a novel story of move
celebration a hundred years ago
then called a Jubilee and now-a-days
Known as an Exposition. The story
recites the ceremonies attending the
celebration of the two-hundredth an
niversary of the settlement of James
town and is reproduced today be-
cause appropriate at this time wher
plans are maturing for the Ter-cen-
tennial Of the same event to be cele-
brated along lines commensurate with
our nations progress. The contrast
is both interesting and instructive:
Due notice having been given of the
intended celebration, the preparations
sloop and schooner had arrived tefore
the 18th. with bands of musicians and
a company of artillery and cannon.
and with a number of visitors.
On the 18th, the beach began TO as
sumo the apDea rance of a regular en-
campment, from the erection OF tents
for the sale Of various articles: and
the scene was agrecably diversified by
groups of beautiful women who were
every moment passing from the main
into the island. 1t was not unusual to
see groups of pilgrims stealing away
from the throng and pustle o: prcpara-
ton, from the wild reveiry of joy and
the enthusiasm or satisfied and raptur-
Gus exultation, 10 saunter among the
ruins, and converse in fancy among
the tombs with the illustrious dead
whose virtues and achievements had
furnished the motives for then as
semblare. II etRs in the highest ,legrea
interesting and edifying 10 trace the
Of ha .o1ifa1g "A
faces of the spectators By the view of
these venerable remains OF other times.
The eye, in surveying the ruin of the
church. -steeple garlanded to its summit
with irregular feStoons of smilax and
ivy, carried back the mind to the in
teresting incidents and events of the
first settlers.
A crowd nf pilgrims were discovered
on their hands and knees within the
churchyard, removing the dust and
tuhbish from the inouldering and mu-
tilated tombs. and exploring with anxi-
Gus though patient curiosity the al
most cffaced characters which affec-
tion and piety had sketched there in
the vain expectation that they would
be immortal.
on the 18th. the dawn was ushered
in by a cannon: a second announced
the first faint etchings of the sun on
the edge OF the horizon. During the
night, several vessels had arrived. and
the eye rested with pleasure on the
spectacle of thirty-tWo sail at anchor
in the cove, boats plying necessarily off
and on from the shore, groups of beau
tiful women every moment making
their appearance, crowds fiocking in
from every part of the adjacent
country, and the Powhatan (now
James River) evolving in silent ,najes-
ty his flood margined as far as the
sye could reach with cultivated plan
tations and gay villas.
About II O'Clock, the long deserted
shores of Jamestown witnessed a spec
tacle equally picturesque and impress
sive 1t was no longer the mourneul
image and gloomy silence OF depopu
'ation. Thirty two vessels graced the
ancient harbour; upward Of four hun
1red ladies embellished the scene.
which became every moment more
animatd by the increasing concourSe of
and upon which the pres
ance of the military. and a band of
music of Captain Nestle and his COM
pany of artillerists from Norfolk, re-
iected no small lustre.
At IL o'clock, in consequence of ar
previously agreed upon by
Inc joint committees from Norfolk,
Petersburg, and Will
Ghis was before Rich
nonds day), a procession marched to
he ruins of the old cnurch-steeple and
he lugubriouS group of tombStones
to those ruins. The order
IF the procession was as follows:
/. Eishop Madison. and the orators
# the day.
2 The deputies from Norfolk, Ports
Petersburg, and williamsburg.
g. Tho ladies.
4. Band of music.
s. Artillery.
g. A cannon-ball weighing five cwt.,
by eight men. (This ball
vas originally brought over for the
purpose of awing the Indians)
l. Citizens at large.
During the procession, several tunes
# a solemn nature We're struck by
he music, and cannons fired al proper
intervals. Upon reaching the ruins, |
he venerable Bishop of Virginia |
Lscended a tombstone, and, in that af- |
Getting. pathetic manner which charac- |
erizes all his religious effusions, |
poured out a prayer strongly express |
i've of the national gratitude for that !
peculiar protection which the Deity !
las been pleased to bestow on the
eeble but auspicious germ planted
wo hundred years ago in the wilder I.
less,--a germ from which a nation
las sprung up now highly prosperous