The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-12-26
ElRST ENGLISH
/. Element We !!
jamestown EXP siTioN TO Gel
EsRATE THIS MOST IMPORT
ANT EVENT IN AMERICAN
HISTORY.
(By Mark o. Waters.)

18th day Of December, three hundred
years ago, these set sail from Black
wall, England, under the command Of
Captain Newport, three vessels, the
Godsheed, the Susan Constant and the
Discovery, the largest not exceeding
one hundred tons burden. This little
feet and its one hundred and five pas
sengers was destined to mark the be,
ginning Of the most important epoch
in the history Of the world. The com.
mencement Of their voyage was In
ausplcious aBd its progress unhappy.
BY reason Of contrary winds they
were buffeted abou on the great
ocean for six weeks before losing
sight of the English coast. It was
after many more weary weeks Of trav-
Ell ere they saw land, the coast Of vir-
ginia, on the 26th day Of April. 1907,
and, to the point first sighted they gave
the name Of Cape Henry, and the
peaceful place where they dropped an
Choir, they called Comfort" which is
the Old Point Comfort of to-day. The
beauty of the scene about them great
ly affected them and John Smith, one
of their number, was led to utter this
sentiment: "Withtn," says he "is n
country that We may have the prerog-
alive over the most pleasant places
known. Heaven and earth never
agreed better to frame a place for
mans habitation, we're it inhabited BY
Industrious people,, Here are plains,
hills, valleys, rivers and brooks, all
compassed with fruitful and delight
some land"
After resting at Comfort" for sew
eral days and feasting upon the oys-
ters which they gathered from the wa
tiers and the strawberries and other
early fruits which they gathered from
the land they proceeded up the mighty
river which they called the James,"
and landed, May 10, 1867, upon the
Island of jamestown. where, as Smith
again says, twas chosen a very fit
place for the erecting of great city,"
In this Smith was mistaken as later
years proved the disadvantages of the
location and the settlement never be-
came much more than a village
Thus was founded jamestown, the
first English settlement in the new
world; the birthplace of the American
Republic and the beginning Of the
land of the free and the home Of the
brave. It was small commencement,
but, considered from the point Of out
growing results, 1t was one Of the
most portentious events in all history,
for had the Jamestown settlement fail
ed in its incipiency the Pilgrims had
never landed OF Plymouth Rock, the
Dutch had never left their shores and
the United States OF America might
never have been.
Nothing now remains of the pomp
and pride of the once heroic village |
but the uncovered tower of the old
church and few resurrected ruins.
yet what hallowed association cling
like the ivy about the crumbling ruins i
Of the old church tower.
How appropriate then, and how i'm.
portant to all the people of the nation
and the world, is the Great Intedna-
tIonal Celebration to be held On the |
shores of Hampton Roads, opposite
the Old Point Comfort OF Smiths day, |
beginning April 20, 1907. in comment
Grafton of the founding of jamestown!
The jamestown Ter.Centennial will
mark the progress of the world from
remote antiquity to the present day.
and will be the most educational eX-
position ever held.
Not only will the Exposition afford
an opportunity to visit the scene of
the first settlement, but the thousand
other places Of beauty and historical
interst as well, Famous old York
town, Williamsburg, the great battle
fields of the Revolution. the War Of
1872 and the Civil War. the historic
Fort Monroe and the mammoth navy
yards and ship budding plants, are so
closely related to the plan and scope
Of the Exposition as TO be part Of It.
The warships Of nearly all nations
will gather with the Squadrons of I'm
Gle Sam in naval pageant in front of
the Exposition such as has never
been seen before in the history Of the
world. On the land the best drilled
soldiers of the powers of earth will
drill and parade, 10 the delight and
edlncatIon of the millions, and the
magnificent structures Of the eXposl.
ton will TEEN with the products of
industry and art and the hum and mu.
sic Of progress will be heard on every
hand.
L, H., -. f..,s