The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-12-27
FIRST ENGLISH SETTLEMENT.
Jamestown Exposition TO Celebrate
This Most Important Event in
American History.
nv Mark o. Waters

NORFOLK, Va, Dec. 26.-On the 18th
day of December, three hundred years
ago, there set sail from Blackwell, Eng
land. under the command of Captain
Newport, three vessels, the Godspeed,
the Susan. Constant and the Discovery,
the largest not exceeding one hundred
tons burden. This little fleet and its
one hundred and five passengers was
destined to mark the beginning of the
most important epoch in the history of
the world. The commencement of their
voyage was inauspiciOus and its prog
ress unhappy. By reason of contrary
winds they were buffeted about on the
great ocean for six weeks before losing
sight of the English coast. It was after
many more weary weeks Of travel ere
they saw land, the coast of Virginia, 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 anchor, they called
Comfort, which is the Old Point
Comfort Of to-day. The beauty Of the
scene about them greatly affected them
and John Smith, one Of their number,
was led to utter this sentiment: "With-
in, says he, rs a country that we may
have the prerogative over the most
pleasant places known. Heaven and
earth never agreed better to frame a
place for mans habitation, were it in
habited by Industrious people. Here
are plains, hills, valleys, rivers and
brooks, all compassed with beautiful
and delightsome land. "
After resting at Comfort" for sew
eral days and feasting upon the oysters
which they gathered from the waters
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 13, 1907 upon the Island of
jamestown, where, as Smith again
says, was 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 became much
more than 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
1t was a small commencement, but con-
sidered from the point of outgrowing
results, it was one Of the most porten-
tious events in all history, for had the
jamestown settlement failed in its in
cipiency the Pilgrims had never landed
at 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 the crumbling ruins 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 Information
al Celebration to be held on the shores
of Hampton Roads, opposite the Old
Point Comfort of Smiths day, begin
ming April &c, 1907, in commemoration
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 exposition 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 interest
as well. Famous old Yorktown, Will
iamsburg, the great battlefields of the
Revolution, the War of 1912 and the
Civil War, the historic Fort Monroe
and the mammoth navy yards and ship
building 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
viii gather with the Squadrons of I'm
Gle Sam in a 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 the earth will drill and