Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-08

motives for their assemblage 1t was in
the hiShest degree interesting and edifying
TO trace the effects produced upon the
minds and faces of the spectators by the
view or these venerable remains OF other
times.
The eye. in surveying the ruins of the
church steepie, garlanded to it's summit
with irregular festoons OF ivy and smilax.
carried back the mind to the interesting In
cidents and events of the first settlers. A
crowd OF pilgrims were discovered on their
hands and knees within the church yard
removing the dust and rubbish from the
moidering and mutilated tombs and ex-
ploring with anxious though patient G urtos-
ity the almost effaced characters which af-
lection and piety had sketched there in the
vain expectation that they would be immor-
tai. Whilst engaged in these pious and in
teresting offices, pleasing melancholy In
sensibly stole over the mind; the grosser
passions OF our nature, the duh pursuits of
the world We're forgotten, whilst each for a
med himself In the presence of those gall
liant and venerable spirits that once ami
mated and informed the mortal tenants OF
those tombs.
Old Tombs Unearthed.
AS II it were by general consent, the dis
covery Of the oldest stone became an object
OF great emulation, and, In the course of
the examination. the results as they SEEM
ed to be successful were announcedtriumph-
antiy. Not even the searchers of gold
mines. whose mania Is so deservedly ridi-
culed and censured by Smith and our other
historians, could have exceeded the zeal
and patience with which the pilgrims of
1907 examined every character or fragment
that promised to throw light on the charac-
ter or their fathers and the antiquities of
their nation.
Beyond 1852 nothing legible could be
fras
Ole bearing this date, contrasted with the
surrounding masses of mutilated and
moicering decay. 1t was the general i'm
preston that this stone was comparatively
young.
Among the group of objects calculated
to excite reflection on such an occasion Il
was Impossible 10 avoid noticing the growth
OF sycamore whose germ had been in
scrutably deposited between the assure of
two massive tombs, whose growth was
gradually but certainly efiecting their demo.
Htion, In vain did brawny wreath OF the
poisoned oak. having first wound itself
around the sycamore. grasp the trembling
marbles for the purpose of ayerting their
fall- The sycamore was q lever that inees-
sanity propelled them from their centers.
ana II was obvious that nothing but its
acatn could save them from falling without
the line OF the base. To a refiecfinr mind
every incident Is fruitful This seemed TO
be struggle between life and death. and
what may appear extraordinary, 1t was the
)
victorious In the struggle.
Sail Filled Harbor.
ON the 18th. dawn was ushered In by a
cannon; second announced the first faint
Evenings or the sun on the edge of the hort
zon. 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 incessantIy on
and on from the shore, groups of beautiful
women every moment making their appear
ance crowds docking In from every part
OF the adjacent country. and the Pawhafan
evolving In silent majesty his nocd. mar
gined as far as the eye could reach with.
cultivated plantations and gay Villas About
IL o'clock the long deserted shores OF
jamestown witnessed a spectacle equally
picturesque and impressive. 1t was no.
longer the mournfui image and gloomy
silence OF depopulation. Thirty-fwO vessels
graeed the ancient harhor; upward OF 400
ladies' embeiIished the scene. which became