The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-08-15
A NEW ENGLANDER'S IDEA OF
JAMESTOWN EXPOSITION.

From the Richmond (Va) Times
Dispatch: The following interesting let
ter, written by Miss Jordan, professor
at Smith College, and of whom Presi-
dent Hadley of Yale has said that she
was qualified to fill any chair at Yale
University, is especially noteworthy as
a New Englander's idea of the James
town Exposition. The letter was written
to the Springfield Republican. it says
The people of the United States, and
of New England in particular, have the
reputation of knowing good thing even
before they see it. Such, however, has
not been their history in the matter of
the exposition at Jamestown. From the
sutset the project has had little extended
sympathy 1t is difficult to say why.
The historic significance of Jamestown
is obviously enough, and the plans for
the exposition, as they were outlined,
| should have insured a generous recep
ton. There has been misunderstanding
and misrepresentation. And, more than
all the rest, there has been ridicule. As
a recent visitor to the exposition, and as
a friendly student of its works and ways
l shall be glad if the Republican will
extend the impressions ! gained there to
| its public of thoughtful and intelligent
readers.
And first, Of the misconceptions. The
Jamestown tercentennial is not worlds
fair, nor, indeed, primarily fair at all.
1t is an exposition of the English colo
| mics and the United States in history
and attainment and civilization during
the period indicated The emphasis,
therefore. is put upon quite different de-
tails from those presented by other ex
positions. Much more is expected of
the whole, as whole, and much, there
fore, has been. embarrassed by the fail
ure of the government to complete the
twin piers and freproof arts exhibition
building. But the completion of these is
now assured for date early in August,
and the visitor to the exposition will be
received at his landing, from one of the
most wonderful waterways in the world,
through an entrance artistically worthy
|of the scenes he has passed through in
Chesapeake bay or Hampton Roads.
The landscape gardening Of the expo
sition should attract and hold attention.
The use made of native and ornamental
flowers, shrubs and trees is both inter-
|esting and suggestive. The succession
of beauty in borders, beds and hedges
has been carefully planned to give each
brief season its full share. The build
ings, beautiful as they are, gain much of
their attractiveness from the setting
about them of characteristic trees and
shrubs and gardens.
As for Misrepresentation: The dis
tances are not awkwardly provided for;
the trolley service is not inadequate; the
charges are not extortionate. There is
everywhere something interesting and
significant to see, and nowhere is the
traveller likely to be starved or robbed.
It is true that he will have to content
himself with the time tables of the
South, and to adapt himself to possibly
novel ways of handling luggage. But if
he never needed such adaptation he
would hardly know that he was not at
home. It is something to see the South
at home, something to study Virginia
soils, Virginia traditions, to shake hands
with Southern men and women, to share
their salt and count their blessings and
probe their problems for even few
days and as sightseer.
The exposition is not bellicose. 1t is
hardly even warlike. Almost side by
side are the warships, the old forts, the
up-to-date earthworks, the equally up
to-date Hotel Chamberlin. at Old Point
Comfort, and the social experiment Of
the Hampton Institute. The parade
ground is not more obstrusive, or the
nianouvers OF troops and ships more
significant than the gatherings in the
auditorium and the pergola to listen to
papers and addresses by representative
speakers from different parts Of the
Union. dealing with questions that are
local only because they affect the ma
|tional destiny. and are national as soon
as they are studied IN al their relations
Tie present writer had the privilege Of
keaspe M. HAZARD speak On South