The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-24
MY LADY PokAlloNTAs. John 1,sten
Cooke. 1Ioughton, Miflin d Co., OF

MY LADY, #POhhiONl Ao. Jonn l1stcn
M Cooke. 1iOughton, Millin IL Co., OF
New York. PIP. 100.
Compared with the traditions nnd ro-
nance of older countries. tho history OF
the United States ths often been de-
clarcd to be snsulnry dry and ,nn-
Wiling.
But the early Colonial annals Of vir-s
ginin are Frightened by one Of the
sweetest and tendcrcst idyls ever put into
words. 1t is woven around the ilgtirc
of the Indian princess, called varlously
Matonkn, Rcljckal, but as she is best
loved and known by that With which
John lcsten Cooke hns endowed hcr
when lie calls the little volume into which
he has put the brief story Of her life,
'sNly Lady Pokahontns'' :
z Daughter OF the Emperor Powhhtun,
she died ut tho age of twerty-onc, In
the, year 1917, her grave beihg made in
Il land distant from that where her
memory still stirs the heart OF the world
to-day
Many pens have at different times been
busy with the fame OF the Indian maiden,
by whose helptthc jamestown Colony was
saved from destruction. She Is truly
fortunate above all In having John Esten
Cooke as her chronlcler. for OF nil Vir-
ginians whoac thoughts have been turned
toward the perlod In which Pokahontas
played her part. none have reverted to
her with greater tenderness or with more
respectful admiration,
The reissuancc Of this book by 30
noted n Virginia author OH the eye OF
Jamestown Exposition month. through
81 the Houghton, Mii1lin Publishing Com
4 Dany offers at, cxcelle opportunity for
American women OF tho twentieth cen
fury to comprehend the real character
and life OF one who for centuries has
stood as an example both as maid and
nation, to the Virginia women who might
I come after her.
John Esten Cooke has all the instincts
OF poet when he Describes Pokahontas
Il He says OF her during the Colonists
hard days Of life at jamestown Island.
& that she; was ever in and out OF the
palisade with her Wild train, gambolinS
nirthfully on the grass, and locking at
I'LL things around her with curious eyes.
The most marvellous thing or I'LL was The
child and the woman mixed in her, but
never In any Of her plays and antics was
there any freedom or immOdcsty.
she was decenlly clad In her robe 81
birds feathers and wore a girde from
the waist below the knees. On her fee
were beaded moccasns, and she KEEP
her shoulders wrapped to the chin II
soft robe. Above showed q dusk face
with n small mouth, and q nose yer,
slight and straight. Her eyes were bla {!
"a and had an extreme solftness; her hall
of tho same colour, and With never
curl In 1t. in which dropped down
plume of white feathers, her badge o
princess
Tho pathetic after story OF the it'll
princess. her love for Captain JOIN
Smith and his for he., the tragedy 0
their parting, the report Of his dealt
that came to her, her seizure and i'm
prisonment at Jamestown by Argal an
her marriage in the church there to Joh
Rolfe are followed by her visit to Eng
land, when she learned that Smith wa
not dead. as she had thought, but i
London. and that she was to SEQ hir
again. And when this knowledge come
TO her and she realizes that she has bee
separated from him through tho frau
and treachery Of his enemies. tho all
thor of My Lady Pokahontns says
Had been able to talk with Maste
Shakespeare and tell him this hstor,
certes there had been matter in 1t &c
greater play than even his fine TEN
pest
or the last meeting between Smith an
Pokahontas, he writes:
What said they each to other?
know not, nor wonlr know. Sure tn
secrets OF these two hearts were the
own. and. as It were. sacred. After a
hour they come back slowly, and l ca
see my Lady has been weeping. Snit
is pale. and HIS voice shakes as he how
low and goes away; and then my Lad
steals to her bower and Is no more see
that night. Master Rolfe plays CHUCK
farthlng with a friend, asking Who
been to-day?' And go out in the moo
that Is shining ard look UP to my Lady.
Z e.