Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-27
The American Adriatic.

| teriZe American scenes and localities in
! terms of European geography, but the
| practice has been long established.
] With the resort regions of California
| and Florida each claiming equities as
| the American Riviera; with the settle
| mcntS around the Gulf of Mexico and
! the Caribbean Sea adopting the phrase
"the American Mediterranean; and
! with the mountains of Colorado her
aided as the American Alps, l may
perhaps be pardoned for proposing
| Chesapeake Bay rs our American
A.lriatic 1t is to be hoped that this
year. which marks the third centennial
Of the colonial settlement, will draw a
| multitude of travellers to the over
looked Eden that lies all about. in
which every American has right to
feel personal interest and proprietor
ship.
When in 1907 John Smith first en-
tered the waters of the new Adriatic
Sea. he lifted his voice in prophecy:
"There is but one entrance to this
country" he wrote. THE cape on the
south is called Cape Henry, the north
cape is called Cape Charles. Within
ia a country that may have the pre-
negatives over the most pleasant places
known, for earth and heaven never
agree better to frame place for mans
habitation The mildneSs of the air,
the fertility Of the soil, and the situa-
ton Of the rivers are SO propitious to
the use Of man, as no place is more
convenient for pleasure, profit, and
mans sustenance under any latitude
or climate. So then. here Is the
place: a nurse for soldiers, a practice
for mariners. a trade for merchants,
reward for the good, and that which Is
most Of all. business (most accept
able to Cod bring such poor infidels to
the Knowledge of God and His Holy
Gospel
And where this prophet looked first
upon the new land and prophe sled, our
Government maintains Fortress Mon
roe. a nurse for soldiers. Where he
first cast anchor is Hampton Roads.
our national practice for mariners;
where he first landed. now stands
Norfolk. one of the foremost CONNER
cial cities of the South, trade for
merchants. while across the arm OF
the sea is Hampton Institute for the
instruction of the Indian youth.
For more than two hundred years
veritab!c kings lived and dispensed
such royal hospitality throughout this
favored land that the story of it will
long remain a vital part of the ro-
nance of American history. Into this
great bay flow four historic rivers, and
upon bay and rivers steamers offer
passenger and freight service in every
direction to the towns and landings
- f,,,s f,,I nd
picturesque region.
There Is remarkable analogy be-
tween our Adriatic and the Adriatic of
the ancients. On one side of the Chcsa-
peakc lies the Italy" of America, as
the east Shores" is often termed. and
here the Government officially locates
the healthiest spot on our continent.
On the other side of our Adriatic is the
mainland that was once at the front of
American culture and where the first
institutions of learning were founded
in the New World: where our colonial
patriots proclaimed the Republic,
region now fallen into decay almost
like to that Of modern Greece after her
great civil wars.
In days of old, the richest Of the
East passed through the Adriatic and
thence overland to enrich all Europe.
Through our Adriatic. in the youth OF
the country, passed the wealth ana
refinement Of the Old World, to mold
the civilization Of the New. In time.
as the mainland bordering on the old
Adriatic, devastated by war. was lett
to the enervated Turk. so our historic
battle grounds became the heritage of
a duskv race and the negro has proved
an equal blight upon land that was
once the richest in New "orid'--Ap-
pletons Magazine.