The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-10
Cnptnin John SMITH. travels.

In the OXFORD ana Cambridge REVIEW
for Mlchaelmas Term the leading arti-
Gle Is on Captain John Smiths Trav-
els by Captain w. Gordon MoCabe.
the eminent Virginia scholar, historian
and author. 1t Is worthy Of note that
the article by Captain McCabc takes
precedence over articles in the book by
such well-known writer's as John Stu
art Mill, Hilaire Bel1oc. NJ r., Canon
Tho Hon. r.. Lyttelton and John Pol
lock. Captain McCabes article is
printed in entirety
THE GENERALL historic OF vIR-
GINA. NEW ENGLAND AND THE
SUMMER ISLES, TOGETHER
WITH THE TRUE TRAVELS, AD-
VENTURES AND OBSERVATIONS,
AND A SEA GRAMMAR. BY Cap
taine John Smith. Somctymes Gov
ernour In those Countryts and Adj
rnirall OF New England. Two
volumes. Glasgow: James Mac
Lehose & Sons publishers to the
University. MCMV11. (25s. netD
These handsome volumes. the mere
sight OF which must challenge the adj.
miration and excite the covetousness
pf every true bibliophile, appear oppor-
tnnely. Just when EngIishmen arc
ltretchng hands across the sea" to
lheir Virginian kinsmen. who are now
celebrating the tercentenary OF the t1rst
permanent English settlement In the
New World made yonder at Jamestown
In May, 1907.
The success OF that venture. which
Mr.. James Bryce recently declared "one
of the most momentous events In the
history of the world" was due, beyond
question. in chlefest measure to the
courage and constancy. the instant
Of Il , ba co.
common sense Of one n1ar--the English
ycoman's son John Smith OF Will
loughbie juxta Afford In the Count!e
of Lincolne."
But for him there had been no "vir-
ginia Plantations" no Summer Isles
no New Englande," for had that ven-
ture at jamestown failed (as time and
again was imminenD before August.
1903, when what is known az the
Third Supply" arrived, It s not merely
probable, but well-nigh certain. as Mr..
Edward Arber contends, that the Pill
grim Fathers" had never sailed to New
England. but II anywhere, to Guiana.
there TO perish among It's forests and
swamps.''
Throwing overheard all the episod es
In Smiths career which arc so strenu-
ously questioned by his detractors, al
lowing all the discrepancies between
his earlier and later narratives, which
these captious critics insist upon, there
is still enough. and far more than
enough. not only In the undigputed por-
tlons Of his own books, but in the con-
tenporaneous "Relaytions" OF his com
rades tsone OF whom had served under
him in Transylvaniap, to prove that
the Infant colony on James river was.
during the first two years and more
of It's existence. held together by the
Iron Will and dominant commons sense
of this resolutc young Englishman.
Long before he was titular president
Smith. by sheer force of character. had
taken the first place in the actual man
asement OF affairs.
Appalling as were the perils withou,
from the willy redskins. the danger was
even yet greater within from the cow
ardly treachery and incapacity of 4
clique, who were constantly plotting
his overthrow.
To the stout soldier. who had seen
service in France and in the Low Coun
tries, who had fought the Spaniard on
the sea. and had been left for dead on
the stricken field of Rothenthurn. 1t
was new and joyous experience to
beat Mt their own game the crafty
Powhatan and ruthless Opecancanough
but II was more perplexing problem
TO this blunt. straightforward, rough
and-ready pioneer how to checkmate
the cabals of Wingiield and Ratclirt
and malignant Master Archer"
Thrice. within the first two years OF
settlement. the disheartened colonists
tonce under the leadership of their
president" Wingtield) broken ir
spirit by famine and disease, plotted tc
seize the pinnace, the only vessel left
them by Newport abandon the enter.
prise. and sail for home
But each time Smith came down upor