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

the conspirators with d heavy hand,
though at peril OF his life, swearing
CURLY that he would sink the pinnace
with "saber and culverin" if they per-
sisted In their purpose.
Yet, beset by these instant perils,
within and without, Smith never for a
moment loses his head, finding in each
new danger but fresh device--daring,
at times. to the point OF seeming rash
moss in dealing with his willy foe. but
only when his cool brain sees that the
only road to success lies through sheer
audacity--in all other cases, not only
willing but eager. to use peaceful
methods with the Indians.
His steadfast purpose is to found not
"a mere trading post. but permanent
English settlement, to the glory of God
tfor our doughty captain was a cody
nam. to the glory of king and coun-
try. and, no doubt, incidentally to the
glory OF Captain John Smith. And,
pray, why not the last?
To that end he administers affairs
with admirable common-sens and d.
rect force Of personal example-work-
ing with, hts own hands In planting,
building. fortifying-at intervals ex-
ploring ard tradlng-punishing sharply
characterization and laziness of gentle
and simple alike--and. when unjustly
censured by tho officials OF the London
Company for failure to carry out their
1pfeposterous demands, telling them
bluntly in his Rude Answer of their
folly in expecting to "finde in Virginia
gold or route to the South Sea-
Just as things were looking bright
est for the permanent success of the
little settlement, Smith was grievously
injured by the accidental explosion Of
a bag Of gunpowder, and. as his hurt
was beyond the cure Of rude Virginian
surgery, reluctantly sailed for home
He had left things in most flour
ishng condition, but, within six
months. pandemonium had broken
loose. the colonIsts reduced by starva-
| ton from five hundred to sixty souls,
and the whole enterprise on the point
OF being abandoned when the arrival
of the new governor, Thomas West
Lord Delaware. with his well-provis-
Toned ships, saved Virginia to the
King. 1t was in that six months
Starving Time" as 1t was called. that
Smiths fellow coionists. friends and
| foes alike. learned, through dire disas-
ter and the repentance of tears" TO
recognize the MEASURE of the debt they
had owed to tile prudence. resource and
courage of their old leader.
| And this Is the mana bit boastful
| here and there. IL you please. accord
| ing to our modern sophisticated ideas.
but singularly modest according to the
!, ideas of his timc-whom handful of
compIacent. scientific" historical stu
deats. with their ''petufogglng inti-
macy with dates and frivolous accu-
racy of memory" tns Sir Walter Scott
hath it,. ask us to believe to be a
| common liar and braggart. some swag-
| gering Pistol, with killing tongue
| and a quiet sword
| TO these men of the closet, who
know nothing of the dust and sweat
of battle or the flaming breath of in
| slant peril and WHO in their placid
( experiences have faced nothing hottie!
| than the weak tea OF the domestic OF
| the cloIstered hearth. II is inconcelv.
able that any sane mortal should ever
have dared this or that. yet Smith de-
| ciares with direct inipudence that he
! did these very things. the .'pra gging
| knave!"
| To critics of this ilk, Smiths stor:
| of his rescue by the Powhatan's dear
| est daughter" Pocahontas-who at the
| moment when her fathers braves. by
command, laid his head on two great
stones,' and were about to "beate on,
This brains" "got his head In her armes
| and laid her owne upon his to save hin
| from DEATHS perhaps. the most i'm
| possible of all his ''romances'-the
most desperate Of all his mythic perils
/ To Smith himself. the man Of blood and
/ iron, it seemed no more desperate thar
| many another experience that came tc
/ him in his career--such as that wild
ride of fifteen days and fifteen nights
across the Scythian steppes to reacl
the Russian outposts, after he haG
slain his cruel master the Timour OF
Nalbrits. wearing still that masters
iron collar. filled with dread lest he
| might come upon some wandering band
of Turks. who would return him to