Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-10-19

| 4 @FMM
the doctor, astonished.
"My dear Clawbonny," replied the
1 American, lit is the custom, not to
christen the soil on which he is the first
to set foot. 1t appears to me. therefore,
that it is my privilege and'-
| But, sir" interrupted Johnson,
nettled.
ut would be hard to prove that the
Porpoise DID not come here, even if she
| got here by land" continued Altamont,
without noticing Johnson's protest THE
fact is indisputable," he added, looking
| at Hatteras.
! 81 dispute the claim" said the Eng
| lishman, restraining himself, by a pow
! erful effort. ITO name a country you
must first discover it, l suppose, and
that you certainly did not do Where
would you have been, sir, at this mo-
ment, pray? Lying 20 feet deep under
| the snow"
And without me- sir" retorted Alta
mont, hotly, without me and my ship,
where would you all be at this moment
Dead, from cold and hunger"
Come, come, friends" said the doc
tor, don't get to words; all that can
| be easily settled.
'Mr. Hatteras," said Altamont, 'is well
come to name whatever territories he
may discover should he succeed in dis
covering any, but this continent belongs
| TO me. I should not even consent to it's
having two names like Grinnells Land,
which is also called Prince Alberts Land
because it was discovered almost stimuli
| taneously by an Englishman and an
! American. My right of priority is in
contestible. No ship before mine ever
| touched this shore; no foot before mine
! ever trod this soil. 1 have given it a
name. and that name it shall keep"
And what is that manner" inquired the
| doctor.
New America replied Altamont.
Hatteras trembled with suppressed pas
| himself.
"Can you prove to me-" said Altamont
that an Englishman has set foot here
before an Americana"
For few minutes there was an awk-
ward silence, which the doctor broke by
| saying:
MY friends, the highest human law is
| justice. 1t includes all others Let us
| be just, then, and don't let any bad feel
| ing get in among us. The priority of Alta
mont seems to me indIsputable. We will
take our revenge by and by and England
will get her fun share in our future dis
coveries. Let the name New America
stand for the continent itself, but 1 sup
| pose Altamont has not yet disposed of
| all the bays, and capes, and headlands it
| contains, and I imagine there will be
nothing to prevent us call this bay Vic
| toria bay?'
| Nothing whatever, provided that yon-
der cape is called Cape Washington" re-
piled Altamont.
You might choose a name, SIR" ex-
claimed Hatteras, almost beside himself
with passion, that is less offensive to an
| Englishman."
but not one which Sounds so sweet to
an American" retorted Altamont, proud
! ly.
Come come" said the doctor again,
| mo discussion on that subject. An Amer
| lean has a perfect right to be proud of his
| great countryman! Let us honor genius
wherever it is met withp and since Alta
mont has made his choice, let us take our
turn next; let the captain''--
"Doctor!' interrupted Hatteras, II have
no wish that my name should figure any
where on this continent, seeing that 1t be-
longs to America"
us this your unalterable determine
tion?' asked Clawbonny.
1T is"
The doctor didsnot insist further.
Every well. we'n have it to ourselves
then" he continued turning to Johnson
and Bell. Wen leave our traces behind
US 1 propose that the island we see out
there, about three miles away from the
! shore should be called Isle Johnson, in
honor of our boatswain."
| "Oh. Mr.. Clawbonny," began Johnson.
| in no little confusion.
And that mountain that we discovered
! in the west we will call Bell Mount, If
| our carpenter is willing"
at is doing me too much honor" re-
piled Bell
TT is simple Justice returned the doc
| tor.
Nothing could be better" said Alta
mont
Now then, all we have to do is to
i christen our fort" said the doctor.
/ about that there will be no discussion,
| hope, for it is neither to our gracious
/ sovereign Queen Victoria, nor to Wash
! ington, that we owe our safety and shell
| ter here, but to God, who brought about
our meeting, and By so doing saved us
all. Let our little fort be called Fort
Providence"
Your remarks are just" said Alta
mcnt; mo name could be more suit
able"
'In our future excursions, then, we
shall go by Cape Washington to victo-
ria bay, and from thence to find food and
! rest at Doctors house!"'
THE business is settled then so far"
, resumed the doctor. LAS our discover
les multiply we shall have other names
to give; but 1 trust friends, we shall
have no disputes about them, for placed
as we are, we need all the help and
love we can give each other. Let US be
strong by being united. Who knows
what dangers yet we may have to brave.
and what sufferings to endure before we
see our native land once more. Let US
be one in heart though five in number,
and let US lay aside all feelings of rival