The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-09-10
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
Princess PocahontaS.
To the Editor of The Republican.


A revival of interest has recently ap-
peared, both in the London, England, and
Virginia press. in relation to the historic
beauty, Pocahontas, famous in a day
and generation older than the United
States, and from a Richmond, Virginia,
publication fragmentary bits are culled
and woven into this Renaissance.
The name and fame of this resplen-
dent star in the morning armament of
our Colonial settlement, has been res
cued from oblivion and secured to pos
terities by movement inaugurated and
matured on the part of the Colonial
Danes of Virginia. Observing that a
glorious character, revealed in two
Hemisphere, was paling in the twilight
of history, this servicable organization
originated design and perfected a
memorial to Pocahontas, two windows,
one on each side of the chancel in the
Parochial church at Gravesend, England.
They are said to be durable in structure
and exquisite in finish; one portraying
Rebekah, or Motoaka, whose name was
taken by the princess in baptismal
vows; and the other Ruth whose in
spring example in duty and devotion
was so strikingly illustrated in the
career of the Indian maiden in the reso-
lutte determination: ''Thy people shall
be my people, and thy God my God. !"
At cost of two thousand dollars the
Virginia Danes, Thursday, July 10th,
1914, by this patriotic accomplishment,
enriched history and embelished the
interior ola sacred edifce.
Dedlcatory services conducted by a
union of prominent dignitaries from
both sides of great sea, attracted the
attention and drew the presence of a
large assemblage of an unusual order,
over which the Lord Bishop of Rochester
presided. Streets of the town were
beautified profuselY in decorations; the
Lord Mayor and Aldermen were in of
fetal robes; naval commanders wore the
uniform of the British service and the
two commemorative windows were drap-
ed under combination of American and
English flags. The cords in the unveil-
ing were drawn by Ambassador Page,
whose appropriate address was follow
ed by one of equal relevancy by the
Rector of the church. In conclusion the
Lord Bishop of Rochester said: I'm
the faith of Jesus Christ, we dedicate
these windows to the glory of God, and
of the Father, and of the Son and of
the Holy Ghost" After the ceremon-
les distinguished guests were escorted
with pomp to a luncheon provided by
the Lord Mayor.
Such an event should engender pride
throughout our borders, but particularly
with Virginians. as on the soil of that
ancient commonwealth this matchless
flower of the wilderness so grew and
tlourished as to win admiration where
the English tongue is spoken and, at
the fall of an 'untimely FROST" dropped
from the stem of life in distant England,
more than one hundred and fifty years
before the birth of the Republic. This
untaught child of an untamed forest,
and of savage lienage, upon attributes
strictly her own, rose to an eminence
accorded to but few even among the
most enlightened people, and from her
have descended many illustrlous in
Virginia families. She was the daugh-
ter of an uncomprising foe of the white
man. the noted Indian Chief Powhatan,
and was born about the year 1895,
more than one hundred and fifty years
after the first echo of the white mans
foot fell on the Western shores. By
an interposition of her shapely hand
she stayed the fatal blade and saved the
life of Captain John Smith.
At tender age she married John
Rolfe, an English gentleman, who about
the year 1916 took her to England where
her dazzling beauty and queenly bear
ing won an enviable position in the
social circles of that cultured people.
She was presented at the Court of
King James as Lady Rebekah," and
the most flattering honors were lavish
ed on her. In March, 1917, just one day
before she expected to embark for
America, she died in the twenty second
year of her age, leaving an infant son.
At the chancel of the Gravesend
church, now marked by this handsome
memorial the beautiful Princess was
buried. Nearly three hundred years
from the day of that lnterment, repre-
sentative people from two of the most
powerful governments of the earth,
separated by thousands of miles of ocean,
have mingled in a single sentiment to
confer this lasting honor on one, noble
by nature and heightened by beauty
above the common spoil of human
dress.
RELLIM.