The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1917-03-22
City of the Pilgrims Prspaftno .
Celebrate Tercentenary et
Landing.
Little City % Plymouth Thinogs ~
BIG Enough . Undertake Jeo -
Fittinely cemmsmssatin0
historic Event.

thrOng Will be here II all the GOOD
Americans who claim to be de-
scendants of the Pilgrim Fathers
visit this, the oldest town In New
England. during the tercentenary
celebration of the Landing-capltal
L, please-from the Mayf1ower! The
celebration. which might commence
rate also the blessing Of the new
world with roast turkey and pumpkin
pie. will not be held. of course. until
1920. But already the usual placid
minds of Plymouth's best and most
prosperous citizens are perplexed by
the question: How can the coming
of the Pilgrims to this shore 300 years
ago be celebrated in the most fitting,
the most dignified and yet the most
brilliant manner?
Any New England schOolboy will
tell you that the Mayflower first cast
anchor In Cape Cod bay, just within
the cape, on November q. 1920. This
is now the splendid harbor of Prov
incetown, the only windward port
for many league where the lit
tie vessel that bore Miles Standish and
his companions could have lain safely.
Nearly all the company went ashore,
glad to touch land after the long
voyage They first fell on their knees
and thanked God for the preservation
Of their lives. The water was shall
low and they had waded ashore-the
men to explore the country, the wOm-
en- to wash their clothes.
Chose Landing Place.
The spot chosen by party of ex-
plorers for the permanent landing
place Of the Mayflower's passengers
was selected about December 20, 1870.
and there New Plymouth was built.
From about the middle of December
until Christmas day the weather was
stormy and the bulk of the passen-
gers remained on the ship while some
of the men built n rude shelter to re-
ceive them On Christmas day most
of the Pilgrims went on shore to visit
the spot selected for their residence.
Then, tradition hath it, Mary Chill
ton and John Alden, both young, were
first to spring on Plymouth Rock from
the boat that conveyed them.
Small wonder is it that with three
such central figures as Priscilla. Miles
Stundish and John Alden at hand, SO
to say, historic pageant almost
certainly will be one of the great fea-
lures Of the celebration.
There are some dubious ones here
| who feared that Plymouth is not big
| enough for the celebration: that the
/ town of 1900 people cannot do jus
tice to the great event. 1t has been
| suggested even that Plymouth be re-
| produced in Boston, where there Is
| capacity to entertain thousands OF
F, visitors, and that the ceremonies be
1 held in The Hub. But this PROPOSE
| ton has already been dismissed; as
| we'll remove Plymouth Rock to BoS-
ton Common.
Plymouth will be the place; Ply
mouth will rise 10 the occasion and
welcome all America, if need be. [,
the very scene where those who
risked their lives 10 give religious
/, liberty disembarked. More thai
three wears remain IN which TO pre-
pare.
Capitalists stand ready TO built
great hotels here. already the rail
roads are planning for the transporta
i ton Of the Pilgrims OF 1929. II i!
arranged to transport plymouth Rocl
from its bed on the shore. for only
comparatively small piece of it is visi
Die now to the patriotic eye.
Plans were made, ideas We're ad
vanced for the tri-centcnniat rs Ion
rs ~ years ago. when the Massacnu
sets Society of MuyfioWer descend
ants and the Pilgrim Memorial asso
citation interested themselves IN III
project Bat there is no need to
tho~e who love To tread historic groun
and to olIer the tribute of their pre-
ence to the forefathers 10 delay thei
visit 10 Plymouth.