The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1920-07-09

While 1t is to be hoped til every good Amer
lean knows the words plymouth Rock" ana
Landing Of the Pilgrims" and what they should
mean to oil Americans 1t Is quite likely that
many do not know just where PrOvincetOwn comes
In. Very briefly the story Is this:
The MaydOwer sailed from Plymouth, England,
September O. 1920. for Virginia. 1t was driven
north by storms. 1t then made an attempt to
reach the mouth Of the Hudson river (New York;.
This failed and the Mayfower finally sought shell
ter inside OF Cape Cod, that gigantic sand spit
that extends like the blade of a sickle from the
Massachusetts, coast unto the Atlantic. Here. In
Cape Cod harbor. November H. 1920, told style)
which Is November Fl, according to the new
style-the Pilgrims, In the cabin Of the Mayfower
drew up and signed tho famous "Mayfower Com
pact" And on this date they first set foot
American soil
This landing was at Provincetown, which oc-
cupies the extreme end Of Cape Cod The rec
ords Of the Pilgrims show that they put in the
time until December Fl exploring the country, the
Mayfower remaining at anchor Finally, on De-
cember Fl. ten men In the Mayfower's small boat
landed on Plymouth Rock. They returned and re-
ported that they had found place suitable for a
permanent home. On or about December 20 tho
Mayfower arrived Off Plymouth and the landing
was made.
Restoration Of the Plymouth shore about plym.
outh Rock to Its original appearance at the time
when the Pilgrims landed In 1920 has been de-
cided upon. Wharves, fish houses. sheds and 9th.
or structures disfgure the present shore line The
contemplated change will embrace oil the water
front from Town brook on the south to Brewster
street on the north.
This redlscovered shore will be established BY
filling In and creating rocky shore line
The base Of the rock still rests upon the sea
level. ut high water mark and will remain, but
Its smaller part split Off In 1774 and several times
transported about the town before being placed
under the present canopy. will be lowered upon
the base from which It was separated and the
parts united.
The early graves Of the Pilgrims, who died
the first winter. and whose bones are now lying
under a much.traveled street, will be preserved by
the removal Of two or three houses and the chang.
Ing of the line Of the street The spot will be
marked by a suitable memorial.
The senate passed the resolution practically
without debate. In the house there was debate
for an hour Much of what was said adds neither
to the knowledge nor happiness OF the American
people There were. however. some things said
that worth reproduction For example, Mr..
Gavan read into the record the following ex.
cerpt from the report of Mr.. Luce Of Massachu.
sets In presenting the resolution. cffaracterizng
II as a classic:
This resolution contemplates that the nation
shall play a fitting part In the commemoraton
of an epoehm making voyage
.sThree hundred years ago a small company of
devout men and women. upheld by conscience and
order that In n new world they might found
Christian commonwealth.
They landed first at the end Of Care Cod,
where Is Provincetown. There In the cabin
of the Maynower they signed a compact that has
taken It's place among the momentols documents
of history, for then Engshmen first Joined by
mutual covenant to form civil body polite Be
cause this the germ OF the idea that was to
grow into the Constitution of the United States
every American owes gratitude TO Its authors aud
should honor the spot where II was conceived
"'The landing OF the Pilgrims symbolizes one
of the worlds great adventures. The hartishlps
OF the voyage. the perils of the wilderness the
ravages Of that dreadful wnter-these are but
circumstances that frame the picture Acting
for the nation. our concern today with the solemn
story Is that II rvets the Imagination on the no
blest phases of human nature-lofty purpose
dauntiess courage. steadfast endurance. pious en-.
thusiasm holy faith.
ITO commemorate and giorify these virtues
out of which sprang the precious institutions
Of America. Is not only to inspire our people with
fresh gratitude for their heritage but also to re-