The Washington times., 1920-10-23

The localities OF the nrst settle
rounding the early struggles OF our
ancestors In their efforts TO carve out
homes AAnd establish organised gov
ernment In the wilderness. have al
ways been regarded a. holy ground
In nearly all cases the landmarks
where the settlements were made are
now carefully preserved As shrines At
which a gratful people kneel.
IL seems the more surprising. there
fore. that % little attention has been
given the scene OF the landing Of
the Ark and the Dove. which In the
year 1884 bore TO the shores Of Mary
land the nrst 800 hardy sdventurers.
who In the name OF the Lord Baron
of Baltimore. laid the foundation on
which the Maryland Commonwealth
has been reared.
We read In minute detail OF the
very stone on which the Pilgrims
nrst set foot at Plymouth and we
are constantly reminded or the fact
that IL was there that the nrst seed
of civil liberty was planted. But why
do we not give at least equal at
tention to the fact that II was at
81. Mary's City. the ancient capital
OF Maryland, that the all important
doctrine OF religious federation was
first given TO America, II not to the
world?
There has been much confusion In
the popular mind regarding the
Lords Proprietors OF Maryland. Lord
Baltimore Is referred TO frequently
as one person and many people have
not read their history carefully
enough TO realize that there were
no less than seven Lords Baltimore
In succession who exercised pro-
prietory rights in Maryland over a
term OF 1+2 years. ending with the
Revolution.
George Calvert. first Lord BaltI-
more. was a man OF consequence In
England. Born OF substantial
country family, a graduate of Oxford.
he rose in the service OF the govern
ment to Secretary OF State under
James /. As reward for the ser
vices OF his faithful friend. King
James bestowed on him . manor OF
2,3o0 acres in County Longford. Ire
land. This manor Of Baltimore gave
Calvert his title Of Baron Of Baiu-
more.
After an unsuccessful attempt at
colonization in Newfoundland, the
first Lord Baltimore negotiated the
Charter of Maryland from King
ceived the great seal OF England.
George Calvert died and 1t was
therefore his son. Ceciiius Calvert,
second Lord Baltimore. who secured
the charter and set about the coloni-
zation OF Maryland as a business
enterprise The charter conferred
almost regal powers on the Lord Pro-
prietor. including the right to erect
manors and confer titles.
In the latter part OF March. 1884.
the first expedition sent out by the
second Lord Baltimore, under the
command OF his brother. Leonard
ships. the Ark and the Dove, sailed
into the Potomac. On the 25th of
the month they made their first
landing on "St. Clements Island,
which has been definitely identified
as Blackstone Island at the mouth
of Britton's and st. Clements Bays
in the Potomac River, which was
recently purchased by the govern
ment as a signal station.
After n short stay at est. Clements"
Island. they turned back down the
Potomac with Henry Fleet Vir-
ginia Indian trader, as their guide,
and established themselves on the
eastern shore OF what Is now the
St. Mary's river. occupying the sight
of the Indian village OF Yaocomico,"
which was acquired by treaty and
purchase, where they Immediately set
about the serious business of laying
out a city which they named St
Marys.
All writer's, from Father White.
who accompanied the first expedi-
ton, down to tho present day, agree
that the situation, so far as beauty
and charm OF scenery Is concerned,
could not have been improved upon,
either in this country or Europe.
After the lapse Of nearly three CEN
turtles, almost every trace Of the
ancient city which the colonists built
with so much labor having disappear
cd, the beauty Of the site Is no less
of those who infrequently visit the
spot
The site Of old st Marys city lies
seventy one miles southeast Of Wash
ington, being reached by the fine
State road running through southern
Maryland to Point Lookout at the
junction Of tho Potomac river and
the Chesapeake Bay. st. Marys. in
It's glory. consisted OF a state house.
which when finished in 1915, was said
to have been the most prstentious
structure In America which stood on
what Is now known as Church Point;
\ fort about mile down the river
It the junction OF small ravine
which In early days was known a.
Keys Creek. and between the state
house and the fort, extending also
about mile inland along what is
now the State road to Point Look.
out, which thoroughfare was orig
inaly known as Middle street, along
which stood some sixty houses. in
GLIDING the residences Of the COVER
nor. and the Lord Proprietor. At
first these houses were no doubt
small log or frame affairs, but long
before the capitol was finally re-
moved to Annapolis, in 1894, the i'm
provements OF the city had taken on
a substantial character. Many Of the
residences were OF considerable size
and beauty, according to the old rec
ords and distributed as they were
over an area OF square mile or
more. each of the houses had ample
grounds and gardens and with the
wonderful setting of rolling hills.
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