Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-06-18

While 1t is to be hoped that every good Amer
lean knows the words plymouth Rock" and
Landing Of the Pilgrims" and what they should
mean to all Americans, 1t Is quite likely that
many do not know just where Provincetown comes
in. Very briefly the story is this:
The Maytlower sailed from Plymouth, England,
September 6, 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 sickle from the
Massachusetts coast unto the Atlantic. Here, in
Cape Cod harbor November II, 1920, Gold style)
which is November q, according to the new
style-the Pilgrims, in the cabin of the Maynower
drew up and signed the famous "Mayfower Com
pact And On this date they first set foot on
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 p exploring the country, the
MayfOwer remaining at anchor Finally on De-
cember q, ten men In the Maynower's small boat
landed on Plymouth Rock. They returned and re-
ported that they had found place suitable for
permanent home. On or about December 20 the
Mayfower arrived off Plymouth and the landing
was made.
VI tne llylnOulH SnOre ABOUT PlyH-
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.
er structures disfgure the present shore line The
contemplated change will embrace all the water
front from Town brook on the south to Brewster
street on the north
This redscovercd shore will be established by
filling in and creating a new rocky shore line.
The base of the rock still rests upon the sea
level at high water mark, and will so 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 much-traveed 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 are worth reproduction. For example Mr.
Gallvan read into the record the following ex.
cerpt from the report of Mr. Luce of AIassachu-
1t as a "classic":
This resolution contempates that the nation
shall play fitting part in the commemoration
of an epoch-making voyage.
"Three hundred years ago small company of
deyout men and women, upheld by conscience and
inspired by faith braved the dangers Of the sea In
order that In new world they might found
Christian commonwealth.
"They landed first at the end of Cape Cod,
where nov is Provincetown. There in the cabin
of the M&yfower they signed compact that has
taken it's place among the momentous documents
of history. for then Englishmen first Joined by
mutual covenant to form a civil body polite. Be-
cause this was the germ of the idea that was to
grow into the Constitution of the United States
every American owes gratitude to Its authors anu
should honor the spot where It was conceived.
"'The landing of the Pilgrims symbollzes one
of the worlds great adventures. The hardships
of the voyage, the perils of the wilderness, the
ravages of that dreadful wnter-these are but
that frame the picture. Acting
for the nation, our concern today with the solemn
story If that 1t rivets the Imagination on the no.
best phases of human nature--lofty purpose
daunttess courage, steadfast endurance, plous en-.
thusIasm, holy faith.
ITO commemorate and glorlfy these virtues.
out of which sprang the most precious institutions
of America, is not only to inspire our people with
fresh gratitude for their heritage but also to re-