Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1920-12-24

the sun at that date having reached It's
most southerly declination. The days
length was but a few minutes more
than nine hours.
A more striking coincidence, how
ever, was the fact that on that very
day, on the shore of Plymouth bay,
along the rugged coast of Massachu-
sets, descendants of the Pilgrims had
gathered to observe with due solemnity
the tercentenary of their landing on
Plymouth Rock in 1921, under difficult
ties trying to the stoutest heart. In
this celebration these worthy descend
ants were joined by other distinguished
men Of this generation in America,
Great Britain and Holland. The orator
of the occasion was Henry Cabot
Lodge, a successor in representation in
the Senate from Massachusetts of
Daniel Webster, who delivered the
famous Plymouth Grafton at the two
hundredth anniversary. Governor
Calvin Coolidge, Vice President elect,
also delivered an address. Mrs. Felicia
D. Hemans, the English p~oetess, has
| wildly portrayed in immortal. verse
the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers,
and has comnemorated their self sacri-
flee and devotion to a great spiritual
principle in a way that must appeal to
all true born Americans. The cause of
Freedom throbs in every line. A few
of the stanzas are most appropriately
reproduced at this time:
The breaking waves dashed high
On a stern and rock-bound coast;
And the woods, against a stormy sky,
Their giant branches tossed.
And the heavy night hung dark,
The hills and waters DER,
When q band of exiles moored their
bark
On the wild New England shore.
Amid the storm they sang;
And the stars heard, and the sea;
And the sounding aisles OF the dim
woods rang
To the anthem of the free.
The commissioner meeting on the
epoch making day referred to, did not
attract as much interest as had been
expected. This may be accounted for
to some extent because of what was
transpiring that day in the lobby of
city hall, where w. L. Ewing, of Cape
May, had established temporary head
quarters for the issuance Of automobile
licenses for the year 1921. Mr.. Ewing
is the agent for Cape May county Of
William L. Dill, State Commissioner
of Motor Vehicles, Registration and
Regulation. He was ably assisted by
his daughter, Cecilia Ewing. 1t is es-
timated that about 300 licenses were
issued. There was a continuous stream
of applicants all day long, making the
meeting in the commissioners room
seem sometimes like a side show instead
of the main tent.
Big Chief Nickerson, head Of the fire
department, was on deck early, and
speculation was rife as to his mission.
Some say he would measure six feet
two inches in his stockings, Others six
feet one inch. At any rate he is tall
enough for all practical purposes in the
fire extinguishing line and when 1t
comes to argumentative propositions
he has a pretty forcible way OF putting
his point of view. He had considerable
to say about First ward fire house
matters at Tuesdays session.
1t was Chief Nickerson who pulled
the chain to ''let the upper lights be
burning" the two depending from the
ceiling near the centre of the room.
One other overhead incandescent lamp
was already glowing. This is
directly above the ommissioners' table.
Two lower electric lamps help TO illu-
inmate the chamber, one being sus-
pended not far above the head of the
city clerk, and the other shines under
meath the ornamental hexagonal shade,
in colors, of the bronze table stand oc-
cupying a very prominent position
right in the middle of the long legisla-
tive table. 1t could be safely stated
that the big quartered golden oak table,
adorned by the bronze lamp stand with
its fancy shade, gives. some class to
appearances in the city's legislative
room; and there would seem to be light
enough to guide our three commission
ers IN their path of duty without re-
sorting to the courts to point the way.
The meeting was called to order ION
time" by Mayor Hendee, but it took a
quarter Of an hour for the clerk to wade