Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1921-05-06
YOuKnOW

That little Delaware has the honor of being the first of the original
Thirteen States, in that was the first officially to adopt the Constitution
of the United States also that its first settlers were Swedes2
That the land comprised in the State of Pennsylvania was granted
William Penn in lieu of a debt owed PENIS father by Charles II, and
that the figures represented about $500 per square mile for the entire
State7
That Lord Baltimore contracted to pay for what is now Maryland
two Indian arrows per year and one,fhh of the precious metals mined,
and that no gold or silver being produced, he actually obtained the
territory for the arows7
That to New Hampshire falls the honor of having cast the decisive
vote which definitely formed the United States3
That a communistc government similar to that which many radicals
are advocating at the present time, was formed by the early settlers OF
Virginia, and that it proved a disastrous failure7
That Verazano, an Italian navigator, sailed into New York bay IN
15a4. eighty-fve years before Henry Hudson, to whom popular credit
for the discovery is given ? That Manhattan Island, which is now New
York City, was purchased from the Indians for sa4 wortho OF beads and
ribbons?
That the settlement of Georgia originally was conceived as a buffer
against the invasion of Spanish and Indians into South Carohna9
That Lord Baltimore ruled over the colony of Maryland to all intents
and purposes al independent sovereign that the rule extended to his
son and that this hereditary monarchy continued in force for nearly one
hundred and fifty years, until the Declaration of Independence brought
it to an end?
That no one ear say positively which of the two States, North Dakota
and South Dakota, was admitted to the Union first; because the rivalry
for the honor between the two being so great, the papers purposey
were shufaed both before and after the Presidents signature, SO that
neither he nor anyone concerned knew which was signed first?
These and many other interesting facts concerning the States and
Territories of our Union are brought to light concsey, entertanngly
and in the smallest possible space in a series of shortfeature articles
entitled, "The Story of Our States, ," the first of which is printed in
the JOURNAL this week.
This feature is prepared by one who uses the name Jonathan Brace.
We will not say that it is his real name. We do say that he is a dis
tinguBhed New England novelist, who has made both a hobby and a
serious study of American history. The enigma of his identity becomes
increasingly interesting from the number of ode, yet perfectly authentic
facts which he has dug up in this series.
AS an illustration of the wide interest attaching to the series itself,
take your own case: Certainly you will read with more than passing
interest a short article dealing with the history of the State in which you
live O were born, or from which came your ancestors, especially if in
nearly all cases the article contains some new historical fact or one not
generally known. The feature will attract school children, college
students and general readers of all kinds.
In each case the coat of arms of the State is shown. This will be
particularly gratifying to our readers, for the reason that tbs exceedingly
difficult to secure the coat of arms of each State. So difficult is it that
the idea almost was abandoned before a complete set was located for
this series.
The feature is complete in forty eight hafcolumn articles. North
Dakota and South Dakota are treated in one article, and Alaska, Hawaii,
District of Columbia and Porto Rico ar all covered in a single article.
We suggest that our readers cut the stories out until they have a
complete set, thus securing a condensed history of the States and
Territories which would cost much time and money to duplicate in the
libraries.