The Washington herald., 1921-05-08
OLdDoninion
To Celebrate
Tribute to Patrick Henry
And Founding of City
On July 4.

Fred Emerson Brooks, California's
greatest poet-humorist, the poet
laureate of the Panama-Pacifc Ex-
position. is coming to Virginia on
the Fourth of July to assist in the
founding of the new city OF Nor
yirso in the Old Dominion, and to
take part in pilgrimage to be
made to the neglected grave OF Pat
rick Henry. whose immortal words,
Give me liberty or give me death,
set the colonies aflame and fastened
the day of the Declaration of lnde-
pendence. Brooks will also give
readings in Washington.
The best band in Virginia will
lead the procession to this sacred
spot. Representatives of both the
Sons and the Daughters Of the
American Revolution will take part
in the ceremonies. Many prOml-
nent people are expected from va
rious parts of the country. Singers
will come from New York, and Mr..
Brooks will write an ode TO Pat
rick Henry, and after reading il
he will present the original manu-"
script to Mrs. william Writ Henry,
Patrick Henry's granddaughter-in-
law. who is 80 years of age. The
poet will be introduced by the Hon.
carter Glass. United States Senator
from Virginia Mr.. Brooks will have
a brand-new poem on Virginia.
\ concert singer from New York
City. Patricia Ryan, will sing: Il
Was Born in Virginia; That's the
state That Will Win YOU a cap
tivating old song. 1t is hoped that
Gov. Davis will he able to attend
and deliver the address of welcome.
Dr. Clarence J. Owens. of Washing
ton, d. c.. director general Of the
Southern Commercial Congress, will
give an address, giving his stamp
Of approval to the founding of
Eorvirso.'
There will be an old time Vir-
ginia barbecue, and a platform will
be erected on which all may join
in the old Virginia reel.
Then will begin the pilgrimage
to the old plantation and last rest
ing place of Patrick Henry. Spe-
Cial trains will carry the pilgrims
from Norvirso. which will have been
formally founded with due cere-
mony. to Henry, the plantation sta
ton only twenty-five miles from
Norvirso. 1t has been proposed
that on this occasion a new or
der be formed, to be called Sons
of the Old Dominion" beginning its
roster with a memorial list of the
great dead of the State. with George
Washington heading the list. the
roster to be made up Of facsimiles
Of theire autographs and closing
with Longfellow's significant lines:
Lives of great men should re-
mind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time"
Framed copies on parchment win
hang on the walls of the various
chapters to be formed throughout
the United States. wherever Vir-'
gipia's sons may dwell.
Thus will be completed the for
NAL founding of a new settlement
In Virginia 314 years after the first
permanent white settlement was
made in the United States not so
very far from this place on the his
toric James River. Just a little
east of jamestown lies Yorktown,
where CORVALLIS surrender in Oc-
tober. 1871, gave us our independ-
ence and caused the old beIl-rinEer
In Philadelphia to die of joy in pro-
claiming the news.
This section is bristling with his
toric interest. Romantic Richmond
the home OF so many great souls.
the capital OF the Confederacy. Is
only siNty-seven mites from Nor
virso, while Appomsttox Courthouse
which witnessed the last scene Of
the war between the States, Is only
twenty-five miles distant.