Evening star., 1921-02-27
The First Private
Ownersh r S h A
Charter From King
Charles the First.
The Barons of Bal
timore House on
the Island, and the
People Who Lived
There.

the second installment of this
series on Analostan Island it was
said that the first private owner
OF the land was Capt Randolph
Brandt of Charles county, Md. and
that the island was granted to him
under date of July 81, 1880. Note
that this was the first private own
ership that is of record. From 1892
to 1880 title to the island was in the
name of Cecilius Calvert, Barolf of
Baltimore, and his heirs by charter
from King Charles I, son of James l
and grandson Of Mary Queen of
Scots. Before 1852 title was claimed
TO reside Immediately in the Eng
lish crown by right of discovery and
settlement. though for generations
and centuries claims to America by
the crowns of Spain and France
clashed. but it is not fair to you that
the Rambler should lug such old
disputes into the story of Analostan
Island.
But you will recall-that is. you
may recall it If you ever read the
book-that Diedrich Knickerbocker
in writing his History of New York" :"
reviewed the origin of the world be-
I y.
on his title page he wrote that it
was "A history of New York from
the beginning of the world to the
end of the Dutch dynasty" and his
synopsis of Book l is this: Con
tanning divers ingenious theories
cerning the creation and the popula-
ton of the world, as connected with
the history of New York"
Now, there is really no particular. no
urgent reason which impels the Rambler.
while telling the story of Analostan
tween England, France and Spain over
their title to America, but he was hav-
ing little trouble in getting this story
started in way which he thought would
be satisfactory to his fastidious read
ers, and because Analostan Island is a
very pretty and conspicuous part of the
District of Columbia, and because the
District of Columbia is the most i'm
portant part Of the North American con-
tinent. and because the North American
continent is the only continent worth
speaking about. except those of Europe.
Asia. Africa and South America, he
thought that such vast and imposing
theme was deserving of an elaborate in
PRODUCTION.
Then. if Washington Irving could let
Diedrich Knickerbocker lug in the his
tory of the world in his history Of New
York, the Rambler could see no reason
why he should not go back few CEN
turtles in telling the history Of Analoston.
Manhattan and Analostan are both IN
dian names. and they are both islands.
OF course. more people have chosen to
live on Manhattan Island than on
Analostan Island. but the majority is
nearly always wrong. Now if washing
ton Irving could write chapters on the
creation Of the world in introducing his
history of New York, the Rambler might
do something better. AS writer's, there
is really no comparison between Wash
ington Irving and the Rambler. The
Rambler has no wish to cause a mo-
ment's pain or Jealousy. to the gentle
spirit of Washington Irving.
The claims of England. France and
Spain to America were. as a general
rule. settled by violence. Nearly all
land titles can be traced back to theft
or murder. if the records have not
been lost. Before the English claimed
title to Maryland and Virginia title
resided in the Indians, who were not
only misnamed. but maltreated The