Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-05-23
ASSA!LS MEMORY
OF ROBIN HOOD
Railroad Threatens to Desc
crate Sherwood Forest.

ported indignant at the proposal to
run conl-carrying railroad line
through Sherwood forest. home Of
Robin Hood. Little John and Maid
Marian.
THE local protests arise not only
from respect for famous legend but
because Of the abiding beauty Of the
considerable portions of the forest
which remain" says bulletin from
the Washington headquarters Of the
National Geographic society.
"The early Sherwood forest was
bounded. roughly. by the towns of
Nottingham. Chesterfield. Worksop
and Newark. 1t n"ver was an I'M
roken OOdland: II included pas
lures. hr;ths and even barren tracts
with here and tn re a den>ey wooded
grove. Its original area-some -
miles long by 10 miles wid"-;lready
is cut through by railroads. and in.
side these Older limits today are
towns and one cluster of beautiful
estates known as the 'DukerieS.'
Nottingham. or the southern Dor
der of the old forest limits is thriv
ing city OF nearly 30O.0O0 people. II
is famous for the strength Of it's ale
and the beauty Of its women: for the
size of It's extensive market place.
Of Its rOck-planted castle. and the
festivities of its goose fair.
"While the castle rock stands. the
inhabitants will tell you. their cit!
will endure.
AT Papplewick is the very cave
where Robin Hood and his merry band
took shelter!
Built by the First William.
1.-THE original Nottingham castle
was built by William the Conqucrnr.
Its grimmest memory IS the hanging
of 90 Welsh boys. Shose bodies were
suspended over the walls so the to"n
might see. by order of King John.
The boys had been placed there as
hostages for the good behavior of
their fathers When the parents re-
times Of direct action. but to execute
their sons.
ITO this day visitors are shown
Mortimer's Hole passage through
which young King Edward III gained
entrance and surprised his mother.
Queen Isabella, in company with her
lover. Roger Mortimer The queen
mothers plea. Fair son. have pity on
the gentle Mortimer you will recall.
had no effect. and after sOjourn in
the London tower the Gentle Nor
timer was tied to a horses tail and
dragged to the Tyburn gallows
"NOttingham's history spans the
centuries from the period when the
Danes fought the SaXons for a foot
hold on the Trent, down through the
meeting of parliaments there in the
Fourteenth century. the raising of the
standard of Charles in 1912, and the
dismantling Of the castle by Crom-
wells troops two years later.
"Then the strife shifted from feudal
to industrial struggles. For its pros
perity today Nottingham thanks not
kings, or generals, or armies. but
Richard Arkwright for setting up
there, in 1869. the first spinning
Frame and John HeathcOast who, 40
years later, opened new era in lace
manufacture by his machines for max
ing bObbin net. Today Nottingham is
famous for its hosiery and lace.
"Thoresby was the home of Lady
Mary Montagu. witty correspondent
and travel writer. who Is credited
with bringing back from Turkey
method of incubation against small
pOX.
But Thoresby's most famous story
is that of the duchess of Kingston.
After secret marriage. at which the
parson read the service by the light
Of taper in the best mans hat, and
the birth of a child. Elizabeth Chud
leigh and her first husband separated.
She sought a reconciliation when it
looked as if Lord Bristol was about
to die and leave her long-neglected
husband that title.
After she had arranged a forged
registry of her marriage Lord Bristol
set her plans awry by recovering. In
the meantime she had scandaliZed the
county by various escapades-includ
ing her appearance in an extremely
decOllete gown at a masked ball. Cos
sip associated her name with the
duke Of Kingston and she confirmed
the rumors when she was installed as
hostess Of the merry entertainments
at Kingston house. Like the illustri-
Gus Lady Hamilton she then began to
dream of marriage and she persuaded
her husband to divorce her until he
learned such procedure would mean
his assumption of his wife's heavy
debts.
Nothing daunted, Elizabeth brought
suit accusing her husband of falsely
prOclaiming his marriage to her, she
was duly declared a 'spinster,' anG
oh cd no