Palisadian., 1925-04-17
ASSAILS MEMORY
OF ROBIN HOOD
Railroad Threatens to Desc
crate Sherwood Forest.

Washington. - Nottingham is re-
ported indignant at the proposal to
run coal-carrying railroad line
through Sherwood forest, home of
Robin Hood, Little John and Maid
Marian.
"The local protests arise not only
from respect for a 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 never was an un-
broken woodland; it included pas
lures, heaths, and even barren tracts
with here and there densely wooded
grove. Its original area-some %
miles long by 10 miles wide-already
side these older limits today are
towns and one cluster of beautiful
estates known as the 'Dukeries.'
Nottingham, on the southern bor-
der of the old forest limits, is thriv-
ing city Of nearly 100000 people. It
is famous for the strength of it's ale
and the beauty of it's women; for the
size of It's extensive market place,
the mystery Of it's caves, the annals
Of Its rock-planted castle, and the
festivities of it's goose fair.
"While the castle rock stands, the
Inhabitants will tell you, their city
will endure.
"At Papplewick Is the very cave
where Robin Hood and his merry band
took shelter!
Built by the First William.
'rThe original Nottingham castle
was built by William the ConQueror,
It's grimmest memory is the hanging
Of % Welsh boys, whose bodies were
suspended over the walls so the town
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-
belled there was no recourse, in those
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.
n Nofr hop
the gentle Mortimer you will recall
had no effect, and after a sojourn liz
the London tower the Gentle Nor
timer was tied to 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 it's pros
perity today Nottingham thanks moi
kings, or generals, or armies, but
Richard Arkwright for setting uI
there, in 1859, the first spinning
frame, and John Heathcoast who, 4(
years later, opened a 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 a
method Of incubation against small.
pox.
But Thoresby's most famous story
is that Of the duchess of Kingston
After a secret marriage, at which the
parson read the service by the light
of a 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 IL
looked as If Lord Bristol was about
to die and leave her long-neglected
husband that title.
"After she had arranged forged
registry of her marriage Lord Bristol
set her plans awry by recovering. In
the meantime she had scandaliZed the
county by various capades-includ-
ing her appearance in an extremely
decollete gown at masked ball. Cos
sip associated her name with the
duka Of Kingston and she confirmed