The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-08-26

the actual imprint of the thought of
this great American, expressed in
concrete form. The washington
Boulevard" running through this his
toric country, following the wooded
shores of the quiet river that he loved
so dcarly-mile after mile of beauti-
full driveway leading into the city
that bears his name-would eventual
ly take its place among the great
structures of the world.
Should the nation let this oppor-
tunity pass?
Several proposals have been made
for requirements by the government
of the forests on both sides of the
Potomac river about Key bridge. The
requirements of this particular
stretch of land, lying at the very por-
tai of Washington, the National
Capital, can not be too strongly
urged; for the banks of the old Poto-
mac from its source, in two tiny
streams in the mountains of West
Virginia. to it's mouth, with a width
of miles where it flows into Chesa-
peake bay, witnessed the making of
much of our earliest recorded history.
In 1908 John Smith explored the
river to the falls. In the next CEN
fury, at the foot of the forest-cov-
cred cliffs on the Virginia side of the
Potomac, John Randolph, of Roanoke,
and Henry Clay fought their celebra-
ted duel Randolph threw away his
fire and offered Clay his hand. On
the other side of Key Bridge is Ana
lostan Island, formerly known as
Mason's Island, the home of John
Mason, son of George Mason, who
drew up the Virginia constitution,
and who was the author of the fam
Gus Bill of Rights.
Story of Three Sisters
By far the most picturesque river
legend of this section is the story of
the Three Sisters, the small rocky
islands in the center of the Potomac
River just above Key Bridge. Before
a drowning occurs they are believed
to emit a sound like the slow Ginning
of a cathedral bell.
The three maidens, daughters of an
Analostan chief, met one dark night
and stole out in their canoes to visit
the Powhatans. They were caught in
the whirlpool and in fright they flung
| themselves into the water and were
drowned. In the morning three rocks,
gray and barren, had arisen from the
water There is an old ballad which
gives their story. Part of it runs:
"Swifter they come and swifter.
With dark eyes cleaning round,
With soft words, glad and eager,
For the braves of the Powhatan;
When out of the darkness around
them,
Out of the black of the trees,
The voice of the great spirit called
them,
Like the cry of choking seas.
They leaped, with moan of terror,
Into the heart of the mere;
The waters Kissed around them,
The stars were white with fear.
Three rocks, spired and gloomy,
Gray as stormy sky,
Sprang from the depth of the whirl-
pool,
Where the Indian sisters lie.
Ever at night they ring,
Like a sad cathedral bell,
Echoing far on the waters,
They sound the warning bell"
Cliffs and Banks Powered
The cliffs and banks of the Po-
tomac are covered with the native
trees, flowers and plants. The flora of
this section is intensely interesting,
as lack of agricultural pursuits and
building has preserved many original
species. The towpath of the canal
offers a convenient road for observing
the flowers and plants of this region.
The skunk cabbage, found in most
places, is the earliest of the spring
flowers, and this is followed by the
hepatica, trailing arbutus, bloodroot,
spring beauty, adder's tongue, or
trout lily, wake robin, violet, Dutch
mans breeches, bluebells, wild ginger,
jack-in- the-pulpit, columbine and
many others. The redbud and dog
wood are among the more snowy of
the trees.
The country parallel with the old
Chesapeake & Ohio canal offers an
ideal site for scenic boulevard
traversing this historic region and
connecting Washington and Cumber-
land.
In the preliminary report of its
committee on forest and park re-
serves, the American Civic Associa-
ton mentions among the lands de-
sirable to be acquired in extending
the National Capital park system
both banks of the Potomac from
Washington to Great Falls, to pre-
serve the forests, the very remark
able natural scenery and stop deface-