Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-11-26
Rare Books Written
by People of the
Plymouth Colony
HistmiculPictures
and Museum Ex-
hibits Famous
Painting in Ro-
tunda of the Capt.
toll Model of the
Mayfzozver:
BY VICTORIA FABER STEVENSON.


playing its priced mementoes. WASH
ington book lovers are delighted at
being able to actually see and use rare
books in the Library of Congress which were
written by the people of the Plymouth Colony
while it was being settled. Historical pictures.
museum exhibits of Both the Pilgrims and the
Massachusetts, Indians, bulletins on the almost
unknown Indians friendly to the New England
white men, as well as model Of the Mayfiower.
in which the Pilgrims made their first voyage,
brings the events Of the Plymouth Colony before
the eyes Of the people Of Washington.
Probably the most widely studied painting OF
Pilgrim times hangs in the rotunda OF the
Capitol. That huge canvas, The Embarkation
Of the Pilgrims" is well known throughout the
Nation. Hundreds Of thousands Of visitors 70
Washington have seen it. Others know 1t
through nunlberless prints and engraved copies
which have been made. Back in 1887, nearly
Q century ago. Congress arranged for its paint
ing. The fact that 1t was not hung for nearly
10 years might indicate that the artist took
adequate time for research to make the picture
historically correct.
Critics who complain that the painting shows
. gloomy party might be reminded that the
Pilgrims, who were not exactly given TO real
merriment had little to be joyful about when
they left Holland on the Speedwen They are
shown sailing from Delft Haven on the first
lap Of their long voyage to America, which
portended great hazards Robert Weir pictured
their deeply religious spirit and the fervor with
which their pastor prayed for divine protection
and guidance for that part Of his congregation
which had chosen to exile itself to the wilder
ness Of the New World.
INASMUCH as the Pilgrims Of 1920 left no
! detailed description Of their ship, the artist
pictured the Speedwell as typical ship Of that
day As Robert Weir had no undisputed
passenger list of Pilgrims who sailed on that
22d day of July, 1920, for southampton, nor
scarcely any portraiture to copy except that
which was traditional, he represented the most
important men of the society and clothed them
in apparel characteristic Of the Pilgrims OF that
time. Like other large canvases In the rotunda,
Weir's was painted to perpetuate a page In
history. 1t was intended not only to tell Of an
event, but to give posterity a picture OF the
perSonages who took part by delineating their
characters, appearances and dress. In order
to accomplish that purpose the painter used
his imagination as well as what authoritative
material he could procure. Thus, Rose StandEh
is made beautiful and her husband, the military
aide Of the exiles, who wears part OF his armor,
Is given a stern expression. The key OF the
picture, which hangs near the painting, identi-
f1es Pastor Robinson who sailed with his flock
only as far as England; Elder Brewster, Gov
Carver, Miles Standish, Mr.. Fuller, Mr.. White
and Mr.. Winslow the leading men who con-
Hnued their journey to America. Seven
Pilgrim mothers and six children are also shown
among the other Speedwen passengers The
artist, who received $4,000 for this picture
when it was hung in l847, was called upon to
repair it in 1861 BY that time It had been
seriously injured, like the other rotunda paint
ings. while the new Capitol dome was being
built.
The sculpture by Enrico Causici in the
rotunda of the Capitol shows the landing of
the Pilgrims. That bas-relief was placed in the
old Capitol in 1926. In all probability many
Capitol visitors failed to the painting Of
Elder Brewster by Constantine Brumidi, a
ceiling fresco in the Presidents room in the
Senate wing of the building. Those who recall
that that spiritual adviser gave long service to
the Plymouth Colony realize his Importance
in the history of the early settlers.
Tourists throng the old museum to see Col.
Lndberghs Spirit of ST. Louis, whose flying
time over the Atlantic Ocean was measured by
hours. 1t is doubtful if many visitors know
that the model of the Mayfower is encased but
a short distance away from the airplane. That
historic ship of 300 years ago took nearly four
months to cross the same ocean. The MayfoWer