The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-05-03

the New world. Among these women were two
young mothers-Mary Hopkins. who carried in
her arms little Oeeanus Hopkins born on the
high seas, and Susanna White with her little son,
Peregrine White, who first saw the light Of day
in the harbor ar Provincetown, where the May
flower had stopped before going on TO Plymouth
In the Plymouth Of today stands the Pilgrim
Memorial fountain, erected by the National So
cieIy Of the Daughters Of the American Revo-
luton as its part Of the Pilgrim Tercentenary
celebration Of 1920. The fountain consists of a
massive square shaft supporting lofty bowl
from which water pours in continual streams
into pool below. On the side of the shaft
facing the harbor is the Ife-size figure of the
Pilgrim Mother by c. P. Jennewein, New
York sculptor.
Dressed in Pilgrim garb, the figure expresses
IN face and attitude the faith patience strength
endurance and devotion of the founders of New
England On the opposite side of the shaft are
engraved the names of the women passengers
OF the Mayhower and below them these words:
They brought up their families in sturdy vir-
tue and a living faith in God without which na-
tons perish"
At the time Of the dedication of this fountain
Mrs George Maynard Miner, honorary president
general of the D. A. B. paid this tribute TO the
Pilgrim mothers:
After daring the perils of the unknown land
after sharing with the men all the hardships
g voyage
weeks in cockle-sheu Of a boat, and landing
on a desolate and savage coast in the dead of
winter, Inhabited only by wild men and wild
beasts, after experiences that might well over
come the hardest and most gallant nature they
settled down TO the making Of homes with a
faith in the daily presence and guidance of God
which sustained them in every hour Of need.
Through hunger and starvation, through sick
ness and death which exacted the toll of half
-hair -hax -o;la
only toward the goal of their high calling in
Christ Jesus
I'VE hear far more about the Pilgrim fathers
than we do about the Pilgrim mothers While
in way wishing to detract from the rightful
glory Of the fathers nevertheless il is time that
the world realized the part that these women
played in civilization II is time that history
took note of them. Rarely if ever are they
mentioned by name, except in the genealogies,
or by specialists in Pilgrim history. Their names
with few exceptions. not household words
on our tongues, Ike those of Niles Standish or
William Bradford and the rest They figure only
in the passenger list of the Mayhower and only
as Mary or Katharine etc, wife Of So and So
The family names of but few are given. The
names of some are literally unknown not even
the baptismal name being recorded These latter
figure solely as the wives OF the fathers without
further identification.
I'VE may read the tragic list for ourselves.
The wife of John Tilly-who was she? By what
name was she called in those terrific years of
sorrow and suffering? The maidservant of the
Carvers-who was she? What fathfulness and
courage must have been hers 10 follow her mas
ter and mistress into such an adventure Yet
her name is lost and her identity sunk in OBJ
Hvion- We have inscribed on our fountain all the
names that are known; we have cut them into
deathless stone, that all coming generations may
read and remember. And we have so indicated
the nameless that they may share in the immor-
tally Of the rest Unknown soldiers of a future
nation. we salute you
Time does not permit my following the for
tunes Of these women through the grim years.
But / would like 10 point out that all was not
tragedy in those womens lives. Gladness as
well as sorrow came TO them Little children
were born TO them in the wilderness The JOYS
of home life even in savage land were theirs
'sThe Pilgrims were men and women in all
the vigor Of youth or early maturity strong to
labor. keen TO enjoy. They were not old and
decrepit, hard and austere, as is so often paint
ed. Love of life and work and child-like falrn
were theirs. and they passed these qualities on
10 their children and their children's children,
until nation grew up. nodded along their lines
The Inspiration was theirs of common struggle