Evening star., 1936-08-23

Early America Shows Itself
in Countless Forms
Throughout Area.
Vivid, Accurate Picture of
Colonial Times to Be Seen
at Williamsburg.
By James Nevin Miller.
n VOW that August is almost over.
M motoring takes on new en-
chantmentS. Remote from

n VOW that August Is almost over.
M motoring takes on new en-
chantments. Remote from
4 the city's heat and turmoil
you may find peace in traversing the
ever-cooler roads which traverse the
shade-sheltered water lanes and pine
clad slopes near Washington.
This, unquestionably, is the time to
feast your eyes on never-ending
panorama of forest and field, noun
tain and plane, river and lake. SO
today it is suggested that you relax
thoroughly, dismiss cares OF business
and home and follow velvety ribbon
of concrete into Virginias land OF
yesterday"
OF course, all of the Old Dominion
is hallowed ground, rich in historical
tradition. What is referred to here
is that narrow strip of land, COM
monty know as the Peninsula" upon
which a human drama of an incom-
parable character has been enacted.
Nowhere. say all loyal Virginians, can
be found such a small area which has
contributed so much to the life OF
any nation. Here the Colony of Vir-
ginia had its birth, here was laid the
foundation of our present national
existence, and here the independence
of the Colonies finally was won.
On this narrow strip are located
Williamsburg, jamestown and York
town, within a few miles OF each
other. They may be reached by a
six to seven hour drive which leads
you through the Colonial National
Park, new Federal sanctuary that
connects all three cities by a fine
boulevard or parkway, 500 feet wide
and about 20 miles long.
True, the boulevard isn't quite nm
1shed, but save for tiny detour and
q stretch of gravel road about mile
and a half long, no annoyance Is
encountered by the motorist.
Hard-strfaced roads cover the rest
of the area. For genuine enjoyment
you should figure on at least two days
for the trip. Clip the map, shown on
this page, and prepared especially for
The Star by the American Automo-
Ullc ASSOIIdtlOll, dllo yodA "oy "AAh
be easy and pleasant. If possible,
take a Virginia guide book with you
for aid in identifying the points OF
interest along the highway; and by
all means pack bathing suit and a
pair of binoculars.
IF YOU'VE never been to Rich
mond, here's an ideal route that
takes in the Virginia capital: Cross
the Arlington Bridge near the Lin
coin Memorial and get on the Mount
Vernon Memorial Highway. You are
now on route /. Follow it all the way
to Richmond (112 miles from Wash
ington). then take route 60 to Will
liamsburg $50 miles farther; ride Z
miles to jamestown on road well
supplied with signposts; and finally,
take the Colonial Parkway to York
town, distance of IS miles.
Your journey leads through field
after field of goldenrod now turning
from light green to pale yellow. Faint
hints of Autumn are seen every now
and again among the fine shade trees
aHng the roadside and in the wilder
ano more luxurious forest growths
fringing the rich farmlands. These
for the most part are in delicate
shades of pinks, reds and yellows.
Flanking the rural residences are
Autumn flowers of the kind which
have made Virginia justly famous.
Zinnias today are lifting their proud
heads in almost every color of the
spectrum, except true blue, and there
are many perennial phlox gayly garbed
in loveliest purple and lavender, car
mine, pale pink, tomato-red and oc-
casionally snow-white.
What waste of time to travel fast
here! Up and down, up and down
you CO. over pleasantly rolling hills.
After about an hour and half's
ride, Fredericksburg (57 miles from
Washington, according to your odom-
eter reading) is reached. The scene
of some of the most famous battles
of the Civil War Is not visited on this
particular trip, for it requires days
tour in itself, previously described in
this series.
Tiny highway signs keep reminding
you that you are now on the Jeffer-
son Davis highway, and you will see
many road markers indicating that
this was the route of the Union
Army in its march to Richmond. You
pass the very spot where Burnside
crossed; the place where Stuart, Con-
federate officer, on his famous ride
four miles north of Ashland, made
complete circuit Of the Union Army;
and, one mile south Of Ashland. where
Stonewau Jackson, coming up from
the Shenandoah Valley, moved east
ward to join Lee and on June 27, 1862,
helped win the battle of Gaines Mill.
Mill.
WHEN your odometer registers at
about the 73-mile mark you
enter Caroline County and pretty
soon pass through Ashland, a few
miles from where Henry Clay was
born. This Is the heart OF the Vir-
ginia ham region from which country
cured delicacies are shipped all over
the United States.
The approach to Richmond Is
lovely indeed. Route 1 takes you
through Chamberlayne avenue. a wide