Evening star., 1951-05-15
Williamsburg
|MarksCo|ony's S
Freedom Vote
Rockefeller Opens
Exhibit of Portraits
Of Victory Leaders
By George Kennedy
Star Stasf Correspondent

BY George Kennedy
Stos Staff cersspondsni
81 WILLIAMSBURG. Va. May IS.
One hundred and rs years ago
today. when this was the Colonial
capital Of Virginia. convention
assembled here voted to instruct
the Virginia delegates in the Con-
tinental Congress in Philadelphia
to declare the united colonies
"free and independent states"
The resolution was offered by
Edmund Pendleton Of Caroline
County. 1t passed unanimously.
Three weeks later Richard Henry
Lee Of Virginia arose in the Con-
gress and introduced the resolu-
ton. A committee of five men,
bers was appointed to draft a
formal declaration. One Of them
was Thomas jefferson of Virginia.
He drafted it.
That was the beginning of fire.
crackers on the Fourth of July,
because that was the day on
which it was passed without one
colony dissenting.
Show to Draw Pilgrims.
Mindful of the value in times
like these Of an anniversary that
rekindles love of country, Colonial
Williamsburg is putting on a show
here that should bring pilgrims
from the sun-kissed shores Of
California, the rock-bound coast
|of Maine and all points between.
This Is freedom train that is
easy for the fortunate Washing
tonian to board. All he has to do
is to get into his car and enjoy
|a four-hour drive through lush
Virginia countryside.
AS John D. Rockefeller, Sd,
whose family has spent so many
millions SO well in recreating this
Colonial capital, said yesterday.
the finest tribute tourists pay VIII
|liamsburg is: 1T makes American
history seem so real"
He was opening an exhibit of
portraits that makes it seem real.
Entitled They Gave Us Freedom"
ut is wealth of national heritage
that will make every American
proud that he belongs to such a
distinguished family.
These pictures have been gath
cred from far and wide. Not even
months of travel and gallery trot-
ting would reach them all. for
many of the most interesting are
from private collections.
Patrick Henry Pictured,
There on one wall is Patrick
Henry. pictured making the speech
right here in the Capital that was
so disturbing. And well it might
have been. The recreation Of
1.-THE scene by the German artist
Peter F. Rothermel is understand
able. the gantlet thrown on the
floor. the dark looks of two mem
Ibers in the aisle. the half drawn
sword of member in the benches
and the shocked looks of the ladies
IN the gallery. For Patrick Henry
is reported to have said:
Caesar had his Brutus, Charles
1 his Cromwell, and George LII
l."
He was interrupted by cries of
Treason! Treason!" And he an.
swered: IF this be treason, make
the most Of it."
The picture has ben loaned the
exhibit by the PENNSYLVANIA
Academy of Fine Arts at Phila-
delphia.
Famous Naval Battle.
On another wall is the original
OF a picture familiar to every
schoolboy-the engagement be-
tween the Bonhomme Richard and
the Scraps. :" It is from the Naval
Academy at Annapolis. Painted
by Richard Patton, it shows the
moment when the decks were
ablaze on the ship named for
BENJAMIN Franklin-the moment
when its commander, Capt. John
Paul Jones, replied to a surrender
demand with, II have just begun
to fight"
There are several interesting
primitives in the exhibit. One is
about Francisco Gallant, a Paul
Bunyan of Revolutionary Virginia.
Gallant, a stalwart Portuguese.
carried 9-foot sword, according
to legend, and once won a bet by
lifting a man and horse over a
fence.
| Here he is pictured defeating
four British horsemen single-
handed while a regiment of 400
redcoats does a right about face
to avoid the terrible swordsman.
The picture is owned by Frank
Mason. former vice president of
the National Broadcasting Co..
who lives near Purcellville,
And in a corner is a bust of
Jones made in Paris right after
the fight by Jean-Antoine Hou-
don. the sculptor who later came
to America and did the life-size
statue OF George Washington in
Richmond. BustS usually portray
more likeness than spirit, but
IHoudon reveals in it how cocky
was this Scot who called himself
a citizen Of the world" This also
Us from the Naval Academy. The
show also includes the Ho,ldon