CHAPTER XVI.

THE JAMESTOWN EXPOSITION.

IN 1607 the first permanent English colony was successfully planted in Virginia, on the James River. The story of its trials and sufferings is known to every school boy. So little was the true nature of the new continent understood in the Old World that chevaliers and gentlemen, hoping to retrieve their fortunes, set out upon a voyage thither with the sole desire of becoming rich. Captain John Smith's arduous task in converting such a company into thrifty workers has been explained in every American history. Sickness, dissension and want so reduced the colony that they were about to return to the mother country when help arrived just in time to save the settlement for a future nation. The first and second hundredth anniversary had passed without particular attention and it was determined to celebrate the third centennial by holding an exposition as near the site of the original settlement as possible.

There was no attempt to rival the great expositions which this country had already produced. Rather, from the outset the idea of developing a kind of historical exposition which should set forth graphically the story of old colony days was emphasized. Believing that the strength of armies and battleships had been important in days bygone, it was stipulated in the beginning that "Such exposition should be adjacent to the waters of Hampton Roads, whereupon the navies of all nations may rendezvous in honor of the hardy mariner who braved the dangers of the deep to establish the first colony."

Congress appropriated approximately $1,700,000 for various exposition purposes and an invitation was extended in the name of the President to foreign nations to take part in a naval and military display which should be made in connection with the exhibition.

The district chosen for the exhibit included about 400 acres and was open to the view of Hampton Roads. The

government constructed two huge piers out from the shore one-half mile, these being 200 feet in width. They were joined at the outer ends by a third, arched in the center to allow small boats to enter the area of water thus enclosed. These three piers were threaded with one million incandescent bulbs which, with searchlights, bathed the whole into white splendor at night.

The buildings were colonial in character. The Administration Building was centrally located and contained the auditorium—accommodating about six thousand people. Near it were the Twin Palaces-of History and Historic Art. This first was made fireproof and housed rare and valuable historical papers during the exposition months.

The two sides of the grounds not open to the water were enclosed by trellises of roses, honeysuckle, creepers and other vinery, supported by invisible wire to the height of eight feet, the top being capped by barbed wire to prevent intrusion. These two flowery walls were most effective. Moreover, all available space within the grounds was laid out in old-fashioned gardens.

A group of seven buildings constituted the Arts and Crafts Village the Textile Building; Copper, Silver and Wooden Shops; Pottery Shop; Iron Shop; Model School; Mothers and Children's Building and the Pocahontas Hospital. These quaint, dignified, colonial buildings-like most of the others— were erected as permanent structures and have since been sold as residences, hotels, clubs and the like. In the Textile Building were set up looms and skilled workers carded wool, spun it and wove it into fabrics, after the fashion of long ago. In the workshops, furniture such as that used in the colonial houses of the seventeenth century was manufactured for the interest of visiting guests. Iron and copper kettles, pewter spoons, andirons, knockers, and every article of use in the early American home were reproduced as in the days gone by. Nails were pounded out; horse shoes wrought. Indeed, anyone who wished to study the social and industrial life of Old Colony days might here find it brought back for his leisurely study. Vessels came but rarely then from the Old World, and there was much that these must needs bring. The selfreliant colonist could not depend upon imported articles. It

was necessary for him to become skillful in fashioning these for himself, or at least, in every settlement some one must be able to produce articles of various descriptions. It will be remembered that upon the Virginian plantation workshops of different kinds were maintained and the independent planter lived in a little world of his own-the ships that carried away his tobacco in many instances coming to his very wharf. However, all this came about somewhat later.

Nearly all the original thirteen states erected buildingsPennsylvania reproducing Independence Hall. Four western states, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Nevada, built one jointly, giving it the form of a maltese cross and each occupying one of the arms with its exhibits. Several of these buildings were also erected with the plan of later usefulness.

In the fireproof buildings devoted to old papers and other valuable historical evidence, fac-similes of the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and Constitution were shown, together with original papers of great value. Each state searched its archives for interesting matter to loan for the exhibit. One of the most interesting historical displays was the reproduced village of Jamestown, with its stockade, forts and Indian houses.

Due to the constant encroachments of the river, the site of early Jamestown is now a marsh. It lies about forty miles up the stream from the exposition grounds and many who visited the latter availed themselves of the day excursions offered by small crafts to see the spot thus identified with our early beginnings. The old church stands now in ruins and there is little else to distinguish the memorable spot.

In view of the splendid motives that led to this undertaking, it is almost a pity to touch upon the other side of the matter and show why this exposition failed to realize the hopes at first entertained for it. Intending to place only moderate stress upon military concerns, these soon were found to be wholly in the ascendency. Great Britain, Germany, France, Russia, Japan, Denmark, Belgium, Mexico, Costa Rica and other nations dispatched gunboats and troops thither. Some of the ones promoting the Fair, imbued with true American enterprise, sought to make each military pageant as imposing as possible and spread advertisements of this nature through

the land. "This will be the greatest military display the world has ever seen;" "This will bring before the eyes of American citizens the greatest gathering of warships the world has ever known." "It will give us living pictures of war, with all its enticing splendors.' And so extracts from flaming posters might be made indefinitely. In some countries such promises as these might have elicited great enthusiasm and joy, but in the United States where war is abhorred, they called out the condemnation of the discerning press and dismayed the thoughtful citizen. Many a man knew from personal experience that war has no attending splendors and many a household still mourns those whose lives went out in noble sacrifice

for a great cause. It is all very well to rehearse the oftrepeated sentence that the greatest safeguard of peace is a large and well equipped army and navy. Many believe it, but nevertheless, the sight of a great fleet of battleships gives comfort and assurance far less than it inspires awe. These mighty contrivances are meant to destroy human life; the far penetration of their guns is the boast of the age. For two thousand years the doctrine of peace on earth, good will toward men has been preached, and in face of it manifestations of war must alway imply flat contradiction and inconsistency. It would be unsafe for one nation to disarm while its neighbors perfected their gunboats and armies, but at least long extended display of military pomp will find scant welcome in this country. Especially were the advertised mock battles commemorating critical times in our history resented.

It cannot help the popularity of a national exposition to have many of the nation's publications decrying some features of its plan-however they may seek to do justice to the restand it cannot be denied that this over-emphasizing military affairs alienated many who otherwise might have availed themselves of the chance to spend some time at Norfolk. Added to this was the disadvantage of summer climate in sultry Virginia from the last of April until fall. Furthermore, the effort seemed to demonstrate that however our nation may be at fault for not valuing highly historical things and relics of the past, the attention of the general public is won far more quickly by anything that points toward the future.

There was dearth of means for promoting the exposition

and the government was asked to loan $1,000,000 to the Jamestown Exposition Company, taking a lien upon the gate receipts, 40% of these to be reserved to make good this amount. The daily admissions during the fair were not allowed to become public, as has generally been the case. Various efforts were made to estimate them-all too high it turned out when the final showing to the government was made. The average daily admissions were only 1,500 and of the million loaned, $140,000 was returned. This occasioned some public discussion as to whether loans of this nature were justifiable or not.

For the first time in the history of expositions, the negroes made a separate showing. In a building designed by a negro architect and constructed by negro workmen, three thousand exhibits were made. The Fisk Jubilee Singers provided frequent concerts; the various schools for the colored children and older students made fine exhibits. The needlework done by the girls was excellent. Inventions made by them; books written by Booker T. Washington and other clever thinkers were to be seen. On one side of the entrance to their building was a windowless cabin of the kind provided for the slaves in 1860; on the other side, a pleasant wooden cottage commonly built by the enterprising among them to-day. Never in history has a race shown such remarkable progress in forty-five years. There are to-day in Virginia alone 47,000 homes owned by the colored people. August 3rd was observed as Negro Day, but while some six thousand of this race gathered in their building, other visitors to the grounds appeared to give slight attention to the occasion.

Someone recalling the early struggle with the Indians suggested the name The War-path for the amusement quarter and it clung to it. The shows were not all warlike in nature but were not patronized as constantly as they are in the north. The New South has had a great burden to meet in its reconstruction and money is not so plentiful among the middle class as in the north. Many found the expense of the trip thither and the admission all they cared to undertake.

The government set aside $50,000 for a permanent monument to be erected in memory of the first English settlement made in the United States. Built of light New Hampshire