The Golden Age, 1906-11-08

a feature of every commemorative exposition abroad. At Jamestown there is planned a naval meeting of all nations where each one will display to the utmost the special features of her naval warfare. \merica, with her newly acquired taval strength, can well compete vith the older nations of the world »n this particular, and those who stand on the shores of Hamp Hampton - ton Hampton Roads and watch the passing the great ships of war must feel a thrill of national pride for he ship of state which has steer steerid - id steerid our nation into a naval place equal to that of any in the world. aval drills, submarine battles, indulged in by all the nations, even a perfect imitation of the historic contest between our brave Monitor and her gallant adversa adversary - ry adversary the Merrimac enacted in the very waters that witnessed the original conflict, will be some of the great naval features of the Exposition at Jamestown. Yet another exhibit which owes its full fullest - est fullest force to the tidewater loca location - tion location of this exposition will be that

nexing to it the wondrous treas treasure - ure treasure of a New Woild, have been as completely loy loyal - al loyal to the new interests they formed on our shores, and as nobly devoted to the land of their adoption as ever they were to the Crown of England, which was discarded because the American settlers gradually but positively outgrew its dominance. And it is the coming of these brave pioneers of old that their descendants today would celebrate on the shores of the James River, in the very paths where those sturdy feet once trod and along the very lines that would have appealed most strongly to those souls of the Long Ago. No picture of that early life in the New World is necessary here for each phase of it is so well known as to have be become - come become a part of our national history. But it must ever be a source of national pride to remember

of the splendid searchlights with which every ship in the naval rendezvous will be furnished. Our own new battleship Connecticut will have the largest of these, but each one which flashes its brilliant finger of light into the darkness of Hampton Roads will be a revelation of the won wonders - ders wonders of modern science as applied to modern needs. Foreign Participation. The participation of foieign nations in an exposi exposition - tion exposition determines in a great measure the commercial and diplomatic value to the country and to the world of such an exposition, and it is gratifying to note that the principal nations of the Orient as well as of Europe have responded favorably to the invitation of President Roosevelt to share our great naval, military and civil display at Jamestown. As has been said, the naval feature appealed to the

a most fitting one, for although much of the orig original - inal original settlement at Jamestown has now disappeared, owing to tidewater conditions, yet the adjoining site of Hampton Roads, a spot which includes the cities of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News and Hampton, is particularly attractive. These cities although separate in their municipal government form really one business center and maritime port, and while Norfolk is the headquarters of the Expo Exposition - sition Exposition the grounds themselves are situated on the south side of Hampton Roads almost equally distant from the four cities. These four cities comprise the most extensive port for seagoing traffic in the world; the very larg largest - est largest ships have easy access to their docks and wharves while to them also lead the great railroads

position which our country ever witnessed, and since that time va various - rious various other events in our history have been s : milarly commemorat ed. But neither the Cotton Cen tennial Exposition held in Nev Orleans in 1885, which marked the hundredth anniversary of the ex exportation - portation exportation of cotton from American shores, nor the great Exposition in St. Louis in 1904, which com commemorated - memorated commemorated the discovery of America by Columbus, nor even the splendid World's Fair in Chi Chicago, - cago, Chicago, nor the beautiful Pan- American Exposition in Buffalo have had for their object as sig significant - nificant significant an event as the exposi exposition - tion exposition to be held on Hampton Roads, Virginia, during the sum summer - mer summer of 1907.

of the country, carrying yearly large masses of com commerce - merce commerce and vast numbers of persons. Advantages of Being at Tidewater. There are several most decided advantages to an Exposition situated at the chief harbor on the Atlantic coast, and these advantages are clearly rec recognized - ognized recognized and eagerly welcomed by the committees in charge of the great project. For the first time in the history of America there is to be given on American shores an international naval leview which will rival in splendor the navai reviews of the old world which have for long been

that from the struggles and trials and failures of the past have arisen the successes of the present. No nation of the earth has in the same length of time contributed more to the history of art, science, commerce and invention than has America. With us, national and civic perfection and progress have been our beacon light beckoning us onwaid and up upward - it - ward - it upward - it is but natural therefore that we should trace with pleasure the sign posts marking our path pathway - way pathway through the years. Location of the Exposition. The site chosen for th\s national celebration is

ACH year in a nation's life should car carry - ry carry with it some maik of progress or de development, - velopment, development, but it is only when these years silently form themselves into vaster periods of lime that we note what has been accomplished and at attained. - tained. attained. Fortunately, America is young enough and has achieved enough to welcome the flight of time and to be