Public affairs each week on our series reel america, saturday at 10 00 p. M. , and sunday 4 00 p. M. Eastern on American History tv. Heres a quick look at one of our recent programs. In Plymouth Harbor england, the may flower ii lies at anchor, a famous ship come to life again after three centuries in the pages of history. Shes as accurate a replica of the original as scholars and ship wrights could make her, a gift of englishman to america, a historical tribute far removed from the usual solemn ceremonies, and books, this tribute to history takes the form of living adventure. 337 years after the original set sail for the new world, on the landing stage from which the pilgrims departed, plymouths mayor, bid the Ships Company god speed and smooth sailing. The ceremonies have ended, the adventure about to begin, with the world on this voyage, a contrast from their own land in search of freedom and a new life. 1620 and 1957 are separated by far more than mere passage of time. Crew men had to master a complex tangle of rigging, memorizing more than 50 ropes to handle the six working sails. Even to the ships officers, experienced square rigged men to sail the cranky 17th century bark meant learning a lost art. A tiny craft of the broad atlantic, shes only 90 feet long, 25 feet at her widest, but mayflower ii carries only a Ships Company of 33. Her name sake said with 125 passengers and crew. These modern sea ferries have added advantages, a perfected system of navigation, radio, accurate charts and perhaps most important knowledge of winds and currents. The pilgrims headed for virginia but wound up at cape cod. Captain knowingly sets his course almost due south to gain the help of trade winds. But in many ways, the Ships Company lived and worked 17th century style. Even on a small ship that means lots of work. The diet was largely lime juice and salt beef, old time nautical staples. Their solid but monotonous menu was brightened by the water crest menu, grown by the docks, fresh greens every day. Salt beef and greens all the way without an epidemic of seasickness, thats some kind of record right there. For 16 days, the mayflower runs southwest from england, with a steady wind and smooth seas, a high sense of adventure, and only salt water to shave in. What better time to grow a beard. Growing it is easy. Trimming it on the deck of the hard rolling ship looks down right hazardous. In the trade winds, the vessel turns the corner, heading west and meeting its first weather, ugly cross sea has the ship rolling sharply. But the wind is there, and each days voyage is longer and longer. Once the may flower logged 164 miles. Life on a smooth running ship ordinarily settles into a comfortable routine. This year is no ordinary voyage, its the highlight of a lifetime for every man of the crew, and its especially memorable for the 17yearold cabin boy, his transition from land lover to mariner is made official by captain billiards. One of the few americans aboard, he earned his berth by winning a National Youth award. His english counter part offers congratulations on his commencement. Sundays saw all hands assembled on the quarter deck for religious services conducted by the captain. Worship was followed by short talks on pilgrim history or on early exploration. Today was one of rest with no deck swabbing, no chores for the crew. Twice the trade winds failed, the ship was becomed and the horse latitudes on the worst day logging only 11 miles. The cramped quarters grew unbearably hot, waiting hour after hour, day after day for a breeze. Felix was the only one indifferent to the heat and still air. The others found relief in mid ocean swimming, many hundreds of miles from the nearest shore. At last the winds came and mayflower sails fills reentering the trade lanes to see other ships again after weeks on an empty sea. Mayflower ii had the benefit of three centuries of seamans experience with the atlantic. Her southerly route was longer than the pilgrims course but faster thanks to the winds and currents. The light ship was technically the first landfall, real land was still over the horizon, but the ship was as good as in port. By air and sea, the triumphant square rigor was escorted to complete her voyage, 5,435 miles under sail. In 54 days at sea, as again 66 for the original crews, the mode modern mayflower achieved a notable feat which helped our age to realize how much more was encountered and endured by the pilgrim fathers. As it was in 1620, harbor was the first port of call, lay offshore, her cargo of migrants to the new world, one of the great milestones in the development of angelo democracy. On the shore at plymouth where wilderness awaited the pilgrims now stand the gleaming monument. Instead of wilderness, a cheering throng greets the second mayflower. Captain and his men receive a heros ovation at plymouth. Close by Plymouth Rock where the pilgrims set foot in the new world. The mayflower ii will be docked permanently, living memorial to a great voyage. Youre watching American History tv. All weekend, every weekend, on cspan 3. This year is the 400th anniversary of the pilgrims landing in new england on the shore of Plymouth Harbor in massachusetts. This week on reel america, we mark the anniversary with four films about their story, which were produced for classroom use. First, the pilgrims, a 1955 Encyclopedia Britannica interpretation filmed mostly in a london studio, it dramatizes the pilgrims flight from religious persecution and their ocean voyage on the mayflower culminating in the founding of Plymouth Colony in 1620. In about 20 minutes, a 1980 version of the mayflower story, Plymouth Colony, the first year. Much of the narration is taken from pilgrim William Bradfords journal, describing his experience. In about 35 minutes, we feature a 1940 film that focuses on how the early colonists lived. Its titled early settlers of new england, salem, 1626 to 1629 quote, finally in 45 minutes, the beginning, part lecture, part dramatized film argues the pilgrims early attempts at collectivism or socialism were a failure, and they abandoned those in