davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24
COMEDIAN CRANES ESSAY
The Profession Il Not Necessarily Insom.
pasIbIs with RsIislons Failh.

DDllUl8 WIN ABHEIuMI EuILMa
Actors are more likely to hold in rsvsr-
ence religious and sacred things than the
members Of many Of the learned professions,
saving, Of course, the Doctors Of Divinity
themselves. We are accustomed in our
nightly work, many of Us, at least, 10 enun-
ciate sentiments Of lofty morality and high
and noble purport. The emotional part ol
our nature (and religion, fancy, derives
its being from the emotional rather than the
Intellectual ids Of mans character) Il con
stantly exercised, and becomes, therefore,
more responsive and more easily stirred
than in the case Of other men. The very
narrowness Of intellectual vision, which Il
often and perhaps rightly charged against
us, gives to our views Of life simplicity
which is not affected By those diverse cur
rents Of thought which affect the opinions
Of those brought more directly into coni1cl
with the outside world.
Thus, at the start, the actor Is, il the
nature Of things, much more likely TO hold
good men and divine things In rsversnos
than in contempt; and my own observation
has led me to conclude that this is pracfis
ealiy as well as theoretically the case. Be
cause an actor, who leaves the theatsr a
midnight on Saturday, after 3 hard weeks
work and travel, fails 10 attend service &C s
strange church in strange city, on Sunday
morning. there is in my opinion no. evidences
to support . charge against him Of inddolil1
or eontempt for religion.
Many reasons deter him from attending
divine service. He Is ever lIabls 10 b
charged with ostentation, and accused of
going to church merely to gain cheap ad-
Vertisements and notoriety. II is pos1Ibl1
he may hear the reverend gentleman desoant
upon the actors profession e the ltralg1t
pathway to perdition. He Is accustomed,
naturally, to place correct elooution above
virtues which other men hold in higher
esteem; and the time he spends in listening
to q service read in the sing-soug, hating
fashion, which, I fear, is the rule rather
than the exception, Is q period Of actual
mental torture. Finally, as have hinte4
above, be is . Eandaref for eight o. nine
months in the year, and stays IN no one
place long enough TO enable him 10 atiae1
himself 70 any particular church organi4aN
ton.
That the actors profession is necessarily
incompatible with religious faith Of any
variety, save, perhaps, with some iorms Of
uncompromising Puritanism, IemphaticaIIT
deny. / have known many actors and many
actresses who were good Christians, just a8L
have known many In all other professions
who delighted 70 insist in season and cut q
il on their hostility to all forms Of revealed
religion. w. h CRANE.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24
BISCUITS WITH WHISPERS.
They Were Made in 1928 and the Boarders
Refused to Eat Them.

They Were Made in 1928 and the BOarders
Refused to Eat Them.
st. Louis Globe-DemocratI
To give variety to the ancient fiddle busi-
ness, will tell true story of an old thing
which is old and odd, if not musical. Not
long since we moved here from Arkansas,
where generations of our folks had kept
house. Searching yesterday in trunk we
brought found a wealth of relics. One
was bundle of biscuits wrapped in copy
of FranklinviIle paper, dated January 3,
1928, during Monroe's prosperous regime.
The bread had evidently been laid away,
and, the weather being cool, the boarders
had refused to eat cold biscuits. That was
before baking powder was in vogue.
They were so tempered by age that they
would actually ring forth metallic sound
which think would not food the soul OF a
hungry wood-choDper with rapturous mel
ody. What would ]. take for them? Moth
ing. Aunt broke tooth IN biting one and
that cost me S11. We will keep these bis
cults as a family heirloom. would like to
hear from anyone who has a biscuit more
entitled to whiskers.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24
HELEN DAUYRAY,s FAITH.
Why Actors seldom Arreud Church on the
Sabbath.


Sabbath.
Why is It that such great portion Of the
public seem to take it for granted that all
actors are irreligious, if not altogether athe-
lists? Some ministers Of the gospel, who
teach Christian charity, look upon US a.
forever lost to salvation, because we are IN
believers. If those who deride US would only
take the trouble to investigate with one-half
the energy that they display in condemning
actors and the stage, they would find such
an opinion without foundation.
Inmy association with my fellow-aetors, I
have yet to meet one who ever has anything
but the greatest respect and belief IN the
Almighty Being. We are not church.
goers, it is true, but that Is not because We
are unbelievers, but because Sunday is our
only day Of rest; and it is most welcome.
Sunday is the minister's day Of business;
therefore, he is punetual in his devotions.
But if he had to act every night in the
week, and twice on Saturday, retire on Sat-
urday night physically exhausted, he would.
perhaps, also, when he heard the early
church bells on Sunday morning, think
twice before he would leave the tempting
bed Of rest.
When an actor does visit place Of wor-
ship he is most reversntial and deeply i'm
pressed with what he sees and hears. II any
one doubts this, let him visit the Little
Church Around the Corner" IN New York,
some day, when there is a special gathering
of dramatic people. have done 80, and
was forcibly struck with the unusual serious
ness Of this usually happy band Of light
hearted Bohemians. Not being church
goers they are all the more impressed, and
firmly believe, while in the house Of wor-
ship, think only Of the Gospel and it,
teachings, while regular church-goers being
accustomed to their surroundings, are apt 70
let their minds wander to more worldly
affairs.
Perhaps periodical devotions that ara
deeply felt win weigh as heavily on high -
Indifferent regularity.
True religion teaches many nObla things.
but sthe greatest Of these ischarity." Where
in the world, and in what profession, can
one find more of the smilk Of human kind.
ness" than in this self-sams band Of Bo-
hemians2 They are ever ready 70 stretch
forth 3 helping hand to those in need, r.
gardless Of creed, nationality OF profession
I do not think there is q prominent actor
or actress before the public to-day who Is an
unbeliever. There may be agnostics among
US, but have never met an atheist.
Personally, cannot say am . church
goer. I attend service as often as can;
when do there is no one present who con-
munes more tervsntly with God or With
greater belief, than I. Three Of my child
hood years were passed in q convent, and at
the age Of 13 had serious intentions Of BE-
coming a religieuse; and though did not
follow out my intentions have not lost one
jot Of my reverence for, or my faith in God,
HELEN DAUVRAx WARD.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24
BELIEFS OF ACTORS.
FOOtIight FaVOrites Outline Their Re-
IigiOus Opinions.
LAST WORDS OF JOHN GILBERT.
Why Mrs. Langtry Leans Toward the
Catholic Church.
SOME FALSE IMPRESSIONS REMOVED
rwRIrrEN ZOE THE pIsPATcH. ]

WRITTEN FOB THE DIsPATCH1
It is a popular impression that actors, as
a rule, are at variance with the Church and
its doctrines. While many Of the public
profess disbelief in the religious instincts
of the actor the pulpit has gone farther and
declared him an atheist. That those who
successfully tread the boards Of the theater
can as devoutly bend the knee in religious
devotion is to the minds of many difficult to
conceive. Except in notable instances, the
actors voice has been but little heard in the
discussion. OF especial interest, therefore,
we think, viii prove the testimonials Of
prominent actOrssub-j Joined below. In almost
every case publicity is now for the first time
given to the opinions expressed. The con-
tributions have thus freshness Of interest,"
as well as q unique value.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

4 Philosophizing on the tendency Of the big
apples to find the top of the barrel, the edi-
tor of the Ellsworth, Me-, american quotes
some pertinent words uttered by Methodist
minister whom he once knew. He said:
my friends. ifyour religion does not insure
an honest deal and measure when you sell
onions and apples, it is not worth haVingl
Unless you serve God in the measure of
your potatoes, vain and futile is the service
of your lipsl''
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

Whitefeld. One bitter, cold Thanksgiving
Day Milton had scarcely pronounced the
"Amen" of the benediction before the door
Of every pew was swung open and its occu.
pants made hasty rush for the aisles. But
their unseemly haste was checked when
their eccentric pastor leaned over the pulpit
and cried out, in his peculiar nasal voice,
Eye needn't hurry; your turkeys and mince
pies won't get cold"
bath-day house, where a warm room re-
ceived them, and where their Thanks
giving dinner was cooked and
eaten, blessing being invoked
and thanks returned by the head of the
family. The morning sermon formed the
chief topic of discussion, all being allowed
the utmost freedom in their remarks. A
long prayer was offered by some one present.
and then all returned to the meeting house
for another three-hour service.
For the following quaint account of an
old colonial Thanksgiving church service
and dinner, am in debt to letter written
in the year 1714, by an ancestor of mine, the
Rev. Lawrence Conant, of the old South
parish in Danvers Mass, and still pre-
served as a most precious heirloom in nv
family.
Eye Governor was in We house, and Her
Majesty's commissioners of We customs, and
they sat together in high seat by We pull
pit stairs. Ye Governor appears very de-
vout and attentive, although he favors
Episcopacy and tolerates We Quakers and
Baptists. He was dressed in black velvet
coat, boardered with gold lace, and buff
breeehes with gold buckles at We knees, and
white silk stockings.
PoMP sHoRTER's IRREvERENcB
'There was disturbance In We galleries.
where it was filled with divers negroes,
mulattoes and Indians. and a negro called
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24
For the Many Blessings Granted
by Providence During
the Past Year.
ORIGIN OF THANKSGIVING.
A Puritan Farmer Who Believed in
Cheerful Gratitude to God.
OBSERVING THE DAY IN NEW ENGLAND

Thanksgiving Day Instituted by the Pilgrim
Fathers-A Good Man Whose Name is
FOrgOtten-W Governor Wise, of
VirEinin, Refused TO Issue n Thanks
giving PrOclamaIion-A Puritan CeIe-
bratiOn-LOnE Church Services and n
Big Dinner-A Conflict Between Con-
science and VenisOn-How Pomp Shorter
Got Into TrOuble-A Preachers Re-
proof to His Cold and Hungry Congrc-
cation.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

was called forth and put in ye broad isle,
where he was reproved with great careful-
ness and solemnity. He was there put IN
ye deaeon's seat between two deacons, in
view ofye whole congregation; but ye sex
ton was ordered by Mr.. Prescott to take him
out, because Of his levity and strange con-
to ye grave deacons1. and put him in ye lobby
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

These were some Of those that came down
the street that early morning.
Up the street came another tide Of men,
the e6b tide one might call it, as the other
was the tide in flow. These were returning
from the work or pleasure Of the night-re-
turning to sleep and rise refreshed, or to
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

sleep and rise with pale face and tottering
limbs, according as they had labored or
reVeled.
Boys and men-black and white-were
coming up the street, much the same as
those who had gone down. These toilers,
too, bore each his little bucket; but they
were not SO contented looking. nor so full of
the life and power which had given color to
the faces and light to the eyes of those who
went down the street. They dragged their
limbs somewhat heavily, they looked
drowsy and tired, and a few, with bent
heads and closed eyelids, seemed
to sleep even as they walked.
But it was the weariuess which hard work
produces, the drowsiness of healthful exer-
else, which had attacked these men. No
further care rested upon their brains till the
hour of work came round again. They en-
dured not the neYer-ending toll OF the
statesman-when they had done their
to do.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24
sTuART ROBSON Is MAp.

He IH.Ists that Actors Practice An re
Grsaf VIFtHsG
The morbid curiosity conc ming tie
spiritual and private life Of the -ramatio
artist is only worthy Of that vulgar and 3
norant mass Of semi-imbeeiIes who delight
in the dsluziOn that they alone are tie ,l,c,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

wheat was sent to the mill to be
converted into -four Great rounds of
beef were chopped up into mince-
meat. Carloads of yellow pumpkins, with
an abundance of milk, spices, ringer, mo-
lasses and sugar, were made up into pump
kin pies. An abundance of turkeys, chick
ems and geese were killed and made ready
for roasting. A pair OF immense plum pud-
dings were baked in the largest sized
earthen pots, with Indian puddings and
custard puddings to match; while there was
baking of pound cake, plum cake and
sponge cake from morning till night.
From its very beginning divine worship
was an important feature of the days OBJ
servance, and that term "divine worship"
meant something very different in rural
New England in old colonial days,
and even for some 40 or so years atterward,
from what it means
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

kingIy ostrich pIumes had waved in distant
Africa, and whose luckless sires had covered
beneath the drivers lash in the cotton fields,
walked step by, step. and stride BY stride
But black or white, all these men were
grand with the grandeur of Longfellow's
blacksmith hero-grand with the halo Of
labor accomplished, and the earnest heart
and strong hand that viii work still might
ier works, and do things still more difficult.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

clang of a rife drill. Verify, here was
deserted thoroughbred But yet not deserted.
Half seen forms were passing and repassing
in the gray, looking more like the shadowy
creatures Of a dream, than the strong, sinewT
sons of toll they were. These were coming
down the street--coming down from sound
sleep and peaceful rest, to
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24
BEGIN THEIR DAILY WORK.

Each carried his little tin pail, and you
could see by their pleasant faces that break
fast had been agreeable.
We stepped into the street. and sauntered
downward also. This morning air proved
so delightful, so full of balm, that we were
loath to leave it. The early risers passed
MS in one or twos, and we saw that they were
of every age and size and hue. Old men,
bent and wrinkled, plodded by. Boys,
laughing merrily, almost ran into the har-
ness that had not yet begun to gall. Men
in the glory of life, with frames of Titans,
strobe down to the mill, wherein they won
their livelihood, Smart sons Of Ham,
around whose grandsire's head, perhaps, the
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24
RIDING TO CHURCH.

A great majority of the members of the
religious congregations of that time, lived
at considerable distance from the meeting
house, and had to be up bright and early on
Thanksgiving morning to prepare for their
long drive through "a nipping and an eager
air." for the weather in New England is
often bitterly cold by the middle of Novem-
Der and it was no uncommon thing to ride
to Thanksgiving meeting" in a sleigh.
On Thanksgiving and on all other feast
and fast days, as we'll as on the Sabbath;
there were held two serviees-morning and
afternoon-each of some hours duration, and
for places OF rest and refreshments during the
noon internlssion between them, there were
erected in the immediate vicinity of the
meeting house, for the accommodation Of
distant worshipers, small buildings, called
Sabbath daY houses" These structures
were usually built and held in partnership
bv two families and consisted of two rooms
some 10 or IL feet square, with a chimney
between them, having a fireplace in each
apartment.
On Thanksgiving morning a bountiful
supply OF good cheer was slowed away In
the wagon or sleigh that was to convey a
household to meeting" Arriving in the
vicinity of the sacred edifice, the Sabbath
dax house" was firse visited and the pro-
visions deposited there. A fire was then
lighted and soon all were thoroughly thawed
out and well warmed after their long, cold
ride. At o'clock, the hour for worship,
they were ready to sally forth and shiver in
the cold during the three-hour morning
service, for the meeting houses" or
churches of those days were wholly un-
warmed by artificial heat of any kind. As
a consequence the minister preached in his
overcoat and mittens, and when the services
drew near an end on a cold day everybody
was anxious to escape from the chilling
atmosphere of the church and seek warmth
in their adjacent homes, or Sabbath day
houses" as soon as possible.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24
A PAsToR's REPRooF.

Apropos of this good anecdote is told of
the Rev. Mr.. Milton, very eccentric man,
who was one of the early pastors of that
Congregational Church at Newburyport,
Mass, within whose walls lie the remains
of the famous English evangelist, George
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24
A PURITAN FEAST.

But popular as Thanksgiving Day now is
throughout the length and breadth of this
land, it is in New England that it still con-
tinues to be what it has been tor more than
two centuries-the greatest and most eagerly
anticipated holiday of the entire year. The
old Puritans and their descendants. who so
long frowned severely upon Christmas
which, indeed, many Of the latter still con-
tlnue to do. refusing TO it any recognition
whatever-found an excellent substitute for
its cheerful hilarity, peace and goodwill in
Thanksgiving Day. For at least week be-
fore the important occasion all was activity
in an old-fashioned, rural New England
household. A bushel or more of the best
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

peace with England in 1915. After Madi-
son, Abraham Lincoln was the first Presi-
dent to proclaim Thanksgiving Day, and
he did it in 1862 and 1868 for war victories.
In 1864 he proclaimed a Thanksgiving Day
in November for general blessings, and his
example of that year has since been an
nually followed by every one of his success
sors and by nearly every State Governor
down to the present time.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

their first harvest at Plymouth in 1921,
when Governor Bradford sent out four
fowlers in search of game, that they might,
after q more special manner re-
joice together" But fasts were much
more common among those hardy
Puritans than feasts, and though they occa-
sionally observed a general thanksgiving
day for some specially propitious occurrence,
such as some action favorable to them on
the part of the mother country on the ar
rival of a shipload Of provisions, they de-
voted much more time to deploring their
miseries than they did to rejoicing over
their blessings. 1t is said that their adop-
tion of the custom of annually appointing a
Thanksgiving Day was due to a sensible old
farmer-whose name tradition has uDfor-
tunately failed to preserve-who rose up
when it was proposed in the Assembly to
proclaim another fast and plainly told them
that he believed God was weary of their
complaints in view of the fact that He was
causing the earth TO reward their labors;
that He had filled the seas and rivers with
fish, had made the air sweet and the climate
bealthful, and was permitting them the full
endowment of civil and religious liberty,
The speaker therefore proposed that instead
Of q fast
A DAY OF THANKSGIVING
and feasting should thereafter be annually
unclaimed, which sensible suggestion was
unanimously adopted. Whether or not this
is a true account of the origin of the prac-
tice, 1t is thoroughly established fact that
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24
REEL1Ne JEWELLERS.

Other men, however, came up the street
besides these honest sons Of Adam. With
wild, glistening eyeballs, hot red, faces, dis
ordered dress, and unsteady gait came those
who had bent the knee to Bacchus-who
had let the sun go down and rise again upon
their mad, unmeaning folly. Stand aside
and let them reel by-they will not find
much rest tonight, poor fellows.
Jones was no impertinent chsiner of in
dividual liberty. He did not rise up in his
fresh starched sinlessness, and exelaim:
"Close up the whisky shops-let man drink
no more" Nay, think that Jones drank
himself upon occasion. But he was dis
gusted with these staggering creatures. He
said: do you know / often wonder why
the atheists don't take a'drunken man as an
argument against the existence of a soul.
presume these gentry think it the height of
good fellowship to get as drunk as possible.
They forget that all the real sybarites-the
men who knew how to enjoy conviviality
and to take its best parts, never got drunk.
Anacreon, Horace, Tom Moore-they all
sung Bacchus royalty garlanded; but none
of them sung Silenus, aught but the beast
he was"
Life was growing and intensifying along
the streets, shops were opening their doors
TO the public, market wagons were Jogging
The newsboys were busy buying and ex-
changing papers at the corners, and scream
ing in cadence hoarse or shril the names Of
the various morning journals.
THE TOWN WAKING UP.
Blinds were whisking up and shutters
changing back in upper windows, and sleepy
eyes by thousands gazed out upon the norm
ing, fearing frost or rain or snow. The mist
was slowly shading into blue and gradually
lifting altogether. A morning train ratified
into the Baltimore and Ohio depot down
by the riverside. Its bell rang clear
ana loud over the low murmur OF the
town but Just awakening. Old father sun
was awake, too, high up in the heavens, and
a right happy smile he bears this morning.
1t is clear he had not been adrinking the
night away; he looked too grand and brave
and royal on his throne to have reVeled by
gasslight. Just then it occurred to Us that
it was about time to return to our domiciles.
The reader may wonder that the idea did
not strike Us at an earlier period; but the
charm of the morning in slumberfng Pitts
burg and the strange appearance everything
had for us must plead our excuse. As we
walked home we passed q florists store.
Fresh flowers had Just come in from the
country and their fragrance loaded the air.
We stayed q moment to enjoy and then has
tened to our couches, little tired, it is
true, but with great deal of happiness in
our hearts and two white chrysanthemums
in our buttonholes. And the sparrows in
the caves twittered Us to sleep.
Brennan.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24
PoNP sHoRTER's IRREvERENcE

'There was disturbance In We galleries.
where it was filled with divers negroes
mulattoes and Indians. and negro called
Pomp Shorter, belonging to Mr., Gardner,