davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1905-03-26
Eyading the Law.

1--WE are finding them very wary
lot. This is the way they try TO fool
US" The superintendent presented a
passport for inspection 1t WAS 1ssued
TO a young italian girI .---use marriage
Bodine has recently
prevented. In the column showing the
age of the girl an evident erasure and
alteration had been made to show that
the girl was fifteen years old The
appearance of the alteration indicated
that the original figure 2, which would
show the age as twelve years. had been
altered at 8. The evidence Of the
erasure could be noted without the aid
of glass, and the style Of letter made
was entirely different from any other
figure appearing in the passport
The Italian consul has interested
himself In this case because Of the
alteration Of the passport, and trouble
is likely to follow for the fond papa of
the young girl who was 10 have been
married, but was not.
superintendent Bodine told of a
case in which an Italian had worked a
pretty scheme to get his family to
The Washington times., 1905-03-26
Worst Form of Child Slavery.

There Is no worse form of child
slavery than that OF a~girl Of fourteen
or fifteen years old becoming child
wife to assume heavy household duties
and maternal cares The present mar
riage laws make the practice of decep-
tion In giving ages perfectly easy.
Clerk Salmonson. of the marriage IL
cense bureau IN Chicago, takes a more
optimistic view Of the situation than
does Superintendent Bodine Clerk Sal
monson Is proficient in the Italian Ian
guage. He talks with applicants for
marriage licenses in their own tongue
According to Mr.. Salmonson, marriages
Of girls Of fourteen and fifteen are very
common, particularly among the Ital-
ians and Sicilians. He does not believe,
however that there Is any great amount
of lalsifyfng as to the ages of these
girls.
If there is any such falsifying, said
Mr. Salmonson, t'it occurs In the cases
Of girls of fourteen or fifteen, whose in
tended husbands swear that they are
sixteen or SO years of age. The Italians
are not all Mafias," added the marriage
license man. 1T is the custom of their
country. as Of many other countries OF
Europe, that the girls marry young. In
Italy everything connected with mar
riage OF a man and woman is more
open than 1t is here. There are notaries
on the streets, and TO these application
is made for permission to wed. The
names of the prospective bride and
! bridegroom are given to the notary, who
writes them down. He gives the appll-
eants g paper, which they take TO the
magistrate. who performs the civil mar
riage After the civil marriage comes
( the solemnization by the church.
/ Mr.. Salmonson admits that there Is
every opportunity III the present system
OF Iegalizing marriages for falsifying
/ without discovery. He does not believe,
! however. that this is often done.
/ Hugo Grosser. the city statisttcian OF
! Chicago, has taken a great deal of IN
/ terest in the study Of this. IS we'll as
other sociological problems. He inclines
! distinctly toward championship ol
early marriages of girls of ltalfanssSi
Gillian. and other races where the Wo-
men mature ut an early age.
The Washington times., 1905-03-26
A Mothers Influence.

Every mother" he says, possesses the
God-placed instinct to protect and cher
ish, but only a godly mother has spirit
ual intelligence to lead in what IS holy.
sacred, and divine. Several times 1t was
my great grief to see my mother SEEM
ingly on the verge Of eternity. A paipi-
tation Of the heart to which she was
subject was sometimes SO acute that
death seemed imminent and her depar-
tu-e near But death she dreaded not.
Is it death?' she would say as calmly
as her ae,tate0 frame would allow. Is
1t death? I'm not afraid At such
seasons I could only repeat to her her
favorite and oft-quoted lines.
"Yet a little, and we know
Happy entrance will be given
All our sorrows left below,
And earth exchanged for heaven
The Washington times., 1905-03-26
Nurse ofHr/MoIanes GeAbrazeoAU0a7H zhs
Goa7esser5 21a6a02


lane Was an old man, he CHANGED to at
tend a service at the City Temple, Lon
don. whose pulpit was flied by the late
Rev. DR.. Parker, then considered the
most eloquent preacher in the metrop-
oils. a member Of the choir sang as a
solo There's Friend for Little Chill
dren'' with such touching effectiveness
that she was twice entreated TO repeat
it. The large gathering was totally un-
aware that its author was present
After the close of the sermon Mr. Mid
lane scribbl@d a note which an at
tsndant took to DR.. Parker and a meet
ing between them followed. Il would
rather be the author of that hymn,
said the famous divine, than be the
preacher of the most eloquent sermon.
My sermon would simply penetrate the
hearts of the few, but your hymn goes
ell over the world
The Washington times., 1905-03-26
A Beautiful Death.

sDespite these seizures she lived long
years beyond the allotted spanr and on
each recurring birthday Mr.. Midiane
used to present her with copy OF con-
gratulatory verses. This is the descrip-
ton he gave me OF her end:
1.-The sun was setting and the shades
Of evening gathering Natures restrul-
ness was also increasing upon her, and
the strength which for nearly ninety
wears had been SO vigorous was daily
waning fast; yet the soul was peaceful
so peaceful. 1 interpreted her desire
TO rest on my arm, and gently remov-
ed her Ianguid head from her pillow.
ana nestled it calmly there. And, obi
that intensely loving, unspeakabie
gaze which met mine. It spoke its SOL
emn message Brokenly l commenced
10 repeat the triumphant language OF
the Apostles, Thanks be TO God who
giyeth us the victory" when with her
last feeble effort she endeavored to ut
ter the closing words: Through Our
Lord-Jesus-Christ," and all was over.
The happy spirit had fown,'
Thirty long years have sped since
then" he AIDED, but they have not
dimmed the vividness of that scene or
beclouded the lustre of her memory
AGNES PIERCE
The Washington times., 1905-03-26
Beauty Fades Early,

TN Italy 1t is the custom for girls to
marry at from twelve TO fourteen wears
Of age. The Italian women are in the
full bloom of maturity from fourteen
TO twenty-five. When she has reached
the age of twenty-three the yoluptuous
beauty of the Italian woman begins to
fade
The crusade which is being carried
on is the result OF some startling dis
coveries made by Superintendent W. L.
Bodine. of the compulsory education de-
rartment OF Chicago. Within the past
six weeks Superintendent Bodine dis
covered and prevented the marriage of
three young Italian girls whose school
records showed them to be under the
legal age for marrying. In the course of
his Investigations into these cases Super
1ntendent Bodjne found evidence that
the practice of marrying girls under
the age of fourteen was extremely prev
alent in the Italian and Sicilian quar-
The Washington times., 1905-03-26
Nearly Cost His Life.

He was thirty-four when he wrote It
and the occasion was a memorable one,
for it nearly cost him his life. All day
the words had been haunting him as he
labored at his trade, that of tfnplate
worker, but 1t was not until late, after
the household had retired for the night,
that he found time to write them down.
He was not then in good health; his
work had been particularly hard that
day and physically he was completely
exhausted when he set about his task.
In his weakened state the nervous strain
of composition taxed him severely, but
the hymn had taken such q grip upon
him that hc felt he could not stop until
he had hammered 1t out and given it
permanent form on paper. AS he fin
ished the last words he collapsed utterly.
He was found by his wife unconscious
his head resting on tho feebiy written
page. Efforts to revive him proved fu-
tile for time and Il was feared that he
was beyond recall, but he rallied at
length and gradually his strength was
restored
The Washington times., 1905-03-26
Champions Early Marriage.

.It Is the custom Of such countries as
italy. Sicily. Poland, Bohemia, and
parts Of many other countries for Wo-
men to marry at an early age. Most
of tie Slav races mature early, as do
the Latin races. I do not believe that
climatic conditions have anything to do
with this early development. 1t is
p1IreIy a matter of race. II Is true, how
ever. that IN the southern part OF Ger
many the women mature much earlier
than they do in the northern portions
Those who object to early marriages
do SO usually on the ground that they
are detrimental to the health OF the
women and their progeny. nave
known many cases Of women VINO mar
ried at very early ages and who raised
large families of children. performed all
the duties of a good housewife and lived
to ripe old age. enjoying the best OF
health. In support Of the contention
that such marriages are not detrimental
I can cite the case of my own grand
mother. She was married in Germany
when she was fourteen years old. she
bore and reared nine children and lived
TO be seventy years old and enjoyed
during her entire life the very best OF
health Instead Of being detriment, L
believe that in such instances OF races
whose women mature ut an early age
they are a benefit and serve TO promote
morality.
The Washington times., 1905-03-26
Early a Breadwinner.

When a child of five he began attend
ing the Friends chapel, at Newport. and
too young 10 comprehend the sermon
used tc soiace himself by reading the
hymn book He was only few years
older when he began writing hymns
himself. Eecause of his mothers pow
erty he received but a scanty educa-
ton, and when mere boy he had to
turn breadwtnner himself. Apart from
the Bible poetry constituted his favor
lie reading, and the Sunday school. at
which he was q teacher in his teens,
strengthened his bent for devotional
compositions He was only nineteen
when his first hJmn was published.
The Washington times., 1905-03-26
Immigrant Girls Marry
at an Exceedingly
Young Age.

A CRUSADE against the marriage
~ OF children by the compulsory
education department in Chi
cago is bringing to light de-
piorable condition of affairs in the tene-
ment districts of the great city, par
ticularly in the Italian and Sicilian
child wives, and the last census shows
that there are nine husbands not over
Fifteen years old.
Early marriages-by which is meant
the marriage of girls under eighteen
years of age and men under twenty
one-are a relic OF barbarism. The for
eIgn element which is pouring into this
country from southern Europe clings
TO this ancient custom, though for the
most part 1t Is only the girls who marry
very young.
Undoubtedly the women OF the coun-
tries or southern Europe mature much
earlier than do those Of America and
other northern countries Whether or
not this early maturity is due TO cIi-
matte Influences or to racial tendencies
IS question that has been much dis
cussed. However that may be, the i'm
migrants to this country from the
south of Europe continue to marry their
girls at an Nage which to Americans
seems criminaly young. Many eminent
sociologists are strongly opposed to this.
maintaining that the custom Of early
Inarriages-especially those in which
young girls become wives-is un-Amer-
fcan and has a tendency to deteriorate
the alien races which have made this
country their home
The Washington times., 1905-03-26
LENT.

'T'is now that the housecleaning fervor
Holds sway in the heart Of tie fair;
The world and the flesh and the devil
We're dwelling in happiness there.
But lately the ease-loving trio
Are iilled with foreboding and fears;
The devil comes home in the evening
To fall in bucket of tears
The world walks unthinking of changes,
While into the portal he slips,
And promptly. disastrously, over
The stool of repentance he trips.
The flesh would fs.in bask by the fire
side,
But still as he steers for the seat,
He sits in a scuttle of ashes
And rises no more to his feet.
Brooklyn Life.
The Washington times., 1905-03-26

census, the only compilation that under
takes to give figures bearing upon the
subject, places the number Of Chicago
girls married under the age of fifteen at
tWenty-nine, the ease with which the
records may be eyaded and the fact that
numerous cases have been recently
brought to light supports the contention
that such early marriages are by no
means uncommon.
Search of the records by the men en-
ployed by the compulsory educational
department has discovered an average of
fifty to sixty such marriages each year
during the past five years, the period
covered by the investigation. Many ether
such marriages are believed to have been
contracted each summer at st. Joseph
and other Gretna Greens adjacent to
Chicago.
The Washington times., 1905-03-26

That there are thousands Of child
wives in Chicago Is certain. While the
number under fourteen years of age
may be comparatively small there are
tens of thousands OF girls who are mar
ried at the ages of fifteen and sixteen.
Many thousands more are married at
the age of seventeen, while the number
who are married at eighteen, which is
generally considered to be an age when
a girl might with propriety begin to re-
ceive the attentions Of the opposite sex.
runs into the hplureds OF thousands.
The crusade started by the compulsory
education department Is aimed at the
aholishment, or at least the checking,
of the habit OF alien races marrying g
their daughters before they have reach
ed the age of fourteen, which in this
The Washington times., 1905-03-26

State is legally known as the age OF
consent Superintendent Bodlne says
that there is no means of preventing
marriages of girls over that age, whose
parents are willing tina, they should
marry eve can. however" he says, by
bringing into use the compulsory eduea-
ton law. compel many young wives 10
attend school. In the Dore and Dante
school districts, where most OF rhese
early marriages occur, these child wives
are expected by their HUSBANDS 70 COOK
apd Iuarb and sew and TO perform all
the duties of a housewife. If we compel
them To attend school until thev are
fourteen years old the men OF these
races Will not want 10 marry girls untll
thev are out of our Jurisdiction Most of
these mem do not care TO sup"ort wife
who cannot do hOusewOrk because she
has to attend school. We can at least
check the custom TO that extent
The Washington times., 1905-03-26
More Telling Than Greatest Sermon.

He had no idea that the simple song
which had been produced In such travail
was a masterpiece Of it's kind. It was
first published in a local Sunday school
paper. Good News for the Little Ones.
There it attracted the attention of
London publisher. who obtained permis-
sion to include it in a collection of
hymns he was issuing. 1t was set 10
music by Michael Watson. its popu-
larity was instantaneous. and has prov
ed abiding.
Long years afterward, when Mr.. Mid
The Washington times., 1905-03-26
Albert Midlane a Hale,
Benign, and Sunny
Old Man.
London, March l9-

London, March 19-
%RAESLATED into every tongue
and sung the world over Wher-
l ever Christianity has penetrated,
There's Friend for Little
Children" published over forty years
ago, still remains the favorite hymn of
the young. Its author, Albert Midiane,
hale, benign, sunny old man, who
celebrated his eightieth birthday few
weeks ago. lives at Newport, Isle Of
Wight, where he has dwelt and labored
all his days. He has written for me
verse of the famous hyrnn-a facsimile
of which is here reproduced-and has
given me some details of his life which
will be read with interest in America.
where though every Sunday school is
familiar with the song little is known
q bout the singer
The Washington times., 1905-03-26

ters Of the city. He at once decided
that, as there appeared no other suffi-
cfent means to prevent the continuance
of the custom, he would enforce the
compulsory education laws, no matter
whether the child amenable to them was
q wife or not
The Washington times., 1905-03-26
His Single Masterpiece
One of Many He
Has Written.

To his mothers influence he ascribes
all the good that he has accomplished
and all the happiness that has attended
his long life. No man ever revered a
mother more He delights to talk OF
her still, and deeply touching are the
old mans tributes to her memory.
The Washington times., 1905-03-26

4 CRUSADE against the marriage
~ OF children by the compulsory
education department In Chi
The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-08-04
CHAPTER I2.g

AN ACT Authorizing the City OF Provi.
dence 10 Hire Not Exceeding ono Hun
dred and Sevcnty-fve Thousand DollarA
10 BE Used For the Erection and Fur.
nishing of Suitable Buildings and Ap.
purtensnces For a City Hospital Fos
the Treatment OF Conta gious Diseases.
and For the Purchase and Improvement
of Land For Said Hospital.
PASSED March 10, 1867
IL Is enacted by the General Assembly ~
follows:
Section l. The city OF Providence is here
by authorized and empowered from time
to time 10 hire not exceeding one hun
drcd and seventy-fivc thousand dollars,
and TO issue it's notes and bonds or either
therefor. and TO renew any such notes
from time 10 time as the same become
due. All moneys raised by authority here
OF shall be exclusively used and expended
for the purpose OF erecting and furnishing
suitable buildings and appurtenances for
a city hospital for the treatment OF con-
tagious diseases, and purchasing and i'm
proving land for said hospital In said city.
Sec. q The city council Of said city shall
cause any bonds issued by authority here
OF 10 be issued for such time and in such
amounts as shall be fixed by said city
council; and after any issue Of any such
bonds said city council shall annually APP
propriate. so long as any such lands are
outstanding. besides a sum TO pay the In
terest thereon, n sum TO be placed an Q
sinking fund sufficient for the redemption
Of said bonds when due. and all premiums
arising from the sale OF said bonds shall
be placed to the credit OF said Binkins
fund.
Sec. 2. This act shall take effect from
and after It's passage.
The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-08-04
cIIAPTER 70


AN ACT In Amendment of Chapter % OF
tho General Laws as Amended by chap
ter s62 OF tho Bubble Laws. Passed AZ the
January Session, 1871. Relating to the
State Library.
Passed May II. 1867
II II enacted by the General Assembly as
follows:
Section I. Section OF Chapter q of tho
General Laws as amended b. section Of
Chapter ss2 of the Public Laws ls hereby
amended 20 as 10 read az follows:
sec 2 The sum ~ thirteen hundred
dollars or 20 much thereof as may be- noc-
cssary r. hereby annually Appropriated for
the support % the stat" library. eight
hundred dollars Of the above amount ~
be expended for the purchase % books and
supplies and Eve hundred dollars Tor clerk
hire and sindry eYpsuvss the same 10 be
expended under the direction ~ tho Tecrc.
tary of state and for the purpose Of car
rying this act into effect the Fun ~ Eve
hundred dollars additional is hereby ap.
propriated out of any money In tho treas.
ury not otherwise appropriated. and tho
state auditor g. hereby authorized q
draw his orders on the general treasurer,
upon receipt by him ~ vouchers approved
By tho secretary ~ state.
Sec Q Section Z ~ Chapter Ni2 of tho
Public Laws IL hereby amended 80 ~ ~
read as follows.
''sac. 4 There shall be- % state librarian
who shall 10 appointed BY the secretary
o. state with tho advice and consent -
the senate. al the January ns90n 0f the
general assembly. ltf. and IN every third
year thereafter. ard the person - ap-
pointed shall hold his office until the first
day ef February In The third year after
his appointment The person holding that
pffcc az the passage of this at shall con-
finuo 70 hold the same until tho FIRST DAP
Of February in the year. 4 u. ispi. Any
vacancy which may occur in said oNics
when the senate 10 not In sepslOn shall be
nned by the secretary % state until the
next session thereof when be shall. with
the advice and consent ~ the senate. ap-
point some person 70 fil the vacancy for
the remainder of the term Whenever at
the Jaruarv session of the general as
senbly the secretary Of state shall not In
the month % January make said appoint
menf ~ nIl such vacancy a. b. law re-
quired or whenever the senate shall have
been in session three days after the max.
ing % such appointment by the secretary
Of state ard shall not have advised and
consented to ne Eane. the senate may
elect some pers0n 70 such Office Tor the
term ~ three years ~ foT the REMAINDER
Of 'he term. a. the case may b. said state
Librarian shall b. under The supervision of
the secretary of state and may b. rsrnOy-
- :. - ss..E-. sise. tls-.11iss cpd CON
The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-08-04

otner sources tor the payment OF bills In
CURED by said board for the balance OF
the year ending December 81 ls6. which
said sum shall be inclusive OF the amount
required by said board for the purpose OF
furnishing said sanatorium and plaeine
the same I'm readiness for occupancy and
use: and the state auditor is hereby au.
thertEsc and directed 10 draw his orders
upon the general treasure tor the pay
ment OF such hills. upon the receipts OF
vouchers therefor properly authenticated
by said board or a committee thereof duly
constituted f.sr that purpose.
Sec. 3 Said board shall establish, in its
discretion. rules for the government Of
the sanatorium in It's charge. regulations
for the admission OF patients. and gener.
ally be vested with all the powers neces.
sary for IN. proper carrying on OF the
work entrusted 10 IL.
Sec. 10 Upon the completion OF it's du.
ties, the commission on state sanatorium
for consumptives shah turn over TO the
board OF trustees created by this act all
OF its books. papers. records. correspond
enes. plans. contracts. documents. and
property OF every description. together
with the Keys of all the sanitorium build
ings. and filo n statement OF such transfer
with the secretary OF state. Said commits
sion shall thereupon cease 10 exercise any
further control over the property placed
In the custody OF said board OF trustees by
this act.
Sec. IL. All acts and parts OF acts incon
sistent herewith are hereby repealed, and
for the purpose OF the appointment OF the
members of said board. and TO enable IL 20
enter into contracts for the purpose OF
furnishing said sanatorium and placing II
in readiness for occupancy and use. this
act shall take effect upon it's passage. and
for all other purposes II shall take effect
when the commission on state sanstorium
for consumptives shall file with the secre.
tary OF state the statement provided for
in section 10 OF this act.
The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-08-04
rnAPTER -

AN ACT in Amendment ~ nnd In Add
tiDn 10 Chapter iO7 % the Public Laws,
Entitled An Act Authorizing the Re-
location of Monuments IN the city of
Providence" Pasged by the General ~.
Eembiy December j.. 4 - iY2 as
Amended by Chapter iM of the Public
Laws, Passed November IA. isg.
Passed April n. is6J
IL u enacted by the General Assembly al
follows:
ssction d Section q Chapter D77 ~ the
Public Laws entitled An act authori,inR
the rsloc alton Of monuments Ia the city
Of proyidsncs' passed By the general as
sembly, December ", A. ID. 1904. 10 hereby
amended so as 20 read as follows:
'ssction l. Robsrt A. l. Goddard. VIII
liam Ames. Philip q. Chase. and Henry {.
Luther, together with the mayor, sx-
sficio, and the president Of the common
council es-onicio. Of the city Of Provi-
dsnee, and the secretary Of state, eH-
officio. shall constitute a commission which
shall cause the soldiers and sailors mon
vmsnt and the Durbsids equestrian statue.
now located In Bschange place Ia the oit,
Of Providence. 10 be removed from the
present locations nov occupied by said
soldiers and sailors monurnsnt and said
Burnside equestrian status to such new
locations "a said commission shall deter
mine 10 be mos, spproprists. any vscan.
ciss hereafter occurring In said commits
sion shall be hllsd b. the governor with
the advice sne consent Of the senate"
Sec. z Nothing herein contained shall DO
construed 70 invsli1sts or render void any
action heretofore taken by the commission
appointed under tho provisions Of said
chapter iO71 Of the Public Laws.
Sec. o AL acts and paris Of sets iacsn-
sktsnL. k0rAabth ase hAsshx sHpAs@AA 80