davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22

cient that they could cut profiles with
out the aid of the shadow tracing
making them life size or in miniature
at will. These pictures were called
silhouettes, being "a la Silhouette be-
cause they represented strict economy.
A hundred years ago and more the
silhouette was exceedingly popular.
Scarcely anybody was too poor to pay
a strolling artist for cutting a sill
houette. Much less than a hundred
years ago the silhouette was still pop
ular. There was no family album
then. 1t was too early even sixty
years ago for the family album, which
now we are disposed to look upon as
old fashioned.
The very first sunlight photograph
ever made in the world Miss Dorothy
Catherine Draper of New York being
the subject, was taken by Professor
John w. Draper in 1910, and 1t was
nearly twenty years thereafter before
photography became really practicable.
Thus the modest silhouette remained
what may be termed the poor mans
picture until times we'll within the
memory of many persons now living.
Today the silhouette is merely curl
osity. At some Of the summer resorts,
at county fairs and expositions an oc-
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22

writing the life of the greatest man
that ever lived?" Historians who
write actual facts are eager to give
authorities for their statements.
In his first edition the parson de-
clared, right on his title page, that the
matter of the book was faithfully
taken from authentic documents"
When the several stories were insert
ed. however, we find the title page al
luding to Curious anecdotes" with
the reference to faithfulness and au-
thentic documents altogether eliminat-
ed.
1t Is unfair to Parson Weems, how
ever, to place him in comparison with
historians. He was not a historian.
He was an exhorter. In whatever ne
wrote he made special plea. He set
out with a fixed and definite intention,
and, though altogether lacking in lit
erary artistry, he hewed to the line
until he reached "Finis." In the case
of the Washington book his purpose
was to place before the public, partlc-
ularly before young Americans, a pic
ture of a St Washington, localized, ha-
Ioed, aureoled, until very few attri-
butes merely human were left He
succeeded, and his work pleased the
public of his day and for many years
thereafter. More than seventy edi-
tons of Weems' washington" were
published during the nineteenth cen
fury. In 1889 Joseph Allen of Phila-
delphia purchased the copyright and
brought out the twenty edi-
ton, greatly improved" though Mr..
Weems had been dead since 1925.
1t can do no harm to give brief ac-
count of Parson Weems' life. AS the
anecdotal biographer of Washington
he is almost as interesting as John
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22

GEORGE, DO YOU KNOW WHO KILLED
THAT BEAUTIFUL CHERRY TREE ?"
sons Boswell. He was born in Mary
land about 1850, studied medicine, but
gave it up to go to England and pre-
pare himself for the Episcopal minis
try. 1t appears that he found no bish-
op in London to admit him to holy
orders. Returning to America, he was
still worse off, as there was no Angli-
can bishop in the new world at that
time. However. he finally became n
cared little for creed, being willing to
preach in a church of any denomina-
ton. He appears never to have held a
regular rectOrate. When he was about
thirty years old, he became a book
agent, selling books through Virginia
for Matthew Carey, the Philadelphia
publisher. He also began writing
books himself and peddled his own
works. The Washington life in par
ticular had great sale.
Parson Weems had a reputation as
an amateur comedian and as one of
the best folders in Virginia. When he
had no opportunity to exhort through
sermons, he diverted the people through
music and amusing antics. He was, it
appears, stern moralist and in many
respects an admirable character,
credit to his period. AS an author Mr..
Weems cannot withstand the fierce
light that beats upon literary criticism.
His life of Washington is full Of ex
clamation points and dashes, and in
this respect, but assuredly in no other,
1t resembles Carlyle's French Revolu
ton" The whole book is filled with
the kind of matter which an earnest.
devout evangelist of his period might
talk to Sunday school class or preach
from the pulpit. Long passages moral
izing on incidents in Washington's ca
reer are sandwiched between the Incl
dents.
Parson Weems was prodigious pro
Queer One of his own books which
he peddled through Virginia was The
Drunkard's Looking Glass Rejecting
a Faithful Likeness of the Drunkard
In Sundry Very Interesting Attitudes,
! With Lively Representations of the
Many Strange Capers Which He Cuts
In Different Stages of His Disease"
Our Sherlock Holmes must infer from
the length and burden of this title that
the parson travelled about in very
stout buggy. This book had six edi-
tions by 1918. Another work was 1.-The
Bad Wife's Looking Glass; or, Gods
Revenge Against Cruelty to Hus-
bands" AS this had but two editions
I'D to 1923, we must conclude that the
ladies didn't take to 1t as they did to
the drunkard's looking glass. "Hy-
mems Recruiting Sergeant; or, the New
Matrimonial Tattoo For Old Bach
elors," was even more popular, for II
had seven editions by 1921.
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22

hope of solving the problem of extricat-
ing France from her poverty. He was
wise and prudent. He believed in saw
ing rather than in extravaganza. He
urged economy upon all the kings
courtiers, as well as upon the govern
ment officials. This was too much for
the reckless, plunging aristocracy, The
high fliers, of French society laughed
loud and long, and they determined to
carry out NJ. de Silhouette's advice by
a resort to burlesque. Accordingly
they economical by wearing coats
without folds or ruffles, using snuff
boxes made of plain wood and wear
ing hats without rosettes. Those who
had been patronizing portrait painters
turned to the shadow picture" in
sheer ridicule. The shadow picture
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22

you would send the whole, or such part
IF them as Mrs. Washington may not
chuse to keep, home-for although l do
not think they would be benefited by the
change yet the idea of freedom might be
too great temptation for them to resist.
At any rate it might, If they conceived
they had a right to it, make them inso-
lent in State of Slavery. AS all except
Hercules and Paris are dover negroes, it
behoves me to prevent the emancipation
Of them, otherwise 1 shall not only loose
the use Of them. but may have them to
pay for If upon taking good advise 1t is
found, expedient to send them back to
Virginia, wish to have1it accomplished
under pretext that may deceive both
them and the Public;-and-naNe1 think
would so sffectually do ths, as Mrs;
Washington coming to Virginia next
month towards the middle or latter end
Of it. as she seemed to have a wish to do)
If she can accomplish 1t by any con-
venient and agreeable means with the
assistance of the Stage Horses &c. This
would naturally bring her maid and
Austin-and Hercules under the idea OF
coming home to Cook whilst we remained
there, might be sent on in the stage.
Whether there Is occasion for this or not
according to the result of your enquiries.
or issue the thing as 1t may, request
that these Sentiments and this advise
nay be known to none but yourself 6 Mrs.
Washington.
Both his solicitude for the comfort
and health of his slaves and his eye
for a bargain are revealed by this pas
sage written to Mr.. Lear in June, the
secretary being in Philadelphia:
AS I shall have occasion for number
Of Blankets for my people this fall; and
as the best time to purchase them l am
told is after the winters demand is over
1 should be glad If you would make q
pretty diligent enquiry after them, before
l arrive; that l may know Uhether ano
upon tohdt terms l can get supplied IL Is
probable l may want near two hundred.
He wrote several times to his secre
tary regarding them, and Mr.. Lear
seems to have had a lively chase
through the Philadelphia shopping dis
trlct looking for blankets of the wash
ingtonian inclination.
President Washington saw a chance
to get bargains in servants by utilizing
raw material from abroad, and ne
Jumped at It. In letter dated from
Mount Vernon June 10, 1871. he writes
to Mr.. Lear concerning some proposed
changes in the force of servants at the
Philadelphia house:
boy or two may be necessary-thers
to assist about the horses, Carriages
Harness-but these dutch ones) 1t Is pos
sible may be had for their victuals
lothes,-especially II there are large I'M
portations frsm Germany (as some AT
ticles in the papers say there VIII pel
mention the matter now that in case ar
rivals should happen before l get BAGS
of these kind of people. you may be ap
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22

CHE UNLUCKILY TRIED THE EDGE OF HIS
RATCHET ON A YOUNG CHERRY TREE.
History of the Life and Death, Virtues
and Exploits Of General George Wash
ington, Faithfully Taken From Au-
thentic Documents"
Why, asks the prying critic, to
whom no secular history is sacred,
did not Mr.. Weems include the sew
eral boyhood anecdotes in his first
and other early editions? You may re-
ply that perhaps he had not heard of
the stories at that time. But the con-
text of the book itself dispenses with
that argument Parson Weems dis
tinctly states that both the cherry tree
story and another anecdote showing
the little Georges goodness of heart,
which also he relates, were told to him
by an aged lady twenty years before
the date of writing. This lady, he
said, was a distant relative of the
Washingtons and spent much time dur
Ing het girlhood at the family nome
opposite Fredericksburg, Va, where
lay the orchard that grew the tree that
was hacked by the Ratchet that George
had-if he had it.
George Washington was born in 1I32-
The hatchet incident, happening when
he was six, must date from 113S.
Nearly seventy years passed before 1t
got into print, yet for thirty years
washington had been a famous char
acter. One is inclined to ask why Par
son Weems didn't use the story in his
earlier editions. since he says he had
known it for twenty years. Moreover
why didn't he tell us the name of this
distant klnswoman of Washington,
since by his own admission he was
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22
0i fIstis EarIy Risers
The famous little pills.
Connecticut River Farm
FOR SALE.

The farm belonging to the Estate
of Milo R. Jenkins is hereby offered
for sale or to rent.
This farm is pleasantly located on
the Main road midway between the
villages of Bradford and Fairlee, and
consists of about $50 acres. One
third of this is excellent tillage land
under a good state of cultivation ;
the balance pasturage, woodland and
growing timber.
Parties wishing to buy can learn
further particulars by addressing
H. M. JENKINS, Admir-, 90 Robin
ST., Providence, R. 1.
Feb. /, 1907. lS-tf
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22
HAWAII'S LESSON TO HEAD
STRONG CALIFORNIA.

According to Mr.. William In
glis, special correspondent for
Hdrper's Weekly, the American
government at Hawaii has no
trouble whatever in dealing with
the japanese pupils in the public
schools there. Nothing, he says,
can be more startling to the OBJ
server who comes from the bub-
bling volcano of San Francisco
school politics than the ease with
which the troublesome race ques-
ton is handled by intelligent
Americans in that Territory; al
though there are more than 1000
Japanese pupils there, as against
a meagre ninety-three in San
Francisco, yet there is no vexa-
ton. The latest census of the
Hawaiian schools, taken in June
of last year, showed the follow
inc remarkable mixture among
the scholars, who are accOmmo-
dated without friction, and, in
deed, with very satisfactory re
suits: Hawaiian. 1915; Part Ha-
waiian, 3422; American, 959;
British. 223; German, 263; Por-
tugese. 4472: Scandinavian, 101 !;
Japanese. 1897; Chinese, 2092;
Porto Rican. 33S; other foreign
ers. 346-a total of 21,35S. In
spite of these little folk of dOz-
en- races working side by side,
such thing as race prejudice,
saws Mr.. Inglis, is unknown
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22

casional silhouette
artist may be
found, rapidly cut
ting the profile Of
your sweetheart
or yourself for a
SIN all fee. He
probably know s
little or nothing of
the history of the
silhouette, and the
pretty maiden who
meIrily accepts
and treasures her
profile in black ON
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22

a white ground as a souvenir" Of the
occasion is unaware that such great
men as Washington and jefferson &C
tually "sat" seriously for their silhou-
cites generations before the amateur
photographer infested the earth with
his propensity for taking snapshots at
everything, from a pug pup to presi-
dent
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22

Food don't digest? Because the stom-
aeh lacks some one of the essential di-
gestants or the digestive juices are not
properly balanced. Then, to, it is this
undigsted food that causes sourness
and painful Indigestion. Kodol For
Indigestion should be used for RELIEF.
KodOl is a solution Of vegetable acids.
1t digests what you eat. and corrects
the deficiencies Of the digestion, kolol
conforms to the National Pure Food
and drug Law. SOLD here by John NJ.
TAYLOR.
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22

was the profile
cast by the sub
ject on a wall by
a certain ar
rangement of the
lamps. The trac-
ing of this shad-
ow outline and
its cutting out in
black paper and
pas ting over
white paper re-
suited in a pro-
file likeness. Lat
er some artists"
CrANU Gn nr0n-
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22

a very bad con-
dition. Foolish
war and incom-
petent ministers,
not to speak of
inordinat tie eX-
ira va g a II ces
throughout the
kings court, had
reduced France
toapitiable state.
Banker Silhou-
cite was called
to the financial
ministry in the
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22
RISING FROM THE GRAVE.

A prominent manufacturer, VIM n.
Fertwell. of Lucama, n. c., relates a
most remarkable experience. He says
after taking less than three bottles
of Electric Bitters, feel like one ris-
ing from the grave. My trouble is
Bright's disease, in the Diabetes stage.
1 fully believe Electric Bitters Will
cure me permanently, for it has al
ready stopped the liver and bladder
complicationh which have troubled me
for wears" Guaranteed at ]. NJ. Tay'
lor's and r. w. Abbott's of Fairlee
druggist Price only SOC.
nntrnnize the Oninion Binderv
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22

1 - - ANNS W - -
the original cher
ry tree and
h atch ct story,
faithfully copied
from the 1909
edition of Par
son w EN- s.
Life of George
w a s h / n g t on,
with Curious
A Il e C d o t e S,
Equally Honour
able to Himself
op6 EYaD1Dl0rV
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22

Is the memorial cherry tree story true
or untrue? To believe or not to believe
that is the question. So far as the
fair fame Of George Washington is
concerned, it does not matter an iota.
That is fixed, a star of the first mag
nitude Doubtless there are many good
persons who trust fondly that little
y George hacked the tree with his hatch
ct and owned up. On the other hand,
there are many equally good persons
who, preferring to look upon Washing
ton as n man rather than as a divinity
and as a real boy rather than as an
angel child, deep down in their hearts
desire to believe that George never
owned a Ratchet, that there never was
a cherry tree in Papa Washington's
garden and that the hacking was a
tucubration of a hack writer.
We know who first published the
story. "Parson" Weems, Rev. Mason
Locke Weems, one of Washington's
earliest biographers, did that. But 1t
seems that the story did not appear
until the fifth edition of the parsons
book, which was first published in
1900 two years after Washington's
death, under the quaint title of "a
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22

SOuhlly VI
thu other important figures of his time
would have been lost to posterity.
There existed. however, one poor make
shift or substitute for the photograph.
That was the silhouette. Washing
ton, Franklin, Jefferson, Thomas Paine
and other illustrious builders of the re-
public Are preserved to us in silhou-
cite, and, even though there had been
no painters to portray their Inca
ments, these simple makeshifts would
have given us fairly adequate rep
resentation of their profiles.
The silhouette itself is scarcely older
than the American republic. 1t orig
mated in 1857. Etienne de Silhouette,
a Partisan banker, was responsible for
both the name and the thing. Person
ally, however, he had nothing to do
with it, The good monsieur was made
minister of finance for the French
monarchy in 1857. Finances were in
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22
When the
Silhouette Was
Popular
A. Sketch Of Washington's Time
BY WALTER J. JAMES


~ N w aSnlng-
IA toms day
. there was
no such art
as photography
to preserve the
liken esses of
the great and
the humble. But
for the paint
ers of portraits
in oil the fea-
lures of the
Father of His
a
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22
Weems
Qno the Cherry
Tree Tale
George and the Ratchet Episode
George and the Ratchet Episode
BY ROBERTUS LOVE

copyright, 1907, by Robertus Lowell
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22


to His Young
Countrymen." The author prefaces the
anecdote with brief paragraph, in
which he says at is too valuable TO be
lost and too true to be doubted" the
famous story begins on page Ii OF the
book. An old woman tells 1t.
when George" said she, was about
six wears old, he was made the wealthy
master of a Ratchet! of which, like
most little boys, he was immoderately
fond: and was constantly going about
chopping every thing that came Ia his
way. One day, in the garden, where
ne often amused himself hacking his
mothers pea-sticks he unluckily tried
the edge of his Ratchet on the body Of
a beautiful young English cherry-tree,
which he hacked so terribly, that l
don't believe the tree ever got the bet
ter of it. The next morning the old
gentleman, finding out what had be-
fallen his tree, which, by the way,
was a great favorite, came into the
house; and with much warmth asked
for the mischevOus author, declaring
at the same time, that he would not
have taken five guineas for his tree.
Presently George and his Ratchet made
their appearance. GEORGE said his
father, do you know who killed that
beautiful little cherry tree yonder in
the gardenY That was a tough QueS-
tiOn; and George staggered under it for
a moment; but quickly recovered him
self: and looking at his father, with
the sweet face of youth frightened
with the ineXpressible charm of all
conquering truth, he bravely cried out
4 can't tell lie, Pa you know l can't
tell lie. l did cut it with my hatch
ct Run to my arms. you dearest boy
cried his father in transports; run to
my arms; glad am l, George, that you
have killed my tree; for you have paid
me for it a thousand fold. Such an
act of heroism in my son is worth
more than a thousand trees, though
blossomed with silver, and their fruits
of purest gold"
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22

$40 NOLLOWING is
lsw MI the original cher
The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-02-22

wv HAT Washington was very well
81 off in this worlds goods is a
N matter of common knowledge
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-02-06
Friday, February Sth.
Saturday, February 9th.
The World OF White

Which embraces number Of advance spring
lines, the entire collection combining to make
a brilliant display White Goods IN endless
variety.
From ali appearances we stiff have a
good chance to get what is due Us from
Jack Frost and McGrath's S store is prepar-
ed to assist you in warding him off, BY
giving you the advantage of marked down
prices on items such as BLANKETS, COM
FORTS, etc. This is indeed an opportunity
well worth your taking advantage of---as you
will sure1y have use for same this season.
and at the prices they are marked you can
certainly afford btying some for use next
season.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-02-06
sly Visit$
McGRATH'S STORE

And see the attractive display which has been arrang
ed for the latter part Of the week. Make It point to
calf at the big department store
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-02-06
- i q !,

Messrs. "A. 6. McNair, Thos.
Brady, r 2. Jones, /. G. Han-
nah and M MeCollough, Of the
Bro0khaVen bar, have been attend
ing court this week at Monticello.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-11
RATE REARING IN K. C.
Interstate Commerce Commission
Meets to Listen to Complaints.

Kansas City, Mo-, April 1.-THE in
terstate commerce commission con-
vened here today to hear various COM
plants against the railroads regard
ing freight rates.
Among the cases to be heard are
two filed by the Kansas City board of
trade against the Burlington, Missouri
Pacific, Santa Fe and Rock Island rail-
ways, which are charged with impos-
ing excessive rates on grain from
points outside Missouri to Kansas City
and also of maintaining an excessive
reconsignment charge of 50 per car.
Among the other cases are the fol-
lowing:
The Producers Pipe Line company
against the Rock Island and other
roads,
N E. Without, formerly an indepen-
dent oil man of Springfield, Mo-,
against the Missouri Pacific 1t is
probable that the commissioners will
agree to hear the evidence in the west
bound case. The latter complaint was
ton, February z, and is considered one
of the most important cases ever
brought before the commission. The
petition for a hearing on this case was
mercantile firms of Kansas City, Oma-
ha and st. Joseph. 1t is directed
against the Rock Island, the Burling-
ton, the Milwaukee, the Great West
ern ana the chicago northwestern
railroads which are charged with hav-
ing entered into an agreement to
maintain unjust, unlawful, excessive
and unreasonable freight rates against
the shipping interests of the Missouri
Valley. The case is commonly known
as the westbound rate case, in that 1t
affects rates to the west and south
west, the natural gateways to which
are the three cities making the COM
plant.
1t is argued that rates from eastern
points to Kansas City are far in ex-
cess of those in effect to other points
to which the mileage is the same and
that the result is that Kansas City and
the other towns working under the
same conditions are seriously handi-
capped in carrying on their trade - ~
Soon after Commissioners E. E. Clark
called the hearing to order the west
bound rate case was postponed in
by mutual consent, the at
for the railroads announcing
they were not ready to proceed. :,