davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
Women GROWING Taller.

Strange news comes to us from Eng
land. Women are growing.
This does not mean that the sex Is
widening It's sphere of Influence or that
women are strengthening their hold
upon society, nor that they are devei-
oping intellectually, but that they are
ever growing taller than they used to
be, Not this or that particular woman,
but the whole sex in general, or at
least women in civilized countries. The
average woman In steadily growing
taller. Young girls Of from fifteen to
eighteen are even now three inches
taller than their mothers. In 1895 the
average height of young girl was
only five feet three inches. Now she
Is at least FIVE feet FIVE, and the growth
continues.
80 much the better" you may say.
"This Is making more robust, more
majestic race, and toward the middle
of the twentieth century we shall see
magnificent couples. such as those
which astonished the Roman conquer
ors in the barbarian provinces at the
time of Caesar"
But you are mistaken.
1t is not the race which Is growing
taller. 1t is woman-woman alone.
Her companion remains stationary, or
Is even inclined to grow smaller. Thus
the difference in height, which WAS the
pride of the masculine sex. Is little by
little disappearing. When the average
woman shall be five feet eight, or even
I'VE feet ten, the masculine sex shall
have lost this advantage for good and
ever, and the young man will have to
look up to meet his sweetheart,s eye
Marcel Provost, in the New York
American.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
Death of Justice Brewer.

Associate Justice David j. Brewer had the honor
and the good fortune to die in harness. to end
his distinguished career before it had become i'm
paired by the inirmties of old age. He had been
man of action for half a century and although
seventy three years of age he retained his men
tai vigor his high position in the public service and
his influence as an able jurist to the last, Death
came suddenly but he was spared the humiliation
and bitter anguish of lingering existence after
the day of his activity and usefulness was done.
There is nothing under the sun more distressing,
save dishonor, than that strong man should live
to become weakling and be cast aside like an
old garment whose day of grace has passed
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29

A few years ago, the Chronicle
made Charlotte a sunSower town. The
idea was suggested by the late Mr.
IL. {. Eccles, who insisted that the
big, yellow flowers were not only orna-
mental, but ntaiarial absorbents and
that where the suniiower abounde,l.
typhoid fever could not thrive. The
people caught on to the idea One
of our good friends. Mrs. Rich, of
Derita, sent Is a peck of sunffower
seeds and for several years the big,
yellow flowers nodded and waved in
the breezes of Charlotte, and turned
their faces to the setting sun. We are
reminded of our negligence In this
matter by the receipt of a letter from
an observant woman or Charlotte. who
says:
Some years ago You were instru-
mental In getting many farmers to
plant suntiower seed by the roadside.
| 1t strikes re 1t would be flne to do
so by all our good roads, especially
on the automobile route 1t il late
to start it. but If you get 1t going
VIII order a pound of the seed sent
you. No matter about my name--I
Will await events ana then send
There are possibly many in the coun-
ty who have seed.
The Chronicles correspondent as
school teacher. years ago tanned the
hide OF this writer when 1t was a kid
hide. even though tough one, and
she ought to know that sunhower seed
can be planted from March to Au-
gust. This by way or evening up old
scores. But seriously we would great
~ desire to see another sunfiower era
in Charlotte. Every garden patch In
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
Woman Compcls Reform.

To Mrs. Albion Fellows Bacon, of
Evansville, belongs the credit of
having reformed Indiana by having
the new tenement law passed She
is a little slip OF a woman, whose big,
earnest brown eyes are her dominant
failure. Four children engage most
OF her attention. With a daughter
hlready several inches taller than
her mother, twins of years, and
another CHI Id. she has what many
women would consider her hands
full"
And she is a woman whose chief
interests are of the home. She was
instrumental in having d bill passed
to relieve the foul tenement condi-
tons of Indianapolis AMI Evansville,
which were almost as bar as those
OF New York. The bill declares that
no tenement hereafter erected shall
occupy more than SIS per cent. Of a
lot or more than IS per cent. of q
corner lot; that 1t must not be high
or than once and n hair the width
of the street on which 1t stands; that
1t must have Il rear yard at least
fifteen feet deep, and that no rear
tenements shall be erected.
The new law guarantees to each
grown person at least 400 cubic feet
of air and to every child at least
goo. Tor thus must air be bargained
for, air and the sweet common
light" Indianapolis as the center ef
such humanitarianism due to this
woman bids fair TO acquire as wide
a reputation for new philanthropy
as 1t already has for modern htera-
ture.-New Era Woman's Magazine.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
Spring Poets.

~ The spring poet is here-or perhaps il would
be accurate to the plural and say they
are here.
For they are plural as every editor knows
ind they many. They one of the products
sof the season and come regularly as the flowers
xnd the chiggers. In fact they are about as n,l-
merous the human family, for every person who
l has loved has at least had the impulse to reduce
his sentiments to rhyme.
No doubt you who read these lines, possibly
long. long ago-possiblc not so long ago, have
Efelt the spirit of the gentle muse lowering near
md have yielded to the impulse to WOO her speed
kly, frenziedly. No doubt you remembered the
tory of Poe and that great work 1.-The Bells .
|4nd so you have sat down and written like mad
sssswhiIe the inspiration lasted.
81 When you had done-if you were wise, You
Hf0habfy laid the ryhncai result aside Possibly
B6u read il over several weeks later, read it and
klnshed
N Possibly however, you allowed yourself to be
Mept onward by the swift tide of enthusiasm and
kiied the work off to some publisher of magazine
HUI newspaper, hoping for monetary reward, or
least the inexphcable JOY of seeing it in print
It'll your name glorlously attached thereto.
M f yon Were of the latter and succeeded,
his Il not for you This is for those of the latter
3ass who did not succeed--whose enclosed stamps
Hre used in returning the manuscript unpub-
he'd. unappreciated.
aud To these latter we would say don't be dis
raged. Keep at it.
3Qnr stuff may be published. It may
hopelessly bad. But for all that, every time
M write it, you help yourself by so much Your
ideals are made NEIGHBOUR own poetic
lpn, crude though it may be, is enhanced TO a
kee- That which is fine within you is aided
overcoming that which is coarse. For the time
- a least the aesthetic is given predominance
fhe material-and it is due to Just such an
fonaI predominance that the world does not
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
The Original Tag Day.

There is patent on Tag Day, but it is pecu.
iarly the property we are told OF the Instructive
Visiting Nurses Association 1t served the assoc
citation well last year and probably saved its life.
The association is again in need and will tag and
tax the public on Monday next
The association is doing glorious work. 1t is
maintaining seven nurses who last year paid over
$4,000 visits to the homes of the poor and dis
pensed their tender ministrations. The nurses
as angels of mercy with healing in their
wings and thousands received the benefit Of their
visits, They go to those who are not able to pay
for the services of professional nurse. The
association pays the cost and the public must help
the association.
Come and be tagged. 1t is the Lords calm
all reverence
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
Asked 10 Choose.


A weli-known Southern Judge re-
wives "A story about n white man who
during reconstruction times was ar.
raigned before q colored justice OF thu
peace for killing a man and stealing
his mule, says a writer In LAppincott's.
1t was In Arkansas. near the Texas
border. and there was come rivalry
between the States. but the coiored
justice tried always to preserve an Inn
partial frame OF mind.
We've got two kinds of law in dis
yer cot" he said; Texas law an
Arkansas law Which witt you hHb =.
The prisoner thought a minute and
then guessed that he would take the
Arkansas law.
Den l discharge Won TO steaiin' de
mule. an hang you To- killing do
man.
Hold on minute. Judge" said the
prisoner. Better make that Texas
Y1zsas.s
Ar right; under do law of Texas
I fin you To- killin' de man. an hang
you TO stealth de mule
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
A Safe Fourth of July.

Newark N d. has set an example to the rest Oh
the cities in its decision to to large extent
the danger element in the celebration of the Fourth
of July An ordinance has been passed that pro-
hibits toy pistols blank cartridges all explosives
containing picrc acid or dynamite and toy balloons
These things cannot only be used, but they can
not be sold or even kept in stock
The number of deaths and the amount of property
destroyed in this country at large result of the
Fourth of July celebration is but anoth.r example
of the reeklessness of the American people as re-
CARDS human life. The natural holiday should be
Observed but our fathers did not think it to be
essential to its proper observance that life and prop
erty should be endangered or destroyed, and they
were as patriotic and got as much pleas
ure out Of the day.
The personal liberty of the individual should be
restrained for the sake of the common good
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
become hopelessly Grass hopelessly humdrum, lack
ing in all but the sordidly concrete.


ing in all but the sordidly concrete.
Not many generations gone, men were not
ashamed to give oral vent to the more sentimental
sides of their natures. Unfortunately The custom
is to-day ode trop' We are growing more mer-
cenary, more hardened. Where formerly chief adj
miration went to the man who could express him
self gracefully to-day it is the man who say
what he wishes in the fewest possible words
who If need be will sacrifice anything and every
thing save terseness, who is regarded as the ne
plus ultra
In word, the old time courtesy is rapidly
giving way before the onslaughts of business
signs printed in glazing eolors and advising to
BE Brief.
And all this, while it may be necessary in order
to buy chanticer hats, and various other fetching
and-and expensive articles and geegaws is not
good for the ultimate destiny of man. 1t needs an
offset, and that offset is found in large measure
in the spirit which creates the Spring Poet.
And SO, all honor to the gentle spring poet. He
may be rather BORE but he means well And in the
end he helps lot toward making life more worth
while from the better point of view.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
The Inheritance Tax.

Penalty on Progress" is the head
Ing the New York Commercial gives
to an editorial in which it complains
of the tax policy of the State of New
York in connection with the Harr1-
man estate.
1t seems that by the inheritance
tax law of New Y ork,r $67h. 900 has
already been deducted from the estate
of the late railroad magnate on the
s7l.0e0,000 that has been listed by
the executors; and as the estate is ex-
pected to total twice that much in
listed value by the time the executors
complete their work OF recording II.
the full amount of inheritance tax
clipped Off by the State will probably
be s1.350.000 or more.
II there was ever a better instance
of just taxation, working no hard
ship on private citizens and being alb
soluteiy In the interest of the body
polite, We have never known of It
Taxing off bit of the excessive Har-
rtman accumulation Is a good thing.
An Inheritance tax exempting small
tnheritances and increasing in per-
centage with the amount of the In
heritance. is just about the fairest
tax in the worid.--Norfolk Landmark.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
Carolina Comment
Why tS-NeHada2

By the census of 1900 Nevada had
42.335 people. or about 81 per cent.
less population than Mecklenburg 1t
has grown somewhat since. but not
enough to place it much. If any. ahead
OF this single North Carolina county
Its population in 1900 was slightly
less than in 1870 and full third less
In 1850. From 1890 to 1900 1t did
not hold its own by several thous-
and. Yet Nevada has an area con-
stderably more than double North
Cardinals. 1t was admitted into the
Union to help pass the wartime con-
stttutional observation-disclosures
Observer
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
Age OF Niagara Falls.

To the question. How old are the
Niagara Falls2" geologists have re-
turned replies varying by tens Of
thousands of years. At first II was
estimated that the Niagara river came
into existence through changes in the
level OF the land around the Great
Lakes. about $4,000 years ago. Later
this was reduced to only 1900 years.
Lyell increased the estimate again to
$4,000 years. and still later other
scientists lowered 1t to about 5000
years. At one period, many thou
sands of years ago. the height OF the
falls was 420 feet.--Harper,s Weekly.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
THE ONLY ONE.

The fat man wishes to be thin.
The lean man wishes to be fat;
Perhaps the dog is often sad
Because he was not born cat.
The boy would like to be man,
The man would gladly be boy;
The things we have but seldom serve
To bring us pride or give US Joy.
The snail may long to be bird.
The lark may wish TO be n wren;
How often women may be heard
Regretttng that they are not men.
If every man might have his way
What changes would be brought To
passl
The stupid ass alone appears
To be content to be an ass
Chicago Record Herald.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
= n
Our State
Contemporaries


Judge George S. Shackelford. of
Orange. has expressed himself upon
the subject of local option. He says
that his judicial district is dry"
That he can hear no complaint what
ever In regard to 1t, and that being
the case. he says that he wants Ii to
be distinctly understood that. until
the people OF the various counties
had voted afiirmattvely upon the ques-
ton. he would not think of changing
the present conditions. His many
friends are greatly rejoiced that he
has taken such stand on the ques-
tton.--Orange Observer.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
One Thing Lacking.

1t has been evident for years that
what this State needs and needs badly
Is pardon board. The governor has
all this work with its tremendous
responsibilities and few people have
any idea OF the amount OF time, not
to mention the worry, involved. II
application was mace only by letter
1t would not be half so bad. but dele
cation after delegation goes to Rail
eigh and worries the life out of the
governor Other States have such u
board and there Is no reason why
North Carolina should not have ono.
Greensboro Herald
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29

into the holds of matrimony, that
she might not be an outcast ON the
face OF the earth.
Then pity the poor divorcee.
For, verify, verify. little husband
Is more to be desired than great ali
mony: and the wife of Satan himself
Is more to be envied than a grass
wi6ow!--Chtcago Journal
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
Shrewd Observations OF Mrs. Solomon
nv Helen Rnxrl,x,d


Consider the divorce, oh my daugh.
ter. for the way of an ex-wife is
hard!
She dwelleth in boarding house
aud liveth upon hard-earned ALI
mony: and her days are made bitter
with prunes and bread pudding and
gossip and ennui.
Lo. she dare not speak unto her
own exlhusband. lest they say to
her:
How dreadful"
AND ff she SO much as passeth the
olives unto youth, his mother
snafchest m away lest she deyour
him!
Now, married woman may wear
imported bushes upon her cheek and
imported hair upon her head
But Ii a divorce SO much as now
dereth her nose or manicureth her
nails. they wink, murmuring priyiIy:
What's the answer? Lo, doth she
seek another husband ?"
Verify verify, forty ruffies upon
the gown of maiden shall not cause
SO much comment as one tuck in the
frock OF Divorce.
Behold. a maiden can fiirt openly.
and widow can annex all the nice
men, when she playeth the chaperon
But DIVORCE Is neither the one
thing nor the other. Nay, If she de-
parteth two steps from the hotel
piazza brigade the air Is filled with
buzzing.
Alas. when she goeth forth among
strangers. she knoweth not what to
call herself.
For II she saith. Il am a widow. y,
then do they gaze questionably at her
left hand, seeing no wedding ring.
And the boldest among them cry
out: Grass or sod?" causing her
great anguish.
Yet she hath paid the price of
matrimony. and why shall she not
enjoy the glory thereof?
Look how the married women of
the boarding-house come unto her,
saying:
MY husband saith this" and my
husband doeth thus and sol" as who
should say:
Poor thingt Thou hast no nus
bandit"
Think not. oh. my daughter, that
divorce is the great divide, over which
thou shalt pass into heaven.
For 1 say unto thee 1t is the path
way that leadeth to the spotlight on
the one hand and unto. oblivion on
the other.
Behold. many a Divorce, in her
desperation, hath been driven back
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29

town should be dotted with them and
the good roads of tho county should
be frightened by border OF sun-
flowers. There will be no difficulty In
getting a supply of seeds. The Chron-
icle can supply them or tell you where
you can get them. Plant sunfowers
and watch them grow.--Charlotte
Observer.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29

According to the following story,
economy has it's pains as well as Its
pleasures even after the saving is
done One spring. for some reason.
old Ell was going round town with
the face of issatiHaction, and when
questioned. poured forth his voIuble
tale OF woe thus:
.'Marge Geo'ge, he came to me last
fall an he say. Ell. dis gwtns ter be
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
A Swell suhisctl

Here solemnly said the Bostonian,
General Warren fell
"So?" replied the gentleman from
Chicago, running a speculative eye up
and down the perpendicular of Bunker
Hill monument. Must have been
swell subject for a moving picture act"
Puck.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29

Ascum--T see there's some talk upon
the question of abolishing capital pun
ishment. Would you vote to abolish
It? <.
Logie-No sir: capital punishment
was good enough for my ancestors, and
it's good enough for me.---Presbyterian
STANDARD.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
Rack md Enrt,,

The esteemed Staunton Daily Lead
er, hustling infant which still sports
some of Its baby teeth, says: Poor
old Rockingham! II there is any
smallpox going the rounds she is sure
to get It.: in fact. she seems to have
a standing offer always for the first
case. Whenever we read of the ap-
pearance Of smallpox In the State, we
get ready for Rockingham's an
nouncement, and we believe 1t never
fails to come. Wonder II they know
about vaccination down that way!"
Considering its youth, the Leader
may be excused for not knowing that
1t on thin ice. Rockingham never
makes secret OF the presence of
smallpox Staunton does. Staunton
had smallpox some years ago and de-
MED 1t, but couldn't fool the public.
The result was ostracism and for SIX
months she was as dead as the pro-
verbal door nail. Down this way We
take the public into our confidence.
print the news in fun and people
know that when it Is risky to come
TO Harrisonburg they will be ad-
Notwithstanding News.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
Am unplensant keminfler.

TfI insurging business in congress
reminds us of the days of Rep-Pop
fusion In North Carolina, which al
most caused a revolution In this State
There Is nothing in 1t for the Demo-
Gratis except perhaps n little timber
for the fire of hope.-Durham Sun.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29

The supply of machine guns IL Ia
creasing In all European armies.
Everywhere 1t Is conceded that this,
the latest arm of the service, will
play a decisive par< In the bsttles of
the future.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29

Cooked food is sold from automo-
biles IN the streets OF Paris. Berlin
and Moscow.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29

The eggs of wild birds are smaller
than those of the same species OF
birds when domesticated.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29

hard winter, 80 yo' be keerfu1, an
save yo' wages fas' an tight
AN ] blieve Marse Geo'ge. yas
sab, b'lteve him. an I save an
save, an when de winter come II
amt got no hardship. an dere was
] wild all dat money yes frown on
NAH hnndsi.--Youth's Companion.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29

Now--the sowing and the waapin9.
Working hard and waiting iongS
Afterward--the golden reapinKs
Harvest home and grateful SONG
~. r. HaverGAA
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29

or all places of importance. Sgd
ney, ". s. W., is farthest from Lon
don as the crow fiies--lo,12e miles
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29

A French scientist has invented an
apparatus for steriiiztng water. which
passes In II In spiral tubes around a
long mercury vapor lamp. to utilize
Hthe meteorological properties of the
violet and ultraviolet rays. .
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29

Eighty-seyen in every hundred Ca
madam farmers own their own farms
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29

The happy eagle of Brazil feeds ex
ciusively on monkeys.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
Victory In Sight.

The nomination of Hon. Henry C.
Stuart as the democratic candidate
for Congress from the Ninth District
has proven to be stroke of political
wisdom 1t seems to mean the re-
clamatfon Of the old Ninth from re-
publican domination. 1t has aroused
our party in Southwest Virginia and
put new hope and courage in the
breast OF every democrat. The work
or thoroughly organizing the forces
In the Ninth District has already be-
gun and soon there will be witnessed
In that heretofore republican strong
hold the beginning OF one OF the most
active campaigns In its history. which
1t Is believed win result in the trt-
umphant election of the Democratic
standard-bearer.-- Herald.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29
Small Err.

London has 2.151 miles of street
and 800 miles of tramways.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29

With sixteen ships launched or to
be launched in 1910. Newport News
Is doing all 1t can to get the flag
back on the high seas. It's a little
bit humtltating. however. to go to the
water front and see the coal being
dumped into British bottoms for ship
ment to the American naval station
on the Pacific. That sounds to us
like more contracts for colliers-New-
port News Times Herald.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-29

Mr. Roosevelt is determined that the Egyptians
shall understand that he is no sphynx