The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-24
The Richmond Virginian s'sa aaa zH households a.
AN OBITUARY POEM

, and come home with a full pocket.
he gone a month, You must come
down and run the Eagle tor me"
But I'm booked for the Catskills."
They be hanged INCEST town
incest climate--best ishing-nicest
girls. Why. you'lI own the whole
show in "A week All you've got to do
Is TO steal an editorial or two on our
relations with Japan, and the boys
will do the rest
There was further protesting and
arguing, but In the end the 'Eagle"
man carried his point, and that was
how Mr.. Clarence Thorpe. author and
Journalist. came to he occupying the
editorial chair of the village paper
when Miss Nellie Lees poem APP
peared.
The poem was FIRST read with sur
prise, then with ridicule, then with
Indignation. II was an insult To send
parrot obituary to the Eagle. Mr.
Thorpe was about TO return II to the
major with some caustic observations
when Fate stayed hts hand. Although
Miss Neiiie's name did not appear
as the author. her father had given
her credit in his letter. She might
be one of the nice girls the editor
had mentioned The poem would not
bear publication. even as q burlesque.
but why hurt a nice girls feelings?
Mr.. Thorpe laid aside the manu-
script and took walk. A boy told
him in which direction TO walk to
pass Major Lees residence. He
didn't know exactly why he wanted
to pass ii. but he walked on. The
major was sitting on the veranda
with his cigar. and Providence or
dained that a summer shower should
begin to fall at that moment
Come in. sir-come under shelter
till it's over" called the old soldier.
and the invitation was taken advan-
taEe OF,
The two discussed politics and
other things and exchanged names.
The major received the impression
that Mr.. Thorpe had selected the viii
lage in which to pass month or 30.
and perhaps gather material for an
other book. This gave him an open
ing TO relate the death of the parrot
and the construction Of the poem and
TO add in his blunt way;
Yes: mailed the poem to our pa
/ per last night. I've been told that
the editor Is an ass, but perhaps he'll
see the beauties in these verses. Ii
he doesn't I'll call at his office and
make II my business to And out why
he isn't running a sawmill"
/ The Eagle" was to be issued In
three days. lf the poem did not &c
in the major would keep his word
but MIR. Thorpe was determined that
1t shouldn't go in. He would dodge
the major. He would even bribe the
office boy to lie.
/ On the day the paper was to be
issued he encountered the man oil
war on the street and was taken
hny i'm "a nv
the veranda. On this occasion he
was introduced to Mrs. Lee ant
daughter. and two hours had passed
very Pleasantly when a boy brought
copy of the Eagle" 1t was hur.
riedly opened by the major. NJ
poem
Nellie. my hat and cane" h,
shouted. I'm going down there ant
call that editor a fool,'
Away he went in spite of protesta
ton, and after he was outside IN,
gate Miss Nellie said
"Oh. | do so hope he won't fint
the editor in! 1t was! an awful fool
ish thing to send such a poem a
that. Mr. Thorpe. cant you help m,
to get it back? want to get
without father knowing IT. -
Mr. Thorpe promised to see wha
could be done. The major found tn,
editor out. and that lie brought tn,
office boy so cents. The next da.
il was so cents more. and the mex
and the next, Then the major CAV,
up the quest His emotions over tbs
death of Poll had begun to wane.
Every two or three days Mr.
Thorpe occupied a seat on the We
randa for time. and then he begaI
TO be invited TO dinner. The edito
returned from California. but still
Mr.. Thorpe fingered. 1t was at tn,
end of three months. with Il trip nov
and then 10 the city that the major
said to him:
Yes, go in and win her IL you can
Hang YOU, you rascal. | found on
that you suppressed that poem OF
Line. bat haven't laid Ii up agains
you"