davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22

The Growth of the Divorce Evil.
The Illinois commission on uniform
marriage and divorce laws gives in its
recent report some startling informa-
ton concerning the divorce evil in our
country. 1t says:
The divorce evil, by its rapid and
widespread growth in the United
States, has become a danger so deadly
that 1t threatens not only the moral
health. but the very life of the nation.
Within the last fifty years divorce has
Increased on an average more than
three and three and one-third times
as fast as the population. In the year
1912 1t may safely be said that 100, 900
divorces were granted. 1t Is conserva-
tive to say that 100, 900 children, most
ly under ten years Of age, WERE made
divorce orphans, being deprived of one
or both OF their parents"
The commission strongly argues for
a national law governing marriage and
divorce, to be had by an amendment
to the federal constitution. Whether
that Is the better plan Is question
on which the people interested in this
reform are divided. 1t is plain, how
ever, that in practically all our
States the laws regulating marriage
and divorce are too lax, and we can
at least give cur support to every
movement looking to improved condi-
tons in our own States.--Nashville
Christian Advocate.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22

If not himself. set much store by 1t.
1t often ocurs that the president or
some member of his family is the
owner of some treasured volume of
the Scriptures which 1t is desired that
he should use on this sacred and i'm
portant occasion. This was especial
ly the case when Mr.. Cleveland was
inaugurated. He was the owner of a
small Bible, not longer than ones
hand, and which apparently had seen
much usage. His mother had pre-
scented it to him when he was boy,
and he had treasured it ever since.
When he was consulted concerning
the oath when first inaugurated pres
ident, he stated that he desired his
mothers present should be used for
this purpose When the oath was ad-
ministered to him at the beginning
Of his second administration the same
volume, which on this occasion had
been brought out by Mrs. Cleveland,
was presented as the one on which
her husband should make his pledges.
Quite in contrast with this little
volume was the one used in admin
fstering the oath to Mr.. Mckinley.
The negro bishops Joined together and
presented to Mr.. Mckinley a. very
large book. 1t was family Bible
OF extraordinary size, bound in heavy
Morocco, trimmed in gold. and stored
In much ornamented box. The clerk
was much tagged out in carrying 1t
to the. platform in front of the capt.
tol. The donors afterward called at
the White House and presented it to
Mr.. Mckinley.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22

Years ago some Indians lived on
the banks OF a beautiful river. The
men fished and the women planted
corn in little hillocks instead of IN
rows. When they sat down for a
friendly gossip they held their little
babies in their arms or strapped upon
their backs. One young mother
never took her eyes from the cradle
in which her handsome boy slept
When he Weakened. she sang to him
and called him Little Bravo" with
such love and tenderness in her voice
that the other women all stopped TO
listen.
Years passed merrily until Little
Bravo was ten years old. He could
hunt and fish, and his mother was
happy dreaming of the time when ne
should be man All her spare mo-
ments were spent in embrotdering
clothes for Little Bravo and his faith
err, with the result that they out
shons all others Of their tribe. Lit
tie Bravo always wore moccasins OF
yellow buckskin trimmed with beads
and porculine quilts. He was noble,
warm hearted and sunny-tempereo
lad.
One summer night. the heat hung
heavy over the land.
There will be a Storm" said the
father. Where is Little Bravo?"
| Down on the river bank asleep,
replied the mother. Il sat by him
long time brushing away the insects
that bothered him. He had taken OH
his moccasins and his feet were pare.
He Is very beautiful, our Little Bravo.
When the storm comes l Will carry
him in without awakening him.
The storm soon broke with great
violence. The mother fastened 70
the river. AS she was about to hIe
her boy vivid fash OF lightning re-
yealed the two hands OF the Spirit
that lived In the water. They reached
up and drew Little Bravo into the
waves. All the mother saw was the
print of his body on the shore and
his two yellow moccasins. A scream
brought the father to the spot. They
both Owed into the water, though the
storm ragged. What cared they for
that? Their Little Bravo had disap-
! peared beneath the surface. Finally,
| in broken hearted accents, they plead
ed: "Oh, spirit of the riverl Give him
back to us."
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22
LITTLE BRAVO

BY and by the father arose. ana
looking into the sky said: 1T in the
will Of the Great Spirit. He has taken
him, away but will save him for us"
Turning. he disappeared into the
forest The mother sat by the river
for many days. without food or sleep.
kissing and caressing the little yel-
low moccasins.
One night. raising her eyes to the
sky, she beheld the pathway made OF
star-dust that leads to spirft-land.
Longing to follow 1t, she felt the pres
sure of a small hand upon her
shoulder. Turning, she met the
smiling gaze OF her son.
"oh. Great Spirit. I thank thee. The
dead Is alive."
Come. mother" said tho boy. we
are to follow yonder path tonight ].
have come for thee. because thy weep-
ing grieves the happy ones"
The mother placed her hand in the
small clasp and she said:
Here are thy moccasins. Thou
wilt need them. The way II rough,
The boy laughed. and held up his
foot. upon which flashed and gleam-
ed moccasins Of shining gold. Lay
down my old moccasins." he said.
land thou shalt see how a mothers
love shall be remembered"
She placed the little yellow mecca
sins on the ground, and about them
green leaves unfolded. The leaves
grew rapidly into a fower-salk. and
on the highest spray the moccasins
were fastened. They shrank in size,
and changed into flowers. keeping
their first shape and color.
The Little Bravo spoke:
See. Mother" he said. these, fiows
ers shall bloom on forever by this
shining river. Long after the red
man shall have gone. they shall
bloom"
Wondering but happy. tho mother
followed Little Bravo along the star
strewn path to spirit-land. Not many
moons later the father Joined them
out of the mists Of battle.
All this was long ago. Tho In.
dams have left the banks Of the
river, but the yellow flowers bloom
by Its waters White children gather
them and call them Orchids" sor
''lady's slippers" but the Indians al
ways give them their real name Of
Indian moccasins."
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22
THE ELEPHANT EATERS

But the babies cried harder than
ever, until Auntie said. do you want
me to tell you a story?"
Laura always cheered up when
Auntie offered to tell a story, which
rs the reason She wiped her eyes and
smiled: and to this day that baby
likes to be told about who ate the
elephants.
Auntie says that before long dog
came trotting down the street. and.
when he saw the elephants, he said,
way he tasted of one, and it was
sweet. so doggie ate three.
After that Mr.. Simon Strong came
walking aaong with ITS head in the
air, and he didn't even know that he
stepped on seven elephants and
ground them to powder Soon as he
was gone, down from the maple trees
came a flock Of sparrows. twittering
and happy-mother sparrows, father
sparrows. and baby sparrows They
not only ate all the crumbs, but were
pecking at whole elephants. when q
ragged little boy jumped off a ped
ler's wagon and scared them away.
The little boy snatched FIVE elephants.
A wee brown mouse with beady
black eyes came creeping along from
under a porch and ate three ele-
plants legs, before he had TO run
away and hide e
Let all who do not believe that this
story is almost every word true. go to
a grocery store, buy box of animal
crackers, offer a few elephants to
babies and boys, to English sparrows.
and a wee brown mousey, and then
see what will Appropriateness Mar
gare$ Fox, IN tSs Shpye@paA
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22
IERMEY TAYLOR AND
LAURENCE STERNE

1t appears that there are only two
literary centenaries that occur our
ing the current year which may De
said to be of outstanding interest to
students OF English literature. In Au-
gust will be commemorated the three
hundredth anniversary or the plrtn Oh
Jeremy Taylor, and in December the
two hundredth anniversary or the
birth OF Laurence Sterne. Strange
indeed, is the conjunction OF forces
by which two such names are prought
together. Despite much talk OF ex-
clusiyenes IL one wishes to know how
commemorative and ecclesiastical the
English Established Church Is. he has
only to remember that its clergy in
ciuded Jeremy Taylor, probably the
most impressive and influential
preacher Of personal holiness who
ever occupied an Anglican pulpit. and
Laurence Sterne, whose Rabelaisian
humor found full vent in the Life
and Opinions OF Tristan Shandy." But
Sterne, like Swift, was a disgrace to
holy orders. Such a verdict is inevi-
table. even when the low standards
of his time are taken into account.
and every allowance. made for the
frailties of the flesh. ....
/ Jeremy Tayfor's Holy Living and
Dying was to be found in every reli-
gious household in England genera
ton ago, but 1t is now read only by
students of English style. This de-
votional classic contains some OF the
finest examples of sacred eloquence
in the English tongue. Most col
quent OF all divines." Coleridge called
It's author, and with truth for Milten
Atone surpasses Taylor in gorgeous
rhetoric and subIimity of conception.
Taylor's writings lie buried in ten
volume edition published more than
fifty years ago. No one. perhaps.
wishes them resurrected in extenso,
but some enterprising publisher might
give us volume of carefully chosen
and representative passages The
famous DR.. Parr said that English
men revere Barrow, admire Hooker,
but love Jeremy Taylor"
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22
Norfolk. Va.


Dear Aunt Nancy.-My school
closed June II, 1913. i passed with
out taking any examinations. and you
may be sure / was glad. l will be in
Seven II grade next term. / am so
glad school has closed and / will try
to write oftener. II any of the naeces
or nephews come to the beach this
summer ! want them to let me know
and / will be very glad to see them.
1t Is cool and pleasant today. Our
Sunday school had its annual picnic
yesterday, June 18th. at the EXPOSE
ton grounds. l went and had fine
time. We left on the special car at
1890 o'clock and returned at $40
O'Clock. We had to walk n good dis
lance to the place where we picnick-
ed. which was about two blocks from
the water. l went to the end OF the
pier and went in wading and had q
very nice time. The water is lovely.
We picked wild plums, which were
very nice. They are tearing down
quite a number OF the buildings, ] am
sending some puzzles. which 1 hope
you can use.
Your loving niece,
MARY FUGATE~
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22

you do, and surely there will come a
day some time when your heart will
smite you sorely. if you keep back
things that you should have laid be-
fore them.
why tell your parentsr Because
they love you and long to be loved
and trusted in return; because they
have, in the years they have lived.
learned many things which are yet
unknown to you; because If you tell
them all about the things which are
In your heart they may know how to
advise you, so that you may avoid
trouble, which might otherwise sweep
you off your feet forever; because YOU
cannot be true to father and mother
and not tell them everything.
Do not let anything get into your
life to break the harmony between
you and father and mother. Such a
little thing may do so-one wrong
word whispered into your ear. one
wicked thought and base desire. Go
quickly and tell those who are dear
est to you of all on earth about it.,
and let them help you to get back
once more into the right way.
Shall l tell mother?"
Yes, 1t Is the, only right way. Trust
her, and she Will never be untrue to
you-Herald and Presbyter.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22
KISSING THE ii q, CROSS.

Gods blessed book lies in her lap to.
night,
Her sightless eyes are all suffused
with tears;
The subtle sense OF touch has served
for sight,
Earned bread for soul and body
many years
But now she gropes for God with
falling fingers
That toll has hardened till the touch
IL gone.
Poor hands. to double harness.
doomed: she fingers
Ger letters raised. his promises ia
She outs the calloused fingers to the
quick.
But blunts the sense; her fingers
now are blind.
In vain they press the page, their
touch too thick;
Gods hook Ia blank, is mute unto
her mind. .
She lifts It to her lips-fafewell carcss,
They touch and feel the letters high
emboss
Her lips translate, tfanspose tho page
they press.
Find God again, when she has kissed
the CROSS
Rev. c. A. Cornell.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22
DREAMS.

Charlie, aged four. was devoted ~
his older brother. Fred. whom he
copied faithfully as far as he was
able. One morning Fred announced
that he had had dream the night
before.
What .did you see in your dream %
asked his mother.
"A big dog that ran and ran. and
bit a boy
THAT was dreadful" said his
mother.
II HAD g. dream, too" spoke up
Charlie.
What was your dream about,
dear7"
Bout a dog"
And what did your dog do?''
Same as Freds dog" was the sat
isf1ed reply.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22
Divided Cities.

Divide a. city in Ireland into
metallic Instrument and quick.
Divide city into boys name ana
a male child.
Divide a city into an organ OF the
body and a shallow place in a river
Divide a city into boys name and
weight.
Divide city into foreman and a
weight.
Divide a city into a prohibition and
blood.
Divide a city into a mans name
and a stronghold.
Divide a city into a stream and a
tract of land.
Divide a city into angry, a pro-
noun and a male child.
Divide city into a small stream
and another city.
Divide city into ito part ana
that which is not water.
Divide city into novel and har-
Dor.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22
Farmv.lle, Va


Dear Aunt Nancy promised to
give you an account OF the commence
ment exercises of the FarmviIle High
school, but owing to the fact that
Mr.. Martin, the principal, left soon
after commencement for Buena Vista
with a party of Boy Scouts. l could
not get from him some of the most
important items OF the occasion.
You have heard so much about
commandments lately that l don't
suppose you will be very grievous1y
disappointed. I'll give you the names
of the graduating class, however, and
state that this is the first class in the
whole history of the school:
Sarah Lyle Spencer, salutatorian;
Elizabeth i. Hundley. class historian;
Viola Vivian Wingo, testatrix: Carrie
Fitzgerald, prophecies; Ivie Velma
Parkhurst, valedictorian; Nathan Wo-
mack, just a boy
i intended to send you list of all
those promoted with distinction, but
can't remember them all. You will
be pleased to hear that led my grade,
won't you?
Pussy cat, pussy cat.
Where have you been?
Over to London
To see the queen.
1 Pussy cat, pussy cat,
/ What did you do?
! Joined the suffragette
Hul-la- ba-loo.
/ LOUIS DAHL
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22
A SHORT TALK ITO THE CIRCLE MEMBERS

and Dallas that you do good
work for our page and are very
faithful.
Remember to let me have all
new names, puzzles, drawings,
stories, etc, by Thursday Of every
week. I have written each one OF
you a card this week to call your
attention to the contest, and I am
looking forward with great pleas
ure to receiving the new names
and getting more material for
our page. I know 1t is hot and
this weather makes you feel lazy,
but just think Of the long summer
days you will have to do nothing
but play in. like for my dear
children to have q good time and
/ want You to play all you can
while you are young. but all Of
you have certain duties ! know,
and think what an uninteresting
world this would be il we did
nothing but have good time.
AUNT NANCY,
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22
The DID, Boy

u t irfs r ~,
N7..-le is the 6oy--the real boy-trv
boy that used to be,
The boy that planned TO run away and
go TO sail the sea
upon the local freight,
The boy that thought circus ring held
And where's the boy--the boy est boy
that ever lived at ALL
Who whisued on his fingers In wild.
ear-splitting call?
Boys nowadays go solemnly at learn
ing this and that
Which he held in the busy brain
beneath this ragged hat
Oh. where's the hat he. used to wear?
The coffee straw" whose peak
Rose high. while all the sagging brim
slapped him on neck and cheek.
Or else 1t was a hickory" a shoe
string for band
The dealer strung them on a cord. all
ready to his hand.
He was boy. He knew more things
than YOU and | may learn,
He knew. where, Indian turnips grow,
He knew the birds familiariy. he
watched May-apples grow.
And had his private fishing place where
He went barefooted-how his feet got
stonebruised right away
He never had his two front teeth.
Where is that boy today?
All. how he'd whistle, First and little
fingers in his lips.
And then a blast that cut the air like
to a hundred whips
And how he looked His mouth
stretched wide his eyes all stain
ed and set
It's strange that such n boy as that Is
now no longer met
Be-collared and be-shoed our boys go
aimlessly through life
And never stand red faced and blow
upon their finger-fff
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22
A BOYS MOTHER.

My mother, she's so good to me,
'Ef I was as good as I could be.
I couldn't be as good-no, sir!
Cant anybody be as good as her.
She loves me when I'm glad or mad.
She loves me when I'm good or bad;
And what's the funniest thing, she says
She loves me when she Furnishes
don't like her to punish me;
That don't hurt: but IL hurts to see
Her cryin'-nen ! cry; an men
We both cry-an' be good again.
She loves me when she cuts an sews
My little cloak an Sunday clo'es:
An when my pa comes home to tea.
She loves him most as much as me.
She laughs an tells him all I said
An grabs me up an pats my head;
An / hug her, an hug my pa,
An love him purt' nigh much as ma
James Whitcomb Riley.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22
My Dear Nteces ana Nephews:

Aunt Nancy has been very busy
this week arranging for the New
Member Contest" and she hopes
all OF you are working hard and
getting lots Of new members. One
Of our nieces asked the other day
how many boys and girls were
members of the r. V. J. C. and If
l would publish list of their
names. We have quite a large cir
Gle and when this contest is over
! will publish all of your names,
together with the names Of the
new members. Aunt Nancy
doesn't like to be always COM
planning. but what has become
of her artists? We haven't got
ten any pictures for a long time.
Roy. l am so sorry you lost your
pet hen. and ! hope you will get
another one soon that will take
her place. Louis, I am very
proud of the fact that you lead
your grade. and want to tell you
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22
The Inaugural Bible.

The new president. Mr.. Wilson. took
the oath OF Office with his hand on
the open Bible. The chief tustica- of
the United States administered the
oath, but It IL the duty OF the clerk
of the Supreme court to purchase the
sacred book and have it at the right
place at the right time.
1t is the intention that the man
who takes the oath of ONCE shall
have the book for a keepsake, and 1t
-9AES--"r fr"n"pjras that fis family
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22
A Dog and His
Master s Boots
nv CORA MYRTLE PALMoRE.

A clergyman once had occasion to
leave home for considerable time
and trusted dog to the care OF a
friend during his absence. Two years
afterwards he returned and reached
his friends house late at night. Next
morning he was reused by the dog
bursting into his bedroom and jump
ing on his bed with every sign of in
tense JOY Puzzled as to the creature
knowing he had come back. he asked
man-servant If he could explain the
matter. 1t then appeared that. as
this servant was cleaning the clergy
mans boots the dog recognized them
and grew very excited. 1t was i'm
possible to quiet the animal, but when
he saw where the boots were being
taken he followed the servant and
dashed into the room with him, as
already related.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22

Numerical Enigma
am composed of 81 letters and
was a circumstance, or event, which
seriously affected the history and for
tunes of the South.
Ny %, 7. 81. IL is the name OF
prophecies mentioned in the New Tes-
lament
NV 10. 4, FL. IT, 90 is a valuable
gem found in the shells OF various
mollusks.
NV /. 6, 15 Is yellowish brown tfnged
with red
My "a, ., 9. 81 is not thick.
My %, 13, Is, IL is place for eoin-
ing money
My 5. is. s. 3. "a is seen occasion
ally in the sky.
NV is, rs, II. 10. 2 is covered
structure over the entrance to build
ing.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22

We're looking rOund 1or roses req,
Roses red. roses red;
We're looking round for roses red.
| And we've found one here.
At the word there" the raised arms
come down and inclose the head OF a
child who happens at that moment to
be passing underneath their hands.
Then all sing:
We've found one here; we've found
one here,
A red ripe rose, red ripe rose;
We've found one here; we've found
one here,
And we are happy.
| The rose then takes the place Of one
Of the two who caught her. and she
calls out daisy Daisy then becomes
the word to use instead OF rose In the
verses. Every one caught calls out
the name OF some flower. which Is
substituted In the song. The game
goes on until every child has had q
chance to be caught Tho rest OF the
game proceeds a. inN''I.ondon Bridge"
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22
A Boy Who Went Hunting.

A little boy went hunting to kill
bear not far from home. There were
several bushes, and in the bushes
there were two or three rabbits, and
when they heard the boy they ran
out the bushes The boy said: There
are the bears: / had better run or
they will catch me-" So he ran home
and told his mother the bears were
coming after him. His mother looked
and looked, but no bears could she
see She asked him how big they
were, and he said they were white
and she said they were only rabbits.
HENRY MOESTA.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-22

In the morning dressing there is a
tug.
II q child has been stung by the
Dawdle-B Bug:
Breakfast table will have TO watt,
School bell rings for boy that's late;
Unlearned lessons, a Ounce cap tall,
And no time left for a game, of ball.
Now, cure for the sting of the
Dawdle-Bug
Lies neither in medicine. pill, nor
drug
(some say the oil of birch is good:
I haven't tried 1t. and never would) /;
But the poison can't in the system
Turk
OF boy who is brisk In his play and
work.