davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24
DEAR WINIFRED BLACK:

DEAR WINIFRED BLACK:
wonder is there a chance for a
girl with a past? Please don't think
I've been bad--but the trouble Is
made a serious mistake.
The old proverb, Marry in haste,
repent at leisure" is no doubt the
tIuest proverb ever made. My I'M
fortunate marriage, while made in
good faith on my part, surely
caused considerable excitement and
comment This man surely could
not have caused more humiliation
and heartaches than he did during
his short fling. Now, what mean to
get at is-do you think my view
point is right? I have dropped tho
matter entirely. have resumed my
former duties and have blotted this
AFFAIR out Of my life forever.
No doubt you will understand
that ! am free. But I have lost no
faith in mankind-have started all
over again and am happy as a lark.
though comments are bound to be
made, don't you really think / have
a right to be as proud as ever when
my conscience is as clear as the
sweet, ripping brook?
or do you think that now, Just
because humiliation has befallen
me, ] should sink into oblivion7
A comment from you on the sub
ject, whether or not you think I'm
right, will be appreciated a million
fold by MARION.
A RIGHT to be proud? Why, OF
"A course you have. Why
shouldn't you be proud OF
your own good sense and your own
courage and your own brave, self
reliant heart?
You have taken tho wreck OF q
llfo and have turned II into a sue
cess. Isn't that something to be
proud of?
What do your friends want you
TO do-sit down in corner and
cry about II the rest OF your days?
Who Is going to pay your board
bill while you are crying. and how
much better off will the world be
for your absolutely useless and un-
necessary tears7
II has already gone out OF fashion
the old idea of crying over split
milk. We don't admire the woman
who mourns too long in these days.
We pity her as poor weak crea-
ture who hasn't the courage or
the self-respect to hold up her
head and go on fFhting her own
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24
81 PAID FOR EACH
DOLLAR SA WE'D
How ! Saved q Dollar.

Here is a chance for every one
to earn a dollar by telling how
she has saved a dollar. II may be
a dollar OF more. II may have
been saved In a day or wsek.
However. all that matters Is HOW
IL was saved.
81 saved and 81 earned by the
telling OF the saving makes W.
How about 1t? BE brief and write
only on one side OF paper.
l win award a prize OF ~ each
day for one OF the suggestions
which ] print.
ELIZABETH LATTIMER.
p. SIT you want a prize. you
must be willing to have your name
and address used. because that Is
only fair to other contestants, who
have a right TO know that each
days prize winner is an actual per-
son. However, ] am delighted TO
have all sorts of ideas sent In.
which. IL not given a prize. Will
be printed with initials only and
help, the other readers.
II your first letter doesn't get
a prize. try again. Even II 1t does.
that Is no bar to your getting an
other II your idea is worth II.
Il. l.
Checks nre mailed to winners.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24

Miss Dicket, who is employed
as a stenographer by a rug firm
in New York was greatly surprised
to find she had won the $1,000
prize.
at was the offer of q thousand
dollars that prompted me TO enter
the contest" said Miss Dicket,
with a lively flash in her eyes.
~ had never tried TO write, nor
had / ever taken part in any con-
test like this, but the thought OF
winning such a fine sum tempted
me, and / went at il with all my
heart and soul. That's all there
is to it. When | received the let
ter from the International Film
Service advising me that / was the
lucky contestant ] could hardly be-
lieve my eyes. | didn't dream i
had a chance. And here ! am the
lucky winne.! 1t all goes to show
that you never can tell until you
try"
Miss Dicket is modest and un-
assuming. Her good fortune has
not turned her head, and the plau-
dts of her many personal friends
have not changed her a bit. Asked
whether she would take up writing
as a profession, she said:
"Of course, the winning OF this
prize is very encouraging, but l
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24
Winifred Black Writes of .
Closing the Door Tight on
Sad and Unfortunate Past
Bv WINIFRED BLACK.

honest way through the world for
herself alone, or for her children
and her friends.
why should you be ashamed be-
cause some one else has done
wrong? You didn't do anything
wrong, did you? And no one who
has any judgment or any expert
ence in life, or any opinion worth
having, will ever think twice or
the matter again except to recog-
nize you as a woman OF character,
brains and courage.
Go on. be happy, forget all that
ever made you miserable. It's just
a door that is closed, that's all
closed and locked, 1 hope, for you
forever. Don't ever let anyone
try to give you the key to 1t, or
even make you stop for one In
slant and peek through the key
hole. There is nothing but misery
in that room for you.
why should you keep the door
open for one minute to please any
ones absurd, old-fashioned no
lions. The world is full of real
sorrow and real trouble. You can
do great deal to alleviate real
grief. You can make yourself use
full in a thousand different ways.
One of the best loved women
ever knew passed through n ter
rible grief and humiliation in her
middle life. She rose above II, and
now whenever anyone Is in trouble
or perplexity that woman is the
one who comforts and advises and
sustains them. When she goes the
world will be a lonely place for
many of us who have never known
the grief and humiliation that has
helped to sweeten and broaden and
deepen her character.
Go singing on your way. Mar
ion," smiling and friendly, kind and
sympathetic. and the world will
owe you a debt which It can never
pay.
Let sentimental sister sit In the
corner and weep over what is past
and cannot be helped. Perhaps she
can help Il; perhaps she does not
want to help IT, What she thinks
or feels is not your concern.
Your life is your own. Live II In
peace and good cheer, and charity
and love, without one moments
thought OF the black misery that
once made you want to die.
Copyright, 1870, By Newspaper Featur,
Service, Inc, Great Britain Rights
Rcevrvcd.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24
A Surprise to the Winner

don't know whether or not i shall
do as a writer. Writing never had
any particular attraction for me.
But / shall think it over very care
fully before ! try it, because l
don't want to fail"
Miss Dicket has reason to be
proud Of herself, for her letter was
picked from thousands Of answers.
The contest ran simultaneously in
eleven newspapers-the New York
Evening Journal, the Chicago
American, the Los Angeles Elk
aminer, the New York American,
the San Francisco Examiner, the
Chicago Examiner and Herald, the
Boston Advertiser, the Boston
American, the Atlanta Georgian,
the Wisconsin News, and The
Washington Times. The job of
picking the winner was a pro-
digious one and taxed the energies
of staff of hundred.
The first task was to separate
the entries that conformed to the
conditions of the contest from
those that did, not. This process
of elimination continued until
about three hundred answers were
ready for the final judges, who de-
cided upon Miss Dicket's answer
as being the best and awarded her
the Cosmopolitan Productions
prize of one thousand dollars.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24

1855 Wilton Place,
Hollywood, Calf.
March "A, 1917.
Ny dear Marcus:
The horseback riding goes finely.
We are to have our seventh lesson
tomorrow. We still ride in the
school enclosure. am known
there only as Mrs. Roberts. ms
saves being stared at curiously, or
having anybody snap camera aC
me, or make newspaper l,ein
about me. 1t also helps me 10 oe-
ieye their statements that ! am
taking I'D the new method OF RIO
ing remarkably well:
You know, the side-saddle IS
wholly out of use now-eVery
woman rides cross-saddle (other-
wise astride), and posting Is the
fashion-that means rising from
the saddle slightly as the morse
trots. 1t is altogether a new klnd
of exercise. They say the fact that
have been an expert swimmer,
and a very expert dancer, has en-
abled me to take up the riding more
ouickly. as both of these exercises
develop the muscles of the upper
leg. which come into important
play in riding astride.
I think you perhaps imagine my
added weight to be more than lt Is;
When ] was married, ] weighed
122 pounds in a Turkish bath.
After the birth of my baby, fell
below that weight, and was anxious
to acquire more plumpness. This
I did. eventually, by taking the
milk diet, and brought myself up
to 1s4 net. This was a decided
Improvement in my figure and con-
tour of face. The last two or
three years | went up to 1877, and
lust a year ago, being weighed at
the bath, was startled to find |
weighed 1879. I felt / was getting
overweight, although Robert
thought the added pounds improved
me.
Before took up horseback rid
ing here, was weiphed at the
bath. and found l was down to 126
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24

arms After a minute he released
me and, framing my face In my
own Ioosened hair, he stood look
ing nj me with tenderness that
made me ache with happiness and
the ioy Of making Jim happy.
-Annel" he cried triumphantly.
i've thought It out! Love justified
a lot of things. Lane Cosby Idol
fees Val. He may have Numbered
20 get her. But he never could have
done a rotten thing or wrong
thIng-not the old brown bear.
Wen stand by him, won't We? We
aren't afraid OF what a bunch or
gossips say when we stand to-
gether. are we? Well get at the
truth and well fight wanton malice
with It,"
"rll stand by you, JIM / vowed,
nesting into his arms.
But even there I wondered II Jim
and I together were a match for
Envy Mason. " had n momentary
flicker OF unrest at the thought OF
nghting for Vars happiness for
got IL in Jlm's arms. for hadn't I
vowed never again to be Jealous?
Ito he cortipued.)
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24
Letters of Ella Wheeler Wilcox on Life Beyond
of Immortality Based MESSAGES from Dead Husband

ly bring very wonderful results:
But one has TO approach any. OF
these things with an open mind.
and a willingness TO be taught
something, and with the egotism
of self in subsection, in order to
obtain results.
think your work Of writing an
account of your regiment most IN
teresting, and l should like to see
it when it appears. | have just
renewed my contract to write
poem every month for the Cos
mopolitan magazine, beginning
with the May number. Poems are
coming fast and often now. Yes
terday friends took me on an all
day motor trip, from III IN the
morning till 6 at night. While
was motoring, | mentally com
posed half q poem, completed 1t
when got home, and mailed 1T
before ! slept. The whiz of mo-
toring / find very conducive to
poetical creation.
People here are complaining OF
the cold winter we have had. and
it amuses me. The grass on all
the lawns has been as green as
June, and every day we have
picked roses and other flowers
from our garden; 25 days out OF
every 80 have been sunny: and the
thermometer has not gone below
so in Hollywood. But it seems TO
be the average human beings
pleasure to fuss about the wea-
Their.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24
CHATTER CCXLIL
IN DOR old Cosby" said Jim.
his face inscrutable even

SSD DOR old Cosby" said Jim.
his face inscrutable even
to me as l waited breath
lassly for his reaction to Evvy's
rruelty and the hideousness Of what
me had limited about the Cosby's.
Poor old Cosby" he murmured
again. Then he turned to Envy and
his eyes challenged hers-held
them. DO you mean to insinuate
hat the poor creature out In that
asylum is still alive?"
"Jimv gasped Envy. ~Of course
] don't mean to say that Lane Cos
bys poor insane wife is still alive.
That would be accusing them Of
something unthinkable. I'm not
making any accusations. I'm just
aging that a girl in my position
can't afford to have a woman like
his pour at her engagement tea.
Why she's the daughter of a board
ing-house keeper and goodness
knows how she lured this poor old
dotard away from his sick wife"
Looking down at the table, l no.
ticed that Jim's hand was clenched
20 tightly the kunckles were white
and the Y of Jagged vein stood out
on his forehead. For a second he
breathed heavily and expected him
10 burst out and tell Envy how he
FELT about these revelations she had
lug up concerning his friends. But
when he spoke, it was to astonish
me with these words:
Envy, you're an old pal Of mine
going to be my sister soon. If l
sized you to stand by me, would
YOU do it?"
Evvy's eyes forgot to widen as
s1o leaned across the table and
poke huskily:
'Td do--a lot for you--brother
j m"
There was q laugh and a lure and
challenge In the words, but In
stead of the jealousy such proceed
rngs on the part OF women had al
avs made me feel I had a detach-
"a curiosity as to how Jim meant to
andle this situation When l saw
aim struggling to control his tenn
per l realized he had a purpose to
,ccomplish.
Then forget this-gossip about
cosby. He's my friend, Envy owe
lin a lot, and if ever I fail In graf
tude I'm a scrub. This story may
bg right II may be wrong. But
Until you get the actual straight Of
{ won't you forget 1t? Coshy'a IAN
lonest old brown bear. I'll bank
IN that. Why send him back TO the
particular inferno out of which he
may just be struggling?"
Envy Asks Question.
you want me TO keep this 70
myself" asked Envy, ignoring Neal
aNd me.
Like the thoroughbred you know
Tow to be-" replied Jim gravely.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24

~ EFoRE they reached the farm
X she had confessed her ident-
- ity-e p In g how the
change had come about, and why II
was important to go on with the
deception. Too much explanation
was not necessary with q person OF
Gives wide understanding. No
vagaries of behavior seemed to
shock or astonish her large, human
soul. She merely, during the reia-
ton OF Diana's tragedy. muttered
once or twice to herself: The poor
thing! Oh, the poor thing" and
looked at April as though she. too.
were "a poor thing" instead OF
fraud and an adventures to be ob-
jured and cast out
For the first time since her
mothers death the girl felt herself
sheltering in the warmth OF wo-
manly sympathy. and the comfort
of II was very sweet.
Don't worry too much said
Give, cheerfully. Tout s'arrange;
that's my motto. Everything comes
straight II you leave 1t alone
A Cheerful Motto.
A cheerful motto, indeed. and one
seeming to Mt well with the picture
Of the old farm house lying in the
morning sunshine. Low-roofed ana
white-walled. II was tucked under
the shelter OF the Qua-Qua Noun
tains with apricot orchards stretch-
ing away on either side. SIX I'M
mense oaks spread their untrimmed
branches above the high stoop and
before the house, where patches OF
yellow green grass grew raggeG
as a vagabond's hair: a Kerry COW
was pegged out and half dozen
black babies disported themselves
among the acorns.
Dozens OF old paraffin tins,
strained with rust. and sawed-on
barrels, bullying asunder, lined the
edge OF the stoop, all filled with
geraniums, begonias, cacti, red
lilies and feathery bamboos- Every
plant had a flower, and every flower
was a brilliant ital>thing. Other
decorations were chopping block,
an oek chest blistered and curled
by the sun. several wooden beds
with the bedding rolled up on
them and two women. who smiled
a welcome. These were Ghostie and
Belle Heiene-the only names Arpil
ever knew them by.
"Welcome to the home for dere-
licts, broken china, and old crooks"
they said. You may think you are
none of these things, but there
must be something the matter with
you or you wouldn't be here"
"Too true" thought April, but
smilingly answered:
There doesn't seem much wrong
with YOU"
"Oh, there is, though! Ghostie is
a journalist recovering from hav-
ing the soul trampled out of her
by johannesburg Jews. am a
singer with sore throat and a
chronic pain in my right kidney
that / am trying to wash away
with the Juice of Gives apricots
and the milk from Gives cows"
"'Nuff sed,'' interposed Give,
Lets think about some grub. I've
brought back sausages for break
fast"
Meekie. the mother of the black
babies, had fetched in the parcels
from the cart, and already there
was a fiZzling sound in the kitchen
The rest of the household proudly
conducted April to the guest cham
Der. There was nothing in it ex-
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24
Girl of IL Wins 81, 900 ..Nracle of LoUe' Prize

toward Give cannot be criticised for "sn Is
had her place would not have
considered with Give while was married to another man
another had the greatest hspp
life gvtat Of finding her soumate felt the JOY OF
This should have awakened sympathy Tor the man
married
What in her placel would have sacri
remain loyal marriage vows
willing release in honorable and
THIS is WHAT WOULD HAVE DONE, for KINDNESS would
his mistake and would have made him want see
KINDNESS IS LOVE, and the transformation OF this
unhappy would have been the true Miracle Of Love-
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24
TOday's Prize Goes
To This Letter.

DEAR MISS LATTIMER.
had a crepe de chine waist which
was DANA ged under the arms. l rip
ped it up and made a dress for my
little four year-old daughter. From
the back OF waist and the sleeves ]
made the skirt and from front of waist
l made the waist, then from the col
lar ! made the sleeves and trimmed
II with two yards OF lace at 10 cents
per yard This made serviceable
dress which has been admired by
everybody who has seen It. l hope
this suggestion may help someone
else MRS. j. L. HALL,
S17 Fourth ST. y. Il.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24

pounds. only 4 pounds more than
when was married. SO you see
| am not much of burden for
a horse, and am told that | look
very well in my riding habit. The
exercise | find beneficial, and a
little weakness | have had in my
left knee for a year has been
quite cured already.
Regarding the thumb tests, the
tea grounds, the cards, etc, they
are merely means of concentration
for people of crude psychical de-
velopment. AS such they frequent
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24
Now the Dolls
Have 'Hazel" Eyes.

DEAR MISS LATTIMER:
Having five little ones to buy Christ
mas presents for / found II meant
quite a sum OF money, so 1 had two
good doll heads with tho eyes out
New ones would have cost S1.26 each.
/ took two hazel nuts and cracked
hem and trimmed them up neatly and
enameled them white. 1 glued them
last to the dolls heads. My husband
took some water colors we had in
the house and painted one pair blue
and one brown AS result We have
two perfectly lovely dolls which would
cost $3.50 to have repaired or $40
new. You would never know their eyes
were made OF hazel nuts.
MRS. L. l. r..
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24
Miss Anna C. Dicket, of
Pleasantville, N. Y, the
Lucky Contestant in
Big Competition

4 SEVENTEEN-YEAROLDg girl, Miss Anna Dicket,
n of Pleasantville, N. Y, wins the 81 900 prize Of
fered in The Washington Times by the Cosmopoli-
tan Productions for the best to the problem set
forth in the motion picture ''The Miracle of Love-"
Thousands of answers submitted by contestants
all over the country, and Miss Dicket's picked out
by Cosmo Hamilton author of ''The Miracle of Love-"
Fannie Hurst and Rupert Hughes AS most deserving of
the award.
Miss Dicket saw the motion picture featuring Lucy
Cotton at the Ralto in New York After bordering
the position of the Duchess of Harwch tied loveess
marriage paraytc and brutal husband and longing
to respond the call of her soumae the younger of
an old and proud family she wrote the following
to the question, ''What would you have done in her
place!''
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24
Home Upholstery
Saves Money.

DEAR MISS LATr1MEh:
Having pet chair which sag
ged in the middle OF the seat and
Inable to secure tho aid of an up
holster in time for the repairs,
tackled the lob. l tackled new twine
10 the front, -sides and back of the
chair, knotting the cord to the
~pringn then tied the cord to the
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24
DEAD LIVE AND LOVE US
AND CAN AND DO COMMUNI-
CATE WITH THOSE WHO
SEEK WAY.
From Assertions" of
Ella Wheeler Wilcox.

Los Angeles, Feb. II, 1917.
Yes, / make my assertions
many times each day. They are
all contained in these words:
II am the living witness! The
dead live and love us and can
and do communicate with those
who seek the way. / am the
Voice which shall give this
glorious truth to the sorrowing
world. | am ready, God; ! am
ready, Christ; ] am ready, Rob-
ert, to finish the work you have
given me to do. Amen"
This is all for today. With love
to you,
Your sister,
ELLA.
am sending you various maya
zines at various times, to relieve
the congestion Of my stands and
tables.
Continued Tomorrow
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24
Economy Even In
The Inevitable Prune.

UEAH MISS LIN I Il "HIN'
BY taking advantage OF the oppor-
ouuity offered us at the Liberty Hut
I purchased fve pounds OF hne prunes
Tor SIS cents, or IL cents pound. l
have been paying IS cents a pound for
the same at the grocers. Five pounds
ut 35 cents would have cost me Sl.75,
therefore saved $40 on one pur-
chase. Beat this II you can;
MRS. T. II. ID.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24
Another Way TO Get
An Extra CamisOle.
Millinery Always
In Women's Thoughts

DEAR MISS LATTlMER;
had Q summer hat which had a
straw crown and a turned up brim
n cloth, trimmed with braid. l took
velvet gathered crown and slipped
IL over this other one. and by this /
mad a nice winter hat which l needed
vary much. II saved me quite a sum
OF money. .. NJ L.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-24
"Thumb Tests, Tea Cups, Cards,
Merely Concentration Tests for
Those of Crude Development
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Downright, 1890, King Features Syndicate


The foo,ong hitherto unpublished letters from America great
est poee favoe BROTHER Marcus r Wheeler WINDSOR WIS"
a remarkable human document At
and the forth whot she 6etred her certain
knoedge hereafter based communications from her
died IN 1916 and also inter
cstuo side Hghts daily life and rem8 of ts wer whose
is own to evey qoho reads These letters oN be printed
in dnIt instalfnentS.)