davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-10
Fathers Love Is
Remembered By
Son Grown Old

Dear Dad:
am writing this to you, though
you have been dead for thirty years.
From your seat in the place Beyond
I hope you can see these lines. I
feel I must say something 70 you.
things l didn't know when I was a
boy in your house. things ! was
too stupid 20 say. IT'S only now,
after passing through the long. hard
school OF years: only now when my
own hair is gray that understand
how you felt.
must have been a bitter trial to
you. I believed my own petty wis
dom and I know how ridiculous il
was compared 10 that calm. ripe.
wholesome wisdom OF yours. Most
OF all I want 10 confess my worst
sin against YOU. II was the feeling
that I had that you did not under
stand" When look back over il
now. I know that you did under
stand-you understood me better
than did myself. Your wisdom
flowed around mine like the ocean
around an standard how patient
you were with me! How full OF
long suffering and kindness and
how pathetic were your efforts TO
get close to me to win my conf
dence. to be my pal.
wouldn't let you. ] couldn't
what was il held me aloof. ! don't
know. But Il was tragic-thst wall
that rises between O boy and his
father. and their frantic attempts
to see through II and climb over IT,
wish you we're here across the
table from me. for an hour. SO that
I could tell you how there's no
wall any more: I, understand you
now. Dad, how love you and how
I wish could 70 back 10 be your
boy again know now how you
felt. Well. il won't be long. Dad.
till I am over and believe you'll
be the first TO take me bv the hand
and take me up the further slope.
And I'll put in the first thousand
years or so making you realize
that not one pang Of yearning on
your part was wasted. II took a
good many years for this prodigal
son-and all sons are in a measure
prodigal-to come TO himself, but
I've come see IL all now.
know that the richest. most
priceless thing on earth. and the
thing least understood. is that
mighty love and tenderness and
craving TO help. which a father
feels toward his boy. For I have
a boy Of my own now.
And il is he that makes me want
TO 90 back to you and get down on
my knees toLyou.
Up there somewhere in the ST.
lence. hear me. Dad, and believe
me.
Sincerely.
UNKNOWN.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-10
Reveal Vitamins
Fewer In Whites

NEW ORLEANS. La. - A highly
unusual fact was brought 20 lignt
here last week in the discovery .ha,
wEi,e people suffer more from lack
O. vitamins than do Negroes. IN
spite OF the advantage they enjoy
in economic levels
The revelation resulted from a
survey conducted by Tulane univer-
sity students under the direction Of
DR.. Grace A. Goldsmith. The sur
vey was one OF several meant 10
determine the effects Of raiioning
upon the health II the American
public.
The disclosure followed n test OF
200 patients at the New Orleans
Charity hospital. half Of therl sol
ored. Vitamin deficiency was found
to be more prevalent among the
whiteS i: was admitted.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-10
IN MEMORY OF
DIR. GEORGE w. CARVER

The greatest scientist on the earth.
Who was born Of lowly birth.
Who was loyal 10 the end
DR.. Carver. the peoples friend
Now re waits with God on high.
For that great soul can never die.
From pecans he extracted dyes.
or different kinds We recognized.
Non-fading paints he made from
clay.
And many things We use today.
Axle grease from peanuts came
Hundreds OF things canno;
name.
An artist. TOO. OF note was he;
or him we're proud as We can be
And on Tuskegee's walls are found
His paintings made from coffee
grounds.
The Luxembourg Museum grand
Boasts Of The Rose" made by
his hand
Through public schools &c worked
his way:
He had no time 20 stop 10 play.
Iowa college, from there We see
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-10
NCONSTANT


Northumberland, when a sim
gle thought OF thee
Sends all my shivering blood,
Back on my heart in the thrills OF
ecstasy.
Inconstant-when 10 sleep and
dream
That thou art near me. is 70 learn.
So much OF heaven, and | weep
To think that earth and morning
must return.
Incons;ant. when 70 feel that thou
has loved.
Will love ME 10 the last
Is Joy enough to steal all Joy from
life.
The future and the past!
lnconstant? All, too true.
Turned from the rightful shelter Of
thy breast,
My tired heart flutters through this
changeful world.
A bird without nest.
Incous;ant 10 the crowd through
which I pass,
AS 10 the sky above the tickle sum-
mer cloud,
But not 10 thee. Oh. not 70 thee my
love
may be false 10 oil earth beside,
And every tender tie
Which seems 10 hold enthrall this
weary lfe
OF mine. may be a lie.
But true as Gods own truth
My steadfast heart turns back ever
more,
To that sweet time of youth
Whose golden tide beats such
barren shore.
Incons,ant, Not my own the hand
Tha; built this wall between our
lives:
On It's solid shadow grown to per-
feet shape.
The flower OF love survives
God knows I'd give all other Joys,
The sweetest and the best
For one short hour TO live
Close. close TO thy heart, its COM
fort and It's rest.
But life is not all dark.
The sunlight gladdens many a hid
den slope.
The dove shall find its ark
or peaceful refuge. and Of patient
hope.
But sacred 10 this loss
One white. sweet chamber Of my
heart shall be.
No foot shall ever cross
TIE silent portal, sealed 10 love. and
thee.
And some time. when my lips
Are 10 my first-born'S, clnging close
and long.
Drawing with bee-like sips
At its lily heart. will it be wrong.
Il. for an instant, wild with precious
pain. 81
I put aside the truth.
And dream /, IL thy child
I'm fondling with such tender
pride?
And when anothcr'S head.
Sleeps on thy heart
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-10
FEATURES
Thomas Jefferson Believed In
The Principles OF Democracy

the statesmen be loaded. who. per-
hitting one half Of the citizens to
trample on tie rights Of the others;
transforming these into despots and
the others into enemies, destroying
the morals OF the one part and the
armor patriae OF the other?"
Liberty cannot be secure on these
bases. How long do you think
we minority groups will allow the
others to trample on our rights?
II the minds OF TIE nation cannot
be opened to the situation, some
thing serious will result Our fore
fathers helped to build this coun
try: they worked like dogs and
fought with their lives for free.
dom. When we obtained this free
dom We were made citizens-equsl
by God and by law. Thus, a de-
NAL of our rights Is a violation
against TIE principles for which
the United Colonies fought: name
ly. freedom; and for which the AL
lies are fighting today; namely, the
preservation Of freedom.
Jefferson in his hrst inaugural
address, said: 81 know this. the only
government where all men would
fly 70 the standard and meet in
vasion as his own personal con-
Germ. believe. in deed, l know
that this government is the worlds
best hope"
That was the conclusion OF a
great address given lab years ago.
And today, in spite Of many bar
riers Negro citizens are still loyal
10 their country. We who are the
stepchildren OF America, dearly
prize our democratic heritage. II
the others wonder what We think
OF this country, says one, TIE
fragments from a table Of dem
ocracy are better than a feast table
dominated by Berlin and Toxic"
why do we remember Jeffer-
;on?" many have asked. Why? Be-
.ause jefferson was a man VINO
lad the natural ability to see the
whole Of a situation. Because he
was a man who was so deeply a
believer in democracy that he could
interpret any problem into Gemo-
cratic terms. Because he might
have been called The Father OF
Democracy" Who Of Us could chal-
lenge him today?
Let's remember that the keystone
OF true democracy is equal rights
for all citizens and the welding
to gether Of many groups so tha
they may act AZ one. So II We hnc
our minds becoming confused b,
ipoisooous propazAnda. IL we .hnx
our courage shaken and our faitl
in democracy lost and II we van
TO know why we light the Axii
let US repeat Il believe. indeed.
know that this government Is th'
worlds best hope"
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-10
THE FACTS ~
OUR NEWS :.

DOWN IN WASHINGTON. DC.
II have had the opportunity this
week Of visiting certain agencies
and talking with some Of the Ne
gro workers. The outlook for the
most part is pretty discouraging.
The Negro workers in these agen-
cies are a lot to be sympathized with
rather than censored. Your COR
respondent talked with q number
Of them about the current feeling
on the part Of certain Washington
officials that the Negro Is planning
rebellion IL he Is not given equality
during this war. They know that
certain Washington officials feel
that way. but they are not sure
why. Some of them who are very
brave" ask, do you think these
Washington officials are getting this
idea because the Negro Press Is SO
outspoken on the Negro question:"
They all know what the answer to
this question was, but because they
were afraid to think II in the pres
ence Of one of their own. The an
swer is, mo"
II Is the business Of the Negro
Press to be outspoken where the
rights Of Negroes are concerned
This is the business Of the Negro
Press as IL is the religious press.
labor press or the National Manu-
facturers journals. to deal unre-
servedly with the interests Of these
special groups. Furthermore, Wash
ington officials, know that Negroes
are not planning any rebellion.
They will seek to use this notion
as means for putting the great
masses of Negroes on the deten-
sive. Better. they will seek to
put Negro leadership on the de-
fensive with the masses Of Negro
people. Anybody who has any
knowledge of the Negro people
knows that rebellion is not a part
Of the Negroes thinking at this time.
Whites who are really opposed to
the progress Of Negroes will at
tempt to interpret the Negroes de-
mand for a square shake" as an
index 10 rebellion.
Negroes who are in a position tc
interpret the Negroes real feeling
are not doing it The people. oil
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-10

Oh, sing you babbling bards OF spa
cious fields,
And undulating waves OF golden
grain;
Then sing OF warm, brown, fertile
soil that yields
rs loamy bosom to no. summer
rain.
What is so scenic as the sod that
turns,
Beneath the farmers sturdy. an
cient plows?
VIVA. Is more rustic tran the rose
that yearns.
As gentle winds breathe through
white popular boughs?
Can aught more beautiful, more
sweeter be.
Than vesper serenades from leafy
heights.
Or plaintive notes that with sof;
shadows flee:
Re-ecto through the semi-tropic
nights,
And from his lofty canopy Of s!ien,
blue,
God peeps through the stars and
smiles at you. o-~
Jonathan Williams
1888 Hague street
Detroit
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-10
BY PHYLLIS SCOTT

was reading an interesting
poem In the Racial Digest entitled.
~ believe in Democracy" II went
something like this:
Il believe In Democracy so much
That I want
Everybody In America
To have some OF H."
Thomas jefferson was such be-
lever. His love Of liberty and in
dependence. his militant devotion
20 democracy. his hatred Of reli-
gious and racial intolerance have
made him a symbol Of the Amer.
can ideals, those very ideals which
fascism is now attempting 10 ex-
terminate.
Apparently some have forgotten
his principles-the principles which
are the definitions Of our free So
ciety today. the principles which
we are now fghting to preserve
We are lighting across the seas for
that which We suffer here. We con-
denim TIE Nazis for their theories
of racial superiority. yet how can
we explain our own minority
groups?
In that great and powerful pre-
amble 10 the Declaration. Thomas
Jefferson wrote the creed Of dem
ocracy: We hold that these truths
be self evident; that all men are
created equal. that they are en-
dowed by the creator with certain
inslienable rights. that among these
are life. liberty and the pursuit Of
happiness
With that creed he flung the
challenge Of freedom 10 the tyrants
o, all time. Today, many OF US
ask ourselves: Are all men Gre
ated equal?" And what Is life
without liberty. and liberty with
out hsppiness2. say that II is a
living HE'LL Yet TIE Italians used
their so-calied racial superiority as
an excuse 10 exploit the Philippians;
the Germans used II to suppress
the Jews: the japanese. the Chinese
and even in our own country GER
tain overlords have used the theory
Of racial superiority 10 create dis
sension between the white and Ne
gro leaders
They know that production is suf-
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-10

He won a bachelors degree.
Tuskegee institution where
He helped the Negro student
there
Money and fame. a costly home.
He summed them all 20 kelp MS
own.
His threadbare clothes and humble
ness.
Made for many youth success.
4 pianist was our good friend
His works live on, they will not
end.
lie was a friend 70 Henry Ford.
But now he's happy with the
Lord.
An humble man though truly great,
In that dear heart there was no
hate.
To DR.. Carver We say Goodbye.
Your deeds live on--they cannot
die"
Harriet z. Woods.
6055 Woodrow avenue
Detroi, Mich.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-10
The Sign Of
The Cross Is
The Password

II was night in the army camp
and the wind .moaned low through
the trees. The moon was hidden
behind the clouds. The soldiers
were fast asleep.
Only the sentry kept guard Back
and forth he marched, and his foot
steps echoed loudly in the stiffness.
Suddenly the sentry stopped and
listened carefully Had he heard
something? Was that. the sound OF
twigs breaking? Was someone trying
10 pass through the line?
HALT" he cried quickly. who
goes there"
Friend" answered faint voice
In the darkness
"If you are ricnd. come for
ward and give the countersignF
commanded 'he sentry Il have
strict orders Is shoot all who try
70 pass without It,"
There was silence for a moment
The moon crept out from behind a
cloud.
Then the stranger stepped for
ward and replied: II am a friend,
but do not know the password
I have just escaped from the en-
cmy's prison camp. Now must |
die?"
III you do not have the pass
word" began the sentry.
II am tired and weak for ! have
Travelled far" interrupted the
stranger. have been wounded
too. must have shelter and care
He stumbled forward. The sen.
try put his gun 10 his shoulder.
Believing his hour had come. the
stranger raised his hand and made
the Sign = the Cross There was
a joyful shout from tho sentry. You
arc saved!' he cried You may
pass through the line safely. The
Sign Of the Cross is the password
tonight"
Exchange
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-10
~ HORACE A. WHITE

Negro extraction, In government
are running around getting iDei.
dents OF race conflict and putting
these incidents In reports - rep
resentative Of how the Negro feels
about this war. Where the Negro
has caused whites disturbances BE-
cause the Negro wants better Job
or better place to live and be
treated as a full-grown citizen. the
disturbances had to come and more
Of them will come. They are nee
essary il our democracy Il 10 real-
ly function. Ought it not be the
job Of Negroes In government Ne
gro leadership and other commu-
nifty forces to direct the progressive
feelings Of the masses Of Negroes
and at the same time attempt 70
give a true Interpretation Of what
progressiveness means? An intar-
probation is not difficult. II does
not mean that the Negro people are
pro-Japan or pro-anything but
u. S. It does not mean that thsy
are not behind the war effort
They are giving their boys and
their money to the government. Ne
groes have all kinds Of war services
clubs all over America.
Therefore, IL ought to be clear %
the most frightened demi-bureau-
crat of Negro extraction, that Ne
groes are concerned with saving
democracy from its Gins now. Ne
groes know that . nation q greot
as these United States actually =
in some areas, cannot long remain
great when IL permits discrimlns.
ton and oppression on any part u
its population. Negroes are using
only democratic means to achieve
their ends, the ends Of true dem
ocracy.
II there Is going TO be any r..
bellion In this country Il Il com
ing from the entrenched white
southerners who are too misguidod
by some Of their leaders to zee that
their own security Il increased and
enhanced by giving the Negro .
real chance in this democracy toA
In fact II the Negro Is not taken
in on . basis Of equality. nobody
In America can be sure that ~
has a permanent opportunity IN
this country.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-10
Id Rather
By ". THEODORE JOHNS Be RiQht

CANA from the lips u IL lata So
t@ 0eores 0rahsn Vet - -
trial evsr tAs killlng Geax1k1f&
little Missouri town. Said O.
ator In his plea for tks ploln11 N
Gentlemen Of the jury. H. ~
friend man has In the work.
turn against him and beccn01 R
enemy His son or daughtGe 1T
he has reared with loving care 80
prove ungrateful Those Who 49,
nearest and dearest to N, 49,
whom We trust with our hapoano1o
and our good name may oocoQao.
traitors TO their faith. The mGD91
that q man has be may. luDG ~
flies from him perhaps wAGn ~
needs IL most A mans rupulu11
may be sacrificed in . moment II
ill-considered action. The poepoe
wko are prone to fAll On tAa1r
knees to do Us honor when suceoos
is with US may be the nrst b threw
the stone Of malice when fnilwfe
settles its cloud upon our hsaoa
The one absolutely unsol0Sh
friend that q man can have n thn
selfish world. tie one that never
deserts him. the one that never
proves unsrateful or treaeherous
Ii his dog. A mans dog stands q
him In prosperity and In poverty.
in health and In sicknesa He vim
sleep on the cold ground. where
the wintry winds blow and mow
drives fiercely. II only hs may b
near his masters side. He viii kiss
tie hand that has no food 10 ODER:
he will lick the wounds and sores
that come In encounter with The
roughness Of this world. When all
our friends desert hs remains
When riches take wings. and rspu.
tation falls to pieces. he Il - con
slant as the sun In Its journey
through the heavena
III fortune drives the mastsr
forth an outcast In the werld,
friendless and homeless, the faith.
full dog asks no higher privilege
than that Of accompanying him.
TO guard him against dangers -
hght against kis enemies And
when the last scene Of al comes
ar death takes his master in ~
embrace and his body 10 laid away
in the cold ground. no matter u,
all friends pursus their way. thsre
by the graveside Win the noole
dog be found, his hesd bstwean
his paws. lis eyes sad. but epsn
in alert wstchfulnesa faithful and
true even in DEATH
THERE you ARE ny frisnda
No dog could make . better plea
to the OPA than the above speech
Of the lste senator. II you have
been thinking Of eating your best
friend, forget IL Put the pressure
on the OPA for dog meat and keep
your best friend In good condition.
for who Knows. AFTER tksy havs
called Ill the marrisl men, shsy
may start drafting dogs. and you're
hate to own . four-r doc. wouldn's
you,
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-10
2 Lincoln Students
Pass Mo. Bar Exams

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. Two
more persons trained at the Lincoln
University Law School Of Missouri
were notified this week Of their
successful passing OF the Missouri
bar examinations. They are Miss
Margaret Berenice Bush and Charles
Howard Blagburn. both OF ST. Louis
Thirty three candidates were ex-
AHMED. but only i8' passed.
This brings the number Of Lin
coin Law School students who have
passed the Missouri bar examina-
lions 70 SIX.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-10

fering because Of labor shortages:
yet they continue to discriminate
against US Every time employers
fail to hire Negro laborers they are
deliberately retarding victory. II
seems odd, indeed. that there should
be racial friction when the prin-
ciples Of our country are endan-
gered.
But Thomas Jefferson. a cham
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-10

The following speech. chosen
n one Of the four best essays on
Thomas Jefferson and Democracy
was delivered by the author ut
Wayne university. II n reprinted
here In keeping with the Michi-
gan Chronicles policy Of observ-
ing through its columns the
birthdays Of Americas greatest
men. This n Miss SCOTS first
attempt ut writing and the Mlchi-
gan Chronicle deems II IN honor
TO serve a. an outlet for one who.
despite physical handicaps, shows
promise Of realising her ambi-
tions.--Editor.)
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-10

pion OF the oppressed and common
people, would have found the an
aver. He suffered muck hatred
and fury. ridicule and opposition.
fighting in their behalf He ex-
ercised great influence in the battle
for the freedom of the enslaved
Africans. In his Notes on Vir-
GINA" he asked:
And with what excora:ions can
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-10

4. WAk<AlNG I6E 0Ots 0nC8 tne
favorite outdoor sport a IL ladia1
yon used TO see at the othsr end
Of q leash attached to tie collar
OF their canine companions, Is abou,
TO become a problem. It seems the
OPA, that alphabetical agency
who's long arm OF control will be
reaching into your ice box and
rooster for the duration. has issued
rules governing the sale and con.
sumption OF meat without reckon
ing with the dogs appetite. Up
20 ttis writing. the OPA wasn't
giving much thought 70 the prob
lem. but there is strong rumor that
local dogs may form q picket line
around the building housing OPA
Offices, protesting the ruling which
cuts off their meat supply and
threatens 20 send them 20 TIE woods
20 try TO exc out living. They
may even form q March on Wash.
ing,on, probably led by Rim Tin
Tin.
SOME DOGS HUNT for their
meat. during hunting season. but
in the OF season. they expect to be
treated like other members Of the
family. They want their meat and
they want il FRESH. although they
may condescend TO eat canned dog
food occasionally. But dogs are
not taken in by radio programs:
they listen to programs sponsored
by dog food distributors; they may
enjoy the program, but they turn
up their noses at the advertised
product, and many was the time
that I thought I heard a dog bark.
oh. yeah?" Then there are dogs
.ha: won't even hunt for q rabbit
% any other animal on whose tran
human beings will spend long hours
only 10 come home empty handed.
They just lay around the house
until time to take q walk. Il Is
the dog in tie latter category that
is causing the most Worry.
THERE ARE TWO ways TO solve
this problem though I doubt wheth-
er the OPA will accept either.
One Is to share your own meagre
meat supply with your beloved dog,
and at the same time try to con.
vince him that lie should eat more
yegetables-fresh vegetables. After
all. what's good enough for you
SHOULD be good enough for your
dog-though the dog may have
other ideas. believe that once a
dog gets to feeling the pangs OF
hunger he'll welcome q nice plate
OF solash sans ground beef, pork
or veal. II understand that some
dogs actually eat pork and veal.
though most of them show a pref
erence for beet--and fresh beef at
that)
On the other hand. IL your dog
won't eat anything but meat, teen
the only ning LEI. for you TO DO Is
20 eat the dog; that way at leas.
one % you will be full OF meat.
That suggestion rnay turn out 10
De screwy. for after all. dog Is
mans bes; friend. and who wants
20 eat his best friend? tThere have
been cases in which the dog over
looked that best friend angle and
proceeded to chew upon the nrst
leg in sigkD
FORTUNATELY. DO not own
4 dog. and the only reason I have
discussed this subject is because
I've got 10 write something and this
gives me a good opportunity TO re-
print here the most beautiful trlb-
ute ever paid q dumb animal II