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THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS. SATURDAY, MAY 11, 1907.
STORIES AND ANECDOTES
OF INTEREST TO LITTLE MEN
CONDUCTED BY PETER PAN.
A JAPANESE LEGEND.
Grace S. Zorbaugh. In St. Nicholas.
If you had to guess this little boy's
name you would naturally conclude
from the story of his life that his name
was Samuel, for his father and mother
looked upon this only son of theirs as
a gift from heaven In answer to prayer,
and when he grew up he became a
.priest and lived In a temple.
That certainly does Bound like the
story of Samuel. But the divinity whom
this little boy's parents worshiped when
they prayed (prostrating themselves on
their foreheads before her carved Im
age) was the Japanese goddess called
the Thousand-Handed Kwannon (God
dess of Mercy). And the name of the
boy was Shodo Shonln.
Shodo Shonln even In his tiniest boy
hood, as the legend goes,-loved nothing
better than to spend hours each day
worshipping the gods, especially the
Thousand-Handed Kwannon, whose
sacred cave jn the mountains he chose
for his retreat as soon os he was old
enough to become a monk.
One night In midwinter he dreamed
that he was called on a pilgrimage to
a certain distant and very high moun
tain top where, for a sign, he would
find a sword lying on the ground. The
deep snow and pathless wilderness
checked his advance when ho tried to
seek this mountuln top; but he never
forgot his dream, and some years later,
after much prayer, he set out for the
second time.
After overcoming many hardships
and tolling many days through the
wilderness. Just as ho reached the foot
of the mountain of his dreams, he
found to his dismay that the way was
barred by a broad torrent rushing over
huge rocks between high, rocky banks.
He prayed for help, and lo! on the op
posite bank there suddenly appeared a
divinity of wonderful appearance and
site. The divinity dung two blue and
green snakes across the river, and In
stantly a long rainbow-arched bridge
was seen to form Itself across the
stream. The moment Shodo Shonln
hnd safely crossed by It, however, the
rainbow-arched bridge, blue and green
snakes, and divinity all vanished ns
mysteriously as they had appeared.
Shodo Shonln found his mountain
top (whether he found the sword as
well, no one appears to know), and
then he came down the mountain to a
place close -to the scene of this mi
raculous crossing, where he built
shrines and temples to the various
gods, and spent all the remainder of
his long nnd saintly life.
The place received the name of Nlk-
ko (Mountuln of the Sun's Brightness),
and from that time was a famous cen
ter of worship for the whole Japanese
nation, much as Mecca has been for the
Mohammedans.
Nearly a thousand years passed by,
but the story of Shodo Shontn's mi
raculous crossing was never forgotten,
and when at last tha emperors of Ja
pan chose Nlkko as the Imperial bury
ing place, they commended that a rain
bow-arched bridge should be built
spanning the precious spot, so that they
might cross by It on the occasion of
their annual pilgrimage to worship at
the tombs of their ancestors.
As the Japanese believe their empe
rors to be descended from the gods,
they now began to revere this spot as
sacred in a double sense, drat because,
according to the legend. It was the
scene of the wonderful experience of
Shodo Shonln, and also because of the
rainbow-arched bridge being kept sa
cred to the use of a god—that Is, the
emperor himself.
Centuries passed, and ever more and
more sacred to the use of the emperor
alone remained the rainbow-arched
bridge—so sacred that the common
people, even If they had not been for
bidden under pain of death to touch
foot on It, would have been too fearful
of the wrath of the gods to dream of
doing so.
LITTLE JOHNNY JUMPUP.
In a little green boose at the foot of a
Lives the sauciest little old fellow.
IBs coot Is of porple, with trimmings of
Ills la a itleatn of th* morning;
And be bldco down there In bla little green
house
With n fronded fern for an awning.
Deep down In the wood* the happy green
wood*
Where the shadows are dreamily mellow.
And when you hate seen how he smiles
and he bows.
Prom the door of the little green dwell*
Poo know right sway what the great
secret I*
That wee Johnny Jompup la telling;
*TThe spring la abroad; the world Is awake.
Old Joy will return with the morrow;
The Illy and roue will blonom again
On the grate of the last summer a aor-
—Will Allen Dromgool*
71^0 5016 AND TWO GOATS
Many years ago In the far South two little boys opened their bonny
brown eyes In a plantation home which was shaded by branches of dork
green bay trees and by the great out-spreading arms of century-old water
oaks.
In the sweet springtime the cher°kee hedges were abloom with white
stars, which formed a fragrant floral "milky way" along the gray dusty
road leading from the old plantation into the beautiful city, where the
father of these two boys dally practiced his profession in the courts of the
state.
This noble father was counted the notable men of his day, but
neither legal responsibilities nor poHttual advancement crowded ouj of his
tender heart the love for nnd pride i n •>** family of boys and girls, all of
whom eagerly awaited his return fr°n* the city in the soft gloaming of the
Southern evening.
But a great shadow came upon t ho lives of these children, when In the
pride of his splendid manhood their father fell asleep in the picturesque
rambling home, and the two handsom e hoys, with their mother and sisters,
went Luo the city to live, leaving th® ot ,lte ln the limited environment of
Cherokee roses, the broad green Held® ot cotton, the waving acres of corn
and wheat, the song of mockingbird* and chlr P of crickots and kadydids
of the plantation to catch a glimpse of life Inthe limited environment of
a modem city lot. The boys did no 1 mind the change, for with the won
drous adaptability of childhood thoT welcomed new Beenes and new ex
periences. These little fellows carried thelr Pet goats with them, and soon
they were the envied of all their play ma,e *. none of whom could boast of
such a pair of One animals as these b"T* , had ; . . _
The goats were not matches, either In size temper or breed. One was
Just a commonplace looking animal of black and white species, but he
pulled the pretty dump cart with th$ air of a'veteran as Tils young master
drove him along the sidewalk. Pron d an<1 happy was that brave little boy
when there was any errand to porfor™-. J? 0W J t * 1 ® street would trot the
goat, carrying the tiny dump cart w hll o the dear little boy held the reins
and brandished the toy whip. Of cou rac : "Sancho,” the faithful pet dog. was
always at his young master's heels, “da pretty picture they made In the
years long gone In that old Southern town.
But the other goat—for there we™ two—was an arrogant, self-opinion
ated specimen of the animal klngdo m - brooking no restraint and making
no friends among the children of th? neighborhood.# He was.a large hand
some goat, with long white hair an" with a patriarchal beard. His big
horhs had a very exasperating, defl 0 " 1 air..and he never submitted to the
restraint of harness and reins. He ™ eimply an ornamental production,
an aggregation of certain physical perfections. He regarded with lordly
disdain his amiable companion. whlc a with humble servility the little
dump cart, and contemptuously snl ffe d bis disgust at such proceedings.
One fateful day the big white g oat decided that "green fields and pee-
tures new” were necessary th his co m f?rt. “d prepared to Invade a neigh
bor's premises, without further ado. , n , ut an old-fashloncd well stood In
his pathway, like many another restr alnln B influence In the lives of boys
end girls. So with a leap his goatsh'P prepared to clear the obstacle, when,
lo! the noise of a falling bodv and of tumbling bricks called to the well
the members of tho family. Down lnf,° ta e., da mp darkness of the gloomy
disc peered curious, anxious eyes. an d faintly could be caught glimpses of
hls majesty, the long-haired goat. w h <*« ]**• »“ a sacrifice to his, ambi
tion nnd to hls resentment of control “d training.
Hls little owner wept the soft, ■*•«* tears of childhood as the goat's
lifeless body was drawn to the curb 1 "? of the well, and tender hands made
a grave for him under a great rose bush, which riotously blossomed the
whole summer long In that Souther™ garden. But the good little black and
white goat, with the dump cart and hls brave young master, not forget
ting faithful Sancho, continued to pursue the even tenor of their way, (Jolly
reminded by the grave under the ro*e bush that Into the lives of boys and
or goats there enter certain Immutable laws which must be obeyed or
disaster will certainly come'to pass. , „ . . f*.
It was a tragic lesson, but wholesome In Its teaching to those two lit
tle buys. The black and white goat never said anything much about the
matter, but he nnd Sancho evidently held many a solemn conference con
cerning the untimely end of their companion. Their exemplary conduct
continued. unafTectcd by the example of their arrogant associate, whose
death was tho result of a craving for the contraband and the unattain
able. PETER PAN.
THE GREAT SEAL OF
THE UNITED STATES.
By E. R. Gaillard.
Secretary of State Hay made com
plaint to congress that the great seal
then In use had become so worn that
It no longer made a clear-cut Impres
sion, and that body at once voted an
appropriation of 81,250 for the purpose
of having a new one cut.
A document dated September It,
1782, empowering George Washington
to negotiate an exchange ot prisoners
with Great Britain, bears what Is be
lieved to be the first Impression made
with the great seal upon an official
paper.
The seal was used upon congres
sional documents until the office of
secretary of state was created—Sep
tember 15, 1789—when It was given
Into the custody of the Incumbent of
that office with authority to use IL
The first seal was used until 1841,
when Daniel Webster, then secretary
of sfate, complained that the Impres
sions were no longer distinct, and a
new one was secured.
During Secretary Frelinghuysen's
term of office—1881 to 1885—a third
seal was cut, and this Is now to be re
placed by a new one.
The seal has remained practically
unchanged since Its adaption, save for
a slight change In the form of the
glory above the eagle, though for some
unknown reason the seal cut during
Daniel Webster's term had but six ar
rows held In the eagle's talon. Instead
of thirteen, as In the device adopted.
Some idea of the wonderful Increase
In the business done by the govern
ment may be obtained from the tact
that the third seal has lasted only one-
thlrd as long os the first one, and the
difference becomes more marked when
It is remembered that during the time
the first one was In use It was affixed
to all civil commissions of officers of
the United 8tates, while of late years
Its use has been confined to the com
missions of cabinet officers, diplomatic
and consular officers, ceremonious doc
uments between the president and for
eign governments, and others of first
Importance, the seals of the .various
departments being used an papers of
less moment.
WAS NOT AN EASY TASK.
A new military prison chaplain was
recently appointed In a certain town In
Scotland. He was a man who greatly
magnified hls office. And entering one
of the cells on hls first round of In
spection, he, with much pomposity, thus
addressed the prisoner who occupied It:
"Well, sir, do you know who I am?"
"No, nor I dlnna care," was the non
chalant reply.
"Weel, I’m your new chaplain.”
"Oh, ye are. ■ Well, I hae heard -o'
ye before.
®And what did you hear?" returned
the chaplain, hls curiosity getting tho
better of hls dignity.
"Well, I heard that the last twa kirks
ye were In ye preached them bolth
empty, but Til be hanged If ye find It
such an easy matter to do the same- wl'
this one." . ^
FOUR INTERESTING BOOKS.
Continued from Page Six.
vld goes over the mountains to find and
kill Ryerson.
Mary had been kind to an old half-
erased woman on the mountains, whose
daughter hod died for love of David's
father, Aldcrson Cree. When Alderson
had been shot, and after David had
sought for help, also after he had given
hls promise of vengeance to hls father,
this old half-crazed woman comes
passing by. Aldcrson Creo hears some
one, but unable to turn around to see,
begs whoever It may be to tell David
not to hold lo bis promise, that Aider-
son never should have asked for such
a promise from David and that he re
leased him, nnd demanded that hls
death be left unavenged save by the
law. David returns, hls father dies In
attempting to explain all this release
of promise to him.
All of these years this old woman has
kept silent owing to her hate of the
Cree family. When David goes out for
hls hunt for Ryerson the old crazy
woman on her death bed sends for Ma
ry and tells of Aldcrson’s dying mes-
sage to David, the holding cf which
by the old woman for so many years
had caused so much sorrow. Mary
starts out to find Davhl, and does so;
even before being told ot bis father's
A WONDERFUL HORSE.
A horse that can spell, read, add, sub
tract, multiply and distinguish colors
among Its many accomplishments de
serves to be credited with os much In
telligence as an ordinary human being.
Such a horse King Pharaoh Is de
clared to be. called by those who have
seen him the most marvelous horse In
the world. . ..
Those who have never ■ seen the'
horse perform should not accredit the
act of achievement to the trainer rather
than to the horse, os being the con
troller of an Intelligence both rare and
supreme.
The semblance of human Intelligence
In the performance of special feats by
some educated horses Is due altogether
to the skill of the trainer In making the
animal understand by signs that It Is to
execute certain acts taught it, but this
Is the first Instance on record that a
horse has qualified to be taught by rea
soning. and King Pharaoh has demon
strated abundantly to competent au
thorities that the acme of "horse sense”
has been reached. In hls case at . any
rate. *
King Pharaoh can perform with any
body In tho absence of hls trainer. He
seems to understand every word spoken
to him, because he executes Immediate
ly what he has been told to do.
King Pharaoh Is owned by Dr. D.TJ.
Boyd, a veterinary surgeon, of Colum
bia, S. C., where the horse Is at present,
Dr. Boyd bought the horse when It was
a year old, and for the last four years
and a half he has had it In training.
King Pharaoh Is a beautiful specimen
of the horse, and stands 14 hands nnd
weighs 820 pounds. Ho is from an In
dian pony sired by an Arabian stallion.
Hls white coat Is prettily marked with
spots of yellow and black, a slight tinge
of blue encircling tho yellow marks.
One eye Is blue and the other black.
The mune Is long, and Is streaked with
the same colors that mark the body.
In public 'exhibitions Dr. Boyd has
Invited strangers to step Into the ring
and write mathematical problems In
six figures on a blackboard, nnd the
horse has furnished the solution with
out any sign or cue from Its trainer. It
will pick out any designated flag from
a lot of colored flags when asked to do
so. The horse has no trouble In pick
ing out a dltno or a quarter or a half-
dollar piece from a pile of silver coins,
and can spell. Its own name or that of
any person In the audience, provided
the name Is a short one, which It has
been taught, demonstrating perfectly
that the horse understands whut It Is
asked to do by-the sounds of the words
spoken.
King Pharaoh has been-put to every
known test to prove hls understanding.
Dr. Boyd declares that the difference
between hls horse nnd other educated
horsee Is that King Pharaoh docs not
work by sign or cue. but really reads,
uses hls brain In working out the math
ematical questions, spells and under
stands when spoken to.
Atlanta, Go., May 4.
Dear Peter Pan:—I dm so glad Tho
Georgian has children’s pages every
Saturday. I hope you like boys who
play ball, fly kites, skato and play
marbles when they are In fashion. X
am busy at school now, but vacation
will soon be here, nnd I surely will bo
glad of It. School Is all right and I’ve
got nice teachers. If they are ladles,
but any boy worth talking about gets
mighty tired of hot school rooms when
May comes.
I went with my school to see The
Georglun a few weeks ago. It’s a big
paper, and I almost got mixed up In
the machinery, watching all those
things In that large room up stairs,
where the printers look like they are
playing on pianos. It Is getting too hot
to skate on the sidewalk now, but IPs
never too warm to play ball, and our
team Is doing mighty good work. I
am glad they have found that Marvin
boy at last, even If tho poor little fel
low was dead. Goodby. Your little
friend, O. S. R.
dying message, for love of Mary he
promises to stop hls pursuit of Ryer
son. However, on tho way back over
the mountains Ryerson comes upon
them. Promises seem nothing now and
they fight like’ beasts. After struggling
and David has physically conquered
Ryerson, he commands the latter to
stand and face him. Pointing a re
volver at Ryerson. David tells him that
he Is now going to kill him. But craven
fright does the work and Ryerson dies
from fear In hls heart.
Tho whojp book Is Bplendld. The de-
scriptlons of the mountains, the char
acter drawing, tho family life and In
fact everything about the whole book
Is exceptionally good In every particu
lar. It Is enjoyable from beginning to
end and the book points a great, un
deniable moral, that whatever we sow,
that shall we reap. The book also re
minds us that upon the children, even
unto the fourth generation, shall fall
the sins of the fathers.
It is a genuine delight to find a book
so good as s:The Sowing of Alderson
Cree."