Atlanta Georgian and news. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1912, June 08, 1907, Image 24

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

THU ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS. SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1907. BOYS SOME STORIES AND ANECDOTES OF INTEREST TO THE LITTLE MEN CONDUCTED BY PETER PAN HENRY DAVID THOREAU. About ninety year* ago there was burn In Concord, Mom., a boy who never really grew to be a man, though he lived forty.four years. It Is true that he got to be tall and strong, with a deep bass voice; that he wore a beard, and that from all external ap pearances he would at once have been taken for a full-slsed man. But at heart he was always a boy. He never got over the habit of looking at things from a boy’s point of view. Instead of regarding the world as a place for se- rloipi business, where men must work so many hours a day and produce so many dollars' worth of goods, and till the fields and labor hard In factories, ur offices, or stores, and “get along"— Instead of all tbese things, he always seemed to consider the world as a great, fine, glorious playground—a Place to be enjoyed and appreciated. This man-boy was Henry David Tho- resu. A great many critics have spoken of Thoreau's life as a failure. They say that It begins nowhere and ends no where. He Is never making progress toward anything—there Is- no getting onward, and upward—no climax. And this Is all very true. Judging by or dinary standards, we must set. down Thoreau's life as a failure. But If wc change our point of view and Judge him by what I believe Is a much more appropriate standard, we shall, I think, find that his life has been a great sue. cess. We are all able to do good In this world. Borne of us. are able to help mankind by direct acts of charity, oth ers by little deeds of gentleness or kindness, others by strict devotion to duty—whether we are business men or professional men, or farmers, or what you please. It seems to me that Tho- reau did a great deal of good by the example. he gave us of a clean, pure, upright, honorable life. We somehow feel toward him ns a timid person In water over his depth must feel toward a skillful, sturdy swimmer. He knew no fear, his conscience was as bright as tho pure water of the Walden that he adored. In spite of his rough ex terior, his gruff ways and his apiiarent desire for seclusion, there was no man really fonder of society. He loved chll, dren, and they loved him—and that Is i very encouraging Index of any man's character. "His patience was unrail ing; assuredly he knew not aught save resignation; he did mightily cheer and console those whose strength was less." Of course. It would not be advisable for all of us to become Thoreaus, but we can all remember the grand lesson thut he teaches—that we are. after all, children of nature: that It Is good to get Into close communion with Mother Earth; that as an Inspiration, as a solace, as a constant source of hope for tile unfortunate, and as a convincing evidence of the goodness of the I'rc- ator—the sun Is always shining some where, that nature, no-matter what her mood. Is always beautiful and wonder, ful, and that there exists for all of us somewhere. If we would only look for It. a Walden pond—clear, spurkllng, ■'green and pellucid." And so It seems to me altogether a mistake to say that Thoreau's lire was a failure. At least I, for one, am very glad thut. though a man, he wOs always a boy.—Gilbert P. Coleman. He was only uhout 4 years old and he seemed to vulue his red and green rubber ball more than anything in the world. An old negro mammy was play ing with him In front of his home, on Bouth Pryor street, and he was having the time of his life. The old nurse rolled the ball to him and It went between his little fat legs out Into the street and rolled, rolled tight on the trolley car track and rtopped exactly on the rail. A big trolley car came rushing down Pryor street at a fast clip and It was a sight that would touch the heart of the stoniest ns the little tot's fare over spread wlh fear when he saw that the Mg car was going to tear up that pretty ball. The old nurse, ton, almost had a panic os she saw what was about to happen. Cars don't generally atop In front of the tot's house because It's in the mid dle of the block. But this one did. Maybe the inotorman saw the tot's face or maybe he had a tot of his own. Any way he suw the bull and he stopped Ids car. Not only that, but he got off and with his switch honk fished the play thing from under the car and restored It to the happiest kid In Atlunta. Yet some folks say trolley mntormen smash things Just for the fun of It. IV—Rhyming Enigms. My first Is In ba? but not In string; My second's in chain, but not In ring; My third Is In sell, but not In pay; My fourth Is In week, but not In day;' My fifth Is In boy, but not in girl; My sixth Is In clean, but not In soil; My seventh's In like, but not In hate: My eighth Is In Mabel, but not In Kate; My whole Is a favorite outdoor game. Which often makes you boys quite lame, lame WHAT A SOUTHERN BOY ACCOMPLISHED Nearly 100 years ago—June 3, 1808—a Southern baby opened his bonnle blue eyes In Christian county, Kentucky. He was Just os other boys of like tender age, and there was nothing to Indicate that In the years to come this same helpless child was to play such a wonderful part In the history of his country. His forbears come of sturdy Revolutionary stock, so he had a legiti mate claim to the aggressive and dominant characteristics that marked his later life. While yet a baby, this boy was carried by his parents to Mississippi, where he grew up and soon began to make an Impression upon the pages of his country's history, for he was none other than Jefferson Davis, the splendid exponent of Southern aentlment, and the loyal patriot and states man, who knew neither “variableness nor shadow of turning." no matter whether he stood In the light and glory of success or bared bis head In si lent acceptance of the crudest blows of unmerited fate. There Is not much related of the boyhood of President Jefferson Davis, but all of us can Imagine what kind of a child he was, simply because such a true, loyal, honest, upright than could not have been anything but a noble, stralghtfor. ward, trustworthy boy. We can take for granted that he played marbles wltbout fudging; wielded a shinny stick without taking undue advantage of his opponent; was kind to his dog and to his pony, and was considerate and gentlemanly to his Inferiors. t‘. He studied hard and stood well in his classes, graduating at West Point when only 20 years of age, and entered the army, as second lieutenant. Step by step this young Southern fellow rose In the army, until after his marriage to the young daughter of General Zachary Taylor, he resigned and became one of the great statesmen of the country. He fought with dls. tlnctlon In Mexico as a colonel of Mississippi volunteers and was severely wounded at Buena Vista. Mr. Davis was sent by the state of Mississippi to the United ,States senate, where he became a national figure; was mode secretary of war by President Franklin Pierce, and Introduced Into tbe army many Improve ments in Infantry tactics. Iron gun carriages, the use of the minis ball, and rifled musketa and pistols. Mr. Davis was an ardent advocate of the right of secession, and when the Southern Confederacy was formed In the his toric capital building at Montgomery, Ala., he was elected president, Feb ruary 9, 1861. He was Inaugurated at Montgomery February 18. 1881, and where he stood that memorable day on the portico of the capitol Is now marked with a brass star, which bears silent witness for present and fu ture generations of one of the most remarkable Incidents In the history of nations. The pathetic tragedies which beset his later years are known even by the children of the South, who And In his splendid career an example.of magnificent heroism worthy of the emulation of every boy In the South. President Davis died In 1888, leaving a record for spotless Integrity, dauntless courage and a loyalty to principle and people unsurpassed In'any age or any clime. \ On Monday, June 3, the anniversary of President Davis' birth, at Rich mond, Vo., a beautiful monument to him was presented to the country by the loyal women of the South, and was unveiled with becoming ceremonies. Throughout the South honor and reverence was paid the memory of Presi dent Davis on Monday, and at the hour of the unveiling, for live minutes the great wheels of commerce were stilled; tho noise and bustle of gigantic Industries were silenced; bells tolled and men and women stood In mute reverence of an Imperishable Ideal, while traffic and travel came to a stand still for live minutes from the shores of the blue Potomac even to the ruddy waters of the Rio Grande. The boy who grew up In Mississippi when It was a frontier state received on last Monday a tribute from the hearts of 30,000,000 iieople, such as has never been accorded another American. Although what the world called failure, and what the world knew was suffering and humiliation came to this nbble man, yet after all he was ac corded the tenderest, most beautiful tribute that ever was shown man by man. And why was this, boys? The answer Is simple and unmistakable. In all the manifold and varying relations of life President Davis' honor, loyalty and devotion to principle was without spot or blemish, and he was a glorious Ideal to whom the South can ever point with reverence and with boundless admiration. PETER PAN, The Garden of Dreams. (In the desert of Life ther els one Oasis left for all—the Garden of Dreams. And to the young and old alike this Garden Is a respite from all trouble.) I. "When you're tired of your little toy dogs, my dears. And your little tin soldiers, too— When the night comes on with Its frogs and Its fears And your poor little souls feel blue; When each little eye Is dimmed by a tear. And you're weary and worn from your play— I come for you nightly and bring you up here And I brush all your worries away. Up here Is my Gugten of Dreams— Where each little heart Is at rest— Where the rainbows are bright and the sllver-hued light Of the moon and the stars guide you best— the stars guide you best— omes on So don't ever worry when twilight c play— And the shadows have ended yourm darkness to dawn, Through Dreamland we'll toddle froy." And I'll brush all your worries awal. Idlsh toys, •'Wlien you've grown too old for chlllfe— And you're fighting the battles of lery Joys, When you sigh In vain for your nurslfe; . And your heart Is bowed In the strhadows are near. When the sunset has flown and the sthe day— And you ache from the wounds of u up here I come for you nightly, and bring yo— And 1 brush all your troubles away Up here—In my Garden of Dreams, at rest— Where your hurt, wounded heart Is's surcease for you Where friendships are true and thersur breast— Of the heartaches which harrow yoght Is nigh. So smile at your worries when twill day— Though worn from tho work of thsalk, you and I-» Through Dreamland together we'll waway.” And I'll brush all your heartaches I. Ilorld has been done, “And then vhen your work In the wost— • And you turn la the daye of the ne like the sun. When night sadfcrdrodp* and your Ilf Has entered the shadows at last—hat la near. When you wait all alone for the ehd ted gray— And the gold In your hair has turng you up here I’ll come for you still—and I'll brlnay— And I'll brush all your longings aw U|i here—In my Garden of Dreams, Is at rest— Where your worn, wounded heart s star-lit track Where you can turn back upon llfs'w was blest— To the youth whlrh you now knoys be true. Though others forsake you. IH alwae day— And I'll lend you my dreams by tbme down for you And soon through the twilight I'll coy.“ And bring you back with me to sta —CRANTLAND IUCHL _ ABOUT FISHING AND FISHING TACKLE. Every boy knows how to go a-flah- Ing, but an Intelligent boy Is not long In learning that the mere getting of a lot of flsb is a small part o( the pleas ure. That Is why he prefers the rod to the seine, one big flsh to many small er ones, one cunning old trout or pick erel outwitted to a basket of stupid flsh that contended for the bait Pres, ently he begins to desire more delicate tackle, and understanda that he la Ash ing for sport, not flsli. I take It that the whole art and mystery of angling Is how to get the most sport and enjoy ment out of It. But how? To begin, with, no one will destroy a flsh which la not dangerous to man or better fish Just for amusement; In oth. er words, he fishes only for desirable flsh. The chief things that make a flsh desirable In the senso of a game or sport flsh are that tt shall be good food, not too common, and not too easily caught. If, besides. It be beautiful anil found In beautiful places so much the better. Tt happens that by common consent certain flsh, salmon and trout and tbelr kindred, are In Europe and America esteemed above all others, and the opportunity to angle for them Is not open to every one, and most boys must get their sport with other less esteemed kinds. "Boys' flsh.” they are some times slightingly called, but they have lots of sport to give to the boy who knows how to get it, and he will get more sport If he takes pains to make the flsh better worth catching and bel ter worth having after It Is caught It Is better worth having, for Instance, If you have caught It from the cleanest water you have access to. Clean water makes sweet flsh. If a flsh Is to be kept kill It at once by a blow upon the back of the head where the backbone Joins it. This Is not only more merci ful, but makes firmer meat. If one Is Asking from a boat or n<ft moving about much the flsh may be kept alive In a floating live-box or basket, and at the end of the Ashing the best may be chosen for keeping and the rest let go. Fish are sweeter, too. If cleaned a» soon as possible; besides, the cleaning Is done more easily If done early. Learn to do It well yourself, and try to be at home In time to do It before supper. Cleaning flsh by candle light goes far to spoil the sport of a pleasant day. Do not clean flsh with your pocket knife. Have In your kit a stout one for the P urpose which will also cut bait. Such nlves made expressly are sold for a small sum, but a veteran kitchen knife or a broken table knife, If kept In or der. will do excellent service. Do not throw your flsh In the dirt nor let them lie In the sun nor string them upon a twig or line if you wish them to be sweet. Have a basket with a cover, even If the cover be no more than a newspaper. Wash this basket and dry and air It In the sunshine. If you can, after every using. All these things you should do If you wish what you catch to bo ns good as it can be.— Harper's Outdoor Book for Boys. THE CZAREVITCH’S BIRTHDAY. While Spain Is still In raptures over the birth of an heir to King Alfonso, the land of the moujlks Is stirred by an event of great moment The esare- vltch has been translated from swad dling garments and kilts to his first pair of pants. Russia will celebrate the third birthday of little Alexis on July SO, when the future exar will make his first public appearance en culotte, or In little breeches. The boy Is a handsome, sturdy little lad, of whom great things are expected, as he resembles more his famous grandfather than the present exar. TED. have a little brindle dog. Seal brown from tall to bead, Hla name, I guess. Is Theodore, But I just call him Ted, Ks’s only eight months old today— I guess he's just a pup; Pa soys he won't be larger When be is all grown up. He plays around about the house. As good us he can be. He don't seem like a little dog. He's Just like folks to me. And when It Is my bedtime, Ma opens up the bed; Then I nestle down real coxy And Just make room for Ted. And, tffi, how nice we cuddle! Ho doesn’t fuss £r bite, Just nestles closely up to me And lays there still all night. Wc love each other dearly, My little Ted and me. We’re Just good chums together, And always hope to be. : —Philadelphia Telegraph.