The Sunday Oregonian., August 01, 1920, Section One, Page 15, Image 15

TIIE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, - AUGUST 1, 1920
13
OPAL'S DIARY INEXPLICABLE
EVEN TO FINAL INSTALLMENT
Some Inconsistencies Explained While Others Still Stand Varieties
of Humor Deepen Mystery Doubters and Believers Unshaken.
BY ELBERT BEDE.
(Editor Cottage drove Sentinel.?
COTTAGE GROVE, Or., July 31.
(Special.) The concluding chap
ter of Opal Whiteley's diary ap
pears In the August number of
Atlantic Monthly. While this fs the
concluding chapter of the diary, it
has brought no definite conclusion as
to the truth or untruth of her foster
parent fantasy nor as to whether or
not the diary was written as claimed
by the author.
I have received much information
that would tend to indicate that the
diary was written in later years but
absolutely no positive proof of such
fact. I have received much informa
tion tending to prove that the diary
was written just as the author claims
but absolutely no positive proof of
that fact. Many have made state
ments that they knew of the exist
ence of the diary and its destruction,
others that they knew it was written
in later life, yet when approached
for a positive statement for publica
tion, answers were evasive, or were
made only on- information and belief.
InconftistencleM Are Found.
I have found many inconsistencies
In the diary which seemed beyond ex
planation, yet have been explained. I
have found others which yet have not
been explained.
For example, the author tells of
making two trips to the home of "the
girl with no seeing." These trips
were made on two succeeding days.
The distance was some five or six
miles. Mosby creek, which is a
stream of respectable size, must have
been crossed on a footlog, and the
7-year-old child was accompanied by
a dog on whose back rode a hen and
a crow, by two pet pigs, a pet lamb,
a toad, a woodrat and possibly some
other minor livestock. That such a
child thus accompanied could have
made two such trips at all seems im
possible, that she could make two
such trips without causing alarm on
the part of the family, seems still
more impossible, yet the incidents of
the trip and. the death of the girl are
described with a wealth of detail and
with a sincerity which m:ke the story
Seem most real.
Kew can be found sio are ready to
tate that they feel positive that
the diary was written just as the
author claims, yet there are none, so
far as I have learned, Who are ready
to state positively that it was not so
written, ' or, at least, partially so
written.
Humor Deepens Mystery.
The varieties of humor which per
vade the diary deepen the mystery.
The statement that "Elsie"s baby
has such a redness of nose from com
ing a long way in the cold" may be
childish humor Sut her description of
the little girl "with a Tarn O'Shanter,
a frown and a cape" sound more like
a Bill Nye or Artemus Ward at their
bent.
The entertaining description of ex
tracting a tootn by tying a string to
a door knob may be considered the
production of a precocious child, but
when she tells her diary that "Dear
Love," a young married friend, has
confided to her (then not over a
7-year-old) the expected arrival of a
baby and says that "no one knows
the ferret except Dear Love and her
husband snd me" and a dozen or so
ot her pets of which she gives their
classic names one wonders if the
neighbors were prone to confide' to
this fairy of the woods such delicate
secrets, or whether the incident may
not have been dragged in to give a
chance to parade a. rare piece of
humor.
The oft-reoeated statement that
"men are su.cn a blessing to have
about" will, by many of experience,
most certainly be labeled the produc
tion cf a very young mind or the hu
morous fantasy of an older one.
Definite Proof JLackJng.
If we presume that the diary was
written In later life, the question must
then arise: Was it so written with
premeditated intent to deceive or did
the girl have a dual personality? Did
she, as some of my correspondents
ask me to believe, have a spiritual
being when she became a child and
wrote in the spirit the things which
have brought to her real self so much
of glory and so much of censure? And
if written in real life, would her stunt
not be almost as remarkable as if the
diary were produced in the manner
claimed?
After a stujy of the mass of corre
spondence I have received from every
point of the compass, after following
many leads which at first seemed cer
tain to produce something definite, I
must admit that I do not feel that the
evidence is irrefutably conclusive
either way. I believe that I will in
time be able to give a story which
will be backed by conclusive evidence
in regard to both the foster-parent
fantasy and the genuineness or l3ck
of genuineness of the diary, but there
is so much of possibility and prob
ability that I would net venture a
positive statement as to what the
probable future story is going to
prove or disprove.
Censure Is Given.
Tt may be said with certainty that
most of those who have always
known the White leys and Opal are
more firm than ever in the belief hat
the foster-parent fantasy is fol-de-rol
and many of these are severe in their
criticism of the things which have
been allowed to appear in the diary
which tend to give the idea that Opal
was an overworked and abused little
girl. Such are prone to recollect an
entirely different kind of treatment
of Opal and the other members of the
Whiteley family. Also the production
of a diay of some 150,000 words by
a little girl during the year between
her sixth and seventh birthdays, as
stated in Atlantic, all printed most
laboriously in the cramped print of a
child and the pages childishly deco
rated In colored-pencil art. would
seem alone to furnish all a child could
do in that length of time outside of
school houre. It cannot be denied
that the diary shows its author to
have been a most extraordinarily in
dustrious child.
The diary is interwoven with inci
dents that are known to have hap
pened in the chronological order in
which they are so entertainingly re
lated and they are told with a detail
that would not seem possible under a
presumption that the diary was writ
ten in later years, yet the fact that
the author has repeatedly written,
even during the publication of the
diary, for verification of dates and
facts gives the doubters all the evi
dence they ask confidently to affirm
that the little girl they knew could
not and did not do many of the in
consistent things stated in the diary.
One thing can be said with posi
tiveness and that is that it remained
for Opal- Whiteley, nature-tutored
wild rambler rose of the Oregon
woods of the Cottage Grove country
to produce what is one of the most
remarkable pieces of literature ever
put into print and at the same time
to give to the world an unbelievab',
yet believable, story of foster parent
age. Both are full of probabilities
and improbabilities; entrancing in
interest; stranger than fiction, if
fact; stranger than fact, if fiction.
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I
PHEGLEY & CAVENDER
Corner Fourth and Alder Streets
ROUTINE IN SCOUT CAMP
BRINGS HEALTH TO BOYS
Fourteen Hours of Strenuous Activity Compose Day Lads Stiffly
Stand at Attention While Inspection Is Made 700 Enjoy Exercise.
iHiniMtMHiHiiiiiniimiinmiuHitiuiHuiiuiiiHinMiniimniintift
rEiumiiiiiiimimimmiimiiiKmimiiimiiimmimim
Good mornln?. Mr. Scout, Scout, Scout.
With a smile just broad as mine!
Good morning, Mr. Scout, Scout, Scout,
"You are really looking- fine!
Knots and knots you must tie.
So hurry und tie them and know just why.
Uood morning, Mr. Scout, Scout, Scout,
With your anitle Just as broad as
"Vtth your smile .1ut as broad as
"With your smile just as broad as mine.
WITH this joyous good morning
song the members of the Port
land council of Boy Scouts,
camped at the foot of Mount Chinl
dere, overlooking beautiful Wahtum
lake. 14 miles up Eagle creek canyon,
8-eet the morning and make vibrant
tho air every day each year from
July 1 to September 1; then follows
14 hours of a happy wholesome and
health giving programme of work
and play that can be evolved by
trained men whose Uvea are devoted (
to making real men out of real boys. (
For five years the Boy Scouts of
Portland have enjoyed a summer
uamp and during that period approxi
mately 700 boys have been in camp
for periods varying from two to six
weeks; a significant fact is that
during that entire time there hasn't
been a Mngle accident, or serious ill
ness among the boys.
Two years ago the present camp
aite was secured and a camp was J
conducted in a truly primitive fashion, i
the boys rolling up in blankets
under the trees and cooking for the
entire camp being done over a mam
moth campfire.
Last year enough of the giant pines
were removed for the erection of a
commodious log lodge which is
divided into kitchen, dining room
with huge fireplace, office and can
teen or camp store. Further clear
ing was made for the erection of
tents.
This year the clearing has been
enlarged for this promises to be the
banner year in point of enrollment
as well as auality of work don;
already 150 boys have been in camp,
many of whom will remain untiT the
end of the eason.
James IS. Broqkway. scout execu
tive, is in general charge of the
camp; he is assisted by V. J. Kent
and J. C. Cakes, trained scout work
ers, and Charles C. Hall, swimming
instructor. The kitchen is in charge
of a competent cook, all other work
1 about the camp is dona by the boys.
Karh tent is cared for by the boys
occupving it and the "K. P." duty is
done by boys who break camp rules,
three meals being the limit of punish
ment for a single offense.
Reveille is sounded every morning
at T o'clock; scores of boys take their
morning wash-up in the lake, next
conves the rollcall and wide awake
exercises. Scout song and flag cere
mony. Then follows what to most
of the boys is the first really im
p portant event of the day, beakfatst,
the chi-cf item of which is hot cakes
and syrup.
Breakfast Is followed by bed
maktng and a general setting to
rights of the tents, the sweeping of
the adjacent ground and even the
beautifying of the tents and grounds
with flowers or ferns for the next
scheduled event is inspection by the
Officers, the names of the best, sec
ond best and worst camps being
rostcd on the official bulletin board.
rVnuMemble ingenuity nni artis
tic Instinct is displayed in the f ui
nishing and adornment of the various
camps. Kern Inn is surrounded by
clumps of mountain ferns and brakes
transplanted from the bank a of the
brook. Jumping Jack Camp is sug
gested by a real jumping jask carved
and strung by the boys.
Lake View Inn is characterized -by
a pretentious rustic table formed of
small bark-covered limbs. Blocks
sawed from huge trees constitute
tables In several camps. Shining tin
cans that once held tomatoes, have
been niled onto the sides of these
blocks and sdrve as receptacles for
combs, brushes, tooth brushes and
paste, letters, pencils, etc. Camp
names Include Hemlock lodge, the
Chick inn. Quit Cha Kid inn. Lake
View inn, Ripple inn, the Sign of the
Jumping Jack, Lake palace, the Lone
Pine, Oh! Boy, Sleepy Hollow, Kum
heah. Gee Whiz, Fish inn. Rover, Min
nehaha, Linger Longer, Fern innfc Fir
cabin, Happy Go Lucky and O. K.
hall, the latter being the abode of
Mr. Oakes. Mr. Kent and Mr. Hall.
During inspection every boy stand-s
at attention in front of his tent. A
hurried reading of the bulletin board
to learn who the day's winners are,
is followed by a grand rush for the
lake,' where fishing, swimming and
rafting are enjoyed as only boys can
enjoy water' when not accompanied
by soap and a cloth.
The boys have built log rafUs on
which they paddle around between
dips and no boy has put in a full
day unless he has fallen into the
lake a time or two, partly or wholly
clad.
The remainder of the morning
hours Is given over to hikes, games
or work around the camp, each day's
programme being different.
It may include a hike to' Mount
Chinldere, Indian mountain. Cedar
camp, Benson plateau. Mud lake.
Rainy lake. Scout lake. Hicks lake.
Green ridge, Herman creek, one of the
three hikes around the lake at its
edge, half way up and the top of the
ridge, botany or bird hikes.
Scores of varieties of wild flowers
abound around the camp and the fol
lowing birds are also found there:
Varied thruwh, robin thrush, hermit
thrush, russet-backed thrush, water
wren, junco finch, pine siskins, cross
bill finch, western evening grosbeak
finch. Oregon jay, stellar jay, Rufous
humming bird, hermit warbler, water
auzel, chestnut backed chickadee,
Lewis woodpecker, slender billed nut
hatch and bush tit.
Dinner fs served at noon and i
followed by a quiet hour for reading,
study and writing, during this period
the Scouts are urged to write home.
Indoor baseball, pitching quoits, flag
raiding, , improvement of camp,
making or bows and arrows, fire sets
and camp furniture and lessons in
woodcraft and forestry occupy a part
of the afternoon and a second hour is
given to water sports. At 6 o'clock
supper Is served.
In the evening there are games,
Binging around a big campfire and
at 9 taps are sounded after the sing
ing of the good night song: -Day
is done, gone the sun
From the lake, from the hill, from the
aky.
Slumber long, pleasant dreams,
tiod la ntgnt.
Special regular features of The
Play Your
Favorite Roll
GOME in and let us play your
favorite roll on the Packard
Interpreter. You will enjoy the
added charm that Packard Pianos give
to all music.
Such exquisite tone can come only
from pianos made by master piano
makers. Men who are artists as well
as workmen, and who impart the har
mony of their hearts to their pianos.
Men to whom fine pianos such as
Packard represent their highest ex
pression of art.
Hear the Packard, and you will at
once sense the achievement of these
men. They enable you to obtain Pack
ard Pianos of enduring charm for price
somewhat less than usually applies to
such eminent instruments.
Player Pianos Grands Uprights
G. F. Johnson Piano Co,
147-149 Sixth Street
Write for Catalogue and Prices
week's programme include a eanitary
scrub with soap and brush Saturday
morning. Written examination in
scouting Saturday afternoon and
boxing and wrestling Saturday
evening.
An informal religious service Is
held Sunday morning and in the
afternoon a treasure hunt occupies
the attention of the boys for two
hours, a trophy having been secreted
at the end of a long and circuitous
trail of hints and suggestions written
and hidden in the bark of trees and
beneath rocks.
In the evening each tent puts on an
original 'stunt," the programme being
interspersed with songs by the entire
camp.
While it is these spectacular
activities that get and hold the at
tention and the interest of the boys,
the real purposes behind the move
ment are the building of character
through habit and citiisenphip through
service, the development of co-operation
through co-operation learning
through doing.
That these purpose are accom
plished is evidenced by the fine spirit
of the camp, the loyalty, courtesy,
obedience, cleanliness and cheerful
ness that prevails throughout the 14
hours Of strenuous activity each day.
In no way can the mothers of
Scouts in camp j-ender greater as
sistance to the work than by being
happy and helpful to their own boys
as well as to all others by writ
ing happy, optimistic letters sugges
tive" of the advantages of the camp
and of the good that it will do them
rather than the homesick, sob let
ters to "Mamma's darling baby boy,"
such as some mothers do write.
The arrival of the mail is an event
of great rejoicing, the boys love to
get letter., but It is the happy letter.
giving the little happenings of home
and friends and other bits of news
that bring real joy, and not the mushy
epistle over which the young boy,
some times away from home for the
first time in his life, frequently
cries himself to sleep.
BAND TO PLAY TODAY
ht Concert Numbers to Be Given
in Washing-ton Park.
A splendid programme 1b assured by
lb Itoval Rosariati band for it3 Sun
day afternoon concert at 3 o'clock to
day at Washington park. These num
bers are announced by Conductor Kt
tir.ger: Overt u re Fest T.usfn
AtlantU Suite in four puns.., Safranek
(The Ioet Continent)
Nocturn and Morn ins Hymn of Praise.
A Court Function.
Prince's l.ove for Anna.
Destruction of Atlantis.
Requested by Mrs. Smith and
Mr. McCatferty)
Spring Song: Obo soo Mendelssohn
Played by Mr. Starke)
i Requested by Mrs. Wilkinson)
Potpourri Tone Picture of Classic
Gems Trenkler
(Requested by Mrs. Smith)
Intermission.
Faekeltanz Torch Mght Dance. . Meyerbeer
As an extra number, Messrs. Knight and
Hushes will piay the flute and clarinet
duet. "Lo. Hear the Gentle L.rk." - by
Bishop.
La Verbena Spanish suite in four
parts La com be
La Fete.
TanjEO.
Serenade.
Baile Oorarto.
Grand Selection A id a Verdi
Medley American Songs (South
ern) Lampe
mht pnncted Runner.
Mm
Bi '11 V ..: L
atss& Mr-, km
Seeger Refrigerators
THE ORIGINAL SIPHON
Gives perfect ref rieeration. a minimum of Ice con
sumption and absolute sanitation in every square inch
of its ice cooling chambers.
The Seeger motto is, "Not How Cheap, But How Good."
"We Also Carry In Stock
White Mountain Refrigerators
"The Cbet With
a Chill In It."
Clark-Jewel Gas Ranges
of steel
cost, but
These ranges are not constructed of strips
riveted or bolted together to cheanen their
instead are stamped and drawn from one piece of heavy
gauge Pieei tnai gives a smoomness 01 suriace that has
no rival. Many pf our Clark-Jewel Ranpes are equip
ped with the Lorain Oven Heat Regulator that ac
curately measures heat, makea rooking better and aven
time and work. Call and we will be pleased to explain
its good merits in detail.
Clark-Jewel Water Heaters
We have Just received a limited supply of these well
known and popular heaters.
Quick Meal, New Perfection and Puritan
Oil Cook Stoves.
Panama, leader and Crown
Gas Plates
Toledo "Ideal" Home Canner
' and Steam Cookers.
The "HANDY PRESERVER" ,
Fruit and Vegetable Canners.
Sechrist Pressure Cookers.
Domestic Science and Duplex
Fireless Cook Stoves.
Its
Coffield Electric Washers
wash-day wonder and work-saver and makes
every minute count on wash day.
Garden Hose and Lawn Sprinklers.
Honeyman Hardware Company
Fourth at Alder. Park and Ollxaa.
Portland Largest Hardware Stores.
We Invite You
Not only by word of mouth and printed message do we invite
you to become our patrons but by the quality of our merchan
dise, by the prompt and courteous attention that you receive
here and by the unusually good values that you find here. We
are endeavoring in every way possible to
lessen the cost of materials and ready-to-wear
garments, and lose no opportunity to offer
you reduced prices.
Summer Dresses
Crisp Organdies, Cool Voiles and At
tractive Ginghams.
34 Less
A disposal of dresses that are more than
ordhwily desirable both in their summer
prettiness and their real practicability. The
-organdies are white and daintily ruffled; the
ginghams are in plaids, checks and stripes
and the voiles in artistic printed patterns.
August Sale of Dress Goods
l Z2- -Vis
imported all-silk pongee; a good
heavy quality at, yard SI. 49
33-in. very fine imported all-silk pongee
at, yard SI. 98
36-in. diagonal suiting in a variety of
colors at, yard 69
50-inch all-wool suiting and skirting,
yard $1.49
36-in. cotton poplin, an extra heavy
weave, at -49
42-in. black and white shepherd check
suiting at -.49
36-in. plaid and mixed suitings, ycl. 98
36-in. radio silk in an assortment, of col
ors at, yard .95
44-in. silk voile in tan, brown, gray, at
only, yard . . 75
Dainty Underwear
Attractive muslin skirts in a fine quality of material,
trimmed with embroidered flounce with dust ruffle,
now S1.29
Muslin and batiste gowns in white and pink with em
broidery and lace finishings, very special at S1.95
Mercerized trocotex front and back fastening bandeau
brassieres with mesh back and front; slightly boned
under the arms and in back; with self-adjusting elastic
back; all sizes 69
Fine cambric front fastening brassieres in well-fitting
styles, trimmed with embroidery, now 79 and 49
A very special feature is this corset of white coutil with
medium bust and front lacing, priced now at. . .51.U5
Pink brocaded corset with low bust and ribbon trim
ming, priced at S3. 00
Jf
Sheets and Sheeting
Bleached sheeting" 72 inches wide, yard... 79
Bleached sheeting 81 inches wide, yard.. .05i
Bleached sheeting 90 inches wide at....$1.00
Unbleached sheeting 72 inches wide, yard
Unbleached sheeting 81 inches wide, yard 7!)
Pequot sheets 72x90 inches at $2.50
Pequot sheets 81x90 inches at $2.95
Pepperell sheets 72x90 inches at SR2.19
Mohawk sheets 72x99 inches at ")
Bleached heavy sheets 81x99 inches at. .Jiili.98
Bed spreads in full size at ?2.35
Scalloped bed spreads with cut corners $5.95
j7J?D&MStf6rOS75.
Henry J. Ditter, Mgr.
:Prompt and Careful Attention Given to All Mail Orders :
"I Don't Worry Now"
"I don't worry now. If anything happens, I've got
my Savings Account to fall back upon."
Can YOU say that?
If not, openan account today, and start to save a
fcmall amount regularly each payday. A Savings Ac.
count will bring you happiness banish worry.
$1 will open an account for you at this bank.
THE NORTHWESTERN
NATIONAL BANK
Portland, Oreg-oru