18 PREFACE 



fashion and wealth. From that day the dig- 

 nity of Silverton began to wane. Thus I 

 shall not wonder after I write of and draw 

 the beauties of dear old Silverton, as I have 

 done in this book, if by some I am misunder- 

 stood; but I shall never desert Silverton; it is 

 my home and always will be. To me the old 

 oak tree always stands and under it the men 

 play marbles. The pioneers and their families 

 that made it so full of character are still in 

 their prime of life, the first beautiful girl I 

 ever saw is still there just as beautiful as 

 ever, and in the streets I vet hear the latest 

 marches by the old Silverton band, the stores 

 are still aglow with rich beauties. That's why 

 I love it so dearly and that's why it's yet home 

 to me. 



Homer Davenport. 



New York, June 17, 1910. 



