Before reality TV, we had 'Adam and Eve'

In the beginning,before reality TV, before "Survivor," beforeKim Kardashian, there were, in the headlines of 1924, Norfolk's own Adam and Eve.

"Wanted - A Couple Like Adam and Eve" - Nov. 6, 1924

Norfolk's afternoon newspaper published on its front page an appeal to readers:

"The Ledger-Dispatch wants a married couple to volunteer to live in the woods for a period of one week."

The couple would have only the clothes on their backs, in the interests of determining whether modern man and woman could live "in a primitive state." Interest in this experiment was piqued, the paper wrote, by an incident a week earlier, when a local man, separated from his 19-year-old wife, snatched her from her parents' home, shot and wounded her father and brother, and hid with her for two days in a swamp.

"It is the James case that has aroused interest in man's ability to live apart from civilization," the paper wrote. "Before the unpleasant shooting episode, James and his wife were estranged. When they came out of the woods together Mrs. James said 'I love him and nothing can keep us apart now.' "

Was it a fluke? Or could modern man live off the land and, in addition, find true love?

After posing the question, the newspaper added, "They will be rewarded at the end with furnishings and clothing amounting to more than several hundred dollars, which has been donated by Norfolk merchants."

Applications poured in."Primitive Life Lures 51 Couples Who Would Like To Try It" - Nov. 8, 1924

Among the applicants was a North Carolina man who appealed for a "real red-blooded American girl" to marry him and honeymoon in the woods. A Norfolk woman offered to let her 16-year-old daughter be his bride. A sea captain offered to become a landlubber for the week.

"It is nothing more than the voice of romance heard above the din and monotones of modern life," the newspaper wrote. Three days later, 20-year-old Floretta Popejoy and 21-year-old Robert J. Day were selected for the experiment.

At 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 12, 1924, the two were married in the window of The Hub department store on Main Street.

The bride wore a loose-fitting heavy cloth wrapped around her body, and loose, heavy shoes without hose. The groom chose a dark sweater and heavy trousers.

They took their vows in front of 6,000 people, then departed for a secret location that turned out to be the swamps around Cape Henry. They were left there alone, to live as they could off the land for the next week.

"Eve Sees Lasting Love From Start Without Illusions" - Nov. 13, 1924

Every day of the experiment, bright and early, a reporter for the Ledger-Dispatch visited the couple in the woods and wrote for that afternoon's paper two lengthy stories purporting to be in Adam and Eve's own words.

Adam, aka Robert Day, wanted a smoke. "While I was raving about a cigarette, Flo woke up, and looked around like she was lost for good," he told the reporter. "Womanlike, she forgot about my suffering for a smoke and hinted that she would like something to eat.... Gee, I felt sorry for the kid,... but there was nothing I could do then."

It was nearly dark when he realized that they needed to build some sort of shelter. He managed to start a fire, then tried to break off tree limbs to tie together.

"Flo was helping," Adam said, "but her hands are soft and tender and I knew she was worrying about hurting her hands and not being able to play the piano. She has missed playing only two days in the last ten years, you know."

Finally, Adam used a flat rock to dig out a shallow depression in a bank. They lined it with dry leaves and tried to sleep.

But they were thirsty. Afraid to look for water in the dark, they waited until the moon rose, then ventured out.

"We walked and we walked and we walked," Adam said. "Poets may write about drinking in the moonlight, but a poor boy and girl in the woods can't get a thrill out of drinking it."

They finally found water, then made their way back to the dugout and slept. For breakfast they had wild grapes. Floretta, or Eve, as her new husband began to call her, decided to try making a dress out of leaves. He wanted to make a suit for himself of animal skins.

Eve, in her story, was more reflective. "My wedding was not the kind that most folks would desire," she said. "When I married Robert yesterday I solemnly promised to love, honor and obey - for better or worse, to cherish until death parts us. I meant that with all my heart."

On the same page, the newspaper listed nine merchants who had pledged to give the couple gifts, which included clothing, a gold wedding ring, furniture and a savings account.

"Eve Fears Scorn, Tells Why She Makes Unique Test" - Nov. 14, 1924

On the second night of the great experiment, Adam and Eve moved to a site about three miles from the dugout and used tree branches to build a shelter, which collapsed.

"Nothing is easy out here," Adam moaned. Finally, they buried themselves in dirt to keep warm, as nighttime temperatures dropped into the 50s. They expanded their diet with hickory nuts and persimmons, and Adam tried rolling up some dried leaves to make a cigarette. It didn't help.

He tried to kill some birds by throwing stones but couldn't hit them. Eve tried to sew using pine needles and leaves, but everything fell apart.

Still, Eve waxed eloquent: "Last night I had the best time watching a sunset. I had not realized before how truly beautiful a closing day can be," she told the reporter. "I believe Robert and I have found the real meaning of love out here."

The Wells Theatre in downtown Norfolk postponed a Gloria Swanson film to show instead "Empty Hands," a movie about a man and woman lost in the Canadian woods. The newspaper wrote: "You will have an opportunity to visualize what Mr. and Mrs. Day are forced to contend with."

The theater manager arranged for Adam and Eve to appear on his stage in their wilderness "costume" to receive gifts. By then, 19 merchants had signed on.

Eve worried about how their strange wedding would be perceived by the public.

"It impressed me because it would be such a wonderful adventure," she said. "Of course we knew there would be rewards - but why not. If our experiment is of interest to the public, then we should reap some benefit."

"Eve Preaches Sermon With Forest a Temple" - Nov. 15, 1924

Rain started falling, but the couple said they liked it, that it freshened up the woods. Adam confessed to wanting to quit the experiment after the first night and claimed to have lost his craving for cigarettes.

"If you happen to have one on you," he told the reporter, "I'll take a couple of puffs just to see if I can smoke now and not want any more for the rest of the time I am out here."

After being refused, Adam said, "If you have some... and won't give me one, all I have to say is that you're the meanest guy in the world.... You see how easy a man is tempted."

He made a bow and arrows but admitted they didn't work too well. The couple bathed in a stream, scrubbing down with sand and mud. They wanted meat. But they seemed to be growing more accustomed to life in the wild.

"A man can suffer a lot alone, but when you're in love and the girl you love is in danger, you are likely to act differently," Adam said. "The forest has its own way of making you like it."

Told that several churches were planning sermons the next day about the couple's experiment, Eve said the preachers should come to the woods themselves.

"Where could they find a better sanctuary?" she asked. "Hear the murmuring of the winds! Isn't that like sweet organ music? And the tall stately trees in their gorgeous dress!... What a temple! What a temple!"

"Adam and Eve Are Found in Woods By Picnic Party" and "Daring Couple To Be Richly Rewarded on Their Return Home" - Nov. 17, 1924

Eve greeted the reporter by asking for a weather forecast. Then she said life in the woods had been instructive - Adam had snared a rabbit, and she had cooked it. She felt capable of making furniture, and dishes as well, if they could find some clay.

But modern life had intruded.

"While we were looking around for some branches to make a new hut, I was seen by some people in an automobile and they called me," Adam said. "They said they thought our living in the woods was a fake."

They changed their minds, he said, after seeing the couple in their ragged, worn clothing.

They offered him cigarettes; he said he declined.

"Snow Fails To Dishearten Adam And Eve Despite Its Cold" - Nov. 18, 1924

An unexpected snowfall and temperatures in the 30s caught the couple by surprise.

"We are beginning to miss our coffee in the mornings now," Adam said, but Eve was ready to stay longer.

By this time, 75 merchants had signed up to give gifts to the couple, including a building lot 30 by 100 feet in Virginia Beach, house plans, coal and firewood, a silver tea set, clothing, laundry service, food, furniture, shoes, salon treatments, cigarettes, small appliances and money.

On the next day, the experiment was over. It was time to collect.

"Eve Is Really Glad She Made Experiment" and "Adam Hails Real Meals" - Nov. 19, 1924

"To me this week has been one of extraordinary romance," Eve said, "bought at a somewhat exorbitant price, but I was willing to pay the demands and I do not now regret what I spent."

And Adam said: "All night I have been promising myself a good smoke the minute this test is over. After that I want a good bath."

"Many Wedding Gifts For Adam And Eve" - Nov. 20, 1924

The couple embarked on three days of appearances around the city to collect gifts from 95 merchants. Among the items was a purse of gold, a week's vacation in Edenton, N.C., a promise by a contractor to underbid all others by $100 to build their house, a refrigerator, window awnings, art lessons, an entire summer of bathhouse use and "fancy suits" at Chesapeake Beach, boxes of candy, silk and fur garments, 3 pounds of fruit cake, 50 pounds of "Tater Flakes," and so much more.

But they did not live happily ever after...

In 1928, Floretta Popejoy and Robert J. Day, "Adam and Eve," divorced.

Floretta remarried in 1929 or 1930, to a music instructor. He died in 1947, leaving her with two stepsons and two adopted daughters. "Eve" never bore children of her own.

One of those daughters, Jessie L. Carpenter of Tallahassee, Fla., said last week that her mother never mentioned the Adam and Eve experiment. After Floretta's death, while going through her things, Carpenter found a single news clipping about her mother's first marriage.

She can only speculate about the decision to live in the woods for a week. "Times were tough then," Carpenter said. "I think they were supposed to get a whole lot of furniture."

Unlike "Eve," Robert continued to make headlines. He was charged with forgery and arson in the 1950s, and once reported a later wife missing and a possible victim of underworld gangs bent on vengeance for his running of "the downtown numbers business." She was found unharmed, drinking beer in a local tavern.

"Adam" died in 1963, "Eve" in 1971. Their "Eden" is now First Landing State Park.

But "reality shows" are alive and well - merchants and the E! Channel reportedly paid double-digit millions of dollars to be part of Kim Kardashian's wedding to Kris Humphries. Divorce papers were filed 72 days later.

Diane Tennant, (757) 446-2478, diane.tennant@pilotonline.com