davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call., 1890-11-30
TALKING BIRDS.
Some of the Most Talkative Of
the Feathered Tribe.

There is marked distinction between the
call-notes Of birds, which are hereditary and
invariabe, and the song, which is an ac-
complishment, the result Of effort and rrae-
tice even in those kinds which sing when
free and wild. Most people who have
reared young thrush or blackbird will
have noticed that as soon as the wild
birds begin to sing in early spring the
tame bird initiates and rerroduceS by:
degrees the same notes. The song OF our
canaries, which in their own country Is SO
poor that they have been said not 10 sing at
all, has been learned entirely from the gold
finches and linnets which have shared their
cages, though the vocal organs which tile
canary had but did not use, are so superior
to those of its teachers thati has now learned
to outSing them both. Among birds, As well
men, there are non-progresslye races which
are Indifferent to "Self-impr0yement and
never try to learn a song of their own, much
less initiate the voicessof other birds or OF
men. But the desire TO gam new notes IS
vey much more common than most people
imagine, and we believe there are at least
twenty kinds which are able 10 reproduce
even the complex forms of articuate human
speech. Aristotle mentions an Indian parrot
which could talk. and when it drank wine
was somewhat improper" habits and lam
guage which it had picked up, no doubt;
from Phenician sailors.
b But the most accomplished talker of In
dian birds is the mynah, handsomep purple
black bird with short tail, orange beak
and legs, and bright yellow ear-flaps, which
run round to the back OF its head like a
broad collar. 1t is bold, lively bird,
with a mellow song and whistle of its
own. Its power of reproducing human
speech is wonderful. and it exhibits the
greatest anxiety that the tones shall be cor
rect, repeating them softly to itself with
its head ON one side, and then shouting nut
the words. In the insect-house at the Zoo
there is a fine old mynah. who was de
posted" in 1888. While a visitor is ex-
aiming. tie Indian moths coming out of
their cocoons he may hear behind him
thoughtful cough, and then "Hull0at'
shouted with startling suddenneSs. 1t is
the mynah, anxious to be friendly
and to begin conversation. The
Hindu traders in. the bazaars avail
themselves of the mynaRs services in a Gu
rious way. THEY teach it TO pronounce the
holy name of Rama, and while Its masters
thoughts are on earthly things intent tn
bird compounds for the neglect by shouting
necessarily the name of the god and texts in
honor of his power. If the poet OyldS
the paradise of birds and there "C0nvertit
yolucres in sua verba piaS, it must surely
meet the mynahs there also.
Another bird which talks better than
most, and whistles better than any, is the
piping crow. 1T is lively black-and-white
bird, as large as a rock, but far more elegant
in form. Several specimens inhablt the 10
illogical Gardens, but the best is in the west
ern aviary, where he whistles Merrily
Danced the Quaker" in tones like flute
The Spectator,
The morning call., 1890-11-30
GROG FOR JACK.
The Manner in Which Three Water Run
Is Served Out to English Tars.

The Manner in Which Three Water Rum
Is Served Out TO English Tars.
Each seaman is allowed half gill of
ships rum daily; before he gets it, how
ever, this is lowered to what is facetious-
ly termed "three.water rum" that is, the
half gill is made into half a pint of liquor by
the addition of the requisite amount of
water. 1nterrOgate ordinary seamen as to
the strength and quantity of their greg,
and it will be found that the prevailing
opinion is that although the regulation
half pint of grog it served out, it does
not contain the proper proportion OF
rum. The reasons given Tor arriving at
this opinion are generally as follows: The
-steward-in the presence Of an officer-sta-
tiOns himself at the grog tub at six bells
ana adds-or, rather, is supposed to add
the requisite amount of water to make 1t
three.water rum. He is assisted by the
Croft Tub Staff" which consists of the
duty petty officers for the day, Sergeant
of Marines-and very often a corpOraI-the
stewards assistant and the cooper c'Jimmy
Bungs'o. Standing in the rear will be found
the marine lamp-trimmer, ready with cloth
to "swab up" any mess that my be made.
The Grog Tub Staff claim as a perquisite
any good that may be left after the men are
served, and-a most eXtraordi nary occur
renee, either due to miscalculatiOn or
something-there is always quantity of
''overplus" grog. Sometimes the quantity
left is SO large that the officer on duty may
smell rat" aud order it to be thrown.
away. Whether this is true or not, it is of
course difficult to determine; the fact re-
mains, however, that in nine cases out of ten
our Jolly Jack Tars" are strong in their
belief that their grog may be four, five and
even six--but three watered rum, never.
Chambers journal
The morning call., 1890-11-30
SEDAN.
Simple and Touching Remains Of Pens.
ants Homes.

ants Homes.
Every house in Bazeiles was DESTROYED.
with the exception of three of the larger
ones, belonging to well-to-dO- persons
Every poor little cottage was utterly abime,
and the contents, furniture, clothing, valu-
ables OF humble kind, yet quite invaluable
TO the humble owners, were absolutely
done away with. Not that the Ger
mans looted the village; the agency
they employed was fire. In the Musee are
the simplest and most touching remains of
the old homes Of the peasant people:
charred rags of mems blouses or of women's
gowns; blackened wood from Window
frames and floors and doors melted glass of
household utensils, jugs and cups, and con-
fused, indistinguisbable masses of debris,
gathered up when the inhabitants returned
to their OvelthrOwn, ruined homesteads MY
guide showed these melancholy remnants
with sad, calm manner: not one word of
bitterness passed her lips; war had been.
she supposed, a necessity, and II had been
the misfortune Of the French to be worsted
in the struggle.
In one Of the cases noticed number of
photographs in the style Of twenty years ago,
faded and brown through the lapse of those
the conQueror; there was the Emperor
Napoleon III, the conquered; here side by
side in effigy peaceably enough, and both
passed away to the land where .bevond
these voices there is peace" The unhappy
General Bazaine's portrait hung beside that
of the still prosperous Prince Bismarck.
Others there were Of men famous in their
day, but hardly one yet living. When L
spoke of Napoleon Ill having died in En-
gland. and how knew his house at Chisle-
hurst and had seen his tomb there. nv
guide was surprised. 'Je croyais," she said.
''Gu'il etait mort en-. Allemagne." The events
Of 1870 were fresh in her memory, but what
had happened since. had only been to her
rumors, forgotten as soon as heard. She
knew Of the Prince Imperiaps death, but
the sadness and the horror of 1t, and the
shame with which English people remem ber
It, had not touched her at all.-The CornhiIl
Magazine.
The morning call., 1890-11-30

a little block O. marble. lie put it ther-
with but one word on it. Phoebe.
That's all, Mr.. Browning, that's all.
Sancho has hitched up the team. and III take
yer home, but afore yer 60 I've got big
favor to ask Nv yer; want yer ter give me
that-that little book"
l placed my ''Tennyson" in his hand.
looked pityingly upon his tear-stained
cheeks, and. with one Of those sudden i'm
pulses which emanate from souls that are
truly human, one of those bursts of SYM
patty which can only spring from the
hearts OF those who knoD, we embraced
each other.
Then taking his hands in mine, pressed
them again and again, and with fervent
God bless you, good-by," passed from that
silent house of mourning forever.
Copyright. 1890 -AH rights reserved.
The Novelette, for next Sunday will be
"M elaine, n Love Record" by Georges
Ohnet.
The morning call., 1890-11-30
THE JAPS AND QUACKERY..
They Analyze All Patent Medicines OF
fered for Sale.

They Analyze All Patent Medicines or
fered for Sale.
May not the plan adopted by the Central
Sanitary Bureau of Japan offer some useful
suggestions to the Legislature of this coun-
try?
1--WE learn from the first report of the
Central Sanitary Bureau of Japan, recently
issued, that they have established public
laboratory for the analysis of chemicals and
patent medicines. The propretors of patent
medicines are bound to present sample.
with the names and proportions of The in
gradients, directions for its use and explain
atoms of its supposed efficacy. During
the year there were no fewer than
1904 applicants for license to
prepare and sell 14S,091 patent and
secret medicines. Permission for the prep
arations and sale of 5S, 63S different kinds
was granted, 1892 were prohibited. 99lS
were ordered to be discountenanced. and
70,943 remained still to be reported on. The
majority of those which we're authorized To
be sold were of MO efficacy, and but few were
really medical agents. But the sale of these
was not prohibited, as they were not dan
gerous to the health of the people" If
Similar regulations were put in force in this
country it is probable that the sale of many
patent med cines would be put stop to-
Premeditated murders, Intentional sui
cides. and iDadvertences Of divers and dire
full kinds will, of course. as long as human
nature remains as it is, ever and anon be
effected with chemicals and drugs, in spite
OF the strictest legislation. But is it well
for the safety of the public that, in the case
of unintentional suicides, 'homicides by
misad venture" now so frequent with pro-
pretary medicines, the law should allow.
and Coroners' jurles should award, the final
and all-absolying verdict, death by mis-
adventure" ?-Tbe National Review.
The morning call., 1890-11-30
In,est a Single NickeI.

The Admission Argus tells very interest
ing story Of a nickel. Ladies, try the ex-
pertinent and give the proceeds to the
church. The Argus says:
Some time ago the Ladies' Aid Society of
this city agreed to invest nickel in some
kind of article and sell it at profit and re-
invest in something else, and so on, to
speculate on this capital for two weeks and
see how much each one could make.
One lady on the same evening of the meet
ing bought cabbage with her nickel. She
carried it home and sold half of it to her
rieighbor for nickel. She invested that in
vinegar and picked the remaining half and
sold the pickle for % cents. She then
bought 20 cents worth of cloth and spool
of thread and made it up into three aprons,
which she sold for % cents each, and took
the IS cents and bought molasses and gave
a candy pulling TO the children. making
them pay 10 cents a plate for the candy.
The molasses made twenty-one plates of
candy, so she made 81 10 on one nickel in
two weeks time. How money will grow IT
propery:used. -.
The morning call., 1890-11-30
ANOTHER DRUGGIST.
SPEAKS


>. SAN FRANCISCO. March %, 1890.
kaaufs Great Sierra Kidney and Liyer Cure:
q: s: :.GENTLEMEN:--l. NOTICE
A. GREAT INCREASE I'M THE:
SALES OF YOUR REMEDY,
AND JUDGE BY THE RE-
PEATED CALLS FoRlTTHAT
IT GIVES ENTIRE AND COM
PLETE SATISFACTION TO
THE PARTIES USING it. IT.
is THE BEST SELLING
KIDNEY. AND LIVER
CURE THAT ! HANDLE I'M
STOCK. Resp'y yours, !. :.
s JOHN VIM. SALTER,
2445 Mission Street. Cor. 2lst. 5:
The morning call., 1890-11-30

to us with look on her face I'd never seen
there before. Her little lips seemed drawed
kinder into an expression O pain, and thar
was a sorter far off, sad look inter her eyes
We asked her wot was the matter O course,
and after thinkin' moment, and twlrllng
OF her little fingers. she sat down on my
knee and told me she was in love.
"Why, Mister Browning, if that ere roof
was ter fall right down on us this mint, l
couldn't be more surprised then was then,
heart, what we all along thought would be
our'n forever, to some one else.
"But we didn't chide her, cause we'd
neither Nv us spoke one cross wor0 TO ner
sence that Christmas mornin when she
come to us. l didn't go to bed till late that
WIS walkin' the floor, and said she, thought
it wouldn't amount TO anythin' nohow.
The gal was only a child, and the first in
fatuation seldom if ever lasts.
81 couldn't sleep though, and tossed about
all night and studied the stars a-peepin' thro'
my winder, watin' fur the day to come. till
| could see her and find out the whole truth.
swell, that truth come almost with the
first streaks O. dawn. fur when L got up she
was sittin' thar on the doorstep. found
that she wus no longer child that her first
infatuation WINS one O. the kind as creeps
inter womans heart to stay thar forever.
''She told me the mans name-Harry
Roberts it was-and she said she'd been a
meetin' him most every day for week;
He'd come up to her as she was a-settln
alone on the beach, and introduced
himself, and that's how they become
acquainted. I didn't say nothin' to
nobody as to wot l intended to do, but as
soon as we'd EFT breakfast hitched up and
went over to the hotel to see the man whose
handsome face and pretty words had
brought the first cloud to our fireside. And
he was jest the kind Nv a man, Mr.. Brown
ing, tibet might win the heart Nv any woman,
for | tell yer, even with that great big load
on my heart, he most won me. He was
sorry, he said, that what he called "a chance
Irritation should been took so serious, and
if thar wus anything he could do to make
Phoebe tear him out Nv her heart he'd act at
once. / thanked him, and when | said good
by thar wus kind O. honest grasp in his
hand wet told me he meant to do the right
thing by my little 'un.
The morning call., 1890-11-30
A CANINE BEGGAR.
He Accepts an Invitation to Come
Have a Good Feed.

He Accepts an Invitation to Come and
Have Good Feed.
My first acquaintance with Jet was his
begging of me one day in the street.
stopped and talked to him and asked him
what he wanted. He Immediately started
to the bakers shop and sat up and begged
at the door. l opened it and asked tho
baker what the dog meant. On learning,
told him to come home with me and
would give him penny. This he did
promptly, and trotted off highly pleased.
Some days afterward | saw him sitting up
al the bakers door with penny In his
mouth. Just before 1 opened the door for
him said: why do You not bring me your
pence, old fellow, and | will give you some
meat?" The dog hesitated when the door
was opened, and looked down the street
toward my house, but finally entered and
bought his bun. The next morning l found
him sitting at my doorstep with penny in
his mouth, which he deposited at my feet,
smiled graciously at me and sat down pa
tien,ly. gave him the meat. but as / did
not wish either to take the dogs money or
to cheat the baker, | returned him the
penny, which he would not take for some
time, till / told him TO take it to the baker,
He did so, but put 1t down in the shop and
ran out without his bun, at least SO the
baker told me atterward. After that Jet
would sometimes come to me and sometimes
as he desired meat or bread.
One morning met him close to my gate.
He had no money, but asked him in, aud
lie came and sat with me for an hour. AS
he was departing l said: Come and dine
with me tonight at o'clock sharp and you
shall have a good feed" forgot all about
the circumstance and was sitting down to
dinner with friend who had dropped in,
when there was deep, prolonged howl at
the gate. never thought anything about
my Invitation, but went to see what was up.
The moment l opened the gate the dog
raced in, instead of his usual solemn stalk,
and went straight into the dining-roon. l
had chair placed for him and plate by
my side and he ate what l gave him in the
most correct and gentemanly manner, leav-
ing soon after dinner was ended. Many
times after that l asked him to dine. /
never knew him to come without an invita-
ton or fail to accept one, except once, when
he was long-stopping.- Scientific Edu-
cation Of Dogs for the Gun-H. Ii.
The morning call., 1890-11-30
Was Once the oneen's.

Missing: A literary treasure supposed to
have been once in the possession of her
Majesty the Queen! The precious relic re-
ferred to is a copy of the original edition
of "A Christmas Carol" presented by
Dickens to the author of Vanity Fair, -
with the interesting autograph inscription
''W. NJ. Thackeray. from Charles Dickens
(whom he made very happy once long way
from home)." The story runs that the
Queen possessed strong desire to possess
the little volume in which the names of
these two great contemporary masters of
fiction were thus associated; that an uu-
limited commission was given for its pur-
chase, and that it eventually became her
Majesty's property for the sum of e25 los.
and was Immediately transferred tn
her keeping The original authority for the
statement appears TO have been the late Mr..
Hotten, the publisher; but it is more inl-
portant to note that Dickens biographer,
Mr.. John Forster, has given it additional
currency. The strange part of the matter,
however, is that the Royal Librarian knows
nothing about it, except that no such book
IS included in the collection under ms
care-London Daily News.
The morning call., 1890-11-30
CHAPTER I.

* GIHAT yer 'readin', mis-
!: j.: !: :: !: ::
20. II u ary expression OF dis
Measure was soon softened into one OF IN
,terest. For the person. who had interrupted
my solitary hour with Tennyson commended
himself TO me at once as being one OF those
Ca strange specimens of humanity who to the
student of human nature might pecoife an
interesting subject of analysis. Almost
every one imagines himself to be reader
of faces. ana am no exception.
.. He was not altogether a stranger to me,
for l had seen him but few moments be-
fore padding on the river at the foot OF the
bluff. on the edge of which sat. But when
the. strange craft that carried him-a prim-
tive. dugout, fashioned from the trunk OF a
pine. tree-had glided into the shadows OF
the stunted expresses that lined the rivers
edge. both The, boat and its solitary oceu-
pant passed ont Of my mind. Now, new
interest was awakened, aud for moment L
studied him Closely, without replying to his
abrupt. if not impertiuent query.
lie was a man Of apparently 40 years OF
age. his figure tall and erect, and mass OF
ironEgray nair fell from under his somorero
in a tangled mass about his shoulders. His
face was almost hidden by bushy growth
of beard, and his piercing eyes, gray and
sad, seened.t0 reflect heart that had borne
The morning call., 1890-11-30

vauced to meet us. My introduction to her
was brief, but evidently served its purpose,
for with a stately bow, which one. would
hardly have expected from the wife of the
uncouth Thompson, she pleasantly and
quietly shook my hand.
"We'll go in now, mister" said 1homp-
son; supper is ready"
On entering the living room of the house,
/ was struck by the cleanliness and SIM
plicity OF my surroundings. S,ve for the
rafters overhead, which seemed to have
been discolored by the accumulated dust of
years, everything was neatness itself. The
newly whitewashed walls. the well-scoured
floor and the neat wooden furniture told
their own story. My hostess was an ex-
cellent housewife. With a graceful move
almost regal, She motioned ME to a seat at
the table,
The morning call., 1890-11-30

rock. They are mouths Of an immense els
tern, but it is not supplied by any subter--
ranean spring. 1t is considered the most
remarkable water cavern in the country.
Says Madame lie Plongeon. in writing of
this great work: "Yucatan has been for
ages quite free from earthquakes, when all
surrounding countries have from time to
time been convulsed. Plny the Elder
thought that if numerous deep wells were
made In the earth, to serve as outlets for
the gases that disturb the upper strata,
earthquakes would cease. If we may judge
by Yucatan. Pliny was right"
The entrance to the wells OF BolOncheniiS
wild. Torches are carried by the traveller,
The morning call., 1890-11-30
To the Missionaries.

A lively lady (but full OF sense)
Was talking of heather and Providence,
And she said, II believe the man was right,
Who said make them clean, and they'll do right.
"For II they will battle and brush their hair,
OF their morals never should despair,
But the crucial test that lies beneath
All Others Is, do you brush your teeth?'
s'Ths, should maks my heather do.
1t would help them to be good and true.
should load my ship from back TO front,
With tooth brushes aud sweet SOZ0DONT"
The morning call., 1890-11-30

A sensational preacher died some years
ago, says the Rocky Mountain News. Often
in the excitement Of his preaching he would
work himself up to such a degree that he
would occasionally shed tears, which had
great effect upon his congregation. After
mis- death his sermons were examined by
in some OF his most exciting sermons that
he had inclosed in brackets the words, Cry
haro
The morning call., 1890-11-30
Every Day of the Seven

Teeth should be brushed with SOZODoNT In
order to keep them white, or to render them 3d.
Specks and blemishes upon their surface dtsap-
pear AFTER applying SOZODONT few times.
The gums acquire a coral tint, and grow hard
from the use OF SOZOD0NT. Analysis dlscloses
nothing impure in this preparation. The ladies
buy ana use SOZODONT because they well know
that 1t is . most effective aid 10 beauty. The
sooner our readers commence Its use the better
for them.
The morning call., 1890-11-30
WATER IN YUCATAN.
It Is Procured From Natural CHS.
terms Below the Surface.

The physical structure of Yucatan being
that of huge coral reef, undiversifed by
mountains. it holds the unique position in
geography of having no surface water, says
a writer in the st. Louis GlObe-Democrat
that is, it has no rivers; but in many parts
The morning call., 1890-11-30

that the glory he fought for has faded; and
he cares nothing for what is in the eternal
past that he has no enmity in his heart, but
loves the soldiers who wore the blue and
fought to maintain the Union.
The morning call., 1890-11-30

. know, and now I'll tell yer the whole thing
jest as it tappened and then you kin see it's
the self-same stery as is printed into that
ere .berk. But hold on!" and he pointed to
the distant hills
:. :. See'tlfat house on the hill yonder?"
" Yes:
-" See. where the settin' sun shinin' on the
windsrs makes it look like light?"
YES"
e, "Well, thatere's my clock. 1 stand on this
very spot every day jest at sunset and that
glitter WARNS me it's time to go home to the
old woman watts waitin' fur me over yonder
Ia the old adobe. So I'll have to quit yer
how, but I'll tell yer the story tomorrow"
81 shall not be here them" l replied;
"for urgent business will call me to the city.
The morning call., 1890-11-30

Steered by the dumb went upward with the food
Only with one difference, that Sancho
amt dumb. They buried her over Their
under the pines, and our friends said that
the saddest OF all tire mourners gathered
Their was Harry Roberts. II you'll 20 to the
Point Tomorrow and walk from the place
wher met you this evenin,' in a straight
line toward Cypress Point you'll come to
The morning call., 1890-11-30

go. couldn't. For l felt that hadn't
strength enough to see her laid away in the
ground. and then, too, felt that my place
mother at home. The boat pushed off from
the shore and out into the stream, and then,
jest like the lines in tibet thar book: