davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-31
PLANT OF A PUGILIST.

In peg Wellington" Charles Reade
makes Pegs little pet slave complain be-
cause he was whipped when he did not
deserve it. But" said the heroine
brightly. you should think of the numbe
of times you escape when you deserve a
whipping"
James j. Corbett, champion pugilist,
complains because his receipts fell off from
1882 the first night to S546 the second,
and still less for the third. But Mr.. Cor
bett should console himself for this bad
second night by thinking OF how much
more he got the first night than he de-
served. There is something wrong with
the understanding that holds that because
a man fights well people should pay to see
him do something else badly. People
might be willing TO give dollar to see the
man who whipped Sullivan and might not
want to see him act at any price. Three
hours is long time to sit in a theater
when there is nothing of interest taking
place on the stage. The second nights
receipts. of which the pugiist complains
so bitterly. were S546 This is a large
sum to pay for being bored. 1t was the
tribute of curiosity. A large number of
people-a surprisingly large number, all
things considered-paid dollar-for what !?
Corbett is not an actor. He is pugilist
Why should people who like to see a
clever man in the ring be expected to pay
to see him In line of action every one
else can do quite as we'll as he? When
actors and actresses fail to make money in
San FranciSc they attribute their failure
TO the lack Of appreciation Of art. But in
this case COrbett has nothing In stand
upon. he did not invite people to see him
in the line of work in which. if any, he is
an artist. He simply invited them to come
and see the man, and his vanity Is hurt
because the invitation was not generally
accepted. The lesson OF this is that the
shoemaker should stick to his last.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-31
PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT.

Matte Tod, niece of President Lin
coins wife, has been for years Postmistress
Of Cynthiana, KY.
ID. b. Hill is a professor of the North
Carolina College. He is son of the late
Confederate General HILL
Mrs. Cleyeland's tastes in jewelry are
very simple. Although she owns a num-
Der of rings she rarely wears any excep t
her weddug-rlng.
Susan B. Anthony thinks we are upon
the eve of an era of unmarried women.
An era of unmarried men, in that event,
would appear to be inevitable.
1t is thought that the site in California
for a sugar experimental station will be
upon reclaimed swamp land somewhere
in the delta of the San Joaquin or Sacra-
mento rivers.
at Baku, Russia, there is an immense
oil well that ''ebbs and flows" with the
same regularity as do the ocean tides. 1t
is believed to have some mysterious con-
nection with the sea.
A Paris inventor believes that he can
calm the ocean waves around vessel by
spreading over them thin cotton or silk
net made unsubmersble by being dipped
IN certain chemical solution.
Mrs. Madeline Vinton Dahlgren has
in the dintng-room of her house in Wash
lngton the mirror used by Dolly Madison
in the White House and afterward in her
own home as long as she lived.
New custOdians have recently been ap-
pointed 10 take care of the Shakespeare
birthplace at Stratford-upon-Avo Those
new custodians are Miss r. f. Hancock
and Miss M. L. Hancock, of the neighbor-
Ing town OF lpston-upOn- StOur, Thew
assumed their Office April 49,
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-31
OVERHEAD WIRES.

The refusal of the Mayor and Super
visors to permit the erection of trolley
electric wires on Market street does not
prevent the construction of an electric
road on that thoroughfare on another sys-
tenn free from serious objection. Over
head wires Of any kind are Disagreement
of the line of a street, and where they in
terlace at all angles they detract visibly
from the graces of architecture. The time
will come when cities will insist upon
telegraph, telephone, electric lighting and
electric railway wires being all laid under-
ground, not merely because they are an
eyesore, but because they are dangerous
Lives are often lost through electric wires
falling, and firemen are constantly menaced
by poles coming down upon roofs and net
works Of wire being precipitated to the
street. Overhead wires also are an OBJ
struction to fremen in the discharge of
their duty where they have to use ladders
and fire escapes. In numbers of cities the
authorities have dealt with this alarming
feature of modern progress vigorously
Science has shown that wires may be laid
just as effectualy beneath the soil as over
head, with the attendant benefit of abso-
lutely insuring safety. In some cities it
inlghl De supposed from outward signs
in the daytime that the telegraph, the tele-
phone and the electric light were I'M
known, SO carefully have all the thousands
OF milesof wire been placed underground
1t is more costly to do this at the outset
than to erect poles and cross from one
building to another over the roofs. but
underground there is less wear and tear, a
diminished charge for repairs and no dis
arrangement due to fires, fresh building
operations. snowstorms or tempests. In
some parts Of Europe even the telegraph
wires are laid in conduits along the coun-
try roads. The greater initial cost is
amply made up by the saving in the cur
rent expenses of management, and in war
time there are some advantages.
In San francisco we have gone upon the
principle of leaving the companies to do
their work In the way that best suited
themselves at tho moment. No great
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-31
THE FUTURE OF CANADA.

The C0LOniSt, a Canadian Journal of
conservative tendencies. reproaches The
CALL for specializing upon the future of
Canada. Canadians" it says. "are not
very sOlicitous about their own future and
see no reason why their neighbors should
show more concern than they feel them
selves. The COlOnist quotes with some
sharp comments THE CALLS intimation
that Canada cannot always remain prov
ince. But. after thinking the matter over.
the ColoniSt concludes that it is not in ac-
cord with the general fitness of things tn at
1t should remain forever a province. 1t
does not want to become an independent
republic; IL is still more averse to becom-
Ing part of the United States, but finally
settles down to the hope that it NAV in
good time become an integral part of the
British empire. 1t is we'll for both conn
tries that the United States is Indifferent
as to the political future of Canada. We
prefer prosperous neighbor to a decaying
one, partly for the reason that we ara not
in search of Immigrants. The interest
Americans have felt in Canada has been
inspired by the number Of industrious and
frugal people who cross the border in
search of living. These Canadians are
excellent citizens, but In most cases thew
come TO do work that our own people have
been doing. To the extent of their infir-
ence in affairs they cheapen labor, for the
reason that they only get labor to do by
doing 1t a little cheaper than Americans.
Americans have not unnaturally thought
that. since Canadians were coming into the
Union somewhat rapidly, possibly Canada
might conclude to come too. But Canada
may take her own time about coming. The
United States is in splendid condition to
tpoit
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-31
OUR STATE BUILDING.

1t is the end of May and at last the Cali
fornia State building is all but completed
and the exhibits are getting into shape
which will eXtort from visitors constant
flow of encomiums. All should henceforth
be harmony, and those who are to pro-
claim the pre-eminence of this State in
natural advantages and productions are
expected to Cooperate heartily in task
which they can have Just pride in under
taking. Some reliance for fame appears to
be placed in restaurant. but it is hand-
capped in tariff by the indispensable per-
centage to the management. The wine men
hope to prove that the State is worthy of
comparison with Europein all but the finest
vintages. They will pour out generous
draughts to guests and decant bottles to
customers at prices calculated to put re-
talers elsewhere to the blush. if not
hardened by the ways of Chicago. A
banquet to the correspondents of the
worlds press may give a jog to free COM
ment, which is decidedly more useful than
puffery when there is no occasion to fear
Displacement. But for reasons best
known to themselves viticultursts and
merchants have somewhat weakened their
chances of distinction and individuality by
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-31
A PROMISING OUTLOOK.

The Oreg0ntdn assumes that in the end,
If not at present, Mr.. Huntington will
secure control of the Panama canal.
While this assumption is much less prob
able now than when our Portland con-
temporary assumed it, the argument in
favor of the construction of the Nicaragua
canal on such terms as will insure its indie
pcndence of combinations is none the less
sound. The Oregonian says:
For years the merchants Of San Francisco
have been struggling 10 enjoy the natural ad-
yanIages OF the position Of that city with refer
ence TO the cOmbiGed water and land route to
New York by way of the Isthmds of Panama,
aud they have been steadily defeated by COM
blnatonS.
The fact that the merchants of this city
have not been defeated in their latest
movement is so remark able an exception
TO a general RUE that we are not surprised
that the OTegORidR should have assumed
that they would be. Tue fact that they
have not been defeated shows that Mr..
Huntington has lost his combin alton grip.
For a long time his combination sue
ceeded. He managed in some way to make
people believe that he was working for
their beneft-that his combinations would,
in the end. enable him to do the work of
transportation cheaper than it could be
done if the increased expense entailed by
competition had to be sustained. The
secret Of Mr.. Huntington's recent failure
lies in the fact that the people have lost
confidence in his professions of good will
for this coast. With this loss of confidence
goes all danger of another defeat We
know now what Mr.. Huntington's success
means.
The construction of the Nicaraguan
canal under Government control is a safe
guard for the future. But the canal can
not be completed for five years, and prob
ably not for seven. The State needs COM
peting routes in the meantime. The
Oregon merchants now in the city show
what a competing line into the William
cite Valley will enable our merchants to
do. There is this magnificent valley on
the north and the equally grand and pro-
ductive San Joaquin Valley on the south
that may be attached in a commercial
sense by tracks of steel. The Oregon Pa
cific opens the way into the northern val
ley and the proposed railroad from Stock
ton to Bakersfield will give us the trade
of the southern valley. With the North
American Columbian line to bring goods
by the cheapest possible route to this city,
and the two railroads open meantime as
the main arteries of local system, the
outlook is certainly promising.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-31
TO BE REMEMBERED.

The Visalia Delta shows a just appre-
citation of the work Of the North American
Navigation Company in the following:
Tie merchants of San Francisco should not
forget that the North American Steamship
Company was the cause of the reduction in
freight rates to reasonable figure; that the
present very low rate Of the Southern Pacific
Company is made with the sole purpose of
crushing the North American Company; that
The withdrawal of that company would mean
The return Of freight rates 10 the former exor-
bant figures; and remembering all his the
said merchants should keep the WORK OF their
benefactor in mind, and act accordingly.
It's really the North American Steamship
Company which invited Oregon merchants
to visit this city to see what could be done
in the way of promoting trade. Without
some means of getting goods at the lowest
cost there would have been little induce
ment to make new business connections.
To supplant Eastern cities in the VILLAIN
cite Valley we must be in position to
offer better terms than Chicago can offer.
The North American Steamship Company
and the clipper lines afford the cheapest
route from the East and Europe to San
Francisco until the Nicaragua canal Is
completed. The steamship company can
bring goods at rates which would bank
rupt the Southern Pacific Company with
its immense bonded debt to provide for.
But the North American Company is itself
an outgrow.th of the Traffic Association.
which less than two years ago undertook
the solution of the transportation prob
lem. This Traffic Association is COM
posed OF merchants. its members being
largely shippers by the North American
line. There is every assurance, therefore.
that the North American line will be re-
on, harad
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-31
WIDEST RIVER OF ALL.
The Rio de la Plata, Whose Banks
Are I25 Miles Apart.
Philadelphia Recon


We're 1t not for a decided difference in
the color of the water you would never
know when tine Atlantic is left and the
Rio de la Plata entered. The hiGh-roling
uninterrupted pillows are the same and no
land Is vsble-fOr the great river W hich
James DiaZ de Soils discovered is 125 miles
wide at its mouth, though with an average
depth of only fifty feet. Sebastian Cabot,
who arrived IN the year 1890 soon after
the natives had murdered poor Don
Soils. dubbed it River of Silver, not
on account of its color, which might
have won for it the more appropriate
name of Golden River or River Of Choco-
late, but because he had wrested Quanti-
ties of silver from the Indians who
swarmed its banks, and naturally i'm
aglned that an abundance of precious
metal remained in the vicinity. In poin I
OF fact, the terms Of Argentina and Rio de
la Plata Doth meaning the same thing
with reference TO silver are misnomers.
for no metal of any sort. precious or other
wise. are found along the banks Of the
mighty stream, or anywhere near il, and
the scanty argentiferous deposits in the
hills OF the interior have never baen
worked. The Indians aforesaid probably
obtained the silver which so excitad
Spanish cupidity from Peru and Bolivia
by some primitive method Of internal com
MERGE known only to themselves. To
this day metals do not figure in the ex-
ports of the adjacent ountries-Uruguay.
Paraguay and Argentina. but such nro'
sale articles as hides and tallow. horns
wool. preserved and refrigerated meats
extracts OF beef, etc.-for their wealth lie :
solely IN grazing facilities and fertile soil.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-31
CRADLES OF BYGoNE DAYS.
Since the World Began the rlothers
Have Sung LuIlabieS.
Harper's Bazaar.

harperS DaZadr-
Theocritus, in one of his idyls, describes
how Alemena washed and sucked the IN
FAINT Hercules and his brother, 1phicles.
and put them to bed in big bronze
shield. "a beautiful piece of armor
olaus. his fallen fe." And as she made
the great SHE d revolve and rock she sang
a lullaby: Sleep. my babes, sleep the
sweet sleep from which one awakes; sleep
nv darlings, my bonny boys; happy be
your rest. and happily fare until to-mor-
row morning. Sleep my ba bes."
Ever since the world began mothers have
been rocking cradles and singing ullables.
From time immemorial the problems nave
existed: What can we 90 with thls oaDyI
Where can we put 1t so that III Will De SAFER
How can we manage TO secure lew ln-
tervals of peace and tranquility? how can
we still its cries and whlnes? HOW can we
teach it to walk? In word, how can we
emancipate ourselves from the absorbing
tyranny of these sweet babies, our OF
spring?
The solutions. which have been in
vented by the solicitude, the Ingenuity
and the instinct of mothers, have taken
the form of cradles, swaddles, leading
strings, and go-caTts. The variety OF these
inventions is considerable, and descrlp-
ton of them would form, perhaps, curl
Gus chapter in the history Of hygiene and
the elements for such history? Poetry
and legend might be suggestive to GER
tain extent. We may figure to ourselves
the infant Moses exposed on the banks OF
the Nile, Graded in an osieT basket We
may remember the poetical Greek name
for cradle, which is the same as the name
of the winnowiDg fan or basket, the cradle
of the infant traditional Bacchus. Refer
ring to the monuments of the graphic arts
we may find representations of basket
cradles, and also of little beds on rockers;
for the instinct of mothers, it would seem,
has always prompted them to seek ready
means of communicating an OsCillating
movement to the infants bed In manu-
scripts of the ninth and tenth centuries we
find pictures and cradles formed of partsOf
tree trunk dug ont, with holes bored
through The sides for the passage of straps
intended to tie the baby down in his bed.
These dugout cradles are still common in
modern Greece. Finally, when we come
TO consult the manuscripts and bas-
reliefs of the fifteenth century, we notice
chat the cradles are no longer mere baskets
or beds on rockers, but little swinging
beds suspended between two pillars, the
prototype of the modern bercelOnnette.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-31

of drill as if they were important. The at
tentton given TO the polishing of accouter-
ments, belts and helmets is out of all pro-
portion to the worth of such labor.
The new telegraph cable laid from Mex
leo to Peru. with a total length of 1924
miles. has its terminus at Salina Cruz the
Pacific end of the Tehuantepec Railroad.
This must be of some advantage to the new
route in international commerce, and es-
pecially in business with South America.
A good deal of trade may be diverted from
the Straits of Magellan route by the open
ing of this railway under liberal manage
ment by the Mexican Government, which
has declared its intention to deal fairly
and equally with the traders of all coun-
tries.
The case of Sullivan vs.. Zeimer, just de-
cded by our Supreme Court, is one of
peculiar interest to property-owners. 1t
raises the question of the right to excavate
on ones own lot without aifording lateral
support to bull ding on an adjoining lot.
and the court decides that this may be
done. Some years ago a knOtty cOnten-
tlon OF this m after. which has been shut
tlecocSed to and fro In the English courts
for about twenty years, was decided by the
house OF Lords, but they lad to call in all
the judges to give advice. This was very
unusual proceeding. The Judges are not
peers and do not pronounce judgment, but
they may be con suited
Ensena ada may be made into a gambling
resort without offending the sense of the
proprieties common in Mexico. where cards
are passion, bul it is not from Mexicans
that those who would set up a casino look
for gains. Lottery business and gam bling
would rake in patrons from the United
States and perhaps from Europe, but it is
not probable that a second Monte Carlo
Will arise. The attractions of the Medi-
terranean gambling resort are unique.
But the promoters of the Ensenada vent
ure no doubt believe they can make money,
and If allowed will go ahead regardless of
the misery that accompanies it. Profess
slonal gam bling cannot be made respect
able. Human wrecks and a chapter of
suicides spoil the pleasure and make the
music harsh.
Whatever befalls in Nicaragua among
the contestants for power, it is assuring to
learn from Chief Engineer Menocal that
no apprehension is felt for the safety of
the highway. Both the government and
revolutionist forces respect the rights of
property in the canal. and work may pro-
coed as usual. We're it otherwise, the
United States Government would be bound
to Interfere. Security there must be when
the canal is opened.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-31
An Irresistible Plea.

& simple argument, stated in simple
language, with sincere feelings behind il.
is often more effective than anything
which orators practice under the name OF
eloquence. A good example is furnished
in the memoirs OF jefferson Davis. A
Young woman wrote TO him: "Dear Mr..
President. L want you to let Jeems c., of
company oneth, fifth South Carolina regi-
ment, come home and get married. Jeems
is willin', l is willin', his nanny says she
IS willin', but Jeems' captain he amt
willin': Now when we are all wllin'
'ceptin' Jeems' CAPTAIN, / think you might
let up and let Jeems come. Pl make
him 60 straight back when he's got mar
rled and fight just as hard as ever" Mr..
Davis wrote on the letter, Let .Jeems
GO" Jeems wens home. married the
affectionate correspondent of Mr.. Davis.
returned to his regiment, and did fight as
hard as ever.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-31

branding numbers of their samples with
French or German titles. 1t would be bet
ter TO win success on the merits of an
original name in mellifiuous Spanish or
Californian as well as on wines which owe
nothing of their good or bad qualities to
foreign admixture. The Australians at
least have not made this mistake of court
ing success by imitation. The names of
some of their best vintages are as pecu-
larly antipodean as the kangaroo. and
such market as they have carved out they
will keep. But there is more in the wine
than name, and therein California can
show decided superiority in some of her
brands.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-31

which on its own bid the Stock Report gets
so much per thousand ems for all the type
1t sets up for the public. Bnt there Is no
profit in this, and as consequence the
journal in question wants to go back to its
old business of doing the city printing for
nothing with a profit of $4,000 year or
more. The matter was referred to the
Judiciary Committee, which asked the
advice of City Attorney Creswell. and
reported against the revival of the bare
faced job. The board adopted the report
OF Its committee. and as a consequence all
the city printing will continue to be done
at cents per thousand ems without any
chance to skin property. owners engaged
on street improvements or applicants for
special privileges.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-31
OUR FRIENDS IN THE INTERIOR.

There are two ways of doing almost
everything, and especially of noting
changes made from time to time in news
papers A contemporary journal may go
through the form of Offering congratula-
lions and not really offer any, or it may
speak in tones that cannot be misunder-
stood. 1t is the latter kind of congratula-
tions that have greeted The CALL since
it assumed its present form. The feeling
with which words of announcement have
been spoken will inspire all connected with
The CALL to future effort. 1t has been
The CALLS fortune often to disagree with
journals which have the interests of the
State at heart. 1t is not given to any to
see the exact course to pursue. and with
the best intentions men get into different
paths. But there has been a unanimous
verdict On the part of our interior contem-
poraries that The CALLS purposes have
been goOd-that it has worked to the best
of It's knowledge to promote the welfare of
the coast, the State and the city in which
1t is published. For these expressions of
confidence THE CALL returns its heartfelt
thanks.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-31
TRYING TO REVIVE AN OLD JOB.

The Stock Report is very anxious to
revive the old business of doing the city
printing for nothing and making lots Of
money out Of the apparently proftless
contract. 1t worked its game by taking a
small part OF the printing and calling 1t
city printing, while 1t charged fancy prices
LOT the remainder, which might be four
hlths OF the whole. Its eXactions had be-
come SO notorious and so oppressive that
even the last Board of Supervisors found
itself unable TO resist the pressure for
change. A new system was substituted by