davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call., 1893-05-15
oRGAS-eRINDER Makes THE CHILDREN mEnnr

clapped their small. dirty hands. and
danced while / ground out 'Dem Golden
Slippers" And not only their hands were
dirty, hut their faces as well. and their
clothes were untidy, to say the least.
But my own clothes were no better.
They were old and greasy-as an organ
grinders should be. 1 wore a derby hat,
but it was very ancient, and the rband
had gloss on it that time alone could pro-
duce.
The broad. greasy straps that held the
organ about me almost hid the blue flannel
shirt that was collarless.
Coat, vest and trousers were hardly of a
fashionable cut or fit. but they kept me
warm. No organ-grinder's clothes do more
than that.
The bushy side whiskers and mustache
that l wore for the occasion fitted tight to
the face, as whiskers always should.
The shoes that l wore were roomy. but
one of them had the disadvantage of hav-
ing been made for a real organ-gr nder. 1t
had very heavy sole, perhaps two inches
thick. and was built more like caisson or
washtub than a custom-made shoe. Still
il was roomy and protecting.
rad COED hand-organ, just big enough
to carry On the back if one walks slowly
and makes the steps long enough to re-
cover the wind. And there was a pretty
red and green picture in front depicting
the battle of Waterloo with Napoleon on
his horse in the foreground. l found the
children were hugely pleased with it.
[ walked along Dupont street until /
came to FIlbert. | turned down Fnbert, on
the sunny side. for it was still early in the
day, till reached Stockton street.
Opposite the plaza. in front OF row of
bow window houses, made the first halt.
A girl with red skirt and white waist at
the second-story window was the first to
spy me out.
Before had the peg adjusted under the
band organ she had raised the window
and was waiting for the music. When the
first few notes were sounded the children
came from all quarters, and the mothers
over in the plaza giving their babies a sun
ming made all haste TO where | stood grind
ing.
In the crowd of children one or two were
we'll dressed and clean. The others fra
ternzed with me closer, for they recog-
nized in the poor old organ grinder, with
his greasy and ill-fitting clothes, one of
their own kind.
They crowded around me closely. The
toes stuck out of their shoes and there
were openings at the knees of their stock
ings. But they harmonized well with the
raggedy old organ grinder. and the whole
picture was harmonious.
\ man aud boy stopped after they had
passed ME by, and they stood there, en-
tranced by the melody from my old organ.
The boy had tin can in his hand and the
man was in his shirt sleeves with loaf of
The morning call., 1893-05-15
Ill.

The last bar of the last tune in my
organs repertoire was fading away when
tred-looking mother, carrying one child
and leading another, came across the
street to where | stood.
She was dressed in black Her cheeks
were drawn, aid there were black hollows
under each eye. Both babies were cross
and peevish. The woman was worn out.
The youngsters frightened up when they
saw the organ grinder. They had no
niekels. and Il grinder who had his lv-
ing TO make from the tunes of his barrel
would have gone ON and left them. I
could afford to be compassionate. l turned
the screw that set off Golden Slippers"
and began the repertoire over again.
The oldest baby joined in the infantiIe
crowd around me, and was soon as merry
and sparkling as the rest. Soon the baby
in-arms began 10 crow and chuckle, and
before the entertainment was over even
the tired. worn mother was smiling.
As turned TO go for the last time a big
The morning call., 1893-05-15

After this month no permits will be
given to organ-grinIe In this city. The
hand-orGnn will be ruled out entirely.
This is the result of an agitation among
the upper classes.
How will it affect the lower classes, who
depend for their music upon the street.
organ man?
in order to get at the situation and learn
just how strong hold the hand-organ
has on the poor, Cal" reporter
dressed himself up IiISe an Italian organ
grinder and, taking hired organ, went
forth on the Barbary Coast. The result
of his observations is given below.
All day long l wandered about the Bar
barry Coast bearing heavy load on my
back and with right shoe so deformed
that every step was tiresome.
l limped as l walked, and l went along
very slowly.
Frequently L halted. took down the
burden from my back. adjusted the wooden
leg under it and turned the crank at the
side of it.
Then the children gath cred about me.
They came out Of the tenement-hOuses,
out of the doorways and alleywavs. they
deserted their play in the street and ran
to ME in h0rdes.
Most OF them were little todders, too
small for school and not strong enough yet
for the workshop; young street Arabs, all
OF them.
"Oh. here's the organ-grinder," they
cried. as they ran toward me. They
The morning call., 1893-05-15

There were four tunes In my organ, but
the one l ground on most was Dem
Golden Slippers" THE Star SpangIed
Banner" Sweet Belle Mahone." and "Be
Good to Your Mother, Boy" were all
quite popular. l found, but the lveliness
of the old negro ballad seemed to catch on
best.
l went up to the other end of the square
presently, for l found business very dull
here. Though the crowd was ample there
was not a single coin placed in the little
tin cup that l kept on top of the organ.
Mexican woman, with baby in one
arm and a two-year-0lder hanging to her
white apron, sat on the coping of the plaza
where | stopped to play next. Beside her sat
tall, well-built, swarthy fellow. with a
long scratch on one cheek. They were
talking and smiling and Sinking after a
fashion, and l took them for lovers,
When had played couple of tunes he
gave The little girl nickel to place in the
tin cup. l had to hold the cup down for
her.
l sad "Tanka." and looked toward the
lnvers. making a very low obeissance, which
they never saw. They were too ensrossed
in one another to notice third person,
The morning call., 1893-05-15
RECIPE FOR LONG LIFE.
Fantastic Formula of a Thirteenth
Century AIcl1emist,

Arnold de Villeneuve was celebrate ted
alchemist of the thirteenth century, and,
according to common report, he made vast
quantities of gold from copper and lead.
His reputation Is mainly due to his fantas-
tic recipe for the prolongation of life.
1.-The individual DESTROYS of long life, 4"
he says, must rub himself thoroughly
twice or thrice a week with the marrow of
cassia Every night before going to bed
he must put over his heart plaster CON-
posed Of certain quantity of Oriental
saffron, red rose leaves, sandal wood. aloes
and amber liQuefied in oil of roses and the
best white wax.
This may be removed in the morning
and kept during the day in leaden box.
Let him take and place in court
where the air and water are pure, sixteen
chickens, IL he be of a SanEuine tempera-
ment; twenty-five If phlegmatic and thirty
II melancholy.
upon these he is TO feed, eating one a
day; but they are first to be fastened in
such manner as to lmpregnate their flesh
with the qualities which viii ensure Ion
gevity to- the eater.
Being kept without food until they are
almost starved, they are to be fed upon a
broth made OF ser pcnts and vinegar, thick
ened with wheat aud bran.
when they have been dieted on this
gruesome mixture for two months they
may be served mp at table and digested
with the assistance OF a moderate guam
tity of good white wine or claret. Who
ever follows this regimen every seven
years may attain longevity almost equal
to that OF the Wandering jew"
SUCCESS breeds success. Whites Yucatan Gum
fs 81 n
The morning call., 1893-05-15
"

had poor luck on Filbert street. No
nickels at all fell into the tin cup. and the
crowds of children were much smaller. It
was about the same with Lombard street.
L had been out nearly three hours now and
only 10 cents had come my way. thought
OF some of those stories l had heard about
organ grinders accommodating vast wealth
and storing it away under the bed. Well.
1t wasn't going to be my luck to accumu-
late any vast wealth; could have seen
that had been blind as we'll as crippled.
Many people pitied me as l passed by
them. L could tell it by the glances they
cast at me. and some of them said enc to
the other. - Poor old man." but they held
on TO their nickels. having few enough to
buy food and clothing for the myriads of
swarming children that are seen on every
hynd in these neighb0rhoods.
well, turned off Lombard street on to
Dupont. l had fair-sized audience here
A boy and white-and- tan dog came first
Presently two little girls not more than
three and four years old came up timidly
with arms around each others waists.
Others came. Soon / was again the CEN
ter of an admlring infantle throng that
laughed and danced about the old organ
with innocent glee and joyousuess.
1t was bright, sunny morning, and the
wide-open eyes of the ragged little tots
glistened and sparkled like miniature sate-
lites OF parent sun.
If one could judge the whole world by
these CHEEKY faces and dancing feet one
could say truthfully there were no trouble
nor care in it.
There was languorous laziness In the
air, so that A!catraz Island in the distance
looked misty and very far away. Save for
the children and an occasional peddIer the
streets were almost deserted. The bells of
the cable-cars on Union street sounded
very far off The strains from the old or
gan sounded sweeter than the choicest
melodies in the concert halls. There was
dreanliness and peacefulness about things
that brought UP before one the scenes of
childhood.
Simplicity and infantlle cheerfulness
The morning call., 1893-05-15


1lU FIRST GHditOr.o
fellow in blue coat ana brass buttons.
with nickei star ever his left breast +.
pushed his way through the little ,rowd.
and wanted to know by what right I vas
blockading the street.
Il hava de license" l cried, in the best
Italian brcgue | could command.
No. you hain't." he said. 81 know
every licensed oeggar on this beat"
II no beg; playa de organ" 1 said
Indignantly, and then, to avoid arrest. /
showed him the license collectors so. K. 4"
That's no good" he said, and, indeed.
the papers were little Irregular, since |
had no regular license form to show.
Then in plain English I asked him to
glance over the signature again, and while
he was doing it managed TO give him A
very large wink, accompanied by two
words THE CALL"
had no further trouble and passed on
up the hill. l walked on the shady side
now. for the sun was getting high and the
barrel organ heavier. When | took it
away from dingy little garnet on Sonora
place it weighed about twenty pounds.
Now it weighed full ton, and before
evening it was destined to become so heavy
that had to put il on wagon and have
it carried home.
The morning call., 1893-05-15

dirty hands joyously, and had l been a
simon-pure mendIcant depending upon the
receipts of that tin cup for my meals and
lodgings l could not have been angry at an
incident which made my infant auditors SO
merry.
The morning call., 1893-05-15

relHnea supreme over that Quiet scene
All the fierce hustle and struggle of n
mighty city seemed miles away
Here was sunlight, calmness, joy. pleasant
memories of bright hours. Could the
spell have lasted l should have been
grinding out those harsh tunes that
seemed so sweet even 10 this moment.
But 1t could not last. Such things never
do.
Mamie" cried harsh voice.
one of my little jewellers flew away to
"here very stout woman was bending
over the railing of high front stoop.
Here, give him thls," she said.
Into Nantes little hand fell something
pihh' 1t was a nickel, wrapped up well
In tissue paper so that Mamie would not
lose IL II she failed to catch it when it fell.
She dropped the coin into nv tin cup.
SAID Ianka" and grinned through the
false whiskers.
just then man turned the corner and
IFeleu INTO the narrow street toward US.
ne reached the house opposite to me and
theh Tell sprawling on the steps. Now
lnlh woman, with many lines on her
young lace, with hair and eyes as black
rs coal ana voice that was piercing.
came down the front steps, and tried to
rouse the drunken sleeper by cursing and
kicking him.
v.
went ON down tbs street, turning nv
PACK on the scene as soon as l could, and
trying to get as many of the children as
would to follow me. Most of them came
tlippihS alter me. and some of the bolder
boys caught me by the coat.
Nhen we turned the corner into Chest
nut street crowd OF school children met
U.s. we had more music, or what was
iiiusic 10 them, and some of the school
CuiluLeh loltered about for a few minutes.
Dut they mad to be home for dinner. The
chHuren OF the poor dine at noon, you
know, when they dine at all.
ana the organ grinder himself dlned
carry mat day in modest little restaurant
where the patrons were not too particular
10 eat at the same table with a raggedy
old organ-grinder.
Alter dinner | wandered along Chestnut
street. where the houses are little more
pretentious than those of Dupont street
ana the children little cleaner and better
dressed, but not bit happier.
stopped 10 grind out some times in
front OF an entrance to a beer garden.
The bartender, in shirt sleeves, came and
stood at the entrance to listen.
Presently the bottled-beer delivery
wagon drove up and some boxes and bottles
were carried inside. When all the beer
was delivered the driver opened a bottle
and poured out glass of the foamiug
beverage for me.
1t was hot and dusty now and the trade
winds were blowing 1 did not refuse the
kindness and when l returned the empty
glass be filled it again and again passed it
o me.
The bartender went inside. When lie
reappeared at the gate he called to one of
the boys and gave him dime to drop into
the ergan-grinder's tin cup.
This vas good start for the afternoons
work, and out Of gratitude for the beer
and the coin l ground out two full repor-
torres in front of that entrance to the beer
garden.
The morning call., 1893-05-15

have now FIVE good nickels, one ten
cent piece and bad nickel.
They will be donated to the first charit-
able society which takes the trouble to
call for it. And if none call for it by the
time these lines are printed Will put it in
the first tin cup of the first orgau-grinder
/ meet in the streets.
1t will swell his hoard and increase his
vast stores of hidden wealth that he has
accumulated by grinding out antique tunes
on a hand-organ. LUKE NORTH.
The morning call., 1893-05-15


In Pfeiffer alley. at the north side of the
medical college. found another very up-
preeatiye audience. All the women in the
block came outside as soon as 1 began
playing They sat on the front steps or
on the eurbstoue and listened very at
tentively. a score OF little tots at the
farther end of the alley stopped their play
at once and came down to dance and laugh
in circle around me.
Three medical students who came down
the narrow thorOughfare with books under
their arms, stopped while and listened 10
the organ-grinder's tunes
There was as much to see as to hear fer
one with soul to appreciate such homely
though uncommon scenes IN big city.
Here was every inhabtant in the street
turned oul TO hear the organ-grlnder, and
every one Of them seemed to enjoy it as
highly as ever a tirs.-uight audience en-
joyed Thomas symphony. or the ladies of
New Y ork n Paderewski rehearsal. True.
only the infantile portion of my audience
showed its appreciation in demon trative
way, but four nckels jingled in the tin cup
when the entertainment was over, and
during its progress the elder auditors list
ened very attentiyely.
l found that one OF those four nickels
was bad. but I prefer to think that the
donor did not know that 1t looked all
right, but when jingled on the stones had
dull, heavy sound.
And those uncommon homeIy scenes are
getting more uncommon. Organ-griuders
are a scarcity now in this city. By aud by
there will be none at all, ii the present
stringent regulations are upheld.
A license fee of $40 quarter must now
be paid for the privilege of grinding a
hand-organ, and one cannot procure a
license until a permit has been granted by
the Mayor. And the Mayor will not grant
the permits to sble-bodied men.
After this month no permits for hand
organs will be given at all. Then the
hand-organ will be ruled out entirely.
What will the dirty-faced street Arabs do
thens
Music will be an unknown quantity to
their ears then.
The Italian citizens themselves are the
greatest enemies to tie orRan-grinders.
They have asked that the nuisance" be
abated.
Well, it may be nuisance to some peo-
pie. Where played yesterday the women
and children did not consider it such.
The remuneration was not large. but the
work had its compensation in the joy it
gave the babes, and their joy is contagious.
You cannot be near it without catching it
and sharing it with them.
The morning call., 1893-05-15
FURNITURE WANTED.

HIGHEST PRICE PAID FOR NEW AND SEC
Ii ond-baud furniture by ID j. QUlRk. general
aUctiOneer 12b Fifth, mr.. Mission; send postai6 u
4 EO. Z. LAMSoN WILL BUY YOUR FURNI-
" ture; fuil cash value RIM l. 425 Kearny.a4 6m
DIASOs, FUENIz URE. CARPETS. RANGES
j bought, cash. Call or postal. 962 Howard. II ly
NEWMAN BROS. III SIXTH ST, BUY YOUR
IN secondhand furniture. etc. for cash I2m
MCCABE, 125 FOURTH. PAYS THE HIGHEST
w price for furniture, stoves ranges carpets. l
A UCTIONEER - WILLIAM BUTTERFIELD,
~ 332 Montgomery (Safe Deposit B.dg) cor
California 30 years In the business, buys sells
rents furnished houses. u
u UTTERFIELD. FRANK w, AUCTIoNEER.l
~ Montgomery, buys large and small lots. "a tt
FURNITURE WANTED-EVERYB BODY SELLS
4 their secondhand furniture at the Pavilion
Auction House.3l9 and 32l Suffer, mr. Grant deStf
A LARGE QUANTITY SECONDHAND FUR
II niture wanted; 20 per CT paid more than else
where. MALONE, 10 Fourth; new store m2o II
Rf }. SIMMONS & Co. AUCTIoNEERs, WILL
W buy your furniture, pianos and books. 1857
Market St ans If
The morning call., 1893-05-15

bread and pie under his arm. But they
stood watching me till the very last tune
was ground out and l had shouldered nv
burden and trudged along.
The morning call., 1893-05-15

SUCCESS breeds success. Whites Yucatan Gum
is the rurest and best of its kina; hence its popu
lIrity.
The morning call., 1893-05-15

l.
p etc; stored at Sterling Furniture Company,
1853 Market ST. Call bet and O'Clock myl5 g
TOR SALE-NEARLY NEW AND IN GOOD
Il order; bedroom and kitchen outfit; completes;
very cheap. s05 fifteenth st. myl4 3t*
L UR%ITuRE OF ROOMS; ALMOST NEW,
! cheap l6OS12 stevenson St, mr. 18TH. 13 -
I GRAM SELLS CHEAPEST q BEST PAR
u parIor sets $50 Harrison: upholsiering ON
M WEEKLY PAYMENTS, OR FOR CASH
" houses fuin ished complete: Brussels carpet,
60c and laid. SHREK. l3lO-13lz Stockton. myS If
econ CHANCE-YoUR HOUSE FURNISHED
" complete with furniture. carpets, stoves,
tans. blankets pictures and mirrors at cash prices,
Oh easy installments; small deposit. NJ. FRIED
MAN q CO. largest instalment house on the coast,
224. 22S, 231 ana 306 stockton ST., 237 Post: open
even prompt attention lid 70 country orders.
IA LEY BROS. 93l MISSIoN-FURNITURE
W carpets. stoves cheap; cash instalmts. mob iy
NOTICE. AN NOW AT 1875 FOURTH (NEW
IN building, and offer large stock OF general
household furniture at reduced prices 800 carpets
good new; stoves, SO; antique chamber suits,
Sl5 paror suits. $s5; cash or instalmeats; all at
bedrock prices. 7. II. Me- son, 1875 fourth st altf
The morning call., 1893-05-15
LoDGING HOUSES FOR SALE.


81 SINTH-HOUSE 10 ROOMS; ALI FULL;
Il sl75; rent S27: fine chance. my15 81
The morning call., 1893-05-15

$3.50 ness that has yefssed for 500
monthly (and cost me hundreds to establ!sh) de-
sire steady man rs partner; applicant please give
references. they Will be inquired inro before
any steps taken. Address l. ", box 1914, Call
Branch Once niyS II
II ONE RESTAURANT: GOOD CHANCE FOR
/ man End wiz Innnire thie offce ap2n Inn
The morning call., 1893-05-15

LOR SALE CHEAP-RESTAURAST AND 8
furnished rooms. next door sealing and
whaling headquarters; established so years;
must sell. y Clay ST. myq it,
The morning call., 1893-05-15

I'OR SALF-QLD AND WELL-ESrABLiSHE
4 paint and pauer store: doing general painting
and paper-hauging bus mess; viii sell horse wagon
ana buggy. stock. fixtures and tools, in part
whole, - bargain. 1881 Polk st myl0 It's
The morning call., 1893-05-15

TOR SALE-OLD ESTABLISHED BUSINESS
! in hay, grain. wood and coal with frontage of
10 feet on of best business the city.
together with horses 3 wagons, harness and an
implements for Carrying on large and extensive
business; containing rs stalls which more than
covers the rent; long lease; terms reasonable
Apply ] 621 Folsom u
The morning call., 1893-05-15

Any STOCK upon which this assessment shall re-
main unpaid the second (2d) day of June,
1893. will te delinquent aud advertised for sale
at pubic auction; aud unless payment is made be
fore viii be sold on FRIDAY, the twenty third
(23d) day OF June, 1893, to pay the delinquent
assessms nt together with OF advertising aud
expenses Of sale. BY order OF tina Board OF Direc-
tors. GEORGE ID. EDWARDS. Secretary
Onioe-No. 4l4 California street San Francesca
California. ap30 to
The morning call., 1893-05-15

I GRAM SELLS CHEAPEST q BEST PAR
IL plrIor sets. $50 Harrison: upholstering. ON
The morning call., 1893-05-15
CARPET CLEANING.

CARPETs-sMITHs BRUSSELS. 65c A YARD
y NJ. FRIEDMAN d Co, 224-228- 23O and 3O6
stockton, aud 237 Post St. omen evenings. / II
The morning call., 1893-05-15

M WEEKLY PAYMENTS, OR FOR CASH,
" houses fui nished complete: Brussels carpet,
soc and laid. SHREK. l3lO-l3lz Stockton. mySt If
The morning call., 1893-05-15

&D5G FiRST-CLASS RESTAURANT: GEN
49, uine bargain; investigate. 1850 Mar
hek my q
The morning call., 1893-05-15

zoo SECuN D-HAND CARPETS; ALL SIZES
OtV aud shapes; tapestry and body Brussels: rs
good as new: very cheap. j. NOONAN, lOl7-l023
NJ ssou ST., above S.xth, mrl6 tt
The morning call., 1893-05-15

CAFE, SCALE, LETTER PRESS, STORE
y truck and money TIA; cheap. 1902 Clay au7 tt
CECoND- BOILERS. ENGINES. PUMPS
- shaftinE, puueys, betting, waterppes exc.
de4 u MONT NSH a MOLEMAN. ~ EeaIe ST.
The morning call., 1893-05-15

4 OR SMALL FARMS AND LITTLE HOMES
see d. II. IWlNG, SOuoma City, Cal. Er7 IT
CONOMA COUNTY LANDS: SMALL AND
> large ranches. List, ANDREW PRICE, Heads
burg. 25t
/ ONERNMENT NpS-PERFECTI.Y LEVEL,
" rich SOL. in fine valley, railroad. Ia Caifor-
MIA; employment at good wages near by; fuel and
water plentiful; many settlers some fine farms
there now. Sead 1 cents Tor information to f. w.
LAKE, Hood building. San Francisco. uagO n