davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12

this Sf6,000.000 expended by Mexico will
have no effectupon the domestic prosperity
of the country, brief consideration of its
present natural and commercial conditions
will be profita BILE. Mexico is high
plateau, having an average altitude of
5000 feet. Toward the sea on the east and
west the slope Is abrupt and rapid par
ticularly so on the west. The builders of
the railroads find construction more diff
cult and expensive in Mexico than in any
territory of equal extent Oh this hemi-
sphere. The difficulties of reaching the
harbors of the Pacific are almost insur-
mountabe. and so far only one railway
has succeeded in reaching deep water,
that terminating at Guaymas on the far
northwest coast MaZatlan and Acapulco
expect railroad communication with the
interior before long, but the hope IS de-
ferred and all but vanished owing TO the
natural obstacles which line must sur
mount in order to reach either of these
ports.
On the gulf Mexico has had no harbor
until lately. when by the completion of
the improvements at Tampico she has
been able to secure one which is safe and
secure. Until within few years the
whole foreign commerce of Mexico was
transacted through Vera Cruz, which is
an open roadstead, at all times hazardous
and In a climate never free from the deadly
the trans hipment of merchandise at Vera
Cruz has added greatly to the expense OF
import and export and has been a heavy ia X
upon both merchant and consumer. By the
construction of the splendid harbor at the
mouth Of the CoatZacoalcos the whole for
eign commerce of the country. excepting,
of course. that Of the railroads connecting
with the United States, will be trans ferred
to the new port. Vera Cruz Is doomed as
a seaport, and advices indicate an almost
complete transfer of its business to Coatza-
lcoalcos as soon as the Tehuan tepec route
is opened.
To connect with the Tehuaniepec Rail-
way three new lines are being constructed
One starts from the City OF Mexico, and
passing through Puebla and Oaxaca has
been completed to the latter city. An
other starts from Vera Cruz and runs
through the rich lowands of the coast
passing through Alvarado and terminates
at Co tzacoalcos. A third road begins at
Cordoba and ends at Minatltlan.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12

the fruits of the tropics flourish luxuri-
antly. Coffee grows in the rich soil in
splendid profusion, and produces crops
that even exceed those of Central Amer
lea. The climate in the high lands is
mid and salubrlous, and miasmatic feverS
are unknown.
For some miles from the ocean, on either
side. there is stretch of level land which
Is hlshly fertile. though not so healthy as
in the hills. On these lands sugar and
rice grow Justify and produce astonishing
crops with but little labor. Across these
plains the low hills are approached and
the grade gradually rises until the highest
point OF the road is reached at Mia Cone
Jos, which is less than 900 feet above the
sea level. The grades are easy along the
entire route, the steepest being but per
cent. The roads of standard gauge, and
VIII be equipped in the hnest manner with
such notifications necessltated by tropi-
cal climate as will best secure the comfort
OF travellers.
Thus Mexico has expended upward of
S16,O0o,0O0 in gold on the Tehuantepec
route, which included the ST 800 900 re-
funded to Learned and his coadjutOrs,
S13, 5O0.0 600 raised in London by Colonel
McMardo and the 81, 600. 600 raised in De-
cember last. AS the road is only 100 miles
In length, this would make the actual ex-
penditure a little below $4,000 per mile.
which included the cost of the pier at
Sallna Cruz and the Improvements at the
mouth of the Coatzacoalcos River.
For country so lacking In accumulated
wealth as Mexico the question naturally
arises, Will the benefits arising from the
building OF the road compensate for the
burden she has assumed ia order TO COM
plete it?
To those who are of the impression that
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12

the public prints. When the Prince is
travelling and any newspaper repre-
sentatives are attached TO his suite
he always makes it his own personal bust
ness to see that they are well looked after.
and many a scribe who would have had
hard times of it IL left to the tender mer-
cies of others has sung "God bless the
Prince of Wales" "Tummy." as some of
the court set nickname the Prince, posi-
bly, owing to the prouberance of the front
side of his body, Is merry little soul. and
likes to make everybody happy around
him and to have good time generally.
An interview is a thing that he doesn'G
care about but he is an omnivorous news
PAPER reader. and delights in giving inside
information away ION the quiet" Much
that is interesting in regard 10 the inner
circle of English and German court life,
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12

new lot of stamps were printed, and
quantity of stamped envelopes were also
impressed with the bicycle mail frank.
These stamps and envelopes were placed
on sale in all the principal places of bust
ness In Fresno. and a quantity was also
sent to the San Francisco office and to all
the way points. The stamps were sold for
25 cents each and the envelopes for 80
cents.
Of the $50 letters transmitted over the
bicycle mail route o5 bnre no frank. ak
we're franked with adhesive stamps and
only about 40 were in franked envelopes.
The adhesive franks were printed in green
on gummed paper, and the envelope frank
was printed in brown. Used specimens
OF these are already commanding high
premium, as high as So being asked Tor
the used adhesive. while the used envelope
will probably bring from So to SO each.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12
tances to The principal ports of the world
via Tehuantepec. Panama and Cape Horn

tapces to the principal ports of the world
via Tehuantepec. Panama and Cape Horn
will show:
San Francisco to New York via Cape Horn 49,
san Francisco to New York via Panama 6O57
miles, 1852 more than by Tehuantepec.
San Francisco to New York via Tehuantepec
1905 miles.
san Francisco to New Orleans via Cape Horn
l6, ZOO miles, ,424 more than by Tehuantepec,
san Francisc to New Orleans via Panama ga 2
miles, 1886 more than by Tehuantepec.
San Francisco to New orleans via Fehuantepec
1876 miles.
$40 miles, 6S49 more than by Tehuantepec.
San Francisco to Liverpool via Panama 81 81
miles. SS7 more than by Tehuantepec
san francisco TO Liverpool via Tehuantepee
1857 miles.
1t will be seen from the above the great
advantage of the Tehuantepec route over
the others now open to rafilc.
That the opening of the Tehuantepec
Railway will have an immediate and bene-
fetal effect upon the commerce of this
city there can be no doubt. Ii will be
recolected that President DiaZ. In re-
Spouse to communication from the San
Francisco Chamber of Commerce, dis
tinctly gave the assurance that the Te-
huantepec route should not be tran sferred
10 any of the existing transcOntlnenta!
lines. but remain an open competitive line.
free in its benefits to all.
A. K. Coney, Consul-General of Mexico
in this city, states that steamship COM
paDy has been organized in Mexico with
ample capital which has determined as
soon as the Tehuantepee route is open to
establish line of steamers which are to
run on the Pacific side from San Fran
cisco along the coast of Mexico and con-
Meeting with all the ports of Central
America, and on tie gulf side another line
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12
A UNIQUE FRANK.

Among the many advantages claimed by
collectors of indulging in the collection Of
stamps is the incentive to geographical
and historical research or the refreshing
of the memory in these branches. There
are but few countries that do not seek to
record in the design of some at least of
their postage stamps important events in
their history. This is not necessarily done
with any preconeeived idea of making the
stamps useful for future historical refer
ence. but rather to make the designs of the
stamps appropriate to the period of their
issue. La this way quite number OF most
interesting issues have been born.
Among the most interesting of these
silent yet eloquent curiosities is what is
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12

known as the balloon stamp of France.
which was the child of most dire and
fearful period. During the Franeo-Ger-
man war Paris was so thoroughly invested
by the invading army that all ordinary
means of communication were absolutely
cut off, In this extremity the postal au-
thorities resorted to the balloons, which
were used for military purposes. to dis
to avail themselves of this novel service
were charged fee considerably higher
than the ordinary postage rates. and were
provided with special envelopes for the
conveyance of their communications
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12


The Duke of Connaught grunge Ar
thur is one of the best of the Engilsn
family. He married to please himself, 10
spite of his royal mamma's, dlsapprooas
ton. AS sequence be has proViaed
her with the best daughter-ln-law IN tne
bunch. as the old lady has long ago come
to realize. In 1888 l went out IN the
steamship Cathay to Bombay VIII the
Duke and Duchess of Connaught. when
he went to assume the military command
at Meerat. Two more agreeable feIlow-
passengers never sailed with. Inc Duke
is not particularly brilliant, but his VIE
makes up for him In that respect. On
voyage of sixteen DAYS from Brlndlsi 10
Bombay by studying Hindostanee Tor -FOUR
hours a day she picked up enough to De
able to direct native servants on her ar.
rival in India. However, the subject OF
this paper relates to interviews. AT tnat
time / did not 'iniervew" the Duke, put
/ wrote nearly all the press dispatches
connected with his voyage to India ana
reception in Bombay and elsewhere.
Some years later tried to interview MIN
in London on the subject of his command
in Iudia, hut failed signally because he
had nothing to say. He is far from com
municative, but very good-natured. his
wife has more brains in her little finger
than there is in the Uranium Of her lord
and master. WALTER RoBERIS'
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12


ranks in opposition 10 he Irish policy of
Mr.. Gladstone. Lord Randolph has al
ways been the most unreliable of mortals,
disappointing alike to friend and foe.
When some twelve years ago Lord RAN
dolph Churchill was looked upon as the
coming man upon the Conservative side
in English politics, and that political sec
etion was almost unanimous that in the new
Rupert of debate" ii had found fitting
successor to the great Disraeli. it was an
n0unced that the noble lord would address
his constituents in South PaddingloD,
suburb of London. [ went 10 interview
Lord Randolph on the subject on the day
preceding his address and he was good
enough tos give me an interview that ex-
tended TO about three columns Many of
the passages he dictated TO me himself and
/ returned in triumph TO the paper ] repre-
sented, taking my sheaves with me-"
Next mornings paper contained my inter
view and the same issue also contained an
account of large meeting held somewhere
in the country, where the principal speaker
had given utteranee to views almost iden-
rlcal with those of Lord Randolph. An
editorial ON the interview and the reported
s0eeeb pointed out how little divergence
there was in the views Of the parties,
though each belonged to a different sec
lion In politics-Lord Randolph was
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12
How far from thee

How far from thee
Fate or caprice may lead his feet,
Ere that tomorrow comes? Men have been
known
To lightly turn the corner of the street.
And days have grown
To months and months to tagging years
Before they looked in loving eyes again.
Parting at best is underlaid with tears
With tears aud pain.
Therefore, lest sudden death should come be-
tween,
B Or time or distance, clasp with treasure true
The hand of him who goeth forth, unseen
Faith goeth too.
Yea. friend, thou hast always time TO say
some earnest word between the idle talk,
Lest with the henceforth, night and day,
Regret should walk.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12
MAKES PETS OF RATS.

Strange and Gruesome Fad of an Old
Woman.
Mrs. Levan is an old woman who lives
on Larkin street, near Turk, and whose
existence is puzzle to her neighbors. She
always pleads poverty, yet her larder is
always full. She goes about In rags and
has trunk full of silks and satins.
She is about 70 years of age, but has the
strength of much younger person, and
can talk for hours at time. She tells
more stories of the way she gets her living
than can be counted. One day she will
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12

whose business it is
TO head off De wspaper
men. The Prince is
very comm uDicative
and one OF the most
sffa bic men in Eng
land. On guest nights
at the Savage Club
in London he is a
welcome guest, but
what transpires there
may not If course
find its waV into
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12

her voice alone not sufficient for any
one woman her Conversational powers
would make her the most delightful of
hostesses. She was a Miss Nellie Mitchell
of Melbourne, Australia, where her
father is railway contractor. Later she
married an ErgIishman, Captain Arm
strong with whom she lived unhappily
She left him and went to Paris, where she
studied under Nine. Marchesi, making her
first appearance in grand opera in Brus-
sells about 1888. She was at once success.
She has one little boy, to whom she is
passionately attached. The last time I
saw Nine. Melba (by the way she takes
her stage name from Melbourne, her ma
tive city, was in London at the time
when miserable scandal broke out about
her and the young Due d'Orleans, or the
STAT boy of Orleans" as he is more COM
monty called. / went to see Nine. Media
with a view of putting her version of the
story before the world. / found her in
tears.
"What's the good of saying anything?"
she said. "Of course it's tbs old story
over again-a prince and prima donna
and no one will ever believe anything else.
Why, he's a mere boy-a spoiled child.
OF course, when he came to hear me sing
and took boxes and sent me flowers and
all that sort of thing. | was quite pleased.
It was business. But / never dreamed
that people would be so ill-natured as to
believe anything wicked of me" and those
who know her don't.
If any one can get access 10 him by any
chance the Prince of Wales is good man
to interview but be is usually guarded bv
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12

Lord Rosebery is an ideal subject for
an interview. he always speaks to the
point and is perfectly frank, SO far
as he wishes to be so. The doesn't wish TO
say anything about thing he will quietly
decline TO do so, and then wild horses
couldn't drag him from the position he
has taken up. AS to his prudence and
cOmmon-sense this fact may be cited.
When he was in Australia what is known
as the earlier period of the boom was at
its height. Lord Rosebery made very large
investments then in Australia for himself
and the Rothschilds. of which family his
late wife was a member Of all Lord
Rosebery's Australian investments not one
has turned out badly, which is a record
that but few English investors in Aus
tralian securities can show.
Imperial federation is about the only
political opinion that LORD Rosebery has
which even the most conservative iudivid-
ual could denounce as a lad" Speaking
from recollection of my last interview
with Lord Rosebery, think he said some
thing like this: "Over a century ago the
United States broke off their allegiance
and set up a separate government. That
was the first great Acknowledgement of the
empire. 1t came about because we in
sisted in establishing in that country our
own views of law and order in defiance Of
those Of the American people. lt can
scarcely be doubted but that If you could
set Ireland afloat al this moment and nayi-
gate her across the Atlantic until she
reached America, within ten, years she
would be as prosperous as any State IN the
Union"
Lord Rosebery dislikes being inter
viewed and prefers to dictate what he has
to say to a shorthand writer. If asked
for an interview he usually adopts this
course. When president of the London
County Council some years ago Lord Rose
berry was brought constantly in contact
with newspaper men of all sorts and condi.
tons, and was we'll liked by all of them.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12

shopping. while in
many cases the man
regards an interview
much in the same
light as he would a
visit to a dentists.
I have interviewed
Nine. Melba repeat
eddy. and she is
charming. One can
always fin d some
thing fresh TO write
about her; and were
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12

used to call him. was
in the hal Dit of iesr-
ing and jibing at the
sturdy Quakerism and
"Deaee at any price"
of John Bright. For
some years before the
death of the latter,
no viewer. Lord RAN
doIph was a devoted
admirer of Mr.. Bright
when they fought as
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12
SOME NOTED PERSONS.
Personal Characteristics Told by an interviewer.

then the leader of what was known
as the Fourth party. That evening Lord
Randolph spoke in South Paddlngton. and
made an almost entire change in the pro-
gramme he had put forward at the inter-
view. His vanity was hurt by any one
fOrestalling him, and as a consequence
politics. principles or anything else could
go by the board so long as his lordship
maintained his reputation as free lance
and could PROFOUND something novel and
original to his auditors. If hiso DRY de-
scrbes the first Duke OF Marlborough cor
rectly. as being a man that dldn't care
who suffered so long as he came out on
top, then his descendant of the present
date is not unlike the first Duke.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12

1t Is said that as early as 1860 Dr. Clay
ton distilled coal in a retort and produced
gas. which he confined in bladders, and
was accustomed to amuse his friends by
burning this gas as it issued from hos in
the bladder pricked with pin. This was
$50 years before gas lamps.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12


keep back from the bank of the river
or l would brighten the fish. l waited
for some time, and eventually Mr..
Bright hooked and landed nice little sea-
trout OF about two pounds weight, which
gave some lively play. | then Introduced
myself and stated my errand. The great
Tribune of the people, as he was then
called, was as direct in his response as Mr..
Gladstone had been the reverse. In few
short sentences of the most forcible and
emphatic English he pointed out that Eng
lana had nothing to do with Egypt, and
that the alarmiss newspapers of the day
were the fountain head of the eXis ting dis
quiet "Don't misTeport me-" said Mr..
Bright, 'but be careful to say that these
are my individual views, and not
an expression of opinion upon the part
of the Cabinet" Ii was some considera-
BILE time later that Mr.. Bright left Mr.
GiadstOne's Ministry after announcing in
the House of Commons that he retired be-
cause he differed from his colleagues on
their olicy in Egypt, which led to the
bonn bardment OF Alexandria. ID talking
with Mr.. Bright the deliberation and clear
ness of his manner in speaking was re-
markahle, and it was fact that has often
Q been commented upon. that he never used
a word of three syllables where word of
two syllabes would serve the same pur-
pose. Where word Of Saxon origin
would express what he wanted Mr.. Bright
. was seldom known to use synonym of
Latin derivation. The same has been re-
marked in many great masters OF English
oratory..
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12
COUNSEL.

II thou shoudsJ bid thy friend farewell
But for one night th ough that farewell may pc
Press thou his palmwirh thine. How canst thou
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12


about was New Gale
donia and some pro-
posed changes in the
penal esta Bills hment
there which affected
the welfare of the
Eastern seaboard of
Australia. On my ar
rival at tho Elysees |
found NJ. earn OF busy
at work with a bun
die of papers. He
a l.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12


any similarity. What
strikes On e most
about Lord Rosebery
is his "solldity." By
this [ do not mean
stupidity. | inter-
viewed Lord Rose
berry once in Aus
tTalia, many years
ago, and again in Lon
don more recently up
on the subject of i'm
Derial federation.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12


the paper laughed at me and told me
that the task was hopeless, but finally
he agreed to pay me 100 gulneas II L
breught back an authentic interview In
WHICH the right honorable gentleman
could be quoted as expressing any pro"
bounced views relating TO the Egyptian
question.
: made nv way with all speed to the
North of Scotland and quartered myself
in a small inn about mile distant from
the beautiful castle where Mr.. Gladstone,
Mr.. John Bright and half a dozen other
shining lights of the Liberal party, with
= the ladies of their respective parties, we're
staying.
Knowing Mr.. Gladstone to be an early
riser, l was afoot betimes and found the
old gentleman taking his morning constl-
tutional along the banks of the river, one
of the grandest in Scotland. he was
dressed in light gray clothes and wore
soft felt hat, and had large bunch OF
flowers in his buttonhOle-uO doubt placed
there. by the good lady who has been his
faithful life-partner for more than half
century. l lifted my hat and, advancing,
introduced myself TO Mr.. Gladstone.
Knowing his proFerbiSl kindness to young
men, pointed cut to him what feather
in my cap it would be if he cared to tell
me anything about Egyptian matters for
publication. "Well, Well see. we'll see.
SdlQ the O3Q ReHu6DduI duu no oIuhcu
that benevolent smile that in the House
of Commons has often nearly driven
his political antagonists mad. accompa-
MED Mr.. Gladstone along the river bank
and then through the gardens Ofthe castle,
and he talked the whole time, but not one
word about Egypt. He explained to me
some portions of the history of Scotland
in a way which had never before heard
propOunded; he drew a parallel between
Wales and ancient Greece; he sucked my
brains dry OF all the latest gossip and news
of the London newspapers and literary
clubs, and then he very ciVilly wished me
good morning, telling me that l should
find Mr.. John Bright fishing lower down
the river. and that might find it interest
ing to talk with him. Mr.. Gladstone stood
me off so cOurteously and completely that
couldn't help laughing after l left him,
though I felt sore at making 1200-mile
journey for nothing. Twice since then
l have tried to interview Mr.. Gladstane,
and on each occasion my experience has
been similar to the first.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12

Between Lord Randolph Churchill aud
Lord Rosebery. the Premier of England.
there is only about a couple of years. differ
ence in ace. but In no other respect is there
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12
In Love at Last.

Mother-We must make some inquiries about
the young man who Is calling on Clara.
falner-We have inquired about forty dit-
leient young men, nd that's all the good II ola.
sooner or later she gives them the mitten.
Sne Is IN earnest about this one."
"Think SOP"
know it. When they start out for moon
iignt walk she directs their steps uptown
toward the park instead OF downtown toward
the leecream saloons."-New York Weekly.
The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12

as it appears IN London Truth. is said to Dc
given by the Prince OF wales cohnuen-