davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call., 1894-02-04

charge, my brave boy" said my father !;
and Warwick with drawn sword leaped
upon the top OF one of the sawlOgs sur
rounding the mill. With the words half
way out of his mouth and sword in air, he
was struck in the center of the forehead
He sank as gently as a child going to sleep
to sitting position. his head leaning back
ward on the log ana sword still in hand,
and there they left him when our troops
fell back few moments later.
Lieutenant Warwick had a devoted
servant who had followed him from his
home in Richmond, through the entire
campaign, and was cook for the brigade
staff. This man was holding the staff
horses on the road in rear of the position.
Our men fell back. My father and his
surviving staff returned to the horses and
Warwick's man, alarmed and distressed,
asked my father anXiously for news OF his
master.
General Wise told him in brief words
what had happened. ''He is lying in
there" he added, pointing in the direction
of the mills. Instead of making his re-
treat before the Oncoming enemy, the
black boy left his horse and threw himself
into a ditch near by. The Union troops
passed over him in pursuit of our forces.
either not noticing him or not caring Tor
him if they saw him.
When it became safe to do so the servant
quietly made his way to the mills and
found his masters body. He took away
the watch, trinkets and yaluables and
then buried his master, marking the grave
as hest be could. He made his way back
| to Richmond and delivered the valuables
| TO poor WarWick's mother.
l met this same man not long ago in the
| Pennsylvania Railroad depot, Jersey City.
| lie was employed as porter in the Pull
| man service.
We leaned u0 against a baggage van and
! talked about the war times; and | wonder
| if tile passers-by had any idea that we were
| two old rebs. | was mighty glad t0 SCI
Jim Christian and L believe il was reclp
| rOcated.
| Many q man with a white skin is not
| thousandth part the devoted friend that b,
proved himself to be. JOHN 5. WISE.
The morning call., 1894-02-04

Then for very fine lacquer the wood is
covered with thin silk. The silk is colored
black. or whatever color is wanted, and
after that lacquer is put on every day, for
five. ten, may be twenty days, until per-
fectly smooth surface is made. First, it is
rubbed every day with charcoal. next with
powdered horn, then with the straw, and
at last, when it is spread with stick, with
the fingers. One drop can be spread at
last over very big surface.
IF we want to make raised pictures or
flowers or birds we put on red paint from
Japan very thick every day and ii raises
above the lacquer. Every coat of lacquer
Is rubbed down TO the red, leaving the
design clear. At the end gold-leaf or
silver is worked into the design and then
dry lacquer is again spread over it all.
For fancy speckled work we get sawdust
and shake it over the wet lacquer. Around
1t is put gold and silver powder and then
more lacquer, and when all is dry the saw
dust is pricked out. Then there are hol-
lows in designs no man could draw or
make with a knife. The same way we
make pictures In lacquer. only they take
month, every day taking them out of the
drying-boX, putting on lacquer ana putting
them again in the box. | show you pic
lures made by Mrs. TaKani. See, this is
water scene. See the waves dashing and
the birds flying above them. Here is
storm; see the reeds blowing down in the
wind and big birds flying over the water
against the storm"
Takani's other designs represent ted birds
of various kinds and sprays of native
Japanese trees. They are typical, of
course, though III outline, which is neces-
sary on account Of the stiff processes of
reproduction in twenty coats of this mys-
terious lacquer. Still Takani makes them
artistic to look upon and smiles as he
assures YOU he can do much better if life
was longer. Much of his work is en-
riched with decorations introducing an
endless variety of treatment. while the fiat
work is variously colored. speckled and
liefs are elaborate and show perfection in
manipuiative skill as we'll as highly de-
veloped sense of the artistic. Takani is
proud of his best work. but then japanese
lacquer work of high quality is found
among the rarest and most highly priced
treasures of decorative art.
The morning call., 1894-02-04
WHERE DOGS REST
A Tiny Graveyard Filled
With Faithful Pets.
CLOSE TO A ROUNDHOUSE.
1t Is Like an Oasis I'm the Desert, so
Carefully Is 1t Kept and
Cared For.

All about the ToundhouSe of the Park
and Ocean Railroad the ground is covered
with clnders, and, except in one spot, en-
tlrely devoid of vegetation. 1t is not
cheerful place to look at. Back from the
building the sandhills, almost bare of any
thing green. rise in brown ridges and
looking in either direction in front the
railroad track extends its two stiff lines as
lar as the eye can see. When the sun
shines the spot, If anything, becomes more
cherries, and the white glare reminds ono
or the desert, and brings up thoughts of
suffering and thirst. But by looking around
carefully an oasis can be discovered. 1t is
on the north side Of the building, close up
against the hard wooden Sides and flowers
bloom there all the year round.
This little spot is very dear to all men
who ever worked for the Haight-Street car
line or the Park and Ocean Railroad.
Every man that has occasion to pass that
way always stops to see that the flowers
are blooming and that weeds do not take
possession of the small inclOsure. At first
glance the place looks like small ceme-
terry, and such it really is, but only care
full examination of the headstones will tell
the story OF those sleeping beneath. The
stones are small and look as if they might
be over babies graves, but they are not.
Instead. they mark the resting-placeS of
all the dogs that ever endeared themselves
TO the hearts of the Park and Ocean and
Haght-street Railroad men.
Few graves of human beings are more
carefully cared for than those within the
little inclosure in the barren cinder-
covered yard about the roundhouse.
The Oldest grave In the little plat is that
of Nick, who passed from this life nearly
ten years ago. That is time enough for
almost any human being 10 be forgotten,
and yet Nick's grave is as green and fresh
to-day as it was decade ago. HIS men,
ory is also fresh in the minds of all who
knew him. and whenever his grave is seen
by some of his old engineer friends they
feel his absence from the footboard as
keenly as if he died only yesterday.
Poor old dog! He made life pleasant for
The morning call., 1894-02-04
TOLD BY CAPTAIN JOHN S. WISE

Lieutenant Barksdale Warwick, as brave
a young officer as the Confederates could
boast, was only 10 at the time he met
his death in April. 1865. 1t was then
that the Union troops broke our line at
Petersburg. and at the same time assaulted
the Confederate right at Burgess Mills.
NV fathers command was stationed at
the latter place.
Imagine one of those typical Southern
sawmills: the forest of trees all about it,
with a swamp in the background.
+ The opposing forces had a long and des-
perate fight for the mastery of this posi-
lion, but our men had finally to give way
before overwhelming numbers. Gradu-
ally they were driven back. They had
stood for some time blazing away into
each others faces. On our side 1t was
question of retreat or desperate
charge. Just then Lieutenant Warwick
ran over to my father, and with
bright smile on his face exclaimed, Gen
eral, let US charge them." "Order the
The morning call., 1894-02-04

aDce. Around him were little holdings
in Japanese designs, frames, tiny bits o t
boards. thin laths. funny looking pedes'
tails and what not One would believe
that Takani was building 3 dolls house.
Though lie was not. Every bit or wood
has its place in the intricate order of
Japanese fancy work. When Joined to-
gether they form decorative work that will
be seen at the exposition.
The scene of Takani's in nteresting opera
tionS was a cheap deal table Uttered with
japanese lacquer and lacquer paints in
porcelain vessels, slate palette and the
Queerest brushes that ever were seen in
this city. He could talk in his own tongue
ghbly enough, but conversation was not
allowed 10 interfere with his endless task
of polishing. painting, rubbing and polish
ing again. Okada, who assists him in the
work, acted as interpreter.
He began TO learn lacquering and draw
ing when II years of age, that is ten years
ago." said he. IN Japan they begin at II
to 10 years of age. The father teaches it,
aud it is like going to school for his chill
dren. You know it remains in families
one generation to another. Before NJ.
Takaui came here there was no Japanese
lacquer artist in America. They would
not leave home, but he was in business
large in Japan, and now no more busi-
ness; he paint and lacquer, and try Amer
ica. But San Francisco no good it is too
small, so we will go to New York after
the fair. But you want to know about
Japanese lacquer"
He opened drawer that was filled with
The morning call., 1894-02-04
Woman's Right to Her Own Lips.

The Dutch Court of Appeals has given
an important decision. A young woman
of Utrecht. having a kiss stolen on the
street, appealed to the Burgomaster. who
awarded her forty-eight cents damages.
The young man appealed to higher court.
The decision has just been rendered by
the Dutch Court of Appeals that for q
strange man to kiss maid on the street is
not actionable. kiss being of the nature
of warm mark of sympathy. A woman 8
proprietary right to her own lips is thus
qualified by her attractiveness. The Dutch
Court gives legal sanction to the old para.
dOX: Stealing no theft. The stolen kiss
has been frequently celebrated in song and
story. busneyer until now has it had such
legal status
The morning call., 1894-02-04
STONE WITH HEART OF FIRE
The Opal, Its Attributes, and Modern
SuperstitiOns About 1t.
New YORK sun.

New YORK sun.
Now that oFalS have been restored to
favor, and 1t is understood that, instead of
bel Z Omens If i'll fortune they are really
lucky st mes, it is easy to understand why
supsInatural agencies nave been ascribed
10 ihe fascinating gem, and C may be OF
interest 10 earn something Of how to bes.
preserve its brilliancy and beauty. There
is probably no other stone so susceptible to
outside influences as an opal. The stone
is a soft stone. compared with other gems,
and the flashing of its colors Is due to the
refractiOn of light on the tiny scales and
almost invisible assures within the stone,
which acts like prism, dividing the light
and throwing out all the VARYING hueS of
the rainbO
The play of color is constantly chang
ing. Dizziness and bTillancy succeed each
other with the regularity of atmospheric
variations, mOderat- warmth having a dis
tiuct lumnative effect, while much heat is
capable of robbing the stone of ali its beauty
by DRYING the moisture contained in the
minute cells. 1t is a curious fact, too,
that there are vapOrs emitted from the
human body in certain diseased conditions
that are capable of rendering the stone dull
and Opaque. And the fading Of life
and fortune and the opal may be slmul-
taneOus, but the stone is the innocent
victim of the condition If the wearer, OF
the cause of disaster. Sir Walter Scott in
his Anne of Gaierstein," distorts the
properties OF the opal to heighten the un-
canny element in his story, and 10 carry
out bis plot made use of the supernatural.
To this story may be traced that "uncOm-
Portable feeling" about an opal which
people not at all superstitious in other
matters cannot seem to shake off, If
man or woman attempts TO wear one.
friends and acquaintance continually bring
up the old superstition until the uncanny
stone sometimes cea ses 10 delight. But il
is time this old superstition be sent flying
after the old witch and her broomstick; Tor
in the old days the stone was highly prZed
as an omen of good fortune.
Most of the finest 0pals come FROM Hun
gary, but the principal vein has been
exhausted lately, so that the gem in its
finest variety is exceedingly rare. The
clear. bright opals with The luminous fire
come from Mexico. Any opal. and par
ticularly"the Mexican stone will become
dulled by washing The hands with the rings
on, aud they loose their brilliant play of
color. The stones are not durable like
diamonds, nor will they stand the same
wear
The morning call., 1894-02-04

straight edge that is cut at an angle Of
about 45 degrees to the handle, so when
using them the lacquerer can see the sur
face without inconvenience. A speck
that an unpracticed eye would never see is
quickly caught and rubbed away. The
brushes are still more of a novelty. When
new they are about eight inches long and
from half an inch to inches in width, and
look like monster deformed lead pencil
with lead a quarter of an iLch thick and
extending the full width across. AS the
hair wears out the wood is cut off at
one end and the hair sbarpened to a fine
point. very much as lead pencil is treated.
By this arrangement brush will last for
years. Sandpaper is too coarse for the
The morning call., 1894-02-04

-. The armies Of Generals GRAM and Lee
had been furiously lighting IN the Jungle
of the Wilderness, in Spottsylvania County,
Va. on The 9Th and 9th of May, 1864 The
. lnrid fires played through the tangled
qndergrowth, and out of its depths came
The t'roIl and crackle of musketry like the
poisv boiling Of some hell cadron that
told the dread story of DEATH" 1t is re-
fated that the men of the opposing lines
could not see each other twenty yards off,
and assaults had to be made by the COM
pass"
Grant could not deploy his battalions
and had but one or two alternatives, viz.
retreat or flank Lees position. He de-
cided upon the latter, and determined by
rapId flank movement 10 seize the im-
pOrtanr pOsirou of SpOttslyyapia Court
house, fifteen miles southeast of the battle
held and that much nearer TO Richmond.
the objective point OF his campaign. His
intention was quickly OWNED by his op.
pnnent Lungstreets corps, under Gen.
e. al r. II. Anderson-Longstr. ct having
been wounded the day belore-was OF.
dereed TO move RAPIDLY to the same point.
The Federal and Confederate columns
We're racing on parallel roads, aud in order
TO Increase the chances of the SputheTnerS
reaching the coveted position first was
ordered 10 throw my cavalry in front OF
the columns of Grant. harass al every step
their advance and re tard in every possible
way their march. In and around T6dd'S
Tavern, and from that point to the court
house the fighting was inceSsant, first be-
tween the cavalry OF the two armies and
afterward between my mounted and dis
mounted cavalry against The van of War
ren'S corps.
Anderson won the race by perhaps hall
an hour. After a prolonged obstinate re-
sistance at ODe Of the points of the route
by nay dIsmounted cavalry against War
Ten;s Infantry my troops were instructed
TO fall back and occupy another position a
mile to their rear.
ajor James Breatbed, commanding Inv
horse artillery. remained behind and by
my order, placed single gun in position
on a little knoll. We knew the enemy's
infantry were machiDg in coumn through
q niece of woods, and the object was TO fire
upon the head of the column, as it de-
bouched. TO give the idea that further
advance would again be contested and tC
compel them TO develop a line of battle
with skirmsbers thrown out, etc The
delay which it was hoped to occasion
The morning call., 1894-02-04

pieces Of thick straw, about two inches
long each, and another that had charcoal
sticks, powdered deer's horn. and what APP
peared to be wooden scrapers, but were
in reality brushes, with which the finest
surfaces in the world are produced. An
other drawer had boxes OF paint, that were
held together with bands of cane and ma de
airtight with japanese preparations. Un-
der all was a box Of designs aud drawings
which people are used 10 sea on japanese
screens and pictures. Some very richly
lacQuered ornaments of quaint design
were upon few shelves. 1akani kept on
smiling as he noticed the display made of
his tools and stock in trade. His brush
would fly from one place to another, and
bits of half-fnshed lacquer passed through
his hands in quick succession.
THAT is lacquer" said Okada, holding
up a wooden pot the size of a small tea
The morning call., 1894-02-04

his handicraft, but when man has to be-
gin when mere child and grows up with
the art that becomes second nature at last
one decade i3 small indeed. Everything
about him is interesting 10 people of
Western civiliZatiOn-hi. WORK and many
curious things that can be told about il, as
well as his own story, And to see him
fashion beautiful desieos or producing
mirror-like glass with japanese lacquer Is
instructive as we'll as interesting What
he does is done IN a damp basement
where few eyes ever intrude upon him,
and in all the United States there is not
another man similarly engaged. He is
the only japanese lacquer artist in this
country.
just two months ago he came TO San
Francisco from Japan and began his old
calling over anew with George Okada, a
Japanese versed In his art. The New
The morning call., 1894-02-04

World is still strange to him. though for
that matter all the world beyond his
human-bair brushes and queer pictures in
lacquer was a closed book. The very
nature of his handicTaft indicates tireless
application. Like time and tide. lacquer
Will wait for no man; it must be watched
night and morning, or else the labor of
daye, perhaps months. is lost. He was
busy as ever the other day when visitor
called at the basement on Post street,
where he draws and lacquecs. The only
notice taken of the conner was n furtive
glance, after which lie continued as if his
life depended on promptltude.
"Mr. NJ. Takani," said Okada, introduc-
ing him. mir. Takani Is the only Japa-
nese lacquerer in America"
Okada laughed and spoke to him in
Japanese, saying the stranger had come
The morning call., 1894-02-04

delicate surfaces that Japanese create with
lacquer. So. instead, nature in her sim
pleat forms has been taken. Tough straw
with a ribbed exterior. cross sections of
harcoal sticks or powdered horn, may be
strikingly primitive articles. hut they serve
the purrose better than anything Western
civilization with all its bOasted achieve
ments can offer. With these simple tools
Takan. like his forefathers. can produce a
surface that will reflect Images, and has
all the beauty of softened metallic lusier.
How does he do il? ?'' said Okada, re-
peating the question that was uppermost
in the visitors mind. IL show you here"
Okada took n little frame in his hands
and began a long explanation, pointing
from one piece to another in different
stages of progress to ward finish.
First. the wood is made very smooth,
hard wood smooth as glass may be. we rub
with stone from a mountain in Japan.
The morning call., 1894-02-04
THE ACTOR.

INSCRIBED by Charles Warren Stoddard IN Eben
PlymptOn's album. and read by Mr.. Plympton a
the Henry Irving dinner, LotOs Club, New York
January, 1894. Published for the first time Il
IHE MORNING CALL.
Statue like frozen sigh.
The triumph of a Sculptor's art.
Yet hides no light within its eye,
No fire within it's pulseless heart.
a picture, like rose in bloom,
here passions blush and are betrayed,
Is hollow as an empty tomb,
With changeless colors overlsidI
song that is the soul of pain,
The subtle singer may prefer,
II is a spirit. that In vain
Is seeking its interpreter.
But when the actor from the thrOns
BY genius IS exalted. he
To statue, picture and song
Gives life and Immortality.
CHARLES WARREN SToDDARD.
The morning call., 1894-02-04

cup. ''It costs SIS in Japan. You know
this lacquer is very scarce. 1t comes from
only one place iu the mountains-I eckiZn
and the marketplace is X toto.
'At a certain season of the year people
go to The urushi tree and slash the bark
with knives. Then lacquer comes out, one
drop al a time. like milk. and il is caught
in bowls. When bowl Is full the lacuue r
is put nto big pan aud stirred in the
sun till it gets thick and becomes dark
brown. when it is put into pots like this
For black lacquer they drop nut gals into
the pan and it gets black.
These straws and charcoal and horn
powder are used like sand paper. But
after them lacquer is polished with the
fingers to make it shine.
'All lacquer brushes come from Japan.
They are mostly made of human hair.
The morning call., 1894-02-04
TOLD BY GENERAL JORDAN.

It is not justifiable to call those acts
bravery which are done under the infu-
ence of excitement or emotion. Cowards
fight desperately when driven into cor
ner, and sometimes brave men will hesi-
tate to rush into a danger that man of
small courage despises. consider that a n
act is intrinsically brave when it is per-
formed calmly, with due appreciation of
It's danger, and an absence of 5e stimulant
Of emotion.
:: During the war recall signal instance
OF true courage. General Forrest (whO
prior to that had, single. handed, rescued a
young man from q mob of lnfuTlated
riynchers) received several complaints from
;the captain of one of his artillery CON-
pshles regarding the conduct of young
4illcoI, on the score of deficient courage.
= many, ne felt compelled TO issue an
Gtuei renewing the young man from duty
WIN tnat company; but out of regard for
BIS feelings no mention was made in the
nruei 1r, ol the generals reasons for issuing it.
Heie could be no doubt In the officers
lniuu, np"eVer, as TO his commanders
IeaSons ior TINS step and General Forrest
stood. Ai"n unooi
lie was therefore rather surprised to re-
;celVe visit shortly afterward from this
.. same officer, and be asked for An eynlana
tlon. In angry tones the officer demanded
to know on what grounds the order bed
been issued. The man evidently meant
mischief. His right hand was in his coat
pocket, and the general was unarmed and
alone, but he did not finch. "Beeansa
.slT. you have been reported by your com
manGiDg officer repeatedly for cowardice."
he SAID. With that he turned to 90. bnt
bad not moved few PAGES before the man
shot him down. a surgeon was close by
and examined the wound. He found that
the ball had entered the spine. II recon-
mend you to settle your affairs. general"
he said, you have not long to live"
Forrest had been lying in a dazed condi-
: ZION on the ground, apparently helpless,
The morning call., 1894-02-04
An Old View of the Star system.
Boston journal

When Alfred Bum was in this country
and wondered at the game supper at Taft,s
Hotel, West Roxbury-it was forty wears
ago-he wrote thus of the condition of the
theater in the United States: "The star
system. necessarily kept up here through
long series Of years, has been fatal to tie
encouragement of home talent: novelty is
me prevailing pursuit of the American, as
III is OF every other play-g0er. aud the mere
student of his country's drama, whom his
couutrymen can see at all times, is gener-
ally passed by, and the newcomer well
coined in his stead" Now, are these
words true to-day?
The morning call., 1894-02-04
ONLY ONE HERE.
A Japanese Artist Who
Works in Lacquer.
HOW HE PRODUCES EFFECTS
Interesting Processes and Appliances
That Are New to Western Civili-
zation i'm Decorative Art.

The fckle dame Fortune has brought
from the Orient a little japanese artist
and craftsman, and with his coming one
more tradition of Japan is stripped of
whatever mystery it may have possessed.
This japanese is most interesting man
in his way. His father and his father
father. and so on through an untold line of
ancestors. piled the same trade. following
out custom characteristic of the land of
lotus blossoms and chrysanthemums. 1t
took him ten years to attain proficiency in
The morning call., 1894-02-04

Some are all hairs from a horses name,
but more have only strip of horse hair
along the middle with mans hair on each
side. When fine work is to be done. Or
when it is just finished. no brushes can be
used. The stick brushes only are able 10
spread lacquer out thin enough. A good
lacQuerer can spread it with stick thin
ner than water could be- spread on glass
without drying the water"
These stick tools are novelties peculiar
10 the japanese. They consist of pieces
OK hard wood tapered down to very thin,