davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20
Romance That Chilled the Blood Of Listeners San Francisco Dinner Part

, sess the confidence of a majority of the
House of Commons. He forms his Cabi-
| net by asking certain members OF the two
houses to hold the great offices of state
He might do this one day and without
| consulting any one.
AS a matter of fact, what usually hap
pens is this: As soon as the commission
to form government has been received,
the Prime Minister takes into his con-
fdence the two or three men who will
hold the chief offices. and they together
talk over the other names. When man
is decided upon, he as a. rule joins the
conclave and helps to consult as TO men
and places, and so the Cabinet gradually
evolves itself No doubt, as generally
happens in this world, the Prime Min
ister's choice is never really free. Certain
men must be in the Cabinet whatever
happens, and hence they may be said not
to be chosen by the Premier, but to be
Ministers in their own right.
In spite, however, of this, the fact that
they are asked to serve by the Premier
makes them feel his superiority. When
the Cabinet is made the theory of the un-
written constitution is that the Cabinet
governs. In reality it seldom does any,
thing of the kind. Each Cabinet Minister
has very great power in his own depart
ment, but the Cabinet as Cabinet can do
little. Since, however, it knows every.
thing. or almost everything that is going
on, it can exercise great deal of indirect
power. The previous knowledge that the
majority of the Cabinet would like or dis
like particular policy has a great inhu-
h,,%c cfIl ho 10 arf rr1Io
Who. then, really rules2 The Prime
Minister-but limited in way which we
must describe later. What gives the
Prime Minister this power2 In the first
place, he summons and presides over, and
so largely controls, the Cabinet meetings.
Next If a vacancy occurs he fills it up,
and so can promote men from the lower
to the higher offices. Then he can and
does confer with his colleagues in regard
to the business of their departments and
so has hold upon the whole machine of
government. Sir Robert Peel saw every
member of his Cabinet separately every
day.
Again, if there is difference between
two other members of the Government
the Premier decides. II there is an ire
concilable difference between himself and
a Minister it is the Minister and not the
Premier who resigns. Lastly the Prime
Minister can, by resigning himself, dis
solve the whole Ministry. These things,
small in themselves, taken together make
the Prime Minister S position what it is.
He makes and can unmake
Cabinet. He presides over it, and ne has
the right to advise in regard to every
department, though this right is, of
course, seldom exercised, and he has
secured to him beforehand. the support OF
the rank and file of any Cabinet, if 1t
comes to struggle between him and q
colleague, because the rank and file know
that if the Premier is beaten, he has il in
his power TO upset the whole machine Of
government. Hence the voices of those
who want to keep in Office are always
found on the side of the Premier.-London
Spectator.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

! now bears evidence, but he had his ca reer
! as a LAWYER all ahead of him. 1t was
necessary to find witness in East Ten
nessee. William Thomas was instructed
to undertake this mission.
Passing over the details of the law case,
| which were in thems selves of some inter
est, being peculiar, young William Thomas
may be considered to have taken his jour
ney from New York and to have arrived
in East Tennessee and to be riding through
a thinly peopled country. The people
were singular in some respects, especially
| so the farther he pushed forward into the
heart of the mountains Their mien was
intrepid but kindly. He soon learned to
appreciate them for their true worth.
1t was now night in the Tennessee for
est. After a long and hard ride of a day,
Mr. Thomas horse was unable to go
| farther. The rider had hoped to reach
his destination that day and so had driven
harder than he would otherwise have done.
| The disa element of his horse and the
| gathering darkness gave him a natural
| feeling OF uneaslness. He could do moth
/ ing but push on. The house where the
witness was supposed to be was some
miles distant. The chance of meeting any
one who could direct him exactly grew
| less with the loss of daylight.
However, as he iourneyed on foot he met
| a Tennessee mountaineer who knew the
man for whom he was searching From
him young Mr.. Thomas received instruc-
tions and pushed along. The woodchop-
pers had piled up fuel throughout the for
est and made many trails as they tramped
to and fro with their heavy boots. 1t
would have been difficult by daylight to
/ cally. impossible.
Walking rapidly the traveller traversed
/. many miles, passing the cottage which he
sought without knowing it. He was about
discouraged when gleanl of light was
seen. This widened out as progress was
made until it was seen to be rather large
/ campfire. About it armed men were NOV
ing. Other armed men were lying prone
on the ground. Here was mystery, sure
| enough, and Mr.. Thomas went toward
the fre-not TO investigate, but to get in
formation; or, failing in this, to get food
and place to pass the night.
Suddenly Mr.. Thomas fell to the ground
| An utpost of the men around the fire had
! come upon him unaware and had knocked
him down with the stock of gun or some
other weapon.
THAT scar" said Mr.. Thomas to his
after-dinner audience, II carry to this
day. was struck ON the back of my head
| and the hair has never grown on that spot
] since that night"
For time he was unconscious. When
he regained his senses his position was
] sufficiently unusual to be interesting. He
| had been taken up limp and helpless and
tied to a tree. Now he was surrounded bv
rough men, whose minds were full of sus-
| picion. Whether they were ''moonshin-
| ers," counterfeiters or other outlaws they
had no desire to make his acquaintance.
He was clearly an unwelcome guest.
One of the border ruffians advanced to-
ward him, drawing from the leather belt
around his girdle long sharp knife. Mr..
] Thomas held his breath, not knowing
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20
Why the Lost Walk IN Circles.

To the Editor Of the CGlL-DEAR SIR: In
I the issue of your valuable paper OF the
9th inst. L noticed an article headed ''Why
Do the Lost Walk in Circles?" and con-
cluded to answer the final question. In
1858 | was teaching In what was then
Washington Territory. In q treeless in
closure across the road from the school
house there were several mich cows.
After several days they became quite a
nuisance by their continual believing.
My attention was called more closely to
them, and l noticed that they would hold
up their heads and sniff several times,
and then, lowering their heads, they
would start to walk, and, walking rapidly,
they would soon strike circle, when they
would shortly repeat the performance.
At noon l questioned the children, and
the older ones said the cattle wanted
water from the creek, but had eaten veg
etable which destroyed their sight tempo
rarily-the same as the rattleweed in Cali
fornia destroys the sense OF horses. A
quiet, gentle horse eating rattleweed. be-
comes idiotic and will neither lead nor
drive. After few days the cattle would
recover their sight, but it takes year or
more for a horse to recover from loco.
Since that time have often used what
l learned from the blind cows. On the
Spokane plains and elsewhere 1 have often
blinded my horse at noon, and if well
done he could not get off an acre of ground
in half day.
With all animals that walk single
footed, they turn to the right. A pacing
horse may turn to the left. Most all
right-handed persons turn to the right if
blindfoIded, and most of those who are
left-handed are also left-footed; but some
right-handed persons when ready to
Jump rise from the left foot. and vice
versa In nv judgment, these facts point
to general law which would be easily
verified or disproved by test. Yours
respectfully, 5. f. G. Ross.
Raymond, CAL, Dec. IA.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

TGT9ILLIAM THOMAS of the law firm
HfAFs2 of Chickering. Thomas & Gregory
VI A2N is one OF the most graphic story
tellers in San Francisco. Gifted with
an exquisite felicity OF language, possess
ing strong sense of the dramatic, prac-
ticed in public speaking and of fine ap-
pearance. when he tells story he makes
an impression whicl even those inimit-
able after-dinner orators, Horace G.. Platt
and ChauDcey NJ. Depew, may well envy.
Not many evenings ago some of the
most cultured and accomplished men oD
the coast, members of a Greek-letter So
cieiy which here, owing to the etiquette of
such organizations, must remain name
less, were sitting around the festive board.
Wit and repartee, pathos and humor, all
had their play; the eioquence of Horace
G. Patt mad glittered and in the hazy
atmosphere of memory the whole COM
pany once more breathed as boys and
were boys in spirit so that any laugh was
infectious and lie itself was a humorous
whole, unmarried by the past and un-
menaced by the future.
Then up rose William Thomas with a
story of life experience, full of adventure,
full of the unexpected, replete with
pathos-a classic in all respects He
spoke in the first person. He was the one
principally concerned. His voice some
times trem bled, his eyes seemed to dim
and blur, but perhaps that was caused by
the smoke wreaths rising from many fra
grant cigars and perfuming the air. Wis
ibly he was affected. His heart was
touched with the memory OF what was
mind
duced, with marvellous fidelity, the small
details of landscape. and even words which
were of the long ago.
His auditors listened as the life story
grew upon them, and the denouement
found them with bated breath. with looks
of surprise in their eyes, and they con-
sidered Mr.. Thomas with new interest.
Then the certainty dawned on them that
Mr.. Thomas had pioneered the way In
club life to new and delightful form of
after-dinner entertainment. PrecipieDt
Burtons felt within them the germs of
romances airy as the dreams contained in
the Arabian Nights" or in Grimm's i'm
mortal book OF fairy tales. Stimulated by
the king of after-dinner story-tellers, their
minos were grateful to him, for while the
dtornsin of romance is infinite the set re-
snonses to set toasts about fair Harvard"
or aYale, our Alma Mater after time
become difficult.
So. when the applause echoed and re-
echoed from all around the board of amity,
tribute was at once paid to story-teller
and discoverer.
Truly the life story told by Mr.. Thomas
was a moving tale. 1t began with the
time when Mr.. Thomas was young law
yer ia his fathers office in New York and,
consistently, struck its roots into litiga-
tion in which Mr.. Thomas father was
concerned as an attorney. According to
his own story. Mr.. Thomas was not con-
sidered to be much of budding lawyer
by his father.
It appears that he had done in college
much as other students might. He had a
good time, studied some, was something
OF an athlete, to which his erect figure
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

wondered what the young girl in the Ten
nessee mountains, who had been protected
by the young mountaineer, really looked
like and what had happened to her. The
wounds on his head and biceps healed
after a little. Months passed and, after
a while, Mr.. Thomas emigrated to Cali
fornia and engaged actively in the practice
of law in this City.
One dag, years ago. letter was de-
livered which bore a postmark showing
that it came from Tennessee. Mr..
! Thomas thoughts travelled speedily back
ward until, by the time that he had the
| seal broken, he was, at least in memory,
back in the Tennessee fastness, with the
| freight making the trunks of the trees
| about it ruddy at midnight and half
drunken crew of backwoodsmen and
mountaineers sullenly watching and
discussing him.
The letter added another chapter to the
romance, for it contained card announc-
ing the marriage of the man who had
acted as sentry to the girl whose father he
had murdered for her sake. She had been
through a period of mourning, not un-
mixed with bitterness. but the slayer of
her father, admiring her. had presented
himself as suitor for her hand and she
had agreed to marry him. Glancing at
The date on the wedding card, the lawyer
saw that the happy event had already
taken place On the card were written
the words:
s'She asked me-"
"He asked me-"
The first inscription was in mans
hand writing and the other in a woman's
Mr. Thomas hastened to extend his con-
gratulations and the customary wishes for
happiness and prosperity, and also sent
the bride a present.
Gentlemen" said Mr.. Thomas, II have
not told this story in many years, and
then only to my wife. But to-day, as 1
was walking along Montgomery street,
! met the man who that night set me free
in. the Tennessee woods. He is a we'll
known and prominent man now on the
Pacific Coast, and has lived here with his
wife, the heroine of this romance, for some
wears. told him that would tell his life
story here tonight. AT first he said no.,
but then said very WE'LL So have told
it; and, gentlemen, you all know him!''
! Then the story-teller sat down. The as
sembled fraternity men paused for
moment and then heartily applauded the
narrative, which bad all the earmarks of
1 truth.
! But it was not true. When it was ap-
parent that all the company had been
fooled. Mr.. Thomas announced that the
story was pure romance, invented by him
and carefully worked out as to details, to
furnish something new. 1t was new and
| the fraternity men unanimously voted it
| to be a sncoess.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20
"Old Glory.

See in the banners splendor, bright,
The crimson, white and blue unite,
And 'mong the unduiating bars
Clean honor's light, the twinkling stars,
Till blest TO sight and pure as gold,
The flag, "Old Glory" is unrolled.
Der all the land, on every sea,
Floats high this ensign OF the free,
And guided by its lembent light,
Our young Republic, in the right,
Leads ever onward, stern arrayed,
And welding freedoms battle blade.
WILLIAM LIGHTFoor VIssCHER.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20
BOUND 10 A TREE AND A KNFE THRUST AM HIS HEART.

The FIRE cracked sullenly among the
logs and twigs heaped upon it. Gathered
around the fire were the mountaineers,
who consulted concerning him. They
drank deep potations of "mountain dew
and seemed inclined to be quarreIsome.
But they made no further move to molest
him that night. One by one they dropped
off to sleep, leaving only one man 10 stand
guard.
Mr.. Thomas did not sleep. There was
strange fascination in the sight OF the fire,
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

ed the backwoodsman.
81 came to ind -, who is wanted as q
witness in a law case. Do you know
him?"
strange expression came over the face
of the man.
"Why, yes" he said, "that is did know
him; in fact killed him week ago."
'Killed himp'
eyes. You see he was abusing his
daughter Mollie and l interfered. Then
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

what would happen next and being en-
tirely helpless. The knife was raised and
fell on his left biceps, which still bears the
scar as souvenir of that memorable
night.
This attack seemed to satisfy the noun
taineers for the present, but the indica-
tion furnished concerning their intentions
by this preliminary onslaught was not
particularly reassuring to a man who
could not move hand or foot.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

surrounded by dusky figures; and in the
forest. which in the darkness penetrated
only by the Pickering freight. seemed
illimitable. He unused on the perilous
and singular position he found himself
placed in. and naturally wondered what
the outcome of the adventure would be.
"Say, stranger, what really brought you
here and what DO you want?'
The gruff voice he heard came from the
sentry, who had drawn near him.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

the evening he goes to school for two
hours, where he tries to keep awake and
fill his brain with knowledge. Many
other praiseworthy examples of youthful
struggles are to be found in the night
schools of San Francisco
Money-how to make it, where TO de-
posit it, how to expend it. and. perhaps
best OF all, how to keep it's knowledge
craved by many and possessed by few. A
thorough business training is the surest
means to the attainment of this knowl-
edge. And to furnish at least the rudi-
ments of this there is the work of the
Business Evening School on Bush and
Stockton streets. Fifteen rooms are oc-
cupied nightly by tyros eager to grasp any
Information which will assist them in the
busy mart. Very little theoretical work
is taught, but the latest improved practi-
cal methods are used in typewriting,
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20
Duties of Prime Ministers.

Let us consider for moment what is
the real. as contrasted with the theoreti-
cal, position of the Prime Minister. In the
first place the Prime Minister, as rule,
makes his Cabinet. He is commissioned
by the Queen to form a Cabinet, because
he is the man whom she considers to pos
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

From June. 1871, to Novemb ber, 1918, the
French Government enrolled 1906. 900
men, nearly three-fourths of whom died
in battle, of wounds or of diseases con-
tracted in the field.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20
Features Of the Cs Big Night Schools They Appear Artist

of a French woman who had lived
through seventy summers and was in her
class for year and half When she ap-
piled for admission she could neither read
nor write English and could speak it very
slightly. She had been well educated in
her own language, and although living in
San Francisco for thirty years had asso-
ciated only with French people Her
husband died, leaving her to conduct
large business with her son. Then she
began to feel the need for an English edu-
cation. which she sought and found at the
night school.
A case which ought to bring success, if
early rising, hard labor and diigent study
will bring it, is that of boy who at $3.50
in the morning starts out on his milk
route. He breakfasts at A. NJ. and by
o'clock is at his post in butcher-shop,
where he remains the rest of the day. In
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

Sentence was deferred and court ad-
iournsd.
Woman wielis the scepter at the Wash
ington Evening School and succeeds in
maintaining perfect discipline among 500
scholars Miss P. NJ. Nolan, the first
woman ever made principal OF night
school, is in command here.
This institution is extremely cosmopoli-
tan. The native son, the German, Ital-
ian, Spanish, Servian, Slavonic, negro,
and even native of the FIJI Islands sit
side by side and labor together for a COM
mon aim.
The motto of the school, which has been
beautifully engraved by one of it's younger
members. is 1--WE work to win"
Two teachers, both linguists, have
charge OF the foreign classes. One of these
tells what may seem an improbable story
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

stenography, penmanship bookkeeping
and banking. The principal and teachers
engaged for instruction in these studies
are, with the exec ption of five lady teach
ers. men whose daily life brings them into
constant intercourse with some of the
best firms and banking establishments in
the City.
Studying stenography and typewriting
there are about $50 pupils, who are given
dictation and copy for two hours every
evening. The standard in stenography is
eighty words minute, though many are
able before completing the years course
to take over 100 words. Their speed, for
the shortness of time devoted to the work,
is remarkable.
The six departments devoted to book
Keeping, under the supervision of the
principal, are in fourishing condition.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

Before he could answer, the sentry saw
on the young lawyers coat society pin,
indicating his membership of the Greek
letter society.
Where did you get that9' demanded
the sentry.
Il am member of the society,"" re-
sponded the lawyer.
To his surprise the lawyer found that
the sentry was member of the same fra
ternIty.
"But what are you doing here?'' insist
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-20

he came for me, and had to shoot him in
self-defense."
Mr.. Thomas looked carefully at the man
and was satisfied be was telling the truth.
There was no use remaining any longer in
that neighborhood, and as the sentry cnt
him loose he lost no time in departing and
in a few days he was back in his father
Office in New York.
Time took the edge from this adven-
ture, but the young lawyers mind natu-
rally was inquisitive and he sometimes
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-02-13
Threw Away His Canes.

Mr.. ID. Wiley, ex postmaster, Black
Creek, n. Y, was so badly afflicted
with rheumatism that he was only
able to hobble around with canes and
even the, it caused him great pain.
After using Chamber ,.in'- Pain Balm
he was so much improved that he
threw away his canes. He says his
liniInent did him more good than all
other medicines and treatment put
together. For sale at 80 cents per
bottle by all druggists.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-02-13
Gravel Cured


A healthier. heartier, happier man
than John j. Neill, of 2437 North
Eighth street, Philadelphia, could not
be found In n days search. The fact
that he is still alive IL a constant won
der to his friends.
In the fall of 1889 he began to suffer
indescribablp miseries from stone in
the bladder, Consulting eu eminent
physician in Philadelphia, he was told
that n surgical operation was ueces-
sary. So much did hr dread the re-
suit for IL unsuccessful IL meant death,
that he put OF the evil day AZ long as
possible. While In this frame of mind,
he heard of
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-02-13
EnR ASSEMBLY,.

b FPuBIICANs or SNYDER COUNTY Tho
ZoruaTy has been selected as the dair
hating n ticket that Is 10 bc submitted
ole In November next. Among ne mn
ana responsible positions 20 be llled Is
tiember OF the House Of Representatives.
)shtive branch has always been regard
K keystone In the arch Uf state ana Fed
ernment and the people should away :
+ nm Jealous eye this bulwark OF thelr
s. No man who does not place the goou
5ibllc above the selfish ambition or gam
w should be permitted TO go anywhere
representative capacity. He who Dasely
| the people into the hands OF cOnsplratOrs
3prtloners deserves TO be repudiated az
| opportunity. on the other hand, the
o dares TO defend the right us he sees ltls
OF the kind consideration OF his fellow
| The people OF snyder county intrustec
,erests into my hands during sle SEES
|the legislature OF 1891 Ji
Ihether or nottho3olt'
lhmlt my candidacy for ienOlnlaation 10
Stature 20 the judgment OF an Intelligent
lency, most cordially solicit the sup
pll Republicans at the coming Primary.
Very Sincerely.
CIIAS. W. HERMAN,
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-02-13

Instant relief experienced and a permanent
cure by the most speedy ana greatest remedy In
the wOrld-Otto's cure Tor Lung and Throat dis
eases. why viii you continue TO irrltate your
throat and lungs with that terrible hacking
cough when W II. Herman. Troxelvillc. Pa,
sole agent viii furnish yog rec sample bottle
Of this great guaranteed re-. 'dy1 lts success
Is slmpl' wonderful, as your druggist VIII tell
you. Otto's cure Is now enld m every town and
vi'iage on this corul LINiJ .a ie free. Iergt
bottles SOC anu csc.
The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-02-13

our people are growing more and
more in the haoit of looking To all
druggist for the latest aud best of
everything in the drug line They
sell Chanberlain's Cough Remedy,
famoIs for its cures of bad colds,
Group and whooping cough. When
In need OF such II medicine give this
remedy Il trial and you will be moi @
than pleased with the result.