davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24
A L|BRARY'S NEW ERA.
Officers of the Mercantile Library
Promise to Wipe Out the
Debt.
President Magee's Eloquent Address
Treasurer O'Brien Reports
$4,000 Subscribed.

The forty-third annual meeting of the
Mercantile Library Association was held
last evening, the reports of last years Off
GERS were received and the new officers in
stalled. AS the mem bers feel that a bright
future is opening for the popular old insti-
tuition, there were present larger number
than there has been at any meeting in
years.
The report of the retiring treasurer
showed that the receipts had been $15,-
921 80, of which $9161 S5 was subscribed,
$4,000 by Mrs. Phoebe Hearst, $1,000 by ]. L.
Flood, $1,000 by A. B. McCreary, $1,000 by
s. G. Bigelow, $500 by J. J. O'Brien, $500
by Adam Grant, $500 by Levi Strauss, and
the rest in small sums from $40 up. The
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24
SET HIS CLOTHES AF|RE.
Samuel B. Thompson Is Still
Willing to Be Declared
Insane.
He Keeps Up the Supposed Imposition.
but the Police Insist That He
Is Shamming.

Samuel B. Thompson, securely manacled
and confined in steel cell in the Receiv-
ing Hospital, succeeded in starting fire
early yesterday morning and burned up a
portion of his clothing as well as destroy
ing a heavy pair of shoes. Before being
placed in the cell his clothing was thor
oughly searched and nothing was found in
his pockets.
Thompson declared that he had slipped
one hand out of the irons and by rubbing
two sticks of wood together he caused
sufficient friction to start the fire. Where
he could have obtained the wood is a
mystery, which he refused TO divulge.
Police Surgeon We'll, who has observed
THOMPSON closely, does not believe the
man IS insane, ana his opinion is borne
out by Bailiff Kelly of Judge Conlan's
court. who said yesterday that Thompson
admitted to him he was acting part so as
to be sent to an insane asylum instead OF
to the penitentiary. Thompson said he
had been in an asylum three times before
and knew Just how to fool people.
AT II o'clock yesterday Judge Sander
son, who had considered the matter of
Thompson's sanity, ordered him remanded
into the custody Of the Sheriff.
Thompson has already been held on
three charges of an attempt to commit a
telonious assault, but he has yet to stand
his preliminary examination on the more
serious charges of felonious assault. He
viii, therefore, have 20 be kept in the City
Prison for some days yet. Captain Robin
son declares that he will be so closely
guarded that no further attempts at sui
eide will be possible.
Thompson told Bailiff Kelly that if the
police would rest satisfied on holding him
on the three charges Of attempt he would
be willing to be tried in the Superior Court
because he would get light sentence.
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24
The Old Louvre Sign.

The Supreme Court has decided that theo Id
Louvre need not take down its sign until the
appeal now pending on the question is settled
Suit was brought to have it compelled to do So,
and judgment was rendered in favor of the
Powell and EDDY streets. AS the Old Louvre
sign was not taken down, they had the
proprietors cited for contempt, but the
contempt proceedings have been dismissed,
as the appeal is still pending, aid the removal
of the sign cannot be procured indirectly by
contempt proceedings while direct proceed
ings with that end in view are in the courts
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24
Sixteen of the Crew of the Ameri-
can Ship Roanoke Were
Disabled.
BATTERED ROUNDING THE HORN
Two Sailors Fell From Aloft and Were
Killed and One Was Lost
Overheard.

Death and disaster seem:to have followed
the American ship Roanoke from the mo-
ment she left New York on June 20. 1895.
The following is the captains short but
graphic description OF the voyage:
Sailed from New York June 90 1895.
June %, g. w. Dobbins native of the
United States, fell from the n izzen royal yard
and was killed instantly
Was forty days to the equator. Got the south.
east trades in n. and lost them in lS S. and
from there to Al S. had very hard gales and
heavy seas.
August 70. latitude AZ s., shipped q heavy
sea which disabled eight of the watch on deck,
August %. Oscar Spennet, native of Fin
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24
OLYMPIC CLUB AFFAIRS.
The Lot Adjoining the Building
Will Be Leased for Ten
Years.
A Grand Handball Court to Be Con.
structed-Boxing in the
Pavilion.

The Olympic Club directors have de-
cided to give the handball members of the
club an opportunity of enjoying pastime
which is rapidly becoming the leading
feature of indoor sport. Director Short
said yesterday that the intention OF the
directors is to tear down the two courts on
the lower floor of the building and turn
the space into lounging-room. The lot
adjoining the building on the west side
will be leased for term of ten years-that
is, if the club can arrive at a satisfactory
agreement with the owner of the property
which is now quite probable.
A magnificent handball court, which
will be superior in every particular to anv
OF the American ball alleys, will be con-
structed on the now vacant lot and a com
petent instructor Will be engaged to teach
the young idea how to toss and hit ac-
cording to the latest and most apnroved
style, a la Jack Mallon.
The roof will be of glass, with nettino
underneath so as to prevent any possible
damage being done by the high-toned bail
strikers. The court at night will present a
decidedly brilliant appearance, as the
most powerful electric lights will shine
down upon the athletes when they are at
play.
grand boxing tournament open to the
amateurs of the Pacific Coast will be held
at the Mechanics Pavilion under the aus
plces OF the Olympic Club in April. The
ciub Will spare no time or pains TO make
this tournament the grandest feature in
the way OF hsticuffs that has ever been in
troduced west of the Rocky Mountains.
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24

the following new officers at Yosemite Hal, Hall,
day night, W. E. Mccreery. D. D. 6. T., p,r being
the installing officer: William a; OLeary,
lay Cook, first vice-president; w. i. Carroll,
second ice-president; Thomas !. Brldger. g
third vice-president; I. F. Sarcan9l, marshai !;
Parker Morrison aud Frank McAlllster, sentl-
nels; j. f. Eggert, recording secretary; A. w.
Borchers, financial secretary; j. +. NaiIace,
treasurer; trustees-JoSeph b. keenan,, i; r.
Byington and F. b. Galindo; surgeons-Drs
G. w. Clark, DTiscoll and II. Damkroger. After
the regular meeting q banquet was enjoyed.
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24
The Gum Barrel and the Gum.

Last week Bradford man who was hunt
ing saw an immense lump of spruce gum
on tree. He attempted to knock it off
with his rife, and the gum was transferred
from the tree to the barrel of the gun. The
man then tried to bite the gum from his
rifle, but his lips suddenly froze to the cold
steel. After considerable shouting he at
tracted the attention of companions. who
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24
Fire Department.

The Fire Commissioners at their meeting
yesterday on the recommendation of Chief
Sullivan decided to ask authority from the
Board of Supervisors to form monitor battery
by the election OF a driver. 1t is pro-
posed to station the battery in the house of
truck i. Thomas Timmins was appointed
hoseman of engine Ia
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24

"Drilby''-the burlesque of Du Maurier's s
work, written for the occasion by Miss
MSle Senenav hey Ine p Sds MscsrIbT as e
PilIy, r. E. Fazakerley; Larry, J. j. Cor
rigan; Tuffy r. J. Dowdall; Getto, j. M.
Toner; Lu Lu, N. J. Hoey; Rev. Mr.. Brag-
CART, P. f. Dillon; Drilby, ]. A. Riley;
Nine. Vinyard, E. ]. Coffey; Mrs. Brag-
cart NJ T. COIlOnan
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24
His pomestic Tronh1e.

A colored witness IN the Superior Court
last week stated that he was unable to tes-
tify as to certain occurrence because he
had domestic trouble" just about that
time.
"What was the domestic trouble?" asked
the examining attorney.
"Well, to tell the truth, boss" said the
witness, 81 was in the penitentiary flor
stealth COW. ."-Brunswick Times
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24
The Trial of wv. %. Price.

The trial of ". L. Price, charged with send
ing obscene literature through the mails, will
be commenced on February IL. Price was to
have been arraigned before Judge Morrow
time in which to present his argument OH the
demurrer to the Indictment
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24
A Socialist Meeting.

The Society of American Socialists will hold
a meeting this evening in Mozart Hall for the
discussion of "The Coming Great Railway
Trust and Its Power Over Politics" The
speakers are Edward B. Payne of Berkeley, J.
r. Robinson and Joseph E. Scott
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24
Shot Himself.

Albert Morath, German laborer. was found
dead in his room at the Chicago Hotel yester-
day morning. He had shot himself. The man
was about 40 years old. The proprietor of the
hotel said he has been out of work for a long
time, and lately has become very despOndent
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24
Did Not Walk with the Woman.

E. Dunton OF Napa, who was robboed on
Grant avenue at noon Wednesday by the no
tor1ous Ethel Brandon, says he was not walk
stood looking in window when she and a
companion came up and engaged him in con-
versation. During the conversation his poke:
was picked.
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24
Ran Away From Home.

Mrs Mary o'Brien of 113 Vallejo street is
searching for her son, Edward O'Brien, who
has been away from home since Tuesday night
The lad is Id years of age, and his mother saws
it is clear case of runaway from home Ed
ward was pupil at the Washington Grammar
School.
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24
NEW TO-DAY.

Centuries ago, peo-
pie used to fear what
they called the pes
tile nee. " Black
Death :" was the
most terrible thing
lin the world to them.
4 They feared it as
Ipeople now fear the
ICholera aud Yellow
Fever. An d yet
there is a more terri
bic thing than any
of these. There is
a thing that causes
more misery and
11ore deaths fha1
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24

Mentisn is made in the long since pub
lished memoirs of the Marquis de Villiers
OF Paris OF wonderful spoon once in the
possession OF his family. This spoon was
reputed to be of gold. studded in all parts
with diamonds of the first water. Four
inches in length, the value of this
article was stated to be SIS, 1000. Each dia-
mond was the size of a large pins head,
and there were some hundreds of them.
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24
All Agree

All Agree.
GREAT AMERICAN IMPORTING TEA co.
Sells Crockery, Chinaware, Glassware and
Tinware.
CHEAPEST OF ALL. TRY THEM.
Very Pretty Dishes. Very Cheap Prices.
62 Market street, 8. F., Headquarters.
BRANCH STORES EVERYWHERE.
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24

The sea is infinitely more productive
tnan the land. 1t is estimated that an
acre of good fishing will yield more food in
a week than an acre OF the best land will
yield in year,
The San Francisco call., 1896-01-24

Mantle Parlor Officers.
Mantle Parlor No. los, n. S. G. w, installed
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-02-06

A press report from Washington says
the introduction In the house by Mr..
Beach, of Ohio, and the senate by Mr..
Allen, OF Nebraska, of resolutions fav-
oring a congress Of the American re-
publics has given an official impetus to
n project that has been vigorously re-
yiyed since the disclosures were made
In the Venezuelan controversy. Both
these resolutions were received with
favor and many Of the experts on for
eign affairs in both houses believe that
some definite action will be taken along
these lines by the present congress. Mr..
Allen, in his resolution, fixed the name
Of the congress as the Pan-American
Union and suggests that it's object be
to prevent encroachments by European
mowers on this hemisphere. In the
plan offered by Mr.. Beach in the house
II is proposed that the President invite
the South American republics to send
plenipotentiaries to conference to be
held in Washington within a year for
the purpose of forming an American
Union with the same objects in view,
the secretary of state to be the repre-
sentative of this government. A men,
her Of the house foreign affairs COM
mittee said that he believed the COM
mittee would give favorable considera-
ton to this resolution.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-02-06
POINTS ON PERFUMES.

England manufactures perfume on q
very large scale, importing many of the
materials from other countries, but also
making large use Of homegrown herbs
and flowers.
The cholera has repeatedly during the
present century visited London and
Paris, but at no time was there death
from that disease among the operatives
Of the perfume factories.
In one Of Dean Swift's letters he al
ludes to the fact that, in his day, the
shops of the perfumers in London were
Longing places for young noblemen
ard other fashionable idlers.
In Tartary onions, leeks and garlic
are regarded as perfumes. A Tartar
lady will make herself agreeable by
rubbing a piece of freshly cut onion
on her hands and over her countenance.
From the drainage Of stables has
been manufactured the French eau de
mile fleurs, or water Of thousand
flowers, perfume which in itself COM
bines the odors of almost the entire
floral kingdom.
In medieval times the best perfumes
were made in France and Italy, the per-
tuners of those countries acquiring a
deXterity unknown elsewhere and pos
sessing many secret methods of manu-
facture.
Tn +bo r,ooyFoo+,,ro of Don1odnS tha
fat is repeatedly melted, stroined and
purified, after which the desired os-
sence or perfume is added or the fat is
impregnated with the odors of flowers
themselves.
Capua, the famous city where Han
nibals army was ruined by passing one
winter, was noted for its manufactures
Of perfumes. The Capuan perfumes
were sent in earthen and glass vessels
to all parts of the Roman world.
Charlemagne is said by his biograph-
ers to have been extravagantly fond OK
almost any kind of perfume, One Of his
courtiers said that the approach OF the
emperor could always be detected by the
odor of perfume that invariably accom-
panied him.
Nearly all animals are fond Of one
kind or another of perfumes; lions and
tigers delight in the odor of the altar
of rose; cats are extravagantly fond OF
catnip, and wolves and several other
kinds of wild animals delight in the
smell of asafetida.
A cut glass inkstand with silver
mounts, much favored this season, is
square in form.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-02-06
FLOATING FACTS.

An albino partridge, the tips of It's
white feathers tinted with pink, is the
latest freak brought out of the Maine
woods.
There is an historic well in Rutland,
vt. 1t was built during the revolution,
and was used by soldiers of Burgoyne's
army after being removed from Boston
In 1888.
A writer in the Edinburg Scotchman
in dealing with the causes of intemper-
anco mentions as one of the principal
ones the want Of sympathy at home
and scolding, sulking, naggiug wife"
Two Russian battleships, the Rurik
and the Dimitri Donskoi, have harborcd
in Portsmouth on their way to Inc Med
iterranean. 1t is the first time this
privilege has been granted for a quar-
ter OF a century.
Robinson Crusoe's musket, "a fine.
old specimen, with long barrel, flint
lock, and beautifully balanced" is Of
fered for sale in Edinburgh. Il came
into the possession Oh the present owner
through Alexander Selkirks grand
niece.
Six deer wandered into the village Of
Central Lake, Mich, early last Sunday
morning, trotted through the streets
for awhile and took to the woods again
before any of the startled inhabitants
could quiet their nerves sufficiently IA
get gun.
It has been noted that serpent charm
ers continually talk, sing or whistle or
have an attendant to play upon some
shrill musical instrument during the
time exhibitions are being given. That
these sounds have their influence there
is not the least doubt.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-02-06
She Left.

She was very pretty and very we'll
dressed. When she boarded the train
at 14th street she began to make in
quiries of the guard. A gray-haired
old gentleman on the opposite side of
the car courteously begged leave to
fell her where to go. A young man
next to him begged his leave to differ
and to suggest that the lady had better
follow another route. A laboring man
corrected him and there was a lively
squabble by the time the train reached
Sth street. The lady had blushed and
begged pardon through it all, but the
men had each commended that his was
the only proper method of reaching the
point. The train rolled out of Sth
street and the old gentleman re-
marked p6mpously, with a wave Of his
hand:
IT assure you, madam"
And at his sudden pause all the men
turned to look and found that the lady
had fed at Sth street.-New York
World.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-02-06

got out of its course and ran ashore.
However, on account Of going very
slowly, no material damage was done,
though the passengers were badly
frightened. When the crew had recoy-
ereS from their amazement, they began
to clear the deck and the vessel N gen
eral of these unexpected and not at all
welcome guests. The captain ordered
the men to use shovels and whatever
else they could to throw the birds over
board. After getting fairly in share
the vessel proceeded on its voyage, hay
ing been delayed for eight hours on ac-
count of this singular experience. The
captain could not offer any theory as to
where this vast army of swallows came
from. All he said was that the birds
were exhausted from long flight dur
ing the storm of the previous day and
sought rest on his vessel.
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-02-06
MYRIAps OF SWALLOWS.


"N"H~NN- N-N~~h
From the Savannah News: A Rus
sian steamer hailing from Odessa has
for some time been engaged in the
Mediterranean trade, principally carry
ing passengers between LeghOrn and
Malaga. On one Of the recent trips 1t
encountered an adventure which will
never be forgotten by either the crew
or the passengers. The passage had
been stormy one, but the day Of The
occurrence was unusually fine. Though
a rather heavy sea was running, most
Of the passengers were on deck. Sud
denly the lookout called: Hurricane
cloud leaward." At once there was
great CONSERVATION aboard and a num-
Der of people sought safety below. The
captain, however, after glaucing at the
barometer, gave 1t as his opinion that
1t was no hurricane cloud. The black
mass they saw lowering near the hori-
2on was, he thought, a particularly
dense volume of smoke from some
steamer. But the solution of the mys-
terry came much sooner than they had
expected. The threatening mass grew
larger and larger, and soon was seen
to bear down in the direction Of the
vessel with terrific speed Everybody,
both crew and passengers, became
frightened at the mysterious cloud,
which seemed to move with great rar-
idity, Notwithstanding that a perfect
calm prevailed. Then came the solu-
ton. The vast cloud they had seen
was composed Of swallows, The fore
runners, a small detachment Of some
10000, swooped down on the deck, to
the bewilderment of the people on
board. These were soon followed, not
by thousands, but by hundreds of
thousands. The birds literally over
whelmed the vessel The man at the
wheel lost his bearings, and the Wild
est disorder prevailed. The birds
poured into every available opening,
hatchways, windows and everywhere
else. They got tangled in the ropes and
sails and clustered about the rigging.
Even the smokestack was so filled up
one time that the fires were nearly eX-
tinguished. The most amazing part Of
the whole thing was that the birds did
not evince any disposition to leave. To
heighten the confusion the steamer had
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-02-06
BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER.
Remarkable Contest for tho GOvernOrship
OF Tennessee Between tho TaylOrs.

| OOuLoht AOE LHo OONoEhoEhhAH
of Tennessee Between tho TaylOrs'
From the Washington Post: One Of
the most remarkable political contests
Of modern days was that between Bob
and ALI Taylor over the governorship
Of Tennessee some years ago. The
brothers are both violinlsts-ln lem
nessee they are known as fiddlers. All
Is tho superior performer. Bob plays
left-handed Neither one is rnished
master of the instrument, but they both
play the mountain melodies to the
queens taste. During their unique race
for governor Bob and All die not actN-
ally carry their fiddles with them, put
in almost every town the people would
hunt up a couple Of violins and inslst
on hearing them play. When the e.ec-
ton was over and Bob was occupying
the highest Office in the gift of Ten
nesseeans convict Of the penitentiary
one day sent him a fiddle 1t was
homemade instrument, the convict be-
ing its author and finisher. He had
made it while serving out his sentence
In the pen" and designed touching a
tender chord in the governors heart by
the presentation. The story is best told
in Governor Bob's own way: zone day
just before Christmas a state Official
entered my office and said: I have
been implored by a poor, miserable
wretch in the penitentiary to bring you
this rude fiddle. 1t was made by his
own hands with a penknife during the
hours allotted to him for rest. 1t is abb
solutely valueless, 1t is true, but it is
his petition for mercy. He begged me
to say that he has neither attorney nor
influential friends to plead for him; he
is poor, and all that he asks is, that
when the governor shall sit at his own
Preside on Christmas eve with his own
happy children around him, he will
play one tune on this rough fiddle and
think Of a cabin far away in the mount
aims in which is family Of poor, rag
ged children crying for bread and lis
tening for the returning footsteps Of
their convict father. Who would
not have been touched by such an APP
peal? When Christmas eve came the
governor sat at his own happy freside,
surrounded by his own happy family,
and sitting there he played one tune on
the rough fiddle. Far up in the mount
Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-02-06

Official calculations made In Russia
and transmitted to the State Depart
ment Of the United States Consul-Gen'
eral Karal at st. Petersburg show that
the present years harvest Of cereals in
the whole world is much smaller than
last years, and compared with 1894
the decrease is in wheat 150 467 900
bushels, and rye 12S,971,OO0 bushels.
Other grains turned out better. In Rus
sia the harvest was short 55,371 1888
bushels of wheat and S8,345, 428 bushels
OF rye. The financial organ, therefore,
pommends the policy adopted by Rus
STA dealers Of holding back their grains
to obtain better prices later on. The
official estimates for next year place the
amount of wheat required to be i'm
ported at 513,923,715 BUSHES and rye
at 81, 133,791 bushels, Of which Russia
will be expected 20 supply 121, S53, 925
bushels of wheat and 57,52770 bushels
of rye. She will be able to export 49,
563 $50 bushels of wheat and 59,529, 342
bushels of rye.