davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13

LONDON, ENG, Dec. Far be it from
me 10 condone Mrs. Whitehat's attitude
in regard to one of the momentous ques-
tions of the day; far be it from me to en-
courage her indifference, her hippancy
and disrespect toward one OF the most use
full and one of the most serious clubs for
women in London. Mrs. Whitehat's char
acter shows an appalling lack of those
severe virtues that make the worthy
women OF the New Age Club so justly, so
universally revered.
1t is the prerog&tive OF schoolgirls and
Americans to laugh at everything, even
the grave and intellectual subjects so
learnedly treated by various members.
Such levity cannot be too sternly con-
demned; a sense of humor should be dis
carded in the entry with overshoes and
umbrellas.
In the first place the appropriateness
of her costume was shocking. Instead OF
a simple masculine garb and a knock
about hat, worn with the careless, uncon-
scious grace with which an animal wears
his fur, Mrs. Whitehall had attired herself
with her usual delighted attention 10 de-
tail and that sense of enjoyment and sue
cess which might well DE the result of
nobler employments.
s'I would not" she remarked, fastening
her opera cape, "look like trump to
oblige the Queen herself!" Her gown was
l hate to confess it-made in the very
latest fashion and had a most audible rus
tie and quite flutter of silk and lace and
ribbons about it.
One of the regulations of the club and
most admirable regulation is that bonnets
must be removed during dinner. Mrs.
Whitehall expressed most unnatural re-
luctance to remove the wreath of roses,
which she dignifed by the name of bon
net, and said with indignant scorn: "How
stupid! It's so much more becoming on
my head than off" Becoming! Such a
word in this high place, where vanity is
notl
Fortunately she was not overheard save
by most minute and detected male door
keeper, aged 8. who regarded her with a
kind of melancholy approval.
81 smell faint, far smell, she added,
''as of the festive caulifiowerr'
With agony in my heart we swept into
the dining-room-that is, Mrs. Whitehall
did all the sweeping. I tried to slide in
unobtrusively, feeling that her presence
was a hideous mistake. twas an i'm pres
sive scene. a number OF the club mem
bers we're seated at a long table; they
each of them had a book or a magazine
with an expression of deep absorption.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13
Cabins of Shakes.

There are several kinds of structures in
California that are peculiar TO the soil, but
most of them really be long to the early
inhabitants-the Indians and Mexicans.
The house of "shakes," however, came
with the white man, and those who build
the first of these structures most likely got
the idea from the sycamore shingle of
Flori da.
Many people do not know what shake
is, so a little explanation will not be out
of order. Shakes are made from almost
any kind of wood, although some hard
variety is generally used. Logs of straight
grain are selected and cut into pieces
about three feet long. These are then
split into boards about four inches wide
and three-quarters of an inch thick. OF
course the boards are very rough and also
uneven, but possess great strength, as the
grain always runs from one end OF 1T to
the other When made of oak it is
almost Impossible to break one of them
crosswise.
The style of building for which they are
used depends on the occupation of the
owner. Lum bermen, miners and sheep
herders are the most numerous of those
who use this style of structure. The
sheepherders' are perhaps the most pic
turesque and substantial and are generally
of the same shape as the one in the accom-
panying drawing. They are usually To-
Gated in some barren spot and used durinx
the feeding season. The miner generally
makes his the same shape as the wedge
tent which presents grotesque appear
ance. Those built by the lum bermen are
often very elaborate, but since sawmills
have been located IN the mountains thew
| are not as common as they were. Thebs
is practically no wear out to this style bf
structure. In time they become coyertI
with a rich growth of moss, that com
| pletely closes the cracks that originally
existed, so that they are impervious TO the
hardest rains. In the mountainous dis.
tricts of this State there are dozens oi
shake cabins standing to-day that wers
built almost half a century ago.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13

poses of to druggists, who have regular
customers that believe it 10 be panacea
for hundred different ills; the skins he
sells to would-be cowboys, who use them
as hat bands, and the skeletons are
always ready sale the purchasers being
the curators of the natural history depart
ments of the ifferent college and society
museums. The man who wakes people
up in the morning, the old cork collectors
and the dog catchers are well-known char
acters in every large city.
The individuals who gain livelihood
in pursuits that are strictly scientific are
equally as numerous as those who follow
the more humble callings. In the list of
occupations that are strictly scientific is
the manufacture of artificial eggs, arti-
fetal coffee and false diamonds. Also the
industry OF making buttons, combs, pen-
holders and other articles of similar
nature from blood collected at the
slaughter.houses. The man who makes
billiard balls, buttons and rings from po-
tatoes which have been treated to a solu-
tion OF nitric and sulphuric acids is also
the proprietor of an industry" wherein
the fundamental principles are strictly
scientific.
But the queerest of all is carried on by
two young .Pennsyivanians, who are max
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13

alton, have developed q distinct unker-
standing of sounds. 1t is the same thec(y
one sees illustrated in a man with DEE
lirium tremens. therefore my question IS,
How does Mr.. Edward Robinson intend to
verify his assertions. triumphantly as he
has expressed them?"
This was tremendous poser. Mr.. Rob
inson mopped his brow, but answered
shortly and decisively In a most satisiac.
tory manner.
Here lady In the corner, with her hat
worn over one ear, arose and announced
that she also had question:
humanity ith unity" she began, "but
II philanthropy ith made emotional, how
would Mr.. Edward Robinthon ever ac-
complith anything?"
The answer was received with deserved
applause. Then the young person who
had clapped so cleverly and continuously
rose and declaimed her question in sonor-
Gus tones, speaking slowly and with deep
pathetic emphasis on every word. her
voice gradually rising till it rang through
the roomr:
iii" she began. 81 have understood Mr.
Edward Robinson Alright, he points to a,
path of glory on which we all-all mem
bers of the New Age Club-will tread, but
he must point the path, he must show
US the way. Ny question to NJ. Ed
ward Robinson, if have understood him
Alright, is Where is the goalP Where is
the goal?'"
With one appraised hand she pointed &C.
statically to heaven, with the other she
transtixed the lecturer.
Mr.. Edward Robinson was spell bound
with admiration, or some emotion that
held him silent, while strange spasm
convulsed his face. To my overwhelming
sorrow and shame regret that L aid Dot
hear the answer to this question, for rs.
Whitehall rose suddenly and precipitaJed
herself from the room. l hurried after her
and found her in the lower hall. seated in
the hatstand, wiping away tears-it is in
and utterly unappreciative laughter. All
the way home in the hanson she INDUCED
herself in this heartless and unfeeling
manner. "This serious and elevated
place." / remarked, sternly, should be
spared visits from the unthinking and the
frivolousl In the pure, dry light of the
intellect"
"Stop, please" groaned Mrs. Whitehall,
"that's just tiff it were only not so pure
-or so extremely dryl"
Which only goes to show that Mrs.
Whitehall had not thoroughly understood
the drift of Mr.. Edward Robinsons re-
marks. VAN DYoK Brown.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13
STARTLING REVELATIONS IN A STRANGE NEW LONDON CLUB

+, one sat bolt upright and had painful,
| CLASSY stare. 1t was quite a moment be-
| fore the excitement subsided. 1t was this
incident that brought Mrs. Whitehall 10
the notice of her immediate neighbors. |
discovered, to my horror, that instead OF
listening with that respectful attention
which was so admirable feature OF the
audience she had her face buried III her
handkerchief and was indulging in laugh
ter. the most unseemly and uncalled for
and untimely Imaginable!
The lecture was deeply i'm pressive, am
sure: it was-weIl-as | have SAID, the
subject was Humane Science" most
interesting subject, the development OF
which cannot fail to elevate the listener
A young lady behind me (Mrs. White
hat had remarked her gown, which was
nobly suggestive of an antique-a very
antique) applauded continually. Her en-
thusiasm found vent in this manner: Her
hands met with concussion like pistol
shot Immediately behind my ear. 1t
must have been great ENCOURAGEMENT to
the lecturer, and served as a kind OF
nunctuation. Behind me another en-
thusiast murmured, "Hear, hearP' in a
deep, bass voice.
"When we reflect on the vast changes" !"
said the lecturer "that have made the
last century [applause from the lady in
the Roman drapery] that have made the
last century so" ["Hear, hear" came like
the muffied stroke of drum.
The lecturer completed his argument
and sat down, while the applause was
long and continuous. The lady who oc-
cupied the chair arose and said that Mr..
Edward Robinson had kindly offered to
answer any questions that might be put
by doubling minds.
Everybody looked at everybody else
with an expectant, an encouraging or a
repfoachful stare. The lady in the chair
repeated her demand for questions with a
raised voice, that had subdued threat
in it.
At last there was response.
81 was afraid" said the deep, bass voice
behind me, ito occupy the attention too
long. Ny question is, with an apology to
Mr.. Edward Robinson and my grateful
Acknowledgements of his absorbing and
deeply scientific facts. whether introspec-
ton, as he asserts. can have a wholly
beneficial effect upon a wholesome and
sane organization?
Here she consulted a small table and
put it and her hands in her coat pockets.
II have made special study of heredity
in CATS" she continued. "Some Kittens
have shown a remarkable sense of color I;
some kittens, in the third or fourth gener-
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13

They seemed to regard dining as sort OF
mechanical assistance to literature, and
exhibited that superiority to the material
satisfaction of the baser appetites it has
always been my ferventiy economic hope
to acquire.
Mrs. Whitehall greeted our hostess with
almost forid effusion and flashed her
smiles upon every one with quite bewilder-
ing impartiality. Her eyes Immediately
attached themselves to portrait IN an
oval frame above the fireplace.
What handsome face!" she said in
lively tones. who is it?'
1.-The president of our cluD," said our
hostess, with kind of mental bow.
'Indeed! said Mrs. Whitehall. with
great interest What a curious idea to
have a man as president of woman 5
club!' There was a moment of terrible
silence.
"a mar!' echoed our hostess in icy
tones, ~ cannot conceive what you mean,
unless in your idea character aud face
and strength of expression should be
limited to men"
"I-I was deceived" said Mrs. Whitehall
humbly, "by the coat and necktie and
the short hair"
"That face is womaniy in the highest
sense said our hostess; ait is repre-
sentative face, having all the delicacy of
woman and all the power that is supposed
to be peculiar to man."
Mrs. Whitehall asserted that she pro-
nounced the obnoxious word with a kind
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13

known to be plentiful here, it will prob
ably be in increasing demand. Cotton
wood has been shipped to Germany in
considerable quantities, where cheap
woodis required for furniture and other
uses. Much of this lumber is forwarded
from New Orleans, and since great part
of the oak, ash, poplar. cottonwood and
other timbers demanded by the foreign
market is in the Southern States, it is not
improbable that lumber for foreign mar
kets will be largely shipped in future from
the Gulf ports. In speaking of this mat
ter, the Northwestern Lumberman says
that the European market requires lumber
cut of exact thickness and OF accurate
length, trimmed so as to have the butts
square and true. Space for piling in the
yards of the Old World is an object, so
that random, uneven lengths are objec-
tionabie, and, since the foreign buyer in
sists that he shall have just what he bar
gains for, quality should be strictly at
tended to.-Garden and Forest.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13
Some Queer Industries.

Occupations open 10 the thrifty indivi-
duals OF both sexes have greatly increased
during the last two decades, or even since
the taking of the last decennial census in
1890.
The extraordinary progress of science
during the time specified and the applica-
ton OF its principles to the practical prob
lens OF human life have not only had the
effect of greatly increasing the Capacity
for production in the trades already estab.
lished, but have opened hundreds of
queer side alleys which lead direct to the
avenues of trade.
There are, of conrse. dozens of these
new and remarkable occupations with
which science does not deal, even in the
remotest sense, says the st. Louis Re-
public. In this class we find the rat
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13

frame. His voice had slightly monoto-
nous drone, but his sentiments were
grand. 1t is curious thing that in order
to really appreciate grand sentiments it is
necessary to close or very nearly close the
eyes.
''In the pure, dry light of he intellect, +"
said the lecturer am afraid did not
quite gather what that pure, dry light was
10 illuminate. How bitterly did l regret
my defective education when I saw the
rapt expression in the faces around me-.
The woman next TO me seemed almost
overcome by emotion. She was very
large woman and swayed constantly to my
side. A look of great peace was On her
countenance and she was drinking in the
great words of the lecturer with little
whistling sound between her teeth. She
also evidently found that closing the
eyes made her faculties for listening more
acute. 1t was in the spirit of sincerest
emulation that l attempted ii also-just
for nom ent-but fear that l must have
slept, for l suddenly sat up, with terri
BILE start; there had been great noise, as
of some one falling from a chair. Every
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13

The woman lawyer is largely develop
ment of the last twenty-five years and oi
this country, says Leslie's Weekly. There
were 20S women lawyers in the United
States in 1890. Though no census has
been taken since then it is safe to say tina,
the number now is at least 500. No other
country has half as many women in the
legal profession. The prejudice and OPP
position which SO long obsrructed their
progress are rapidly disappearing. Women
are now being received and recognized by
their brother mem bers of the profession,
as was very recently illustrated when a
New York Judge appointed several promi-
nent New York women lawyers TO re-
ceiverships. This is the first time women
nave had such appointments, and the act
of the court is regarded as distinct step
in their progress at the bar.
The courts for a long time discouraged
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13

catcher, the skunk farmer. the man who
makes his living by picking up lost
things in depots, theaters, hotels, etc.,
and returning them to their owners, with
the expectation of being rewarded; the
clock-winder, the man who collects orange
and lemon peels, and the Lake Michigan
syndicate, which ls now engaged in rails
ing black cats for their fur. They are not
raising these cats on water, as might be
inferred from the title, but have leased an
island in the great lake, which is now
plentifully stocked with both sexes of
screeching felines.
There are still others in the non-scien-
tific category of queer occupations but it
will only be necessary toe mention few.
One is "rattlesnake farmer" who lives
in the Ozark Mountains and makes the
products of his farm" bring money from
three different directions. The oil he dis
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13

mot very" said the slave, biushing
modestiy
We ascended, after this episode, to the
drawing-room, quite free from the vulgar
sense of repletion which often accompan-
les meal ordered and cooked by man.
Our intellectual capacities were notdulled
and rendered sluggish by overeaslng; it
was with quite sharpened sense of our
inward yearnlngs for higher life that we
settled ourselves for the lecture. Quite
little time was spent in discussion as to
who should take the "chair" to introduce
The lecturer, Edward Robinson, whose
Iabors in the way of bringing practical
and popular science to the East End have
met with such deserved encom iums. Such
modesty as was displayed by those worthy
and intelligent women OF the New Age
Club; such a reluctance to take the prom
inent position Each one advanced the
most conclusive reasons why the other one
should do it, and they exhibited the most
gentlemanly Difference and courtesy! 1t
was perhaps somewhat confusing to an
outsider not used to parliamentary rule.
sYou take it-dear mel couldn't think
of it. Why, Miss Gully, how can you!
Why, I took it last time. It's quite SIM
pie. You'd do it magnificently. You do
speak so f1uently and without preparation!
Why, I heard Miss Pimmins last week,
and it was disgrace! No, really; such
cold, and besides
Miss Gully was finally induced to take
the chair, which she filed admirably and
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13

ing regular business of extracting the
poison from honey-bees. According to
the accounts they have two different ways
OF collecting the crop of venom. In the
first the bees are caught and held with
their abdomens in small glass tubes un til
the poison sacs have been emptied. In
the second they are placed in a bottle on
wire netting and enraged until the tiny
drops of venom fall into the alcohol,
which fills the lower third of the bottle
This venom is said to be sovereign rem
edy for cancer, rheumatism, snake bite
and hundred others OF the more terrible
Ills of humanity.
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13
Insects With Parasols.

How true it is that we most frequently
overlook most interesting things near at
hand, while searching for wonders far
away. says writer in the New York Her
aid.
1t is as true in the forest as in the city
that one is rarely acquainted with even
his nearest neighbors.
l once had it brought home to me in an
impressive manner that had been very
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13

little over Mr.. Robinson was intro
duced in q fitting manner, with quota
tion from Wait Whitman.
Mr.. Robinson was an earnest man, with
north country burr in his speech. He
was to lecture on Humane Science"
He had fine and characteristic head on
the top OF a very narrow and emaciated
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13
American Hardwood in Europe.

The demand for American hardwoods
in Europe is growing, and oak leads the
foreign shipments, although tulip. poplar,
ash, gum and black walnut, whenever a
good quality can be secured, are in some
demand. European consumers like the
quality of American oak, and, since it is
The San Francisco call., 1896-12-13

OF neigh like an ancient warhorse or a
goat.
The solitary waiter SUNK out. There is
no other word that could convey the en-
tire humility of nis manner. He was
crushed by the degrading consciousness of
his sex.
After this faux pas Mrs. Whitehall was
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-07
HUTCHINSON MAY GET 1T
Likelihood That the Other state Conven-
ton VIII go There

Topeka. Kan. Feb. 6.-HeTetofore
Kansas Republican state conventions
have had a representation based upon
one delegate for each 200 votes case at
the previous general election. and the
result has been conventions containing
somewhere in the neighborhood of 900
delegates. At the meeting Of the state
central committee last night L was con-
cluded that as two state conventions
were 70 be held in Kansas this year.
II would be best TO reduce the number
of delegates and commensurately the
expense. SO the basis was changed
TO one delegate for each 800 votes or ma
jor fraction. with one delegate at large
from each county. After this basis
had been agreed upon il was discovered
that a few Of the western Kansas Coun-
ties had not east for the Republican
ticket last fall the major fraction Of 500
votes. and 50 an addition was made 10
the resolution fixing the basis. which
provided that no county should have
less than two delegates.
Chairman Leland and Secretary Bris-
tow viii issue the official call tomorrow
morning.
No action was taken by the commit
tee in the direction Of calling the CON
vention for the nomination Of state
officers. However. II seemed to be the
opinion OF the committee that the con-
Vention should not be called earlier than
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-07

Ozark country, with the same character
istics as 10 soil and climate as the Othe1<,
and the same magnificent water pow.
ers. 1t has less mineral wealth and kas
forest than the other two sections, but
more rich farming land.
Twenty counties IN Arkansas and 81
counties in Missouri lie within the
boundaries of this undeveloped region.
Eighteen of them have not a mile OF
railroad. Twelve others are but little
better off, with single railroad cutting
eff corner or striking the border or
penetrating TO the county seat Yet
the so counties each contain, by the last
census, population ranging tom 5000
40 $1,000. There are living in this Ger
TitOry 100000 people who are more tnan
ten miles from railroad station and
$4,000 Of them never rode on the cara
St Louis Globe-Dennocrat.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-07

News cones 70 Us that q village in the
vicinity of Cincinnati has up 20 very
recent date been so extremely good that
IL had no town hall or jail, neither any
L = for them, but al a. once somebody
has been very bad. and -'duraace vile"
vas a necessity.
There Is in this locality an Old build
Ing called the Free Church. so named
because for many years ii had been CO
cupied by all denominations II had,
however, been tenantless for so<ne tine.
and possibly il the hope that good In
auences might descend upon the cul-
prit, cell vas par-itioned OF IN one
corner OF the building, and thu man
was confined therein. Following his
example. other men committed crimes.
and additional cells were prepared. u
I'll now the entire building has been
eonverced INTO jzil.-S. y. Ledger.