davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-06
A RUSSIAN WANDERER,
One Life Exile Paul Sang Is Now
Eager to Return to His Ma
tive Moscow.

In Sixth-street lodging house, waiting
for permission to return TO his native
country, is a man who has not yet arrived
at middle age, but who has had the varied
experience of being condemned to life
exile IN Siberia. of being twice expelled
from France and subsequently, of wander
ing through Spain, the northern part of
Africa and the United States. He is Paul
Sang, a native of Moscow, Russia, and he
has been in this country for the last five
years.
During his stay in this City he has been
engaged in diversified writing for different
publications. To the localsournals he has
contributed three poems-"The Appeal
While in Prison Cell, " 1.-THE Conqueror"
and "The Cosmopolitan reflections
of his peculiar personality and experience.
Speaking of his life the young Russian
said last night:
was arrested in 1885 for having expressed
and published nihlnst sentiments and l was
eXiled to Siberia for lie, but in 1888 was
pardoned at st. Petersburg. In 1888 and 1884
when the late Alexander was Gar, / wrote
against the policy OF the Russian Government
and its persecu ton OF those whose religious
belief did not conform with the Orthodox
church The Golos, one OF the leading papers
of Moscow, published my articles.
After my return from Siberia l was in France
for time, but was expelled from that coun-
try in 1890 ana again in 1891. 1t was the
same old charge-nihilist sentiments. Russia
and France were really allies. France needs
Russia's assistance in the event of war with
Germany and Russia needs France in financial
matters.
When I left Russia in 1883 I had passport
permitting me TO be absent from the country
for five years. 1t was issued to me by the Gov
ernor OF kurland, one of the Baltic provinces.
! showed that paper TO the Russian Consuls in
Spain and in Africa, and when | explained my
destitute condition was assisted by the Con-
sIls from their private means, the Russian
Government, unlike most other countries, fur
nishing no fund to their Consuls for such pur-
poses.
Three years ago lost the passport in Color
ado while working on the railroad. | have
just written g letter this evening to the Rus
sian Consul al Washington asking him if he
can furnish me a document that viii entltle
me to cross the frontier into my own country.
II his reply be favorable l shall have to in
form him that | have no present means of
defraying the expenses OF travel, for lately
have been sick and in consequence, my earn
| ings are almost exhausted.
Tonight is the Russian Christmas eve, there
| being a difference of twelve days between the
Russian calendar and the common calendar. l
was born Christmas day, 1860, by the Russian
| calendar, and SO tomorrow, January g, / shall
| be 80 years old. For three years l have never
| heard a word from my relatives, many of
whom are well-to-do people in Moscow.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-06
SCORES THE SOLID EIGHT BLACK IN THE FACE,
The Rev. w. w. Case Lays a
Great Many Evils at
Their Door.
Chooses as His Text "Let His Days
Be Few and Let Another Take
His Office"

DR.. w. w. Case of the Howard-street
Methodist Church delivered a severe ar
raignment last evening of the "Solid
Eight and took the Civic Federation to
task because it has, as he said, assumed
too lofty a position and not stopped to
cleanse the lower evils, such as dives and
improper pictures on blllboards that ap-
pear IN different places around the city.
He chose his text from psalm clx:o: Let
his days be few and let another take his
office"
81 think" said the doctor, "this might
apply very we'll to the Solid Eight 1t is
astonishing how the Bible has text Tor
everything.
9TH, question is being asked, Should
the Civic Federation live or dle% 1t has
done something in the past, but IL mas
not done all it should have done.
''Its purpose is good; the question OF
municipal government IS live question,
and one which will receive yet more atten-
ton in days to come.
1.-The cities are now controlling the
masses OF the people, but politics IN the
city is run by rings, and the people, you
and |, If we vote at all, we vote like serts.
You and | are too respectable to go to a
political caucus or TO attend those pre-
iminaries where the pipes are laid and
the machinery prepared. And you and l
are led along little innocent lambs.
''There is something practical in the idea
of a civic federation, but not much for it at
the present time. | do not know If We
should blame the Civic Federation as much
as the people who have shown so much
apathy.
MANLY support is wanted to help it ac-
complish its aims. The Civic Federation
has been little bit on the high horse
and allowed lowly things to escape its at
tention. There exists multitude of evils
that first should be considered, and this
blindness is not for lack of public sym
patty.
Let clergyman be accused of immor-
atty, and all the people within the city
walls hold up their hands in holy horror.
This is one indication that there is left a
trace Of morality in the human race. This
Is powerful indication, and it shows there
is moral sense right here in San Fran
cisco. But why do not some of the City
Fathers have little of this moral sense?
at would not take them an hour t.
4rame law which would cleanse off every
billboard in this City. Why don't they do
it? Have they no sisters, no mothers, no
wives?
at seems to me that if a man has a
spark OF manhood in him he would sweep
away these vile things that debauch our
children. Must we get down on our knees
and pray? Must We get up great, big pc
titions?
u hold the Board of Supervisors re-
sponsible for it and all the evil it engen-
ders.
Let the Civic Federation get down a
little from its stilted position and take
these things into consideration.
LET 1t punch up our City Fathers and
see that offices and contracts are not given
to favored bidders. More men than are
employed are on the City's payroll.
Let the Civic Federation awake and
form committee of hundred men and
let these things be thoroughly looked to.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-06
A PECULIAR STORY.
Mrs. Davidson Tells How She Fell
Into the Clutches of the Law.

Mrs. Davidson Tells How She Fell
Into the Clutches of the Law.
Mrs. Davidson, about whom so much
has been written and said during the past
seven days, has at last made a statement
concerning the time spent in the Woman
Reformatory School and the causes lead
ing to her incarceration.
1t is wonderful, weird story, and she
tells it with that same earnestness and
seriousness which characterizes her every
utterance.
Il had not intended to speak of past
events, she said yesterday, sat least not
now, but as [ have nothing to conceal or to
be ashamed of, there is no reason why /
should continue to allow people TO think
III OF me. My family is one Of the best in
the New England States, and l have
always been associated with only first-class
people. To 90 into all the details OF my
young days would not interest the people
OF San Francisco, because it matters moth
ing to them whether was well born and
used to the best society or only skinned
along the ragged edge. So, with the mere
mention that | have been twice married,
fnally settling in Lynn, will proceed to
the interesting feature, as viewed by DR..
Brown and his friends, of my life
u opened piano and music house at
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-06

afterward Mrs. Charles Dubois of this
CITY, Alice, Addie, Matte, DR.. Browns
friend Lille and several smaller children.
The family left Alsea Valley about
twenty-five years since. Overman had
gone to Eastern Washington and selected
Walia Walla as place of residence. He
returned and announced it as his inten-
ton to move. The children had no suit
able clothing, and it is narrated that sew
eral neighbor women volunteered their
services and contributed labor by sewing
for some days before their departure.
They left finally and went to Walla Walla,
and later to a small farm near that city.
The subsequent movements of various
members OF the family have already been
printed in the papers.
When she left Asea. Matte was about 5
years old. and is tn refore now about 81.
She was in Spokane a while, and engaged
with sister in dressmaking. They ap-
peared to have conducted themselves in q
manner that did not commend them to
the entire community OF Spokane as mod.
els OF propriety and modesty, for Spo.
kane paper said that the announcement OF
Matte Overman that she intended to &c
TO san Francisco to study stenography
ana typewrltlng caused broad smile
among those who knew her.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-06
FIENDJSH PLEASURE.
An East Indian Woman who Was as
Cruel as She Was Beautiful.

An East Indian Woman Who Was as
Cruel as She Was Beautiful,
In person the Begun Somru was small,
with a graceful, softly rounded figure, a
complexion of dazzling fairness, large
black eyes full of animation, deIicately
chiseled features, and a hand and arm of
such perfect symmetry that native poets
sang of them as matchless wonders of
beauty. Her dress was always in exquisite
taste and of the costliest material. She
spoke Persian and Hindoostanee fuently.
Her manners were charming. and her con-
versation spirited, sensible and engaging.
But as a set-off to this long array of per-
sonal attractions, her character was de-
ties BILE. She was cruel, vindictive and
trescherous. If one of her servants dis
pleased or disobeyed her, she would order
his nose and ears to be cut off in her pres
ence and watch the mutilation with
gusto, while she placidly smoked her
hookah.
When one of her dancing girls offended
her by attracting the attention OF a favor
lite officer, she, in fit of furious jealousy,
ordered the unfortunate girl TO be buried
alive. There. was a small vault under the
pavement of saloon in which the nautch
dances were held, and in that vault the
Begun saw her victim bricked up. When
the horrible work was done, she COM
manded the other nautch girls to come out
and dance over the grave in which their
still-living sister was entomhed. Accord
ing TO one account-denied by some OF
those who have investigated the story-the
Begun, that SIC might extract the last
drops of fiendish pleasure out of the cup
of revenge, had her couch placed exactly
over the vault.-Boston Post.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-06
SHE is NOT POPULAR.
Tho Sentiment of Members of DR..
Browns Church Turning Against
Miss OVerman


The members of the congregation of DR..
Browns church are rapidly losing their
respect for Miss Matte Overman. They
feel that she has been the direct cause of
DR.. Browns troubles and do not care to
shield her.
The fact of her many escapades in the
Northwest, from Montana to the Sound is
lniuring her cause. 1t was first thought
that she was as innocent as Sunday-school
teachers usually are. 1t now turns out
that she is divorced woman.
Miss Oyerman's escapades in Montana.
Washington and British Columbia are all
coming under the fashlight. 1t was
stated at first that her divorced husband
Don Sliveira, was dead that he had been
shot and killed at the gambling table. 1t
now turns out that Silveira is very much
alive. He is waiter in restaurant at
Great Falls He is known in Montana
under the sobriquet as digger Don"
Sllyeira tells some things Of his former
wife that reflect on her character.
The story comes from Seattle that Miss
OVerman's name was connected with sew
eral escapades that young women with
proper conception of the good usually
avoid.
Miss Overman was also resident of Vic
toria, B. c.. for time. She and her sister
conducted a dressmaking esta blishment in
that city. Their parlors, so the story goes,
were frequented by a gay set at late hours
at night,
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-06
DR.. BROWN IN THE EYES Of HIS BRET

! church at Fresno, which was called by the
Tulare church and the First Church of
Oakland, as being the nearest parallel case
in California.
AT the time of Henry Ward Beecher's
connection with the famous Tilton scan
dial, a small church at Andover, Mass,
tired of the dilatoriness of Plymouth
Church, Beechers charge at Brooklyn,
called a council for investigation. The
council found itself in the condition of a
chung jury" and dissolved. Afterward
Plymouth Church called a council, in
which most of the States were represented
| the greatest council of the kind ever called
The findings of the great council exoner-
ated Beecher.
Ii, IN the progress of the present trial,
DIR. Brown does not disprove the charges
made against him, and does not resign his
pastorate, the first step in the procedure,
according to Congregational polity, will
be that the First Church, through its Off
GERS, ask an explanation of the dame cling
statements. If this be not forthcoming,
or not satisfactory, the church, individu-
ally or conformity with the pastor, may
call council of churches
If this be not done it will devolve upon
another church, and according to usual
custom the church geographically nearest
and, if there be any doubt as to location,
the church strongest, in a numerical sense,
to call such council. If the finding of the
council be that the pastor is guilty, in case
of such forced council, the pastor would
be deprived of the fellowship of other
churches because of that guilt, and his
church would also lose the privileges OF
such fellowship because of its negligence.
| Plymouth Church would be expected to
! take the initiative in such a course because
of its contiguity to the First Church.
The Bay Association of Congregational
| Churches Will hold its regular meeting
this month. The meeting would regularly
occur next week, but because of the posi-
bility of DR.. Browns asking a hearing
| from that body its session will be delayed
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-06
DR.. BROWN FRUSTRATED.
His Absence From the Pulpit of His
Church Yesterday Caused
His Flock Pain

was glad when they said unto me, "Come
into the house of the Lord
This is the inscription that spans the
arch oyer the sanctuary of the First Con-
gregational Church. But there was no
gladness within the great edifce 1t was
all gloom. There was sorrow in the hea rts
of those who attended the morning and
evening services at the church yesterday.
That sorrow was everywhere manifest. 1t
was seen IN the serious faces, the faltering
voices, the moistened eyes, the bowed
heads and the earnest prayers of those
good people who daily walk in the foot
prints OF the Savior; those good people
whose sorrow was their pastors sorrow
and who now sorrow with him, who were
usually glad when they came into the
house of the Lord"
Professor Lloyd of the Pacific Uniyer-
sity conducted both services yesterday.
He is comparatively young man, ex-
ceptlonally bright, profoundly learned.
AS a scholar and theologian he stands
among the first. His discourse in the
morning was more of an instruction, an
instruction on the conscience. In the
evening he directed his remarks to young
men, showing their value to the Nation
and civilization, and how the Nation and
civilization are dependent upon them for
the glory and triumph of the future. TIE
professor was followed with marked at
tention by his listeners. He m ade no ref
erence to the cloud of scandal now low
ering over the church.
DR.. Brown was not present at either
service yesterday. 1t was stated by his
friends that he was i'll at his home The
ordeal of the witness-stand on Saturday
had been followed by nervous prostration
Therefore he remained in bed all day, and
was nursed by a faithful and loving wife.
His absence from the pulpit, especially in
the evening, was perceptibly painful. Had
he been there in all the triumph and splen-
have been his faithful followers as they
'came into the house of the Lord" AS it
was they were lonely without him. They
missed him from the throne. They sor-
rowed for him. There were tears in the
voice OF the choristers. ALI prayed fervently
for "those who were in trouble" Then.
with bowed heads, they went out into the
night.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-06

Lynn some ten or twelve years ago, and
from the very start my business prospered.
[ sold pianos on commission or simply
rented them if the parties so desired. One
day a lady came to me and said: i would
like to buy the piano which | rented some
time ago, but | haven't any money now
and you will have To wait
Il was not allowed to do that kind of
business, but as the lady was good, | con-
cluded to submit the proposition to the
house. This did, and received their con-
sent to sell the piano on the conditions
named by the purchaser. Some time after
this the same thing occurred, followed
quickly by several sales on the same con-
ditions.
lone day | started for Boston, only a
few miles away. 1t was excessively warm,
and as stepped from the car | fell to the
ground, and of what happened immedi-
ately afterward l have not the slightest
recollection.
I'm fact. it was many months before l
Iregalned my senses. | had been Frustrated
by the heat-sunstroke, | suppose-and
while L was in that condition the case,
which ended in sending me to the reform
school, was brought against me. | never
knew what became of my business or the
nature of the charges brought against me,
or on what grounds they secured my COM
mitment
months alter my release l met the
prosecuting attorney and he told me that
1t was miserable shame that advantage
had been taken of my condition. He was
sorry for the part lie played, and assured
me that he was confident of my innocence.
LAS an evidence that l stood we'll IN
Massachusetts,, l point to my eight years
business record. Had been dishonest or
guilty of anything shady as it is called,
do you suppose for moment that | could
have secured situation involving the
handling of large sums of money?
'For two years | was connected with a
large wholesale grocery house at New
Haven, then accepting the New England
agency for the corset house l still have the
honor to represent. Such, in brief, is the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-06
DR.. GRAFT FOR DR.. BROWN.
He breaches on the Relation of
Pastors to Many Kinds of Fe-
male Admirers

large portion of the sermon at the
First Free Baptist Church, Oakland. yes
terday morning, was devoted to the Brown
scandal.
The speaker, Rev. DR.. Graft, said it was
timely admonItion always, but especially
now, that ministers and lay folks resolve
to be more carefully guarded in their So
cial relations and keep their tongues from
speaking guile. He continued:
Painful recent events open afresh the dis
cusslon OF the clergymans relation to the
female admirers of his flock. 1t is no unusual
thing Tor popular pulpit orator with COM
mand1ng brains and fat salary and swell
church to become the idol figure of worship to
number of women, some of whom, perhaps,
are disgruntled or divorced wives that find
balm and charm in his ready sym pathies, others
likely are maidens of sentimental type that
gush over his looks and eloauence, while
possibly third class, keen-eyed and cold
Dlooded scheners, play on him game OF in
trlgue and fattery in order to entrap and
blackmail.
Often, TOO, there is goodly body of noble
women, who, adoring purity of character and
robust, high grade intellect, and electricity
and grace of utterance, and finding all these
qualities adjoining the life of their pastor set
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-06
Drs. Williams, RAIDER and Graft
Plead for Suspension of
Judgment.
MRS. DAVIDSON ON HER PAST.
Another Missing Witness-First Con.
gregatiOnal Church in Mourn.
ing-Dr. Brown Ill.

For the first time since Mrs. Davidson 8
the Women's Reform Prison. Her story
is a remarkably peculiar and weird one,
but she relates it with that same earnest
ness which has characterized all her ut
terances. She contends that she was
guilty of no wrong, but was the victim of
designing persons.
The Congregational ministers are dis
posed to withhold their judgment of DR..
Brown until the preliminary hearing of
Mrs. Davidson is concluded.
DR.. W. D. Williams and Rev. William r.
RAIDER, both prominent divines and both
friends of DR.. Brown, speaking yesterday
in behalf of the Congrega tional ministry of
the City and vicinity, said that Judgment
should certainly be suspended until the
law had taken its course. Afterward, if
Dr. Brown could not satisfactorily explain
the appearance of evil, he would be de-
prived of fellowship with the churches and
ministry.
DR.. Graft, an eminent Baptist minister
OF Oahlanoi enUerIalns similar views, say
ing thai DR.. Brown should be given all
latitude possible to explain away the
damaging charges now standing against
him. He expatiates on the peculiar temp
tations of a pastor and the popular preiu-
dice likely to exist in the case of any cleri-
cal scandal.
Treasurer Johanson OF the Young Peo-
pies Society resigned his position yester-
day. He was member of Mrs. Davidson s
Bible class and had confidence in that
Iady's innocence. The resignation was
made at a meeting of the society yester-
day afternoon. c. G. Nagle upheld DR..
Brown and said that he would eventually
clear himself of the charges against his
good name.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-06
odd Foods From Germany.

The many German provinces are large
exporters of odd foods to the United
States Besides such common products as
sauerkraut, sausages, picked behring's and
soused mackerel, they send hares and wild
boars in the winter time; curious con-
lection called matzapan, which is made OF
white sugar, cream and blanched almonds
various kinds of bread, pastry and confec-
tionery. Occasionally they send cabbages
and potatoes. The former are smaller
than our own, but are usually more deli
cate and finer favored. The latter are
small, round and altogether inferior to our
own product. Other foods are goose
breasts, which are dried, smoked and
pickled special kinds of ham, for which,
it should be added, they charge special
prices, and very delicious mushroom.
which is grown in caverns along the Rhine
and the other river courses PHILADELPHIA
Times.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-06
SaIa's FIERY Temner.

George Augustus Sala had peculiarly
uncertain temper. Once at dinner given
by him in honor of Henry Irving, Lord
hosebery, who was among the guests,
made speech, gently bantering the actor
Sala instantly took osfense, and delivered
terrific TRADE which began with, "Arcbi,
bald Philip Primrose, Earl of Roseberv
you have dared this night to insult a ma
who has served his country in every quar-
ter OF the globe" And so on at erea1
length, with tremendous vehemence. Thu
table was thunderstruek, but Lord Rose
perry MADE another speech, which soothe,
to tears, - =
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-06
CAUSED A SMILE.
Miss OVerman's Attempt to Study
Stenography and TypeWriting
Results In Mirth,

PORTLAND, Or, Jan. SIT is not gen.
orally known that the family of Miss
Matte Overman, who has secured so
much notoriety in connection with the
Brown-Davidson scandal in San Fran
cisco, was originally from Alsea Valley,
just south of Yaquina Bay, then in Benton
County. The father was John Overman,
and he conducted small ranch
They were miserably poor. The rank of
children was as follows: Lizzie, who was
atterward married several times; Ollie,