davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09
The Social States Jack Tar and His Temptations When Ashore

ewer pleasures than the farmland, and
receives less for his work. His chances
for advancement are few, and year by year
they are decreasing.
Jack Tar leaves the sea sometimes and
becomes toller on the land. He tills the
soil, buys and sells, and sometimes he sits
in dingy or handsome Office.
The song of the sea is yet in his soul.
The pictures he loves best are of wastes of
foam or stately craft. He reads the poe
try of the deep and smells the brine.
He likes to watch the ships go out from
the haven under the hill, and with each
there goes an unexpressed longing vision
of new lands, and of creature living and
puIsing, who carries her human freight SO
nobly. The sight of a wreck beating on
the rocks brings pang as from watching
the agony of some great soul. We all feel
some of this sadness at the sight of dead
or dying ship, even though we know not
why.
The sailors who enter the port of San
Francisco are of all nations. There are
many of the broad and ruddy sons of
Johnny Bull, for whose benefit the saloons
hang out their notice, English Ale and
Dublin Porter" The fair-haired Swede
comes in numbers, and the dark Italian
feels at home. In the Sailors Home
which is not a charity, but temperance
clearinghouse, may be seen almost every
type of face and figure, and more intelli-
gent faces than stupid ones.
The American Jack Tar is worthy of a
higher social status than is now granted
him. He is worthy of more moral help,
more brotherly treatment.
To make a sailor there must be used
material that would make good man for
any work. He must be brave, for
his fighting is done without hope
of escape, and on our modern
warships he must endure the tortures of a
lost soul in the heat of battle. He carries
his life in his hand ever. and must ever be
ready to yield it up to the voice of the
storm. He must have the trained muscles
and the quick eye of an athlete and the
stoicism of philosopher.
OLIVE HEYDEN.
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

Who is Jack Tar2 Where is his homer
Does he vote? Is he nee or bond2 What
kind of life is his
Jack is a seaman. Merchant and ma
rlne alike belong TO the Tar family. A
large family it is, and in common with all
families of size it contains many types.
And the social status of Jack Tar varies
somewhat, but until he gets handle to
his name there is no danger that society
will trouble itself about him. The family
is Jumped together under the name of
sailors, and cassed as amphibious animals
of no account except to sail ships and
swell the profits of waterfront grogshops.
He is the sojourner OF night, and the
problem is to get all his scanty wages in
as short time as possible.
What does Jack slave for if not to bene-
fl his friends VINO make life glorious for
him during the first three days after be is
paid Off 1t is pleasant to have his back
stroked, 10 hear the coaxing "Come,
pussy. pussy" and he forgets the "Scat
YOU beastr' that will follow when his
money is gone.
1t is not because of innate depravity
that Jack gets drunk and wild on shore.
1t is reaction. 1t is striking the average,
finding the mean temperature of life.
There is only monotony in the life of a
sailor on long voyage. Work that is
never done, that comes with the coming
of every oay, and that he knows will
come as long as he is on the deep; food
that never varies; an utter lack of per-
sonal freedom, and firm check on origi-
nality.
1t is not to be wondered at if, when
loosed for a few days or weeks, after
months or years of such life, Jack seeks
noise, lawlessness, and reckless freedom.
He finds it.
70 welcome him there stand at the
landing the rum-seller. the gambler, and
the woman of the dark. They love Jack.
They remember him from voyage to voy-
age and welcome him with beaming eyes
whose light dazzles the sailor lad and
blinds him to their gaping pockets.
And Jack is not miser. On the con.
trary Jack has magnificent disregard for
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09
A TRIP TO The DOG STAR.

tragedy OF proud Octavia street, in one
act Scene. q back yard.
! DRAMATIS SON4E-MARGARET, chance
sojourner from Calaveras County; OLD DOG
TRAY, canine; PISTOL, an engine of dispa tch
OLD DOC TRAY Bow-w WOW, brrrr-ow
MARGARET-I wake from dreams of CITY
Joys with pain at heart, for on my slum-
bering ears there fell sound that made
me think of home and l am with nostalgia
whelmed. Gals asleep With tear on her
lovely and natural eyetashes.)
OLD Doc TRAY-Wow. WOW. WOW. ow.
ow, ow, WOW, WOW, WOW, etc.
MARGARET-Once more / wake but tits
not home, nor is the sound the voice of
bru1n on the everlasting and aspiring
hills. Ursus Maiesticus Perhaps my
Latin's mixed, but tbs not he.
OLD Doc TRAY-Wow, WOW, WOW, ow.
ow, WOW, ow, etc.
MARGARET (ter great soulful orbs turned
towdrd the chimney How beautiful
the moon! How like silver gondola the
lacy cloud sails through the ambient air
How's that2 Pretty good for Calaveras,
don't you think?
OLD Doc TRAY-Bow wowi Wow, bow /!
Bow, WOW, WOW! Bow, bow, bowlll
Wooo-willl
MARGARET (sloacly raises window and some
thing gtitters situery in her scuEptured right
hand )-Take that, you brute.
PISTOL = Bang (Perfect silence follows
and continues t0ithout interruption The
moon looks oskant at the closing sci,,dow and
at Margaret, who appears to be clad IN phite
sanaite.)
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09
GRATIFIED CURIOSITY.

How the Simian solved secret in q one
act tragedy.
Scene-A Marketstreet store.
DRAMATIs PERsoNE-CARIATIDEs, SINH
an; TowsER, a house-dog.
TowsER (munchsng g-biscuit)-What a
unny-looking monkey!
CARIATIDEs-W What is that puppy saying Z
TowsER- Say, monk. do you want some
bread?
CARIATIDEs-I am not sick. (Aside.) /
do wonder what that stuff tastes like!
TowsER- Because was going to say
that need this all myself.
CARIATDEs-I don't want any. (S2yly
reaches out pau and gets the bread away
from the doq)
TowsER-Here. Where is that bread?
CARIATIDEs (bolting the biscuit)-Gone
where it will not trouble you any more.
TowsER-l am a thoroughbred and a
boarder in this house, and I'll have that
biscuit.
Here the parrot, the bushy- tailed squirrel,
the guinea pig and all the canary birds, who
act as audience, applaud loudly.1
CARIATIDEs- You can't have it.
TowsER (flli,g his mouth aoith monkey
Gimme that bread.
CARrArIDEs (upsettiag goldfish globe and
t,oo cages of canaries)-It's gone.
[Dog biscuit has its natural effect and makes
the monkey bark. This is taken as a challenge
by the dog, and the monkey is killed.
TowsER-He was too curious; that's all.
OMNEs-He was.
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09
BERNAL HEIGHTS CALAMITY.

DRAMATIS Observation-Disclosures, owner
of 8 goat; WILLIAM GOAT ESQ.,, a member of the
agitation committee; ANGELINA, affianced to
McMurtrie. One time and several motions.
McMURTRIE (soIus)-I shall see Angelina
tonight. She will come in her youth and
innocence to the soiree dansante. which is
French. While the talent furnish music,
McMurtrie and Angelina will cut great
dandy sight, I'll see Angelina home in
spite of McManus and the bulldog.
WILLIAM GOAT Eso.-Oh. what snap!
have an inkling that there will be gath
ering at the hall, and will be there.
ANGELINA = Still my futtering heart,
the over eighty pulsations to the minute,
standard time. will dance every time,
for there is nothing slow about me.
McMURTRIE-she is here! And isn't she
bird
WILLIAM GoAr ESQ. Shaking has horns
gly)-Baa-a-a-a.
ANGEL1NA-Good evening, dearest.
McMURTRIE-Good evening, sweetest.
WILLIAM GOAT EsQ-Baa-a-a.
ANGELINA-What a lovely goat.
McMURTRIE-Yes. He is a trick goat
and finely trained.
ANGEIINA-But don't he butt?
McMURTRIE-Gentle as a dove. IRE
leases goat-)
WILLIAM GOAT Eso.-Baa-a-a.
ANGELINA-Oh-h-h. (Goat strikes her down,
jumps on her, hooks her dress, chews her hat,
AcMurtrie beating the beast all the tinac.)
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

paid anything at all, and again clutchlng
pad and pencil hurried down the room
to scan the rows of accusing and expect
ant faces with confused misgivings about
their respective teas and coffees and
haunting consciousness that some one
somewhere was still hungering for corn
batter cakes. The crowds thinned out and
the walters took turns eating. The second
cook furnished us with a double allowance
,of everything we liked, and as / sank
gratefully down at an empty table | real
lzed for the first time that l. was nearly
dead. Ny back ached miserably and my
feet seemed on fire. was forced to wipe
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

OF ''that blooming gravy" on a dyspeptic
Englishman's roast beef after an express
command to the contrary, and the ire
pressible pantry boy, whom they all or
dered about, convulsed us with an account
of his own palmy days and the considerate
treatment accorded him at the Palace.
There was a humping sound at the
swinging doors, and crash of crockery.
The other "girlee" had disregarded the
order, keep to the right" and had
daintily kicked the left-hand portal just
as the Dutch waiter-boy doomed against 1t
from the opposite side. In consequence
half pint OF soup was distributed over
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09
THE PACE THAT KILLS.

DRAMATIS ON1E-LUCULLUs, a kind
hearted Jehu; BUcEPHALUs, an antiquated nag.
ACCESSORIES -Streetcar in which General WASH
ington rode to the front at the battle of Tren-
ton; a whip with bale-rope lash.
LUcuLLUs-To right and left proud build
ings rise and can almost think this is the
Appian way. But, ah! how fallen is Ira
JAMS son-that's me-g'lang!
BUCEPHALUs-Proud Alexander. where
art thou? Ages have gone since thou be-
strobe my glistening sides, but / recall
thee still; how we together in the days
long since were great. Let me think.
LUcULLUs-G' lang.
BUcHEPHALUs-Ignoble whip, l heed thee
not for centuries have tanned my hide
until the papyrus of ancient Egypt soft is
i com mparison. But still thy insults vie
ana in me moves proud memories All!
would / could escape from self Then
could / tamely do my masters bidding
and from degenerate men of later times
assist to gather nickels.
LUcULLUs-G' lang.
BUcEPHALUs-An! find / this repeated
too much. I'll break my bonds and seek
fair Macedon and Alexander if he lives
like me a-stringing ages on his life-like
beads. Begins to ksck.
LUcULLUs-G'la lang.
BUcEPHALUs- Alas! too far is Mace.
donia l will die. One short, sharp run
and all is Ger. Begins TO run.
LUcULLUs-Wh By Casar's beard i'm
perial, what is this?
fBucephalus runs half block and dies.1
The Car falls to pieces under the unexpected
spurt and buries the driver.
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

Plnlng for little excitement entered
restaurant where waitress was wanted
and offered my services. It was almost
dihner-time. The proprietor's frau looked
me over with her dull, stupid eyes and
said, go to Tina; she'll tell you what to
do"
Tina was the head waitress, weary
looking girl with dark rings under her
eyes, frowzy head and mourning garb.
A rival assistant, petite, fair and timid,
had already presented herself, and Tina,
after trial, was to choose between us.
Through the swinging doors into the
dark anteroom, with its heaps of bread,
vegetables and groceries, and on to the
sultry, crowded kitchen, where four pairs
of masculine eyes peered at me through
clouds of steam. Ny brain was reeling
with endless directions, prices of dishes
and rapidly succeeding orders.
Twice on the pot pie, once on the roast
pork, liver on the slde!' I called out
triumphantly, and, reaching over my
rivals shoulder for a pile of cups and
saucers, approached the great smoking
range, whereon stood two copper cal
drons of tea and coffee, with FURNISHED
spigots, and beyond them innumerable
seething kettles, pots and pans.
My orders were filed, and had come
back with four or five more.
'Hold on, girleer' called the pantry
boy. "Here's your bread for those first
orders"
The blood mounted to my cheeks.
''My name is Miss Ella, if you please! T."
I retorted curtly, snstching up two plates
of butter to crown the tower of bread.
and wiping up the gravy that had poured
from fitting platter in my other hand.
"Well, I-er-excuse me-" replied the
youth, blushing, "but that's what we
always call 'em. I guess you'll have to
get used TO it."
And so 1 did, for both the cooks and
the dishwasher used the endearing term
with perfect impartiality and spared
themselves the trouble of learning new
girls names.
Backward and forward we rushed,
screaming our orders, tiinging aside stacks
of soiled napkins, broken bread and half
eaten victuals, and cIattering the great
clumsy dishes until the din was frightful,
and if George, the second cook, had not
been very tall and very easy-going, he
would have been quite overwhelmed by
the confusion of our demands and our
persistent appropriation of each others
viands. His eagle eye and long arm pre-
sided over what momentarily threatened
to become hopeless chaos.
Not so much milk in that coffee, girlee;
the boss can't afford it. Herel Don'trun
off with that fellows beefsteak, now, till L
put some grass on it.
And ne dived into tin can for the nee
essary sprigs OF watercress, while Tina
came in to rate him for having put some
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09
ges Midsummer in Gay and Thouehdess Meropo
The FATAL DIAMOND.

DRAMATIS PERSON E-MARI1 ANA, a Beauti-
full Maiden; POISSON, an Unlucky Fish; BER-
NARDo a Lucky Reporter; BENJAMIN, an Un.
sympathetic Lapidary.
MARIANA He does not come The
night wears on apace. Fair Luna grows
apaIe as on she walks in festal garb alone
although the corridors of awful space.
Alone! All, am | not alone, bereft, when
dear Bernardo is afar? What holds his
Iaggard feet-or is he false? Fair bauble
(apostrophizing ring on her engagement faa-
oer). mirror thou the rays of yonder moon,
and as nv tears upon thy facets fall be-
come thou lovelier, as snow and moon
light 'hance each others charms. Hal
(The ring falls off the end of the Uharf and
she .fajnts-) ACT II.
Poisson (soIus)-U nlucky was / born,
unlucky live. These shining scales pre-
doomed to fade on market slab. Ali
what is that? (Swallolcs the diamond ring
BERYARDo-Wh hat, Mariana not here!
Then l viii fish. drops line.)
Poisson (feebly taking hook)-I die, die
(Dies.) ACT III.
BERNARDo- Even so. This diamond
found in yonder fish fortune is. Now to
the lapidary.
IA little later; scene, Third street,
BENJAMIN Diamond, my young frend2
Vely good. very good (Laughs.) That
IS aprize- package ring.
BERNARDO (ezamiaing ring)-'Tis so, and
an saved eTis Maritsnas ring and she
is dead. Devoured by fish-sad fate and
straAgel So small fish to eat so large a
girl! But I am free
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

the street. He was promptly frowned
down, however, by both the cooks, as fire.
quently happened when he ventured upon
low topics of conversation or coarse famili-
arity | was surprised to see how dis
tinctly the line was drawn among these
comrades. Tina had called George "a
chrome" the moment before, and he had
slapped her with dishtowel. but the
risque Jokes of the evil-minded waiter-boy
were considered .'too fresh"
"Tvice on the vatermelon!, he vocifer-
ated as we left the broiling atmosphere of
the kitchen and approached the front
counter. Here the stupid frau dispensed
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

found a moment now and then to lean
wearily against the low PARTITION of the so
called 'ladies' dining-room" and ex-
change few forlorn condolences across it.
The lives of my two companions seemed
dreary and aimless enough. The fact that
timid little Lucy, but the phlegmatic little
Tina turned her dark, weary eyes upon
me with stoEd indifference for the
trif1ing exertions and responsibilities i'm
piled in that exalted Office. The afternoon
At6 came another rush, and at last it
was 8 O'Clock. l dragged myself home
seemed endless.
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

He needs pay no rent for the space his
ship covers, and no man can say, "Yo ou
must not cross this waste. 1t is mine. l
bought it.
But Jack Tar is slave. He is subject
to most arbitrary rules, and at the mercy
or the caprice of few. often the vassal of
one man.
He works hard and lives hard. He has
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

before we can all soar together. And it is
not only pretty sentiment, but fact in
nature, that we must soar together, not
alone.
But to return to earth again-and the
sea thereof.
The sailor who leaves somewhere a wife
and little ones has a safeguard-often a
poor one, still a safeguard. If it only
makes him head straight for the Office to
send part of his pay to Nancy before he
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

cool desserts and delicious hotcakes, while
her handsome husband took in the money
and looked the landscape Ger" for neg
lected customers.
"Once on the crab saladp' I faltered
miserably, seeing patient and picturesque
member of the jeunesse doree still waiting
for his order at a further table.
"Where are my corn batter -cakes?" de-
manded an elderly business man at my
elbow, while the epicurean banker oppo-
site glowered at me across his platter
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

turns his face ashore, it helps that much.
Whether it is pleasant to be Nancy and
think of Jack in danger on the sea and in
worse danger on a foreign shore is an
other story. The sailor cannot be real
success as family man as long as he fol-
lows his trade.
l wonder if the sailor cares because he
loses his vote so often. Does he remem-
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

the front of her dress and her blue eyes
swan with tears. 'Vell, velli We all
does similar till We gets experience, my
deari
And with killing glance of his bold,
black eyes, he smiled gayly at her predica-
ment and left her to gather up the broken
dishes. But his ogling was not agreeable
to her and she ignored him, while he
winked at the cook and went on to make
some undertoned remark about having
Just mashed certain character upon
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

Der election day when the waves rise and
fall to the horizons edge and long for the
ballot and the poll, or does he feel that
with his dominion over the sea he can af-
ford to smile at the smallness of political
struggles?
The sailor ought to be free. He should
be more independent than his brother
whose very foothold on the land is con-
tested. No one claims the sea, its quiver-
ing breast belongs to each Jack Tar alike.
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

own them. And Jack is our brother. And
we are our brothers keeper. whether we
wish to be or not. And so long as she and
he grovels and suffers you and may not
enjoy our wings entirely and soar as high
with them as we could wish. We must
give Jack wings-other than canvas ones
and the black vampires wings must be
changed to as spotless white as our own
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

dross, even philosophical conception of
its uselessness in the abstract. Indeed,
Jack is always a philosopher. and the real
trouble is that the llnd of no civilized
nation is a fit abiding place for real
philosopher-and Jack lacks wit enough
lin most cases) to stow away his philos-
ophy when the anchor touches bottom.
And these people who greet Jacks ar
rival in port-they are a product of the
civilization in which they seem to fit so
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

self-respect, loss OF independence, loss of
philosophy even, for the time being.
When you think it over there is little
chance for Jack to enter a higher class of
society. He can 60 to better boarding
houses, he can go to the Sailors Home
and be ceanly lodged among his own
kind, with books and games and other di-
versions. He is sung and prayed at by So
cieties and Salvationsts, but in all there
is feeling of inequality.
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

the inelegant perspiration from my brow
and to smooth back the struggling remains
of my mornings curls. How many miles
had / walked within the last two hours?
l finished my dessert in as leisurely
manner as possible and painful drowsi-
ness stole over me. But a new install
ment of people came in and l could not
linger any longer.
The black-eyed charmer went out to
renew his conquests upon the street, for
it was his afternoon off. and we girls
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

land where social lines are most plainly
and arbitrarily drawn. In England, the
housemaid considers the common sailor
quite her equal, and is proud to go about
with him during his stay IN port.
In America the ho1semaid, with her eye
upon the retail clerk, turns up her nose at
him, leaving him to the tender mercies of
our sisters, who measure all men by the
sum in their pockets. Oh, yes; they are
our sisters, much as we would like to dis
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

well. Do they give Jack something for
nothing2 If they took his gold alone
Jack would be better man for it and q
truer philosopher. But they are only
symbols for the accumulated dregs
of land vices. They welcome him
with cup in which there is an admix-
ture of more than what one ordinarily
means by vice, in which there is loss of
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

Who but the vampires that feed upon
him come to him in perfect equality, take
him into their lives and make him feel at
home?
JACK Tar longs for the society of women,
and ne gets it-of kind. l cannot point
out the remedy, but can see the wrong.
America, the home of the free, with its
boasted absence of class distinction, is the
The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09

and stretched my weary length upon my
welcome couch. My body was utterly ex-
hausted, my brain was dizzy. had never
supposed before that servitors needed
brains. As fell into troubled doze the
air was filed with flying checks and
scrawiing figures, dishes waltzed and
clattered about my pillow. corn batter
cakes foated past just out of my reach
and fendish voice echoed "Coming up
right awayl"
The next morning 1 ached all over as if
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-07-23

ADOPTED NINE GIRLs.-Leon Hart
man, of Dubuque, Iowa, is widower.
the father of nine sturdy boys, and is
worth $40, 900. He is also big-heart.
ed man. On Monday he adopted nine
fatherless girls to keep his boys COM
pany, and agreed to give their mother
home.
The mother is the widow of his
brother, who lately died abroad. She
arrived at Ellis Island on Monday, hav-
ing crossed the ocean from Rotterdam
on the Observation-Disclosures steamer
Spaarndam. The first person she met
was her brother-in-law, who had come
all the way from Iowa to greet her.
The children, ranging in age from
three to fifteen years, are all bright
eyed, rosy checked girls, and they 80
completely won Mr.. Hartman's heart
that he at once offered to adopt them.
The mother was willing, 80 were
Ellis Island officials, and the papers
were at once drawn up and signed by
the interested parties. Then MIR. Hart
man, accompanied by his nine daugh-
ters and their mother, left Ellis Island
and took an afternoon train for Du-
buque, where nine sops will give
them rousing welcome. The mother
ia possessed of considerable money,
and it is no more than likely that she
will mary her brother-in-law.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-07-23

By O'Neai, Lunt & Strauss, Auctioneers.
THRUSTEE'S SALE OF FINE HORSES,
i WAGONS AND HARNESS. virtue
OF deed of trust from John w. Brown, dated
January 7th, 1896. and at the request of the
party thereby secured, will sell at public
auction in front of the Royal street entrance
Of the Market Building of the city of Alexan-
dria, Virginia, at II o'clock noon,
SATURDAY, July 25th, 1896,
the following property:
Bay horse John, bay horse Morgan, roam
horse Charlie, brown horse Thorn, gray horse
Frank, black horse Boots, blown stallion
Gugar, black mare Susan, brown horse Gin.
mey; three of said horses are blooded stock
and have good pedigree; also three two-horse
wagons, three double sets of harness, one
one horse wagon and harness.
Terms of Sale-Ail sums less than twenty
dollars in cash, all sums in excess of twenty
dollars upon credit of nine months, the pur-
chasers to give their notes for the amount of
purchase with sn endorser satisfactory to the
undersigned, or discount of 5 per cent will
be allowed if the whole of the purchase money
is paid in cash. A. w. ARMoTR ING,
jy14 I'd Trustee.