The San Francisco call., 1896-06-21
ONE WELL-LEARNED
LESSON In ANCIENT HISTORY.

The professor had been speaking of the
wide field of literary research, and as the
class rose he said: "You need never sigh
for new worlds to conquer"
One of the class stood for few minutes
at the window looking with unseeing eyes
across the university campus over the bay
to the Golden Gate. AS she turned away
with smile, half sad, she said to herself,
81 hadn't thought of it for twenty years.
One hot day in the Northern California
of twenty years ago tie sun shot his rays
straight down the principal stree: Of q
small town. The whole three blocks OF
Miner street were deserted, except for half
dozen dogs stretched in the narrow shade
of wall. Glancing up one side and down
the other one would notice that every
other one of the squat buildings had a
rude, much-whittled bench in front at the
sidewalks edge-a sure sign of saloon
Seven on one side and six on the other.
When the sun passed over the hill these
benches would be occupied by men who,
from long habit, considered certain seats
their own. The affairs of the universe
were settled and unsettled on those
benches: there were discussed all the po-
itical problems of the day. interspersed
with bits of local gossip and comments on
the ankles of passing women.
What trial it was for shy girl to pass
those grandstands, knowing, feeling the
comments, criticisms and sometimes jokes
that followed her down the line.
Just now these warders of the public
were inside watching game of poker and
waiting patiently for some lucky player to
go to the bar and say, "Come on, fellers."
Down the street came a child-one of
those fat, white little girls of five years,
whose looks as woman are not even to be
speculated upon. Take two who are
almost alike, and one in fifteen years may
be slender, brown haired woman, with
complexion of milk and roses; the other
may be gross, dough-faced, straw-haired
fright. And you can't tell which will be
which.
Short, round, solid, at every step the
copper-toed shoes clicked, the short "pig-
tail' of tow hair vibrated, and the stream
ers of the sailor hat stood straight out.
This same hat was little protection to the
flushed perspiring face, for it was pushed
back so far that the elastic was buried
from mortal view in the fat cheek and
chin.
There was purpose in the sturdy walk,
and IN the big gray eyes that Travelled up
and down the street in search of somebody
or something.
In front of the first saloon she stopped,
and, walking under the green half-blind
that hides so many sins its name should
be Charity she sent that same inquiring
glance around the room. No one seemed
surprised, tn ere was none of the sudden
silence the vision of innocence would nat
urally provoke, in fact no one saw her.
The wise men of the benches were watch
ing in deep interest an exciting game.
As she paused in front of the sixth
saloon the shutter swung out and blue
shirted, red haired giant almost stepped
on her, his feet not being quite sure where
the ground was, anyway. The child spoke
for the first time. Daddy in there,
Aleck?' The voice matched the eyes
they were older than the rest of her. The
giant looked with bleared, kindly eyes.
and answered with trace of Scotch in his
accent: Nav Little Tom, and | seed him
go into Judge Steele's office an hour ago.
Did you want him badY' The big eyes
lighted, and at the same time Little Tom
was distinctly disappointed. If daddy
was in the Office he was certainly sober,
but alas, he was out of her reach. Saloons
and stores were open to her will, but
courthouse and office were forbidden
ground.
''Set here on the bench with me and I'll
tell you story till yer dad comes out"