davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12
EMORY THE AMERICAN TRADER PRINCE OF MOSCOW

while the present route follows the river
system far to the n orth and then due south
again on its way 10 Valdivostok. Equi-
distant between Strelinsk and Khaba-
rovka is the new gold mining camp named
Blogovestchensk, at the mouth of the Zsia
River This region is exceedingly rich in
placers of the Klondike characteri ristlcs
which are mined in similar manner.
From Kha barovka the road runs due
south 800 miles TO Vladiyostok along the
Ousuri River, which is the eastern bound
ary of Manchuria Here will be entaied
the greatest trouble and expense for re-
pairs. All along its course this river re-
ceives numerous destructive torrents and
several large tributary streams, separated
one from the other by ugly projections of
the Sikhota-Aline Mountain range No
other part of the route has so many frail-
ties of structure improvised to avoid the
costly piercing of The mountain elbows
with tunnels
Moreover, in this valley an extreme hu-
midity reigns. An enormous quantity or
rain fails annually. foundations are fre-
quent and sudden. AS the grade has long
reaches approximatine the river bed it
will be many years before, this section is
fortified against washouts. The vegeta-
tion of the Ousuri, like its climate, is more
like that of China, to which it belongs
geographically. Here are immense for
ests resent bling those of Oregon and Puget
Sound, and in them are found the panther
and Chinese tiger, as well as the marten
and Siberian bear. The largest per cent of
the population of the Ousuri country are
| Russians, the last census showing $500
aoorigines. $4,000 Koreans, 5000 Chinese
aud $4,000 Russians.
Crossing the Ousuri the road follows
for a short distance the river Lafau to
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

thinks ne is doing som ething ridiculous.
There are only Two friends to support
him through the ordeal, very small best
man, almost boy. and lady, who looks
scarce a day older than the bride, but who
8 apparently re presenting the materna:
elem This young dame evidently
thought good splash of color was needed
10 enliven proceedings, for she has cos
tune that equals anything ever seen amid
the rain bow attire of the Neap oiitan popu-
IaCe-a prune- -colored skirt is surm our ed
by a bodice of various shades of q cen
and yellow and nv teeth go very much
on edge as l survey her poltly figure.
Have those pretty blue-cIoaKed wor-
shippers not noticed? Nay, even 10 this
tht ir eyes are sealed, heads and eyes
droop, the motionless attitude of adora-
ton continues. Never a glance do they
apparently direct 10 the altar of that
saint, who for some unknown reas on is
supposed to have special patronage OF the
matrimonial estate.
His altar is not required for long to-day,
few. very few, rapidly spoken words, a
curtailed ceremony, clatter of gold on
the plate, C gift of ring and ST. Joseph
has done with them for the present, they
pass into the yestry. where the law COM
pletes the church's work. But for those
twain whom st. JosepE and the prizes t
have made one the law has no power
worth mentioning. They are indissoubly
one bv the word of the church, and all the
divorce facilities in the wide world will
not enable them TO break troth without
also breaking with their church.
Is The pink silk, whose wearer changed
from maid 10 matron in these severe sur
roundings, likely to secede from a Gu urch
where the worshipers of the Alteration
were witnesses of plighted faith2
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

1t strikes me that that pink silk is
facing married life more seriously than
some white robes.
While the wedding party are in the
vesiry two other girl worshipers glide in
by side door. Little "Coi;een Bawns"
they look in their rich red cloaks and
white wells. Mem bers of the guild of the
Sacred Heart these, hence the blood-sug-
costing tint of their garments. Though
scarcely more than children they kneel
! with the grave devotion of their elders
and presently the blue girls, exchanging
giances, rise ultaneously and glide
away by the side door. Their worship is
over for the time being, the Sacred Heart
has come to replace them and the perpet-
ual forty hours alteration is insured
Presently past the red cloaked meli-
tants, who never move a muscle, steps
the wedding party, radiant amid the still
solemnity. Even the bridegroom has for
got his nervou, ness and walks with erect
head and flush OF pride. The pink silk is
his life-possession, to have and to hold
to love or 10 tyranniZe at his pleasure-or
is it at hers?
The wearer of the pink silk looks very
quiet and am bile, but there is a spice of
determination on her smiling lip, a gleam
OF sound common-sens in her soft, black
eye. Probably she has made up her mind
TO manage the household. hold the purse
mind her husband and have her own
way.
If she does not get it she will take it.
But the bridegr Dom locks as if she would
get ii. He mas the laughing, boyish face
OF Northern Italy; he will enjoy being
managed. eschew the passionate jealousy
OF the south and rejoice in having stun.
bled on one of the faithful, helpmeets
which the Latin races so often produce.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

consecutive hours. Are those picturesque
giriish heads entirely busy with the
prayers of the dav? Have youthful fan
cies been SO utterly subdued that even the
pink dress does not rustic eniicingly be-
mind them? The heads never turn, the
bowed figures never move, and at their
back the little wedding party sits as mo-
lionless.
There is a stir about the altar; two
choirboys kneel reverently, an assistant
priest lights some extra candles among
the statuettes and artificial flowers. 1
glance at the white silk and gold canopy
standing ut one side of the church and be-
think me that its time Ior use is approach
ing. am wrong again. There is no use
for the canopy to-day. The candles are
lighted for the servIce-not for the cere.
mony-and at sight of an old surpliced
priest the wedding party rises quietly
and passes up to the altar OF ST.
Joseph just in front of my pew This is
convenient, but Disappointing. l know
what side chapel wedding betokens.
and / feel that either Advent Sunday or
a limited purse has robbed the pink silk
of its appropriate surroundings. / should
have liked to have seen that pink silk
framed by the white and gold canopy,
with the two blue-robed worshipers kneel-
ing like guardian angels. But evidently
my fancy fiits 100 high. The lite
pink bride is perfectly Satisfied with
her wedding mass, she stands, calm and
cree, a coniented smile upon her cream
tinted face. and il any one is nervous in
the matter it is the somewhat squat and
shrffiing bridegroom. He has not re-
hearsed his role quite so often as bis fu-
ture mate, and. he is mortally afraid of
doing something ridiculous; possibly he
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

To be sure, Italians have more ways o
loving than one. 81 had to marry nv
usband, though he is much too old for
me ana very cross" once quoth a young
and handsome Neapolitan matron.
DO you mean that your parents forced
your l asked rather scandalized.
''Oh, no; he forced me by his great love
Do you see that2"
THAT" was great scar, marring the
symmetry of one cheek.
He did that with a redhot poker" sha
observed contentedly, ''beeause. you seq
ne loved me so madly. OF course had to
marry him after that"
My quiet young bridegroom with the
orange-buds in his buttonhole will not 90
IN for hot pokers-he is well satisfied. AS
he leads the pink silk down the stone
steps amid audible comments ana places
her In the hired carriage which
represents careful savings, he glancss
hrst at her and then at the crowd with
quiet confidence in the future. And she
returns his smile in kind and then turns
with bright happy remark 10 the elder
sister sitting opposite. Already they feel
like Darby and Joan.
Amt inside, before the altar, kneel The
red-cloaked little virgins, supporting, by
prayer and meditation, the dignity of that
church, which has just linked Darby and
Joan for life
Where'er he dwells. where'er he goes,
His dan gers AMI his tolls share
What need be said-she was not one
OF the ill-fated "Bri tes of Qpar"
ROSE DE BoHENE.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12
AT NICKOL AEVSK.

Lake Khanke, whence it passes into the
valley of the Soiuffoun and on to Viadi-
vostok, a distance of 85 miles. The n-
undations OF this little aff1uent of tho
Japanese sea are even more severe and
dangerous than those of the Ousuri.
Moreover. the roac is very defectively con-
structed, because of the fact that the
survey was made harridly along glacial
banks and slickens deposits kept con-
stantly in motion by the rains and scor.
ings of the river. About twelve miles
from Vladivostok the road takes the
shoreline of st. Peters Bay and follows it
to the seaport. In case of war the navy
of the enemy could at this point cut COM
munication, a consideration that may
cause the building farther to the east of
secondary link with the main line. Many
of the Ousuri sections cost about $50, coo a
mile.
Vladivostok, Ruler of the East"
which has grown during the two years
past with the energy charaet ristic of
American cities in the West, was founded
In 1861, at the extremity OF peninsula
which divides into two parts the bay of
Peter the Great. Beyond this peninsula
is a group of islands. The strait separat-
ing bhO pAAhNApoA OhSi IAOLdhofltCl, from
the continent, is known as the Orient tai
Bosphorus, and opposite this on the
peninsula is Vladivostok, surrounded by
hills. Here is expected to mature the
Constantinople of the extreme orient
Its climate, though it does not resem bic
that of Marseilles, situated on The same
parallel, is milder than one would sup
pose.
Germany is the country from which the
largest percentage OF the imports are re-
ceived. Seventy-three per cent of the
commerce of the place is controlled by
foreigners in the following order: Ger
mans 80, English Is. Japanese 13. Chinese
y, Americans 5. The two principal
houses are German and Russian.
Mr.. Emory is really the only American
who has achieved commercial eminence
and power in Siberia, but his investments
and energies are concentrated in the in
terror. where the opportunities for Ameri-
can mercantile enterprise can be likened
best to those which were opened by the
early Pacific RAILROADS. CLAYTON PIERCE.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

bareheaded mothers, who think with
smile of their own pink-silk. days;
fair English sreaking children are
wedged in between dark skinned,
bewrinkled danes, with black shawls
over their heads and eager, puckered eyes
that seem to be glancing backward to
years when wrinkles were not. Sonorous
Italian comments are heard on all sides,
with here and there crisp French phrase
or Spanish exclamation. The crowd, the
church. the very street suggest the south
OF Europe, and America glides away in
the background.
L struggle up the steps at last. The
crowd, as an average, has come to see the
pink silk, not the ceremony, and declines
10 move on for an inside view. But 1T
makes way for me as person of reli gious
tendencies; the doors close behind me-
close on the external sunshine and en-
ergy. Before me lieih The stiffness, the
seml-darkness. the solemnity OF the al.
Tan church on Advent Sunday.
double impression comes with the
first gtance-of earnestness and garish-
ness. But the earne stness is the stronger
and dwarfs be crudity of the decorative
art glarinG on ;he walls-the earnestne5s
OF souls in travail kneeling solemnly be-
fore an altar where the very essence OF
their religion is enshrined.
The forty hours alteration OF the
blessed sacrament has begun and knees
are bent. heads bowed. lips moved, in
con tie ~ plation OF the church's mys-
teries.
| had come in merry mood to see we'd
ding, and behold, l find myself in the
holy OF holies.
On my soul also, the soul OF pagan
and unworthy, falls the spirit of the hour.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

Francisco firm of Freeman, Smith & Co.,
New Eng anders. having he spirit of dar-
:iUg=and adventure of the Puritans, estab-
Eshed a modest mercantile house at
y hOlaevsk- the little Siberian seaport
town north OF Vladivostok al the mouth
Of the Amoor River Their prosperity
was such that about twenty years ago they
returned 10 Boston on a visit com bning
pleasure and business.
While in Massachusetts, they were en-
fP-tained at the home of Mr.. Emory S
ather, and during their stay told such
a!ss OF Siberia, Of It's un nievsl7ped riches
aut prospects, Of its primiiiveness and
narve s, as TO fire the Imagination of the
lad who listened spellbound to every syl-
abe OF their conversation.
Enoch Emory was then Is years old, an
Ingenious and unsophisticatad boy, but OF
ne stock and spirit that make explorers
and pathtinders.
When he expressed the resolution 10
try his luck in Siberia, and asked the
visitors il they would take him along.
they banteringly assured him he might
60 If he did not change his mind before
they left Boston. Faithful TO the promise
made the boy, though his parents sought
TO discourage his am bitIOn, the merchants
in due time wrote letter to the Emory
home at Cape Cod, naming the day of de-
parture, and inviting him to join them,
il he still felt disposed 10 make trial O.
their service.
The contents of this letter Mrs. Emory,
prom pied by mothers fears and affec
tiOn, kept from her son, until such lime
as she thought il would be i'm possible for
him 10 take advantage of the invitation.
Nol to be thwarted, however, and in de.
spite of the tearfu! pleadings and pro-
testations, the lad made all haste TO join
h s patrons facing them on the day they
were preparing to leave. He was meagerlv
attiIed, and carried in his hand q small
satcheI containing only a change of un-
derclOthing and a few toilet trifies.
The merchants were as mucn impressed
as they were amused by the Incomplete
ness and gravity of his apparition. When
he frankly told of his determination to
accompany them in spite of his mother q
solicitous deception they teiegra phed to
the parents and finally obtained consent
to outfit The boy, and give what was
deemed a youthful Jolly a chance for
cure.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12
BRIDGE OVER OSURI RIVER.

I they would remain associated with him as
his American agents.
The rise of the young New Englander
was rapid. it is a story OF thrift, pre-
vision. adventure and shrewdness. Fol-
lowing the navigabls Amoor h~ pushed
his merchandising outposts on past r.
kutsk until they met he advance of the
trans-Siberian railway suIv'y. The COM
pletion of the merchant chain he had
planned took him eventually to Moscow,
and there he at length founded his central
house. which draws Its supplies from
Europe. Pofit incalculable pursued his
every step and venture
Mr.. Emory is reticent as to the size c,
the slice ne has in the trans-Siberian
project. but from credible accounts it is
very large. He is very sanguine as to the
future of the road and the enormous coun-
try it opens to industry and commerce.
The construction OF the Trans S Siberian
railroad, which began in May, 1890. has
been pushed during all the seasons of the
intervening years with febrIe haste and
tremendous energy. To connect by 1000
miles of railroad the capital of Russia
! with seaport on the Pacific side of ST.
berla was an undertaking of immense
! HHSultuUe. LIE announce ment OF the
/ design on the part Of the imperial Govern
/ ment was met with incredulity on all
sides at first. When the PRACTICAL ;lity OF
! the scheme was made manifest and the
! work assumed definite organization the
world, and more particularly the European
! portion OF it, family perceived the mas
terful motive b hind the project Con-
sidering the natural obstacles and the
climatic rigors the .peed of construction
has been extraordinary; for it is now as.
sured that the promise OF the Car will be
fulh led-that passengers mag ride from
! Vladlvostok across the 81 berian wilds and
Ural Mountains to Moscow in modern
railroad cars early next year. Through
trains are now running from st. Peters
burg to Irkutsk, while the work from the
western end is progres ssing rapidly along
the banks of the Amoor.
The Trans Siberian line traverses in
ziezag courses the part OF the northern
Asiatic continent lying between The forth.
eth and tftieth paral!els-a zone similar
to that lying in the United States between
Cape Mendocino ana British Columb bia at
the west and Philadelphia and Newfound-
land at the east. The climate of the
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12
BIRD's-EYE VIEW OF MODERN vLADWOsTOK.

improve it at pleasure TO render it more
secure for the commerce which is certain
to increase to great proportions.
One hundred thousand workmen are
now employed on the interior sections, to
be finished this winter, along the Amoor,
between Baikal Lake and Khabarovka.
Except the mechanics-the forgers, brick
LAYERS and carpenters-the mass of labor
ers are convicts, under military surveil-
lance The work was greatly facilitated
this summer by the operation of a line OF
TRANSPORTS on the Amoor and Chilka
rivers, tween the temporary terminal OF
extension from the east, Kha barovka, and
Strietensk, which enabled the engineers
10 distrl butte the working force aud neces-
sary materials on sections which are rap
idly linking themselves together. The
latter point was also made the base of
supplies for the trans-Manchurian cutoff,
which has been fully surveyed, and on
which the dirt Is beginning 10 fly.
During the year past the regular train
service has been extended from the west
end, Tcheliabinck, a; the foot of the Ural
Mountains, to Irkutsk, in the heart OF
Siberia.
The most important city OIL this link is
Krasnoiarsk, on the Yenisei River. 1t is the
depot of a great mineral region, and since
the railroad reached it, has attained an as
tonishing growth. Here an English COM
pany has establshed a large mercant tile
house, which carries on its traffic with
Great Britain during the summer months
when the Yenisei is open to navigation to
The open sea.
As the road progresses, caravan routes
are opened from it, more particularly to
the southward, over which a deal OF
Asiatic and European traffic is finding it's
way already. In fact, some OF these high
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

l creep stealthily 10 a side pew, close by
The small chapel OF st. Joseph, and use
my eyes respectfully, not to say mec ita-
lively.
Their first glance falls on Crucifxion,
signed Tojettl, 1897. The painter, l D.
lleve, deserves the reverent criticism due
10 The prematurely dead. His work has
not yet acquired the meliowness which
years alone can give, but its most dis
tlnctlve feature is It's painful realism.
Never was more emaciated. ascetic Son
of man depicted on the cross; never lid a
more fearful Magda!en kneel in wild
despair. Ii is surely Magdalen and not
the Virgin Mary-witness her flowing,
green-b ue draperies, which give n touch
of coquetry even to her grief. Yet the
bereaved Mother OF Sorrow would be
more in keeping with that appalling
vision of suffering hanging from the
cross.
My thoughts revert to the pink dress.
How does 1t feel amid such surroundings ?
Surely none but Italians would come to
wed in this church on this particular Sun
dav.
l spy the pink silk at last, surmounted
by orange blossom and sedate among the
kneeling worshipers. In front, hum bled
before the altar, are Two girlish figures,
cloaked in pale blue, white wells over
their raven tresses.
AT first ] take them for bridesmaids. s.
then, their attitude being dist nctly non
festive, l suppose them TO be novices in
some unknown order. 1 am wrong. The
blue cloaks and white wells only denote
;hat their wearers are enrolled in secular
guild under the special protection of the
Virgin, and they are taking their turn at
the alteration which must last for forty
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

Hold up, hurry L say, The horses is get
tih' ahead on us"
Chatter, clatter, they hurry, their heavy
boots banging on the wooden sidewalk
their cheeks puffed and ruddy, as they
pant and pound along-a string of eager,
noisy little boys as bent as any man of
Athens on seeing some new thing. Liter
ally a string, for. with praise worthy dread
OF going astray, they are holding on to a
rope like diminutive Aluine climbers.
Bow woN-wow- wow-wow- WOW" the
dogs are equally anxious to hurry up, and, ,
having no rope to hang on to. they follow
each other in single file, nose upon tail,
along the central causeway.
"Aint much worth seeing, l guess2' in
ouires a ianquid twelve-year-old lass,
with a shock OF tawny hair gathered in a
Ila, down her back.
"You Del, relorts ditto ditto, racing
by "sbe've got pink silk dress.
You don't say" And the languid one,
suddenly alert, catches up her friend and,
Joining hands, they race he boys and the
dogs.
| have no rope, no friendly hand, not
even a wagging tail 10 spur me on but
enthusiasm is infectious and | suddenly
Meal ze that it Is my duty to catch
glimpse Of that pink silk attire, so L
cIatter along IN the wake OF the en'husi-
asts pnrsu.ng three mack carriages which
finally draw up before the quiet Italian
church ! : Dupont street.
OF course il is a wedding. Does any
thing else ever cell forth 81 nilar excite
ment-saye, indeed. a funeral, which i
not in keering with pink silk? The
pavement Is crowded.. the stone staircases
leading up to lie church are packed. ba-
bies are crow ing in the arms of dark-eyed,
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12
"Lnoch Emory, Moscow. ,.

~"OSi LiO! y, MOSCOW.
An In angible something in this inscrip-
on the Palacs Hotel register arrest.
st'ention and piqu4s the CURIOSITY. 1t is
romantic Incongrulty, sue as that which
might nave puzzled a Venetian when
arco Palo left on his guest card The sig
nature OF traveller from. Thibet, for the
name Is characteristic of New England
Ia her than the Russian steppes.
Inc 1uI'er description of a newspaper
personal would read, "Enoch Emory.
me American merchant prince OF Traders
Lane' and Traders lane. be it known, is
the commercial heart of Moscow.
Inquiry would reveal that this remarka-
o.e little man. whom you would entirely
overlook IN even a commonplac crowd. so
u'Hldeut unassumiug and inconspicuous
S he In physiognomy and dress, owns a
system OF merchandis ing houses extend
ing over 1000 miles OF Russian territory.
employs seventytve confidential assist
ant managers, possesses 4 fortune only
estimated by the multiple of millions and
IS large owner of trans Siberian railroad
shares.
what Is more to the point, he earned
MS lame and fortune single-handed. bv
virtue OF Yankee pluck and sagaclty. in
the wllds Of Siberia. His en- inence and
record are altogether more UNIQUE than
those of the elder Vanderbilt, Gould or
Sage, since he won fortune in foreign
Land, the language Of which is difficult to
master, ana achieved everything by an
enterprise suggestive of the rarest forti
qpde and foresight. The markets were the
G.e held OF his operations in a land " here
the auxiliary manipulat:ons of the stock
exchange are as yet unknown.
Shortly after the war the present San
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12
ENOCH EMORY's FIRST MERCANTILE HOUSE

an hour, are to be the creation of Amer-
can craftsmen. They will develop $500
horsepower AMI carry twenty-five cars
trip. The distance of the ferriage is
about forty miles. twenty-five of
which is frozen IN the winter.
The ferries will be built especially
or the purpose OF contending with this
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

means tepid it's temperature is SO much
higher than that of the am bient atmos-
phere thai the vapor resulting produces..a "a
veritable fog all winter long.
Between StreIlnsk and Khabarovka a
military citadel and the residence of the
Governor, the rivers Chilba and Amoor
afford navigation each year, from May to
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

its asperities. This work will require an
OUTLAY of about $4,000 a mile. Mean
while trains will be transported from
lrkutsk on the Angara across Baikal
Lake to feasib BILE connection with the
main line from the East. The monster
propeller ferries OF 1000 tons displacement,
having speed of fifteen or sixteen knots