davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-02-21

bic stellar bodies cavorting through space
and that "these sudden disappearances
and Temperatures are due to one of these
invisible stars passing between the earth
and the occluded star" The presence OF
the invisible satellite of the earth will &C.
count for much of this phenomena.
wonderful field OF speculation is
opened up by this latest discovery. Is the
invisible satellite portion of the original
earth as is the visible moon now supposed
to be? Why does it not revolve around
the earth? Perhaps it will be found that
when we are able 10 definitely say what is
the exact shape of the visible moon and
why 1t always presents TO US the same
face we shall be able to intelligently begin
the discussion of this question. Has mag
netism or electricity any part in causing
it to maintain its position? Is it receding
from the earth? Hts distance is now
about 1000 900 miles from the earthI Is
it some wandering body like a comet
which has fallen within the scope of the
earth's attraction and held captive to our
ball? These and many other questions of
like character naturally present them
selves. They will undoubtedly slim ulate
research into oosmical phenomena near
er home, AMI we hope that the coming
century will witness our acquir4 ment OF
knowledge that shall enlighten us regard
ing our immediate surroundings more
fully than appears to grace the record of
the passing one. 1t is, of course, ex-
tremely interesting to learn that there are
stars so far away that light travelling with
the inconceivable velocity OF 200,00O miles
second would require millions of years
to reach our earthly vision coming from
these distant globes; but such informa-
ton, while wondrous, is not the most in
structive. The majestic Piorles of the
Himalayas are grand and inspiring; they
are to be viewed, studied and appreciated;
bu; IN the meantime do not let us neglect
our own front yard. f. NJ. CLOSE, DISC.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-02-21

I cation is more than likely; his studies in
the direction of art could not but bring to
| his attention the unknown fields in which
! he had been set to labor. His interest in
history and mythology, his practical and
methodical mind, saved him from the fate
of the Slrasburg goose. His studies at
the Academy were abandoned and he re-
| turned TO school in Frankfort for three
years, never losing for an instant the aim
he had in view.
In 184S he resumed his study OF drawing
and painting in Brussels. finally drifting
to Paris, and working there, very serenely,
very gayly, and without a master. The
habits of his earlier youth were too strong
TO break, and he was never satisfied to re-
main more than year in one place.
During this time he painted his first
picture, &c mabue Finding Giotto in the
Fields of Florence
At this period the Florentine masters
held him in thraIl. All the charm, all the
delicacy of these early painters, the dark
and suave richness of color in the old city
itself had temporarily banished from his
memory the gods and goddesses who had
overawed him in Rome; and yet it was in
Rome itself that ne painted that most
Florentine of Florentine pictures,
"Cimabue's Madonna Carried in Pro-
cession Through the Streets" He was
not yet % when it was exhibited in the
Royal Academy, and purchased imme.
dlately by her Majesty the Queen.
In this day of republican ideas that
would not be matter of entire felicita-
ton to young painter; the prestige of
such patronage is no longer as puissant,
but at that time it placed Frederick Leigh
ton in the first rank, and as we glance at
the immense canvas we must come 10 the
conclusion that the distinction was de-
served.
The complete development that COM
monty crowns uninterrupted labor BE-
tween the years of 40 and 30 he had at
tanned at the age of the average student.
To be sure he had worked, after fashion,
for fifteen years. and had seen the best the
world could offer. His judgment was
formed. Like most precocious develop
ments, his talent bloomed too soon, and
he rarely reached higher note than that
be struck Immediately in his earliest
works. 1: was a note at once resonant
anu clear, even If 1t lacked any qualities
OF depth or vibration.
There is neither weakness nor hesita-
ton TO be detected in this fine canvas, in
which Master Cimabue. glitt ring in silver
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-02-21

exercised by other stellar bodies. Every
particle of matter in the universe attracts
every other particle of matter. But. after
all the known causes have been diligently
exploited and applied. the fact rem aims
thst there are "wabbles" which are un-
accounted for. At one position of her
orbit the earth is a great deal farther
away from the sun than at an other. Does
the suns attraction vary? II at all
times there were the same number and
masses of stars at one particular portion
of the earth's orbit, it might be easy to
account for this deviation from a true
circle. But there is not. And no one has
yet been able to explain satisfa ctorilv why
the ball we live on exhibits at one time a
coyness to her ardent wooer. AMI at
another time rapturous desire for his
warm presence.
Recently q gentleman of ESTE blished
reputation as mathematician, and an
astronomer of no mean accom- pIishments,
residing on the California coast, has an
nounced to few OF his intimate friends
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-02-21

even to the giant planets Uranus and
Neptune, which are so far away as to be
invisible to the naked eve; and yet we do
not know the shape of our own moon, and
the best scientists are divided In opinion
as.to whether it possesses an atmosphere
or not. We have constructed perfect
map OF Mars and determined his CONT
nents and seas. but we are unable to say
what causes the radiant streaks which
emanate from the huge Tycho Brahe
mountain upon our moon, not 800, 900
miles away.
The discussion of the physical charac-
terisucs OF the earth cannot be properly
called astronomical, and yet it cannot be
excudel from that branch OF science.
The movements of the earth. while purely
within the domain of mathematical
physics, can only offer a means of solu-
tion by a careful study OF astronomy.
Ever 81 nee mathe maticaI astronomy has
been practiced it has been known that the
earth had several very peculiar move
ments which were apparently unaccount-
able. We are apt to speak OF the ''stab!e
earth" As a matter of fact the earth
reels like a drunken man. At no time
does she pursue an undertaking, steady
course, nor are her movements regular.
Her cratic wanderings. if duplicated at
all, can occur only at such long intervals
of time as to appaIl the human concep-
ton in the attempt to comprehend the
immense line of figures that are neces-
sary to express the possible recurrence of
a single movement. The north star is
popularity supposed to be q fixed point. 1t
is not. What is known as Polaris is the
present north star, but 13, COO years ago the
north pole OF the earth pointed to the
brilliant Vega, and will again in course of
TINA
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-02-21

orocade, with the youth Giotto behind
MIN, struts proudly at the head OF con-
course OF people, in the quaint, rich cos
tunes OF a medieval pageant The work
is dlgnlhed and omplete; if 1t has GER
tain youthful! exuberance, spark OF vain
glory in the exhibition of a technique
already accom- plished and fluent, they are
not unattractive qualities; it is certainly
not Tor the sin of exuberance that the
soberer conceptions of later years could
be criticized.
He is frank observer of surface beauty /;
emotion never distorts the features of his
heroic men and women; tragedy throws
them into magnifcently statuesque poses;
athletes OF the amphitheater, women from
the Greek races, in spirit, at least, ideal
lzeo from impecunious and very human
models picked up at random in London or
Paris or Rome. The beauty of visible form
was his standard OF omplishment; it
was form he studied in his draperies, the
peculiarly characteristic folds of satin or
silk or velvet. His sketches are often
iaborlous and fine; who better than he
could grasp and represent the noble fall
and flow of the robes of Senator, or the
s-vere grace of the heavily swathed
Roman matronl
In 1850 he settled permanently in Lon
don and soon after began to superintend
the erection of the magnificent house in
Holland Park Road, which he inhabited
till his death and which has been recently
bought by the Government for a perma-
nent exhibition. The house became
museum Tor the collections of strange and
interesting curiosities he gathered on
every journey. Spain, India, Persia and
Asia Minor, Algiers and Egypt, Turkey
and Greece he explored between 1866 and
1876, during which period he was also
elected to the full academic honors.
He lived in a house, little pompous,
little overloaded perhaps with rich and
rare objects OF artistic and antiquarian in
terest; his social talents were remarka Bile
he was fluent speaker with a hand some
presence ano manner not too suave to
be courtly; he arranged his surroundings
in the most picturesque fashion, he him
self was always the most conspicuous
and picturesque figure.
He was knighted on his election as
president OF the Royal Academy in 1878;
eight years later he was created a baronet,
and just before his death, but few days,
in fact, the rather empty honors of peer
age were conferred upon him. The acad-
emies of Vienna, Brussels, Florence, Peru
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-02-21

One of the best known of the large
decorative compositions is Hercules
wrestling With Death for the Body of
Alcestis." 1t is singularly powerful and
the figure of death might almost have
been included among the pictures by
Frederick Watts.
Alcestis. robed in white, lies under large
trees in the center of the picture; the
mourners, In attitudes of grief and horror
watch the contest spell bound, and behind
these motionless figures is the sea, the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-02-21

he placed himself in positions, and the
laurels fell upon his handsome brow and
adjusted themselves in the most emf
nently becoming manner.
From Rome-and who could overesti-
mate the influence of this early training
he was taken to Berlin and Dresden. In
every city he attended tie classes at the
academy. In those days he was an infant
phenomenon in his facility with his PEN
Gil and unusually deficient in every other
study. At Is be was at school in Frank
fort, but at IA we find a serious discussion
taking place IN Florence, and his artistic
career fully decided upou; accordingly he
was enrolled among the students at the
Academia dele Belle Arti in that city.
That the vain, precociods and ignorant
lad was himself responsible for the resolu-
ton to attend little to his general edu-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-02-21

dark. bright southern sea. In ''Belaus
tons Adventure" Browning speaks OF y
in this wise:
know, too, great Kaunian pa inter-, strong
as Herakles, thou n rosy with a robe
VI grace that items down the siurwy strength;
And he has made picture Of 1t all.
! mere lies AIkeslis dead, beneath the sun
she longed 10 look her lasI upln.
pronounce that piece
worthy to set up in our PrkIle
AS whole, in walking through these
great rooms 1t is not of the Greeks one
thin ks-out OF two modern men of whom
one Is constantly reminde! and of whom
Loru Lelshton seems the English transla-
uon: Ingres the Great and B ,uguereanI
VAN DYKE Brown.
=. ABOUT lOOo hshlng-boats engaged around
The morning times., 1897-01-14
AN EPlDEMtC OF CANARDs.

There IS some danger, apparently, that
Mr. olrey may be compelled TO resign
the portfolio Of state into the hands Of.
say, a commission Of sensational news
papers. The news that the Spanish
premier, at the dictatiou OF the United
States. had accepted a program of re-
forms for Cuba, including autonomy, prac-
tically complete, appears to have been
news. indeed. to the Department of State
DIT Washington, and to the government in
Madrid, as well. The latest available
information is TO the effect that Spain
is not yet ready to surrender the mastery
of the Cuban situation into the hands OF
the Cleveland administration. It is pos
sible that one reason for this attitude
may exist in the fact that both the Presi-
dent and Mr.. OIney are soon TO retire, and
that new Executive and Secretary Of
State may have a polcy of their own, not
necessarily in harmony with the present
one.
However that may be, it would be hard
tosuggest a course more completely shaped
10 defeat the objects of the administra ton
In its efforts TO promote an accommoda-
tion between Cuba and Spain, than the
flashing upon the world OF these mex
cusable stories. The publication in Eu-
rope Of the latest one is little calculated
10 incline Spanish public opinion in the
airection so much desired by Mr.. olney
andhis chief. ON the contrary, the chances
are. it has mich Increased the probability
that the whole matter viii have to be
left to the action of the next administra-
ton.
The morning times., 1897-01-14
WASHINGTON. D. C.. JANUARY II. 1885,
HOW TO AVOID TRouR uRLE.

There is disturbance in society just now
On account OF Mrs Francis, wife OF the
Secretary of the Interior. The trouble is
that she has attempted an innovation. The
laws OF Washington society are like unto
those OF the Medes and Persians, and even
ff they were not, il seems to be the general
opinion that they should be regarded, by
newcomers at least, with as much respect
as the laws about keeping off the grass
Mrs Francis took exception To the custom
OF gcing in person to return the calls OF
her acQuaintaGces. There were few hun
dred people who bad called on her whom
she did not especially care to see again,
perhaps: or perhaps size had not the time
At any rate. she sent her cards around to
their houses by messenger. The people in
question did not like this at all, and they
told their friends, and the action was
unanimously pronounced Eot good corm-
Butthere y as stllI a wa or Mrs. Francis
out OF the difficulty, If she was really too
busy to waste time on a mere founality.
She might have sent her carriage around,
without herself occupying ii. That is some
times done, and il is not quite so evident
q condescension as the employment of the
uniformed messenger, with his package of
cards, like advertising Coiscrs,
The morning times., 1897-01-14

business interests of the country Kept in
a constant state of alarm for fear the
representatives of the people will do some
foolish or absurd thing, or that the Presi-
dent of the United States will again show
his independence by some extraordinary
act''
Compare a state OF things excusing,
perhaps justifying. such a statement, with
the methods pursued in the English Parlia-
ment. Great Britain is hardly ever with
out real war of some sort on its hands; is
never free from the menace of serious
trouble with powerful neighbors; has in
conceivably mighty commercial colonial,
territorial, and ali sorts of interests to
prosecute, promote. and protect! There is
not day in the year when critical partisan
airing in Parliament OF some imperial
situation or dilemma, after the American
manner, might notplunge the London Stock
Exchange and the banks into panic, But
over there they DO few things better than
we do Parliament manages to attend
to the business of legislation and to pretty
well protect the British flag, territory,
and honor, without paralyzing the British
business community.
The morning times., 1897-01-14
A BUSINESS CYCLONE CENTER


For country in which most things
are supposed 10 be made sghservient to
material interests. tie United States is
unique, if 1t is not ridiculous, on ac-
count OF the manner in which partisan
OF personal objects. Schemes, prejUdices
and passions are allowed exhibition and
weight in the halls Of the national legis-
Iature, 10 the detliment, and sometimes
worse. OF the peace, order and welfare
OF American finance, commerce and in
dnstry
IL is due TO this feature in the character
of Congressional methods that there is
widespread Uneasiness Throughout business
circles when session begins, and a
universal sigh Of relief when it ends. The
history OF the past years is crossed and
lined, up and down, with the record of
occasions upon which general demoraliza-
tien of values and trade prospects has
followed tie sudden springing of some
startling and unexpected sensation, poll
ticaI, fiscal or warlike In the same di-
rection the Executive has becn equally,
If not as often, bIamewortiy The shock
occasioned by Mr.. CleveIaud's Venezuelan
defiance is well remembered: too well by
many who suffered in pocket from its
depressing effects, and there have been
other like instances.
No sooner has one tariff policy been
settled than another has been placed in
agitation. We are likely again to suffer
In that way now and for some time. After
the November elections, the country was
trying to pull itself together in an effort
OF adjustment to what appeared TO be
asocrtained future conditions, and sue
ceetiiug to Some extent. Then comes the
Cuban boInbsheil from the Senate Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs, and everything
was upset. AS a prominent business
Inan has expressed it: I'VE now have
the anoiaaiOus condition Of. the entire
The morning times., 1897-01-14
MARRIAGE AFTER FORTY.

There is 4 very lively discussion in prog
ress in New York city as to the wisdom 3f
founding society for the promotion Of
marriage after one or the other of the
intending contracting parties Is over forty
years old. Some disputants in this curious
debate have urged that such an organiza
ton would be far from godsend. They
argue that the man who remains a bachelor
until he is over two score should not
marry at all, for, if he does, both husband
and wife would rue it. Some have gone
so far as to declare that the matrimonial
alliance Of such middleaged people would
be little less than q crime. Bachelors Of
forty or over have fixed their habits of
life; in fact, they have become, in some
degree or other, insufferahle cranks, and
would be found especially disagreeable and
iptolerable to ladies of forty or more. OF
or forty or less. Such life, in short, is
an unwarranted intrusion into the life
of another The result, as it is contended,
would be perfect unhapplness for both.
THIS view, it must be admitted, is held
by a great many thoughtful persons, but
wrongly, as we must beg the privilege OF
insisting The question might first be
old, or whether he is so old that his habits
are really fixed beyond reform We in
sist that they are not; and this is the
truer if the light OF the woman's life
comes into his days and months and
years; for it is to be assumed that only
the true marriage of hearts TO hearts
ilarly, If the woman has promised i'll good
faith TO love, honor and obey him whose
/ offers Of conlpanlonsilip fer life have been
|, rewarded with her own unspeakably sweet
eompanionshp for life, tile same bcatific
conditions would exist; for the woman,
like the Iuan, would have taken this all
important step with elaboration, would
have chosen of her own accord to he con-
tented by bearing and forbearing, by find
ing in the continued beauty OF welded
life all of her souls desires fulfilled.
Those who contend that marriage after
forty is unwise or hat marriage at any age
or under any conditions is unwise so
the conditions provide mutual respect and
love, and fair inctme with which to pro-
vide the ordinary comforts, fail TO grasp
the true significance of this most sacred
rite and mark Of civilization. We cannot
guess what the judgment may be as to the
merits of this discussion in New Y ork, but
in Beautiful, good and happy
The morning times., 1897-01-14
PATERNAL cENTRALIzATIoN.

The Chicago News, commenting ON the
history Of an experiment by the city of
Glasgow, Scotland. in the municipal owner
ship and operation Of street railways, OBJ
serves that it would be interesting if
a similar experiment could be tried by
some leading American municipality. An
even greater departure, that OF municipal
ownership Of lighting plants, railways and
ferries, has earnest advocates in New
York
The Times is of the opinion that however
interesting such an extension OF current
tendencies to Capitalization might prove,
it would be far better for Amer
vote the greater part Of their
efforts TO perfccting the means and meth
DDS OF their proper business, which is to
secure the communities under their CON
troll in the en- joynent of peace, good order
and sanitary protection, combined with
economical administration. For obvious
reasons ii is considered necessary TO have
public ownership OF the water supply, and
there is movement in the direction Of
municipal control Of tie lighting problem.
Tie cxpedicncy OF the latter is yet an
open question; but somewhere near that
point We should pause and consider be-
fore further committing ourselves TO the
policy OF public ownership OF almost any
thing in which the mass OF citizens may
he presumed to have a general interest
If cities were to undertake the duties of
the common carrier, why not OF the
underwater, Or OF tie banker as well?
stions and movements is toward pa,er-
nalism and Capitalization. If carried to
their logical conclusion they would with
draw leading activities from the hands
OF private capital and enterprise, and
with them erect a system OF local political
machines, which, in the Hight Of municipal
history in this country, would not be
likely to operate desirahly
Every step successfully taken in the
march of Capitalization, whether indus
trially, in the form of trust monopolics
| financially, i'll the unjust contraction OF
the currertcy, or politically, in government
tai interference with local civil rights OF
privileges, renders il harder and harder for
the people to resist new encroachments.
The genius and sentiment of the national
party recently successful at the polls point
to Capitalization, which the Democratic
party does, and all the citizenship OF the
United States ought to, oppose. Notwith
standing occasional bardshpis, it would
seem on the whole better TO confine every
type OF government as nearly as possible
to the simple functions OF government, and
equally to leave open to competitive pri-
vate energy and enterprise everything else.
The morning times., 1897-01-14

Mr.. Thurber is again under discussion
siren, trying to lure the newspaper men
into closer touch with the President, in
order that these representatives and for
mu!ators OF public opinion may not miSrep-
resent the august Mr.. Cleveland The COM
monty accepted view VIII doubtless be that
Mr.. Thurber Is not siren. He is said to
have 4rawn several visiting newspaper men
managerSinto the privacy OF his room in the
early part of his career as private secre-
tary in order to show them the family
Bible, or, perhaps, it was a Cleveland Bible
on which he took the oath of office and Ie
wanted to explain to these visitors also
that lie would hand it down as an heirloom
II Mr.. Thurber has not been a complete sue
cess as a private secretary, however
(and judging by the jibes that are contin-
ually printed about him. il must be admit. ed
that he has not, perhaps the fault is not en-
tirely his own. There are some public
men for whom it is impossible 10 be good
private secretary; for the greater they are,
the more utterly useless is it TO try to tie
serviceable to them. They have men about
who are supposed to help them, and yet they
will not let them help. There are worse
fellows in the world than Col. Henry 7 he
miStocles Thurber. His political expe-
riences may be OF the half-nast variety,
likehstrousers. but it shouldbc remembered
that he came from Michigan.