davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
Poser for the Professor.
Tft-Blts.


It was at chronological entertain
ment and the professor had been illus
trating his lecture by inviting gentle
men of various vocations to come on
the platform, and demonstrating that
different habits of life were character
lied by corresponding variations in the
formation Of the Uranium. He pres
entity came to deal with the criminal
form of skull and desiring a subject
addressed his audience:
IF there is any gentleman who has
ever been the inmate of a prison we
should be glad If he stepped forward. -
To this invitation a tall, thick-set
man in the body of the hall responded
and rising from his seat walked down
to the front
You have been in prison, my
friend?" asked the professor.
"Yes, SIR" replied the tall one
"And how many years of your life
have you spent there?"
About five and-twenty."
Dear me-" said the professor. "Will
you sit down, please?"
The subject sat down on the chair in
the center facing the audience, and the
professor commenced to feel his head
This specimen" he began, lis ar
excellent one. The indications of a
criminal character are very marked,
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
engagements While You Woit.

A sea captain called at village inn
and asked the landlady, young
widow:
DO you know where I can get
mate? 1 have lost my mate"
Il am very sorry for you, Mr.. -"
she said, smiling. "I want a mate, too,
and cannot get one. AS we are in the
same position I'll tell you what I'll do.
If you will be mine will be yours!"
He closed with the bargain, and the
widow, keeping her word, he is now
supplied with two mates.
A doctor who had saved the life of
lady, personal friend, was asked his
charge. He said he generally allowed
his patient friends to remunerate him
as they thought befitting.
but don't you often get disappoint-
ed on these terms?' she inquired.
Il may say never"
"As you are so easily pleased, here"
and she playfully gave him her empty
hand, while in the other was concealed
a check for a handsome sum. How
easily 1 could have taken you in!" she
added, producing the check
But you have only succeeded in
drawing me out" he said, declining to
relinquish her hand. Don't insult me
with a check; am most generously re-
warded.''
Perhaps she understood the doctors
difficulty, and wished to help him out
of it. At any rate the giving of her
hand led him to offer his heart.
While in a tobacconist's shop gen
tleman asked a girl behind the counter,
who happened to have red hair, if she
would oblige him with a match.
with pleasure, if you will have a
red-headed one" she promptly replied,
with such a suggestive, demure smile
that she aroused his interest.
Further conversation proved her to
be a person worthy Of regard and
eventually the red-headed match was
handed over.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26

exchange is not redeeming the stamps
for anything near the value the pur-
chasers have been led to believe they
were worth.
Director D. c. Brown of the Mer-
chants Exchange made a statement
last night for publication that seems to
show that the plan is less favorable to
the merchants now than it was a
month ago.
I'VE have at last found the real evils
of this system said Mr.. Brown.
and they are much greater than even
we at first supposed. The stamp ex-
change is the only party benefited,
and as it is an Eastern concern we
do not see why we should cut our
own throats that an Eastern firm may
live and take our profits. If the pur-
chaser gets something for nothing
somebody is robbed, and the system
is more in the nature of a lottery
than anything else.
THE stamp exchange says it does
not conflict with ordinary channels of
trade because it does not sell any
thing. This is nonsense pure and sim
pie, for the merchants of Oakland
pride themselves on the fact that
they carry everything that customers
can possibly need. Therefore, no mat
ter what articles the exchange gives
away, just that much trade is lost to
some merchant or other, because even
the stamp people will surely not try
to make US believe that they are a
charity organization.
There is no specific value to the
stamps. The customer is led to be-
lieve that he is getting a rebate of 10
per cent on all goods purchased, but
this is a farce. The exchange people
say that they are at liberty to
place any price in stamps upon the
articles they have in their store and
customers take stamps and find that
it requires over 1000 to get a cheap
watch worth not more than 81 80. One
instance has come to our notice. A
boy got 800 stamps and was told that
when he got 1000 he would get a fine
watch He got the 1000 and was told
to 1900 stamps. The lad collected 1140
stamps and by paying an additional so
cents to the exchange he got a sill
veroid watch that was appraised by a
local jeweler as selling at retail for
81 so.
"These complaints are so numerous
that the merchants are now complain
ing that the stamp people are hinder
ing business on account of the dissat-
isfaction of the customers with the bo-
muses. offered. This stamp system has
been driven from Los Angeles and
other places. San Francisco opposes it
and in the East its agent was fined
800 for practicing the system, and |
think we can keep such demoraliz-
ing agency out of this city. 1t is an
ilegftimate method of trading and this
city can well afford to follow the eX-
ample Of Los Angeles. There are TWEEN
ty-two directors of the exchange, and
not a single one has voted in favor of
the system"
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26

trouble would result from the shortage,
as Harbourne is too popular in the En-
cinal City to remain in difficulty.
A most remarkable proposition has
been made in Alameda, that is prob
ably without a parallel in municipal
history in this State. An effort is to
be made to raise the amount of Har-
bournes shortage by public subscrip-
I tion, so that all possibility of criminal
prosecution can be avoided. This plan
has gone so far that George w
Weeks, the proprietor of the Encinal
has been asked to give the plan public
ity and has consented, If EarbOurne's
friends desire it.
1t is conceded on all hands that Har-
bourne viii never be prosecuted, and
already some of the bills he left unset
tied have been fixed uD.
There is a great deal of sympathy for
him, and no one desires his prosecution,
although it is considered safest for him
to keep out of sight. His friends will
not give out the name of the ranch
where he is staying, but they indig-
nantly deny the story that he has de-
serted his wife and children. At no
time has Harbourne been more than
thirty miles from his family, and al
though they were forced to retire him
from the library, the majority of the
trustees are willing to help him to get
another position elsewhere. 1t is said
that Harbourne is not the real culprit
but that he has been led into his trou-
BILE by others.
No news Of the missing librarian
could be obtained from Pleasanton to-
night, but as soon as matters are
squared up he will return home.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
SlI,4SHED 0'BRIEN
WITH A KNIFE
n 1 L III 1 u
] u N - l. = = -
An Oakland Politician Severely
:: Wounded in a Saloon
BPawl.
Leslie Blackburn Uses a Huge, Keen
Edged Blade on a Defenseless
:: Foe.

q. !. OAKLAND, Dec. 25.-Leslie Black
% burn; the politician, and Pete O'Brien,
another politician also well known, had
an encounter in an Eighth-street sa-
loori tonight, and If O'Brien keeps his
word Blackburn will be served with a
Warrant tomorrow. charging assault
With q deadly weapon. After the af-
: fair:O 'Brien was taken to the Receiv-
Z ing: Hospital to have a cash in his fore
head isewed up. The trouble arose out
Of some talk regarding a political posi-
ton that 1t is said Blackburn had
promised to get for O'Brien. but had
failed.
@1Brlen tells the following story Of
the affair: ''I went in the saloon and
told Leslie that he was no good, and
that he was afraid to do anything. 1
called him names which he resented
and 1 hit him in the eye. Friends in
terfered and carried him back and
three of them held me by the arms and
shoulders. While in this condition and
before any one could comprehend his
purpose, Leslie grabbed long sharp
knife and made a slash at me over
their heads. It was a cowardly assault
and. I'll make him answer for 1T. He
claims to be a shooter but dared him
to use his gun"
Friends Of O'Brien corroborated his
story at the hospital. Mr.. Blackburn
who was the Sergeant-at-Arms in the
last: Legislature, was hurried out of
the. place. by his friends.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
How 1t Feels to Be Blown Up.
British Exchange.

A miner, who was blown up while
blasting a rock, describes his sensa-
tions thus:
You see, it's so sudden. It's over
Just about the time you begin to un-
derstand that something is happening.
You know, 1 had the satchel in my
hand and put 1t down. Then 1 got
afraid of it. All at once everything
was light. I don't think I saw the
flash. Anyway, my face was not ex-
actly toward the explosion. But then
everything got light, lighter than day
kind of binding. There was an awful
crash.
"It was just at the same time.
was terrified and wanted to get away.
1t was just as if 1 was having a night
mare. Somehow, though, I knew just
what the matter was. a man can
think faster than he has any idea Of.
1 knew that some of the others were
nearer the explosion, and 1 said to
myself, They're blown to bits, that's
certain
You understand, this was all in a
second-all at once, really. Then it
was exactly the same as If I had been
hit with a stick 1 thought it was a
big stick, bigger than any man could
SNlHS, anu lIldI II ILluSl NC WI NC0 ~
machinery. 1t hit me on the head and
all over, and went sailing into the air
a long, long way. My ears roared, and
the wind blew into my face. 1 knew
when 1 struck the ground, for L re-
member saying to myself, Well, I'm
done for 9
"I don't know just when I lost my
right senses, or when they came back,
but when they did come back 1t seemed
queer that was there still thought
1 had been thrown somehere else, for 1
could feel fire burning me. It was my
clothes They were smoking and al
most blazing. I was bruised all over,
and could not hear very well. My
voice sounded as though somebody else
were talking. That's all 1 can tell you
about it."
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26

trained to do several tricks, carries six
people in saddle, $500; female eIe
phant, five feet six inches high, no
tricks, $1,000; young, fresh imported
male elephant, four to five feet high
from Burmah, $1,000; females. s1100: ze-
bras, five years old. per pair, $4,000 and
both broken to drive double or single
harness; eight months old zebra, male
S45O, and female three months old $3.50.
Nubian wild ass, six years old. 5000.
wild asses from the Russian steppes
per pair, 5000; double-humped cam
els, per pair, $500; llamas, years old.
per pair, $3.50; Axis deer from India
per pair, 5000; Ska deer from Japan
per pair, $50; waterbuck antelopes. 2
years old Country not given), per pair.
800; Bengal tigers, male 6 years old
female years old, per pair, $3.50:
Bengal tigers, female, years old. each
$3.50; Nubian lions, years old, per
pair, $500; Nubian lions, 21a years
old. per pair $1,000, and IL years old
$500; female iaguars, IS months old
each, $225; pumas, years old. per
pair, $500; India leopards, male, s175
each; striped hyenas, each, S75: Rus
sian wolves, each, $100; young polar
bears, per pair, $3.50; polar bears. 1S
months old, $780, and fully grown, $1,000
per pair; young Russian bears $3.50.
African and Indian porcupines. each.
$40; male kangaroo, $125; beaver
rats, $50 per pair; male orang outang
Z years old, $500.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26

When they reached the side Of the
room they began slowly to ascend the
wall
Mr.. Evans was so astonished that he
rushed off to see a friend and begged
him to feel his pulse. for he thought
that something was wrong with him
self
When he returned the stamps had
risen half way to the ceiling and were
still gliding upward.
Happily for Mr.. Evans sanity the
square bits of red paper just then al
tered their course and began to de-
scend, and soon they were within
reach of his hand.
Then the mystery was explained. The
moistened stamps had fallen upon
big fly's back and had stuck to the In
sect, which naturally enough started
off with them.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
NEW TO-DAY.
HE SENDS IT FREE.
A Never Failing Remedy That
Makes a Man Young Again.
TRUE MANLINEsS QUICKLY REPLACES THE
WORN OUT NERVES AND VIG0R.

When a mans strength and vigor is
slowly wasting away from nervous
weakness, the mental forebodings are
ten times worse than the most severe
pain. There is no let up to the mental
suffering day or night. years the
writer rolled and tossed OF Ie troubled
sea of Nervous Debility Emissions,
Lame Back and the various other
troubles of Sexual Weakness, until it
was a question whether he had not
better take a dose of poison and thus
end all his troubles. But providential
inspiration came to his aid in the shape
of a combination of medicines that
conDletely restored his general health
and enlarged his weak, emaciated
parts to natural size and vigorj AID
he now declares that any man, young
or old. who will take the trouble to
send his name and address may have
Free full particulars of this wonderful
home treatment which quickly restored
me to my full strength and vigor of
youth. Now, when 1 say free, mean
absolutely without cost, because I want
every weakened man to get the benefit
of my experience.
There are thousands of men suffering
the mental tortures of weakened man
hood who would be cured at once could
they but get such a remedy as the one
that cured me- Send for it, and learn
that there are a few things on earth,
although they cost nothing to get, are
worth a fortune to some men, and
mean a lifetime of happiness to most
of US. Write to Thomas Slater, 17S
Masonic Temple, Kalamazoo, Mich,
and the information will be mailed in
plain sealed envelope,
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
Epglopd's Forty IDDortoIs. "
Chicago Record

Chicago Record.
The ingenious efforts of the London
Academy to found an institution of
letters similar to the forty immortals'
Of France is interesting as a freak Of
unconscious humor, but it has real
value also as an indication of the
status of British literature. The acad-
emy has picked out its forty" and the
list is much more successful than the
jokes in Punch. 1t can be understood
readily that Thomas Hardy, George
Meredith, Rudyard Kipling, August
Dobson, w. E. Henley, Andrew Lang,
Henry James (what, by the way, is
an American doing in the list?), Ed
mund Gosse and Algernon Charles
Swinburne may be entitled to aca-
demic Immortality. Gladstone, Spen-
Ger and Ruskin might be included by
virtue of their fame. though their first
claim to distinction is not purely liter
ary.
However, the outer world must be
excused for admitting that it does not
know why w. w. Skeat or w. p. Ker
should be placed on the immortal roll
There is some uncertainty as to Aidan
Gasuuet and DR.. Salmon, and Ameri-
can readers will not feel entirely sure
as to the pretensions Of G. o. Trevel-
yam and J. A. H. Murray. Nine, Sarah
Grand and the author of "Dodo" seem
to have claims superior to those of
Mr.. Ker. Even Alfred Austin, poet
laureate, although his name does not
appear on the list, has written poems
which are immortal in length, if no
other way
The scheme for an academy of Eng
lish immortals is all right, but instead
of making the number forty it should
be reduced to about fourteen-or less.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
POSTOFFICE
OVERWORKED
Glut OF Christmas Presents
Causes Much Trouble in
Oakland.
Carload of Calls and Too Much Reg
istered Mail Overworks the
Carriers.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call

Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
90S Broadway, Dec. 25.
While every one else has observed to-
day as a day of rest and reunion the
mail carriers have worked as never be-
fore. At 5 this morning many of them
were in the office getting their regis
tered packages in shape and sorting
their other mail. At o'clock they
breakfasted and then began the days
toll.
Each one returned to the office with
a horse and buggy, in which was load
ed bundles, packages. papers and bas-
kets of letters. Every effort was made
to have the presents and greetings
from friends delivered in time for the
family dinners. Some of them took
two loads, and still the office was
crowded with late arrivals.
After most of the boys had started
the overland reached town with six
pouches of registered mail This was
more than the hard-worked clerks in
side could stand, for they had worked
until 1 o'clock this morning and were
at their posts again before 5. Post
master White and Assistant Martin
were on hand to advise and assist, but
at the sight of the overland they
locked their desks and started for
home, advising the registry and other
clerks to do the same, which advice
was taken shortly afterward. Tonight
the clerks are again working late, in
hopes of catching up between now and
Monday morning, when the next de-
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
FIREBUGS STILL BUSY.
opooYtune FrustrotioD Of q Care
fully PIoDDed Attempt at
Arson IN Berkeley.

BERKELEY, Dec. 25.-Evidence of
another supposed attempt at arson
vas discovered this evening by Charles
L. Gilman, the janitor OF the Chem-
istry building at the university
Gilman lives at the corner OF Dana
and Parker streets, and this evening
he found close to his house coal OH
can with a fuse attached to 1t. II IS
supposed that the flrebug mad mace
ond vas frightened away or perhaps
Intended to return later and light the
Tnse Gilman, after making the dis
coverv laid in wait patiently for the
,oiecreant to return Had he done so
he would have met with warm re-
cention and the Berkeley police author
tiles would probably have had one less
desperate character to worry OVER
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
berkeley Preacher Who
Played Baseball on
Christmas.
A Brother Divine Vigorously
Condemns the Action as
Dissertation.
Rev. George E. Swan Thinks 1t Is a
Day For Worship, and Acts
Accordingly.

BERKELEY, Dec. 25.-Members Of
the First Congregational Church of
Berkeley attended baseball game this
morning on the university campus and
watched with delight the clever work
at hrst base of their pastor, Rev.
George B. Hatch. The game was
played between teams from the Pres
byterian and Congregational churches.
ana the proceeds went to the boys club
OF West Berkeley.
While the COngregationalists took in
the ball game the congregation of St
Marks Episcopal Church attended
divine services at their church, where
all day devotions were conducted.
Rev. George E. Swan, the pastor of the
church. had vigorously denounced ball
playing or kindred amusements on
. Christmas day and had urged his flock
TO f1ttingly observe the sacred feast by
going to church.
Thanksgiving day. said Rev. Mr..
Swan in his Christmas sermon last
night, lis regularly desecrated by ball
games and similar amusements. Christ
mas day. at least, the most solemn of
religious festivals, should be given over
to religious observance, and, accord
iugly, tomorrow we shall have all-day
services in St. Marks Church"
Rev. Swan made no personal allusion
to Rev. Hatch, or to the members of
the Congrega and Presbyterian
Churches, but inasmuch as the inter
church baseball game had been pretty
well advertised for some days past
there can be little doubt as to whom
his remarks were directed.
The Congregational team won the
game this morning by a score of 10 to
10. Rev. Mr.. Hatch at first base was,
of. course, the center of attraction, and
he was loudly applauded for his play
lag. His batting was good. and he
::5Tined out base hits as he is reported to
:1hatEe done when he played ball at Har-
ward, To his playing was due in large
:1Lrfaasure the baseball victory for Con-
:gIeGa attOnalism.
: THE :line-up Of the opposing teams
-: o fnllnLI-s.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26

the organs of self-esteem and benevo-
lence are missing, while that of de-
structiveness is abnormally large. 1
should have been able to tell immedi-
ately without the testimony of the
man himself that the owner of this
skull had lived an extremely erratic
and criminal life. For what crime, my
friend were you imprisoned?"
"I never committed any crime"
gruffly replied the subject.
but you told us you had been an in
mate Of prison for twenty-five
years?"
80 I have, but I've never committed
a crime"
why were you there. then?"
At am a prison warder!" Collapse
Of entertainment.)
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
Stamps Went for q Wolk.
English Exchange

A certain Mr.. Evans stood in a post
office preparing to post a letter and had
just moistened two halfpenny stamps
when they slipped from his fingers and
f1uttered to the floor.
Mr.. Evans, who is a portly man.
looked at them in disgust and then
stopped to pick them up
Before he could put his fingers upon
them, however, they began to move
slowly away from him along the floor.
He drew back and gazed at the spec
tacle with astonishment and terror.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
The Alameda Librarian
Visiting a Friend Near
PleaSantOn.
An Extraordinary Proposal to
Meet His Shortage by
Subscription.
His Friends Exerting Themselves t.
Place the Embarrassed Man
on His Feet.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
Q02 RrOadWav Dac Ok

Librarian Harbourne Of Alameda has
not gone East and is not headed Klon-
dikewards. He is spending a few days
with a friend on a ranch near Pleas
anton and quietly waiting until the
scandal of which he is the central fig
ure has blown over. One of his
Alameda friends gave out these
facts tonight, and also said that no
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
cAmE HOME ZOE cHRIsTMAs.

OAKLAND Dec. 25.-Frank Dabiin,
an ex-employe of the Seiby sIneItits % ts
sre1,d the HOLIDAYS with tliends. AS 1t
Vas late he took a room at the Cos
rnopolitan Hotel for the night. rms ms
morning he was found dead in MS pea
with the gas turned on. T9ere was wa
nothing about the room to indicate SUI SUI
eide. and it is supposed that he u
the gas OFF and on again. MS Dou1
vas removed TO the morgue and an
incuest will be held Monday evening.
His parents live at San Pablo,
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
An Old Mnn's Denth.

OAKLAND, Dec. 25.-James Nc
Carthy, a peddler over 60 years of age,
fell down a flight Of stairs at his
boarding house on the corner of Ninth
and Franklin streets tonight at about
midnight. His neck was broken by
the fall and death was instantaneous.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
OBJECT TO
THE STAMPS
merchants Exchange IS
Ready to Fight the
System.
director Brown Makes
Statement OF It's
Evils.
has Already Been Denied q
Footing in Many
Cities.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call

OVO IoI OtIN y 1OGC.
The Merchants Exchange is prepar-
Ing data with which to go before the
Council to back up its arguments in
FAVOR of passing an ordinance prohib-
iting trading in stamps. The introduc-
ton Of the system is causing great
interest, which is increasing daily.
During the past few days many COM
plants have been made that the stamp
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
Prices Of Wild Animols.

The greatest animal mart in the
world is at Hamburg, Germany, and
the following are the current market
prices for animals:
Female Indian elephant six feet high,
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
FOOTBALL.

ALAMEDA, Dec. 25.-The annual
came of football between the young
mems teams of the Congregational and
PRESBYTERIAN churches took place this
morning at Recreation Park and re-
suited in an interesting match, which
was won by the first-named team by a
score of 12 to 2. In the afternoon the
Vampires defeated the Soldiers by
score of to l.
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
PACIFIC COAST TRACK RECORDS FOR 1897
Compiled By the Racing Board of the California Associated Cycling
Clubs. R, M. WelCh, Chairman.

Robert NJ
records
the and should
nerable points
Vincent probably
ona table longer because
good and Mr. Weh does believe padding
of date and
The San Francisco call., 1897-12-26
cITT WITH A POCKET KNIFE.

John and F. w. Reichrath celebrated
christmas last evening in somewhat
unroarious fashion, and during a
drunken row Apjohn cut Reichrath
with pocket knife, infiicting a slight
wound. He was arrested and charged
with battery.