davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1897-10-10
IN A GENTLE WRITER'S MEMORY

ITO be honest, to be kind, to earn lit
tie and spend little less; to make, upon
the whole, family happier by his pres
ence; to renounce when that shall be
necessary and not be embittered; to keep
few friends, but these without pitula-
tiCn-abOve all, on the same grim eondi-
ton, to keep friends with himself-here is
task To- all that man has of fortitude
and deiicacy."
A simple-one might almost say child
lsh-code Of morals, yet one to test the
strength ald endurance of the strong man
who shall endeavor to live up to it. say
the strong man advisedly; the weak need
not try.
Still, this was the standard set for him
self and for others by Stevenson, phys
lcaI-y one OF the weakest of men-a giant
mind Incasel in fragile shell. Those who
know him best know how we'll he lived up
to this standard, and how much of the
SN4ondertul personal charm and magnetism
which he possessed was due to his almost
unVarylng Kindness aud courtesy of man
ner.
There were times indeed, when, under
the stress OF physical SUFFERING. he couId
be irritable, nay, even oyerbearjng and
unjust In his manner-he has ad dmifted ss
much IN his confessions TO Colvin-hnt
the occasions were 50 rare. the snasms of
temper so brief, the twinles of remorse 40
lovable that we need not weigh them in
the balance against his memory.
II the Inscription for the lost autbor,s
monument is appropriate still more 50 is
Its site. Next Sunday, with the smaIIest
possible amount OF ceremony and with on
entire absence of official fuss. the fonn-
tam IN the center of Portsmouth sors,o
Will De unveiled. 1t is to stand in tho did
plaza, right in the M Iddle of the land of
bohemia which Stevenson so loved to tro.
quent. The little green square. with it,
dlmlnutive pines and weli-kept turf i
rich in historical associations. It was tho
center OF the busy bustling lie of the GOLD
fever days, and the old 49er can tell Won
many strange story about this open
space.
There were those who would like n
have seen the fountain placed in Golden
Gate Park or in some square or avenue
more fashionable in its character and
more likely to be visited by the cultured
well-to-do classes. But the promoters of
the memorial wisely decided otherwise.
This, the first monument 10 Robert Louis
Stevenson's fame, should be placed Just
where the man, who spent many days in
San Francisco, most loved to be. Around
the corner, only block away, is the house
where he lived and worked. 1t was from
fhre that he started on an expedition
which was TO enrich the literature of the
world with that most charming bit of
natural description, 1.-THE Silverado
nquatters"; it was here that he worked up
II e local color which gives THE Wrecker'
sach marked attractions for San Fran
CISCO readers; 1t was here that he evolved.
from who shall say what prototype, the
character OF the marvelously energetic,
pushing Pinkerton, whose schemes for
money making were SO manv and numer-
The San Francisco call., 1897-10-10

you to refuse 10 go and so l brought this
man along 20 help me force you; but
didn't expect you TO deny being a surgeon
II L had not been confident that your bet
ter nature and your pride in your pro-
fession would assert themselves when you
should actually see this distressing case,
L would not have run this great risk of
offending you and thereby defeating all
my plans and hopes. am sure that you
will be true to yourself and that you will
employ your wonderful skill to save a
precious life and your honor to shield a
fair name"
The genuineness of the woman's plead
ing and agony was reassuring. OF course,
sooner or later | shoul have to show that
l was not surgeon, but meanwhile much
precious time which might be profitably
employed by surgeon would be lost.
The San Francisco call., 1897-10-10

7 TO allow OF their presence. But the pro-
moters declare that Mrs. Stevenson would
prefer not to attend and that the ceremony
would give her pain rather than pleasure.
Perhaps they are right, the grave on the
top OF Vaea Hill is yet too recent. Though
Mrs. Stevenson may Justly feel proud OF
this act OF homage to her husband's mem
ory, the contrast between the ella borate
granite fountain in the center of the bus
ting city and the unpretentious concrete
cenotaph resting alone on the top of the
bush-clad mountain could only be painful.
1t is but few months ago | clim bed,
with ms any weary steps, up the slippery
track which leads from Vailima to the top
of the rocky range overshadowing the
house. The work had but just been COM
pleted, the concrete was stall fresh and
damp. and the dusky workmen who had
carried out the contract were still busy
removing the traces of THAR toll. A little
space has been cleared on top of the hill,
and from between the trunks of the encir-
cling trees one can look out on the whole
tropical panorama of the Vaisinago Val
ley; its little stream running like silver
thread through banana plantation and
cocoanut grove until the struggling town
VI apia 10 IedOueo. dI-
most within a ston e's throw, it seems-for
distances appear short in this clear air
is the house which Stevenson built and
loved so well and far away, bordered by
glistening line of white breakers, is the
deep blue Pacific, the sea he had known
and sailed for years until he found his
home on the mountain top.
The plain tombstone. built after the
shape of Samoan chief, bears no adorn-
ment save only couple of bronze plates.
On the one side, in Samoan, verse from
Ruth's beautiful adjuration to Naomi; on
the other Stevenson's own epitaph, the
simple and now familiar words in which
he expressed the poetry of his last resting
place:
Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie.
Glad did live and gladly die,
And laid me down with a will.
This be the verse you grave for me,
Here he lies where he longed to be-
Home is the sailor, home from the sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.
J. f. ROSE. SoLEY.
The San Francisco call., 1897-10-10

! the life of this quarter, and it is fit that
his monument should he here.
A strange feature about the memorial is
that 1t owes It's inception and ompletion
almost entirely 10 a man who never saw
Stevenson in the flesh. II never met
him. said Mr.. Bruce Porter, "but l ad.
mired his works and read them over and
over again, until, from admiring the lit
erary genius of the author, l grew TO love
and venerate the nobility and gentleness
Of the man."
Thus 1t happened that Mr.. Porter was
ready Tor the task which he imposed upon
himself. When the news of Stevenson S
death reached San Francisco on January
e, 1885. the artist took up his pencil and
sketched his ideal of a fountain in men,
ory of the author. The sketch is practi-
cally identical with the design as exc
cuted, for Mr.. Porter had the luck to IN
terest many in his scheme. Mr.. Willis
Polk saw the design and entered into the
work with enthusiasm, ana Mrs. Virgil
Williams, an old friend of the Stevenson
family, whose name appears in the dedi-
cation of the Silversdo Squatters, lent
subs antial aid. The estimated cost of
the memorial was $1200, and to raise this
sum circular was sent round asking for
contributions, J. d. Phelan, the Mayor.
being a member of the committee.
The promoters efforts were not re-
stricted to merely local circles, for in the
East the well-known poetess, Louise Imo-
gen Quincy, gave willing aid, and through
her efforts raised large proportion OF the
cash required. Still the work has been
slow and it has taken a long time-oyer
two years-to gather in the needed funds.
Even at the end there was a hitch. for
quite recently the committee found itself
some $3.50 short. The money had to be
raised somehow, and at last the Bohe-
mian Club took the matter up and its
mem bers, putting their hands into their
pockets, found the sum. In return Mr..
Porter is executing q valuable work of
art-a stained-glass landscape window
to be presented to the club, so that the
members of this popular place of resort
VIII lose nothing by their generosity.
The foun tain, as will be seen from the
illustration, is a masterpiece of tasteful
sim plicity. 1t does hot pretend to any
great display, but it is 10 be solid and en-
during, a1d in harmony with the advent
is of granite thirteen feet high, and on
this, in incised lettering, is the inscription.
On the top of the shaft. executed in
bronze. is an old style sixteenth century
ship. designed by George Piper and cast
by Messrs. Whyte & De Rome. The
stonework has been done by ]. d. McGiI-
vary, and a notable feature ABOUT the
fountain will be its practica bility. The
water is 20 run out of plain, EVERYDAY.
working faucets, instead of out of fsnci-
fully designed gruesome-looking skulls.
Further, the services of man skilled in
the making of pipes have been invited, so
that proper outlets for the escape of the
water will be provided.
Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson and her
daughter, Mrs. Strong, are expected to ar.
rive from Samoa by the mail steamer on
the 21st inst. At the first lance it seems
pity that the unveiling ceremony could
not have been postponed week in order
The San Francisco call., 1897-10-10
AN ARTISTIC MAKEUP

The acme of the art OF making up for
the stage is said by competent judges
to have been reached by w. A. Belasco in
his character of Chinese rag-picker in
THE First Born" Heretofore this honor
had been undisputably conceded to Wilton
Lackaye of Svengali fame.
Mr.. Belasco, in he character of Chi
nese rag-picker, is on the stage only forty
three seconds, but it takes him more than
that many minutes to make up" for it.
Physically and facially he is supposed to
repres ent an aged. decrepit and indigent
Chlnese-the body bent, the legs thin and
The San Francisco call., 1897-10-10

nose, giving to the latter broad appear.
ance. The eyebrows are painted away
with flesh" coloring and replaced by
false ones, MongoIian shaped-that is,
with the corners turned upward. Over all
this comes coat of sallow grease paint.
Over this again comes blue grease paint
to sink the cheeks and eyelids. the latter
being lined in with wrinkle coIoring, to
give the eyes a sickly and infamed ap-
pearance. The lower lbs are lined with
bright red paint. Two dark streaks are
made from the chin downward, on either
side OF the larynx, making the sinews look
The San Francisco call., 1897-10-10
Queer Method of Moving a Coffin

The vicinity of Third and l streets in
Sacramento as both amused and
shocked recently by the sight of coffin
being lowered by means of block and
tackle from a second window.
Within the coffin, IS subsequently ap-
peared, was the body of woman who
weighed too much for the pail bearers to
carry down the stairs.
The stairway down which the coffin
would have had to pass was very narrow
and two people in front and two in the
rear would have found it difficult to walk
down together. Consequently there was
a consultation among the friends and
relatives OF the deceased as to how to re-
move the body.
This resulted in a resort to block and
tackle. With these fastened securely
above the window the coffin was trium ph
antly lowered to the sidewalk and swung
into the hearse.
The San Francisco call., 1897-10-10
Copyright. 1879


One Of those soothing autumn evenings
which help TO make San Francisco so
comfortable was already well advanced,
and was about TO leave my rooms for a
stroll. when a stranger appeared at my
door and said that a lady IN a carriage be-
low wanted 10 see me. l at once went
downstairs. followed by the man.
''She IS in there, sir" said the man,
pointing to a carriage standing in front OF
the building. l observed that the car
rage curtains were drawn, but that the
doOrsash was open.
When I had approached close to the
vehicle woman, whose face was covered
with a veil. raised the door curtain and
p a very winning manner asked me
, u get in, as she wished 20 talk with me
privately on a matter of Importance.
Cant you explain the business here as
well as elsewhere, madam ?' asked.
She made a disdainful little gesture al
this confession of tmidity, and so l has
tened to retrieve myself by saying:
''Of course, if you insist"
u do, most earnestly" she replied. at
is matter that will become as important
TO you as it is TO me-"
l stepped into the carriage and the
driver (the man who han summoned me)
started the horses. As large pile Of rugs
covered the front seat | was compelled to
sit beside the woman.
She appeared timid. and was evidently
reluctant to make the promisei explana-
tion. Therefore, ! gave her time, and We
rode in silence. She wore a cloak that
completely concealed her form, but
70 ho IS a1 i1r Si~ ha
little that l had heard of her voice in
formed me that 1t was musical and cul-
tured, with a certain caressing quality
that was all the more valuabl by reason
o its youth. Presently the strange cir
cumstances OF the affair made me uneasy,
and | said:
"Will you be kind enough to tell me
what your business is and what are the
reasons for these precautIons?"
She Strengthened up. ana in hurried
and somewhat excited manner (and, /
suspected, IN a disguised voice as weII)
made the following explanation:
"A very dear friend of mine-a lovely
young married woman - was seriously
hurt this evening, and she wants your
services. She sent me for you. as the
affair must be conducted with the most
guarded secrecy. l waited until you
should get into the carriage before telling
you. So you are to 60 with me to see her.
You will never regretit, and will be hand
somely paid for your trouble" "
What services are expected of me?' l
asked.
Professional" she explained. Before
/ could ask her what that meant she hur-
riedly added: You see, il must be kept
a secret-an absolute secret; and before
explain any further you must give me
your word OF honor that you will never
breathe a word OF 1t to living SOUL"
The San Francisco call., 1897-10-10

the movement jerky; the face wan sal
low, pinched and wrinkled, debauched
and opium marked; the eyes small and
staring; the attire tattered and patched.
In making up for this character Mr..
Belasco first uses what is known in stage
pariance as face padding" together with
composition called ''nose wax, (which is
pliable and sticky and can be shaped as
desired. lump of this compound, we'll
smoothed, is stuck to the cheek bones and
the lawbones. also to the wings of the
The San Francisco call., 1897-10-10

hand, and on every side was the Bohe mian
quarter, whose foreign residents Steven
son so dearly loved to study. He could
walk for whole block without hearing
word of English spoken. His French. of
which he had perfect command, was in
The San Francisco call., 1897-10-10

| Gus that they crowded each others heels
and left the promo Ter no chance TO enrich
him self.
Though the surroundings of the plaza
are ny no means of the most beautiful
their very squalor and irregularity had
The San Francisco call., 1897-10-10

prominent, both sides of which are sh AIDED
with lighter grease paint, in order TO give
some life to the face. as all these
dark shades would make it too dead
looking. The wings of the nose. the lips,
cheek bones and cheeks = the latter
lightly--are shaded with dark red COL
oring. Then the whole face is wrlnkled
by means of dark lines on the cheeks, the
forehead and across the temples. As a
finishing touch stage powder is used to
give to the face uniform appearance.
The San Francisco call., 1897-10-10

ITO be continued me1t Sunday.l
Evening star., 1897-08-16
The Educn tiona1 Convention.

The proposition to have $4,000 subscribed
cational Association in Washington on the
occasion of its convention next year should
call forth a prompt response, especially on
the part OF those to whom it will come as a
business matter promising a profitable re-
turn on the investment. The local execu-
tive committee having charge of the pre-
liminary arrangements for the convention
must be assured that they can raise this
sum of money before they can take further
steps to secure the meeting of the conven-
tion here. Delay in providing the neces-
sary funds will give other cities competing
for the privilege of having the convention
additional opportunities for securing It.
The cities other than Washington that
desire the prize are Omaha, Los Angeles
them is successful no railroad entering this
city will be benefited to any considerable
extent in handling the thousands of educa-
tors who will attend the convention. The
street railroad companies and the hotels
here should all be alert as business mat
ter in having a gathering of $4,000 or 49,
600 people in the city for a week or more
in the dull season Of the year. If these in
terests which will be materially benefited
by the meeting of the convention here will
respond promptly to the call for subscrip-
ticns, they will greatly strengthen the
local committee. which is doing all it can
to secure the meeting of the convention at
the capital.
Evening star., 1897-08-16

The uneasiness felt in England with
regard to affairs ia India lends much in
terest TO an article in the current number
of BIackwood's under tke title of The
Native Army of India The size of the
army. its divisions. the soldieriy character
Istics of the different tribes represented
and the security of the comparatively small
number OF Englishmen living In the coun-
Try, are all touched upon.
\ comparison Is made between the condi-
lions OF forty years ago and the conditions
British and 34S.GOO native troops, the for
Uer handling 2IG field-gUns, and the latter
2iS. The natives in arms then stood TO the
whites as ten to one and were almost
equal in the matter of artillery. Today, the
proportions are 1900 British, with SO bat
teries OF artillery of six guns each, and,
iac.u4ing the imperial service troops, $4,000
natives and Ii batteries So that now the
natives In arms stand to the whites as only
~ to one, while the artillery In the hands
of the natives Is only one-sixth of all in
the country 1t Is thus to be seen that the
whites in the time stated have materially
increased their power. They have likewise,
this author believes. greatly benefited by
improvements that have been made in the
management Of the whole military estab-
hsnrnent of the colony. which have simpli-
fed the old arrangement and invested the
commander-in-chief with more authority.
A large need OF praise is bestowed upon
Evening star., 1897-08-16
Electric Light Bills.

While the war between the two electric
light companies in the District of Columbia
is waging the patrons of these corporations
should be wise in their day and generation
In their battle for supremacy cheap rates
will be the weapons welded by these COM
panies against each other and other things
being equal, the company giving the cheap
er rates and having the ability to keep up
the warfare the longer will be successful.
But what then? Will the survivor, If there
is but one. proceed to reimburse itself for
its losses through the additional profits of
increased rates for electric lighting? The
possibility of such a contingency should
suggest to all those whose patronage is be-
ing SO eagerly sought by the rivals the ad-
visibility of securing permanent conces-
sions of cheaper rates. so that when the
war Is over they will not have to pay its
expenses through increased electric ligh.
billy.
Evening star., 1897-08-16

sons that have led up to this request. 1t
appears that In the past men have been ap-
pointed to these positions entirely through
political influence. The opportunities for
corruption in Morocco and the neighboriag
countries are unusually great. Unfortu-
nately the very factors that lead to the
selection of these consular officers tend 10
keep them in Office even when they fall un-
der suspicion. They rely upon their pull. -
The present consul-general it is said. has
Ignored the many chances to dispose of the
favors Of his administration for cash and
has conducted himself in diplomatic, hon
orable manner. Hence the petition for his
retention now forwarded by an American
The plain remedy for such disgraceful
conditions, If they really exist, and there
is reason to believe that they do exist. Is
to place the entire consular and diplomatic
service upon a civil service reform basis
1t must come, sooner or later, if the United
states hopes to conduct its International af-
fairs on an equality with the other nations
OF the world. 1t must come if this coun-
try Is to retain its prestige abroad. There
are many reasons why the same rules that
now govern the internal administration of
the nation, based upon personal worth and
fitness. should speedily be extended to that
branch of public endeavor that deals with
the other great families Of the world In
deed in many respects as between the TWO
evils 1t would be safer for the nation to
have the spoils system again in force in the
departmental administration and the merit
ana retention system in vogue in the diplo-
matte and consular service.
Evening star., 1897-08-16
Prince Henry Pinked.

The widely advertised duel between
Prince Henry of Orleans and the Count of
Turin was fought near Paris yesterday.
The only persons present were the princi-
pals, their seconds, and the surgeons and
hence the story of the encounter to which
the public is treated comes from sources
interested in giving full measure of dig
nifty to the affair. And so we have 1t from
these sources that the young men behaved
we'll on the field, that they fought with an
energy approaching fury, and that the
bringing of Prince Henry to the ground
with his second wound alone stopped the
combat. The Count Of Turin received q
cut on his sword hand, but of a slight
nature. There seems to be a slight con-
fiict between the statement that Prince
Henry's wound may prove to be very
serious and the statement that he was. soon
on his feet and walked without assistance
to his carriage. but the Princes time in
bed will settle that He owes 1t to himself
ard all concerned not to get up too soon,
but everybody will wish to see him I'D
again.
Such an affair as this cannot be treated
seriously on this side of the water al
though it is not difficult to understand the
European appraisement of it, Rome is re-
ported to be in a fever of delight over the
result. So great was the excitement in
deed, when the news was first received,
that police protection was thrown around
the French Legation there. Evidently
there was fear that the people might offer
some offense to the French Ambassador,
who, by the way. represents nothing for
which Prince Henry stands, but the very
opposite There is no word from Paris,
but probably the feeling there is confined
to regret at Prince Henrys poor swords
manship. Some national pride must have
entered into the matter, and some desire
been felt that the Prince should exhibit or
the field not only courage but a soldiers
measure of skill with soldiers weapon
Meanwhile what has been settled be-
ycpd the Count of TURNS superior skill or
lick with the sword? The matter of Italian
courage en- French soil was not in ques-
ton. but that of Italian courage in Abys-
sinia before King Menelek's army was.
Has that stigma, Il stigma ever attached,
been removed? And what of Prince Henry?
Does this thrust in the stomach let him
on? Or must he go on meeting irate Ital-
ians. from royalty down to lieutenants of
the line, until he disposes of them, or until
one of them disposes of him? 1t is a COM
plicated matter from the American point of
view.