The San Francisco call., 1898-05-08
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 WITH ENTIRE FRANKNESS.

By HENRY JAMES.

s & s 8 8 9 8 s s 8 s 8 8 s 8 s s | It is with regret I learn that wor- thy gentleman has stopped his sub scription to the paper which prints my stuff, and has done so because of some recent remarks of mine about Emma | Goldman. I trust, however. that he is not governed by the idea that his act Is to be regarded as a calamity, for, in- deed, he is the only sufferer. There are more logical methods of seeking | revenge. Some people desirous of ex- pressing disapprobation send me po- etry.
 A correspondent asks me to express myself as to the right of the telephone | company to make him drop nickel in the slot before giving him the infor- matfon that he cannot get the number he wants. Ever ready to oblige, I am baff1ed by this request. The company has no such right; it simply assumes that it has. It has obtained from me more than one small coin by it's sure thing game. I do not know what can be done about it, for to smash the box With club would be regarded as an extreme measure, and subject the smasher to inconvenience, although morally, the use of the club would often be wholly, Justifiable. The matter has heretofore been called to the attention of the police, but they have been too busy in not suppressing poolrooms to take any action. The telephone gen. tlemen seem to have what might crude ly be termed the bulge on us here, but in the last days, when the heavens shall be rolled up as a scroll, I think they will squirm nightly as the recording angel shall put his finger on a long series of items and say, How about those nickels you swiped?"
 
 Stfngy Jim' writes an expression of gratitude for the manner in which his combined churn and ice-cream freezer was extolled last week I thank him for doing so. We all desire to be ap- preciated, and my aim is to please.
 It seems to me that William Jennings Bryan is not getting fair treatment. Some people did not like his campaign for the Presidency, and enough opposed his policy to defeat him. I think he made a manly fight. As to the worth of his policy, the decision already ren- dered will have to be accepted. But when some fool friends of Bryan aps ply for a generalcy for him he Is blamed for 1t, and told that the ranks are open If he wants to serve his country And II he were to enlist as a private the very papers now advising him to do so would howl at the act as new evil dence that Bryan is demagogue.
 A young woman sends clear from Iowa manuscript which she calls "A Stroll in the Woods" It is accom- panied by photograph as evidence of good faith and a pretty face. I have no doubt that strolls through the Iowa woods are enjoyable affairs, but unless she can resist the impulse to write about the emotions they arouse it is clearly her duty to the public to take them but rarely. I was touched by description of her success in getting through a barbwire fence, she being, as she aptly states, kind of tall and wiry," but yet there was so much hard ly up to this standard that to use the article is impossible. I confess to pang at sending back the photograph.
 Years ago four men united in a plan to build a railroad across the continent. It was big, bold scheme. They had little mon- ey, which they devoted to the pro- ject. The history of their undertaking is too familiar to need recital What ever may have been their ambitions, ar,ohi they were more than realized The four became immensely rich. Three of them have died. leaving fortunes little less than stupendous. The fourth sur wives, his hoard vast beyond calcula- tion. It is to be regretted that the giant enterprise which Huntington, in a large measure, has directed from the first, should have been tainted by fraud, that scandal should have attended it's progress, been a part of it's history, and seem to cloud it's future For Huntington is a great man. In intel lect as in physique he towers above his fellows. At the age of four score his mind is clear and keen. He knows the story of the Southern Pacific as no one else is destined ever to know it. There are chapters he will never reveal, and attempts to make him do so represent wasted effort and lost time. I saw him last week before the Railroad Commis- sioners undergoing what they were confident was an examination. It was nothing of the kind. MT. Huntington was many times more than a match for the Commissioners. He played with them, wrapped them about his finger, made them seem his pitiful puppets. An answer to such questions as they asked would have been of no value, but he would not even answer these He affably talked all around point but at last evaded it. He professed the ut most willingness to tell everything, and told nothing. They stood in awe of him. He was the living representative of millions: he was railways, steam ships, shipyards, gold. Not a man in the lot but knew Huntington was guilty of evasion. I say evasion" because myself somewhat in awe of his inn pressive personality, and checked by the respect due old age. But nobody,