davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27

quiries of many sorts have been re- ceived.
 One girl writes to ask whether any age limit has been fixed to determine who may be eligible to compete. A boy suggests that, when the two competl- tive pages shall have been published. the first composed by the girls and the second by the boys-or vice versa the decision shall be reached by ballot. This query and suggestion may be an- swered as follows:
 The contest being devised for the boys and girls, it would possibly be well to fix eighteen years as the age limit. Further suggestions are, how ever, awaited. The majority will rule in naming the terms of competition. The decision concerning the relative merits of the pages representing the girls and the boys might be rendered by ballot, but. very likely, after the pages are published the boys and girls will be impatient to get the decision. Balloting is slow. Jurors, selected by some method to be suggested, would give their opinions with little delay comparatively.
 Many parents have written that their boys and girls are interested and, al- ready in their homes, are getting ready to write in the competition. The drift of opinion, so far, is in favor of story telling. The advocates of fiction are up to date, two to one, as compared with those who consider essay writing the better test. The class of matter to be
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27
CRUISE OF THE CALIFORNIA.

Rinnie and Ned see the witch: doctor look up and realize that he mas iost his last chance, for the. White 'hf1lg has struck him down and mas leapeo into a basket that hangs below the black globe. While Koti and Kemona are making a heroic battle, the two boys. strictly obeying instructions, also step into the basket, and Blnnle cuts a rope that held the globe to the ground, and so the King departs from his subjects. s'.s
 Koti and Kemona drive back their enemies. who are so disturbed by the events of the night that they have lost heart. Then Koti and Kemona speed back to the white mems camp.
 Two hours later all the white men. having with them the White King whom they have rescued, are on the top of the table mountain, and are making rapid march toward the Marwise River, where they will ma war canoes to take them back to the California, as she lies at moorings. In the yacht they will reach Sam trancls- co without other adventures.
 So the prophecy of the witch doc- tor was fulfilled and the White King was lost to view as he went toward the sky.
 Even while their King was being car- ried away toward the sky the savages, who had lost him, felt the ground trem- ble beneath their feet. A horrible roar ing noise-the sound of an avalanche at the same time smote their ears. The moon was suddenly hidden behind
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27

toned, into the flames. This being his birthday, he would give them a chance to escape by the burning of their bonds. A hoarse cry went up from the waiting savages, and the torch bearing chiefs looked up.
 Give me torch" shrieked the witch doctor, with rage, T will light the fires, though all the skies should fall upon us, and the mountains should bury the land from sight
 But, To! in the sky was now a won derful sight. Across the face of the full moon, even as the witch doctor defied the skies, passed a dark globe that car ried beneath 1t a mass of fire. From the globe came flashes and loud explo- sions. At once all the thousands of savages were upon their feet and shouting in dire chorus that the curse had fallen upon the land.
 Down, down from the lofty heights of the sky came, slowly and majesti- cally, the dusky globe, with flaming brands that the savages supposed to have been kindled in the sky.
 Not moment paused the iron-nerved witch doctor, although he was as much puzzled by this strange apparition as were the savages over whom he ruled with steady hand. He placed the torch to the four piles of fagots in quick succession, and the twigs burst into flame.
 Even then embers fell on his head and shoulders from the visitor from the sky, soaring his skin. but he was too
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27

The Ogre heard the voices and would have run to the dungeon had not the drawbridge of the castle fallen just then with a dreadful chatter. The same word that opened the dungeon door lowered the drawbridge. The Prince, who had been waiting outside the cas- tie, now made boldly in, blowing a golden trumpet to challenge the Ogre to battle.
 In an instant the Ogre darted toward the door of his armory to get his big club of iron, studded with knots of iron and sharp spikes. Fuss had been there already and had locked the door and had thrown the key down deep well in the court yard.
 The trembling Gwendolin had fol- lowed Fuss out of her dungeon, and seeing her cousin, the Prince, upon a beautiful horse, his arms and coat all sparkling with gold and diamonds, and
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27
ENTERING THE ROBBERS CASTLE.

published Is the subject of lively dis cusSion. Some of the communications will be published soon-as soon as the expression of opinions has become more general
 Boys and girls are requested to write only upon one side of the paper, and to write their names and postoffice ad- dresses plainly. All boys and girls re- siding in Pacific Coast States or Terri tories are invited to send in their views and suggestions. The following are the principal points to be considered:
 1. What age limit shall be fixed for competitors?
 2. Shall the boys or the girls be first to publish their page?
 3. How shall the judges or jurors be chosen?
 4. What class of matter is best adapt ed to test the ability of the writer to be interesting?
 No story or essay should contain more than 600 words. The idea is to get as many articles as possible upon the two pages. By prescribing the length this can be carried out. At least six arti cles by boys and six articles by girls will be published and more if possible. Next week progress will be reported. Editor of the Call:
 am years old. Papa reads the boys ana girls page to me. Vera and I would like S1nbad first. REY CHATFIELD.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27

naughty to show that he was dis turbed. Now strange occurrence jarred the nerves of the frightened savages beyond endurance. From each of the four faggot fires proceeded ter rife sounds that followed explosions. Following the noises came a rain of faggots and burning brands and torches. The sacrif1cial fires had been scattered and torn to fragments, and fire and ashes covered the heads of the people, who began to flee in every di- rection.
 The horrible black globe continued to descend from the sky. The blazing fire that it brought was the only light excepting the white glare of the moon by which the savages could see it.Many ssavages refused to move, thus showing their superior courage. These were gathered about the witch doctor. Be- meath the black globe were two boys with white faces. They held in their hands dark objects, from which they poured forth, with noises that made the woods reverberate, an unceasing stream of fire in fierce flashes
 In all the ways through the forest were heard in horror-stricken tones the dismal death songs of the savages, and barbaric chanting, heralding the doom of the King of the savages and of their land.
 When the dark globe had fallen to the level of the tree tops the witch doc- tor stood as if petrified for a. moment. But he reused himself and cried to those around him:
 Our doom may yet be set aside if the King is not allowed to leave our land"
 His right hand flew to his long and keen knife of bone. AS agile as lion, he sprang toward the White King to strike him down. The King heard and saw the witch doctor, and his blood was on fire, for he knew that his only choice now was between death and rescue He must first fight for his life. His own knife was in his hand The savages, aghast with sur prise, saw their witch doctor and their King battling ferociously, each intent only upon the other, and both seem ingly forgetful of the presence of the white men and of the doom of the whole people.
 The witch doctor was about to con- quer. The King has fallen, and the sharp knife of the witch doctor Is about to fall One more second and all is over. The King will be no more, and the Cruise of the California is a failure. Is it true? That depends upon the acts of the two white faced boys who were under the black globe, and who are now upon the ground, Bnnie and Sam.
 Not all, for Kemona and Koti have forced their way to the middle of the circle of the raging savages, and there, back to back, two against an army, they are firing their revolvers in des- perate struggle to keep back the bar barians.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27


 whose fortunes were made by Puss in Boots, had one son,
 brave lad named Arthur. Oneday < Arthur called Fuss in Boots to :. y 'foin him, and together they went 4o the. Kings stables, where two fine horses were waiting, ready saddled.
 "Come," said the Prince, for it will he recollected that the Marquis of Cara ! bas married the Kings daughter, let us be off"
 And where to, master?" asked Fuss, who was still active, although quite old.
 ;"I am going to find my beautiful ;. cousin Gwendolin, the only daughter of the oldest son of the miller, and to save her from a dungeon, into which l she has been thrown to be held for ransom by some robbers.
 The Prince said no more, but rode so hard that Fuss found much work keeping up. Soon the Prince and Fuss were beyond the lands of Carabas and travelled in a strange country. At sum- down they found a tollgate across the road. Beside the tollgate was an inn.
 The Prince drew rein and entered the linn for refreshments, but Fuss wait |, ed outside, and talked with some horse men'who had just arrived. He had not f asked many questions when he learned that they were the rODDeTS. ne WAS about to warn the Prince when the captain of the robbers said:
 = Not so fast, Fuss. We know that you are going to try to take the lovely Gwendolin from us. We will deal with you now and with the Prince a little later"
 So saying the robber captain aimed a blow at Fuss with his sword, but Fuss jumped from the horse like flash and ran and hid in the inn stable. A few minutes later he saw the rob- bers surround the Prince, and, al- though the Prince was brave, there were so many robbers that he was soon a prisoner and was tied hand and foot. The robbers thought that now they had made their fortunes, for the Mar Quis of Carabas would be sure to pay a large sum for the ransom of his son. They drank much wine at the inn. While they were sitting at the table they kept their eyes on the Prince, that he might not escape.
 Fuss now put on the skin of a lion, that he had found in the stable He first stuffed 1t with hay, that it might seem large. Then he jumped in and walked toward the robbers. They were frightened at what they supposed to be a live lion. Fuss made his voice large and roared. At the same time Ehe opened and shut the lions Jaws,
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27

and he knew Fuss and the Prince as they neared the castle. He shouted at them In a terrible voice:
 Hence or die"
 Wait here, dear Prince" said Puss' while I drive on"
 Putting spurs to his horse. Fuss dashed up to the castle and was across the drawbridge like flash before the Ogre could draw it up. The Ogre, mad with rage. tried to catch the cat, but could not and Fuss once more found a safe hiding-place, this time in the Ogre's great chest. The Ogre hunted everywhere in vain. Finally he went to sleep. When Fuss heard the Ogre's heavy breathing he crept out of the chest and ran through the gloomy castle until he found a stone passage that led down to the dungeons.
 But the iron door was locked and 1t could only be opened by a magic word. Fuss knocked softly on the door at
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27
JUNGLE IN THE FROST.

art the a
  ares plants shade Orinoco's flow; summits with delft, aerial f9&. Was a i'm jungle leading their flaming
  Vas a dream? real? this lair journeyed through the air? 10! sudden and fromit smiles baby, Romping Fun
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27

would soon return. In a trice Fuss jumped from his horse and scratched up the f1intv road with much vigor with all four feet. until the horse could go under the gate by kneeling, and soon the Prince and Fuss were cantering over a lonely road toward the castle where Gwendolin the Beautiful pined in a dungeon.
 The castle was guarded by an Ogre, the son of that Ogre whose castle Fuss had given to the Marquis of Carabas,
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27
Q Q . Q . Q Q Q Q Q . Q . . Q @~ ~~

first for fear that the Ogre would awaken. Getting no answer he knock ed louder.
 "Who is that?" asked faint voice, which was no other than Gwendolin's
 T am Fuss in Boots. Hurry and give me the magic word that I may open the door of your dungeon, for your cousin. the Prince, has come to rescue you"
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27
ABOUT THE COMPETITION,

-HE proposed contest between the Z boys and the girls, to determine, in o so far as may be by such means,
 whether there Is any literary su-
 periority in sex, has awakened lively interest Suggestions and in-
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27


 was the night when the savages' witch doctor would offer up a halr score of savage victims upon fires, to celebrate his birthday, and every saw age in the tribe was assembled by command of the witch doctor, who was the real ruler of the savages.
 Fires had been blazing in the camp where the white men were, and above the tree tops the SavageS had seen, with awe and wonder, a dark object fitting, and had shivered with fear, as the object had mounted the sky, only to be followed by the appearance Of similar objects. The hearts of the savages were full of dread, but they were also burning with hatred of the white men.
 Round rose the full moon, round and beautiful. above the top of the table mountain. It's light fell upon the vil- lage of the White King. and brought to view, in the center of the Kings vil- lage, large space enclosed with a ring of stoneS Within this ring were four piles of faggots and four stakes. At the outer edge of the ring were the shivering wretches who were to be burned alive.
 They were to die that the curse brought by the coming of the white men might be set aside. Among them were young girls, daughters of chiefs, and two little children, for the witch doctor had said that all ages must suf- fer that all ages might be free of the curse. The girls and children walled In their fear, but the warriors who were to die were proud and still.
 The White King was squatting In front of the piles of faggots, and near him, but moving nervously about, like caged panther, was the tall and pow erful witch doctor whose eyes were always upon the King. The light of torches, carried by the chiefs of the several tribes who were to light the sacrificial fires, fell, flickering upon the faces of -savages from all parts of the land for the news of the coming of the white men had been carried far and wide, and the entire people were enraged.
 Near the king was a man of great in- telligence-Kemona- trusting to his color and the. darkness to give him protection, had fearlessly entered in among the savages, well knowing that death might follow if he were discov- mined to play the great part that night that had been assigned to him by Harry Ostend. Come success or come death, Kemona would not fail to do his share.
 At the opposite side of the ring was another man who was fully as daring -Koti-the savage who had been Bin- nies second in the command of the savage army that won the victory at the battle of the MarWse River.
 When the moonlight fell full upon the victims of the night the savages brought logs and placed them by the piles of faggots, that the fires might burn the longer. Kemona placed one log at each faggot pile. Why did he do this? Was the savage awakening in
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27

driving clouds and the darkened sky above them was rent by flashes of lightning. An earthquake set In mo- tion masses of rocks upon the moun- tain nearest the village, and these rushed down with fearful speed upon the doomed people. Where the chief village of the Afarkise was there is now only ruin.
 So ends the story of the first cruise of the California. D. H. w..
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27

showing the lions teeth, and the rob- ,bers all ran away. Fuss freed the Prince and they once more mounted their horses to ride on, laughing at the terror of the robbers.
 The tollgate was high and doubly barred with iron. The keeper, who was In league with the robbers, had also run off. There was no way to pass that fhe Prince could see. The robbers
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27

FUSS FINDS A SAFE HIDING PLACE. him? He and Koti had their war clubs, and in each club were concealed pistols and cartridges.
 The witch doctor ordered that the fires be now lighted. He said, in a loud voice, that he would not use the stakes to tie the victims this night. but that the unlucky ones would be thrown, pin
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27
SHE POSED THE '40er.

little San Francisco girl-her with aglow-
 
  To the them start And will tell darling please Why God to S feas?' She a Presidio
  What blows it so?" the fun girles grandpa's shine You'll have one" he said who ere 4s
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27
PAPA WAS THE. MAN.

"Who was the father of this land?"
 the teacher asked aloud. Twas an examination day and there
 were parents proud. Expectantly they harked to hear
 named that immortal one Truest of true, bravest of brave, the
 lofty Washington. But through the rows of curly heads
 a giggle ran around For from the seat of Susie Gray there
 came a curious sound. Susie had brought her talking doll to
 school with her that day, And, resting in her little arms, the
 mimic infant lay. But Marjorie Daw, who sat next seat
 she has laughing face Had pulled string that came to view
 under the dolly's lace. With that the dolly ope'd its mouth
 and from its little head Answered the teacher-"Papa, papa,
 that is what it said.
 e The majority of letters received from the children indicate that they wish, first of all, to hear what adventures, not hitherto recorded, befell Fuss in Boots. The majority must rule, and the gallant exploits of Fuss in rescu- ing Gwendolin, the beautiful, from a dungeon, are this morning related. Goldilock's, Jack the Giant Killers and Cinderella's new adventures are asked for They will be published.
 Next Sunday morning the story of what happened to the Telegraph Hill boy who was presented with a Roc's egg will be told and illustrated.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27
MARY AND THE KITTENS,
RX NATION nEWEX

BY MAHNON OEWEY. O, our household Mary's a very mean miss; She pulls kittens tails and makes them go "sissi" The poor little creatures. they tremble with fear Whenever the sound of her footsteps draws near. She pinches their tails and she beats them with brooms, And she hunts them unmercifully out of
 the rooms. But one kitten, Buffy. her favorite, it
 seems, Invading her window, breaks in on her
 dreams. In the night, at that window, she hears 6
 queer sound, And she trembles for fear that the burg lars are round. But it's only her Buffy, who now in the
 night Takes revenge for his wrongs, which Is
 only but right. For she kicks him and beats him and
 pulls his poor rail,s And none of his spits are of slightest But Mary has good points as well as the bad; And when at the kittens she isn't too
 mad She showers attentions on Buffy Bob
 dear, And catches him up by the tail. nose or
 ear.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27

Synopsis of preceding chapters: Harry Os- tend has succeeded In making a great fire balloon, using for a covering the principal parts or the great parachutes that bad been used by his comrades and himself to enter .ne valley where the white King of the Altar klse mad his principal village The fire balloon mas been tested and has been found to be a success. The means of escape from the valley navsng thus been provided. Harry Ostend sought an interview with the sayages. who came came in great force to ask the white men to ieaVe the country. Harry Ostend, by playing upon the superstitious fears of the savages, managed to make the white King visit him. A date was fixed for Harry Ostend to make tne nnal attempt to carry away the white King from rom among his people. daring plan was formed, fI which the white men carry into ef- rect. This Is described in the present chap ter, with which the story of the first cruise or the California comes to an end
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27

HE Marquis of Carabas, he whose fortunes were made by Puss in Boots, had one son. a brave lad named Arthur. Oneday
 Arthur called Fuss in Boots to
 o-1 %nnofhar> fhpV went
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-27
CHAPTER XVIII

{" HE fateful night had come, when
 the final attempt was to be made
 to rescue the White King, and to carry him away, before the very eyes of his enraged SaYageS.. This
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-06-23
THE FLORIDA HILLS.
A beautiful Region That IL Said to lie
Almost Unknown to North
ern Visitors.

The majority of our tourists carry
from this state an impression of trop-
zeal vegetation luXurating in a level eX-
panse of sand arched by heaven in
tensely and brilliantly blue. Eut that
is because they have not seen all we
have to show. Florida has a hill coun-
try" also, and there the scenery is so
different that it seems to belong rather
to Georgia than to the land of oranges
and winter vegetables.
The soil of that section is entirely
distinct from that of the east and south.
There we have the red clay of Georgia,
and the pine gives place to the oak,
hickory and maple, as the orange does
to the pear and the garden to the cot
ton field.
1t is the conservatism of middle Flor
ida that has kept il unknown in great
measure TO the outside world, not its
lack of attractions. There is still found
much of the old plantation life, the ante
bellum southern hospitality and much
of the thought of the olden time To
the tourist it will give a new sensation,
to the sportsman a new field. To the set
tier who feels that the subtropical pro-
auctions Of southern Florida are too
strange and new it offers a field for the
crops Of the west; it shows fine stock
and the diversified scenery. for lack of
which he grows hOmesick with us.
In all the south there is no section
more beautiful and none winch offers
richer returns for intelligent industry
than the FLORIDA hin country, Flor.
ida Times Union.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-06-23
UNITED STATES CAVALRY CAMP TAMPA. FLA

present campaign. No officer is fit for
a command who would needlessly risk
the life of single soldier, either from
disease or from the bullets of the enc
my" He did not intend to send soldiers
to Cuba prematurely, to die of yellow
fever and other climatic diseases, with
out firing a shot at the enemy. He was
right.
No other nation in the world could
have enlisted mustered, armed,
equipped and sent to the field an army
of more than a quarter of million Of
men in one month. Moreover. no other
nation could have been able to arouse it.
self from the peaceful slumbers of
whole generation and equipped itself
for war on sea as well as on land in such
short space of time. BY reviewing the
events of the recent past we cannot but
be imp essrd With the greatness and
grandeur of the institutions which were
SO sincerely and impressively lauded by
Abraham Lincoln on the Gettysburg
battlefield; the institutions of govern
ment of the people, by the people and
for the people; a government which
shall not fade from the earth, but which
shall grow and expand, carrying with
it the gospel of self-government unto
all of the nations of the world.
SMITH d. FRY.