davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23
Exploded by the Human Voice.
Exploded by a Fly.
Exploded by the Wind
Exploded by Heavy Step

for bombardment at that point than at
the parts where the guncotton rests di-
rectly against the iron. At any rate,
the experiment is a beautiful one, and
in right hands may point the way to
another method of utilizing the Won
derful power of high explosives.
The war with Spain has been most
significant as far as high explosives are
concerned 1t has forever demonstrat-
ed the inutility of the old black pris-
matte powder in modern practice. The
smoke of the distant battlefield can no
longer figure as a thrilling spectacle
bv painter and poet. Smokeless pow
der will be used exclusively hereafter
by the great powers. Our Government
was quick to note the superiority over
the old explosive agent, and placed its
Convictions on record by ordering one
million pounds of the material to fill
the magazines of our forts and war
ships. So we have passed almost at a
lump into the smokeless stage of our
military existence.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23
Georgia Wells.

in the first by nymphs, but my costume was so
stunning that it thought best for me to make an
entrance instead.
At this time was drawing a very good salary, and
with the overstocked vanity that is sometimes Tor
given in the exuberance OF youth made my en-
Oh what reception that was! I have never seen
it's like. The house was packed 1t was the -nTst
night, and the audience seemed to go WHO with ue-
light at seeing Ladies waved their handkerchief
and stamped the floor in their great enthu-
siasm 1 was overwhelmed, and thought, Great
heavens! What fool am that did not strike the
manager for double my salary, Why, am great
thing for the house"
1 was revolving in my mind just how much of
raise should ask for, while bowed and bowed my
acknowledgment Of the tremendous reception
During the tumultuous uproar decided 1 had bet
ter make them speech satisfy them bit, and In
bowling again to right happened TO see the cause
of the demonstration
There in the box stood Little PHIL Sheridan. bow
ing his compliments to the people, while had peen
taking all myself. Feeling like idiot, walked
off the stage, and soon after, when 1 had quite a
speech to make in my lines, was greeted with such
exasperated in my embarrassment Before the night
was over, however had their sympathy and
respect by my good work, else l suppose L would
not have slept that night in my modification
While my partner and I taking company
through oregon We're particularly requested to
play East Lynn: we
,.,rc =. o1oouu were all up in the play
JAMES M bROPHf' but had child to play Will
lie. The editor suggested that
his child might possibly speak the lines whose offer
did not refuse, for we knew we could oepeno upon
The child was very bright, indeed, and the next
evening we were ready to ring up on East Lynne
Suddenly messenger rushed in with the news tnat
the child was Ill and could not play. We were
aghast. How could we play East Lynne without a
child! The house packed and ladies plentfuly
supplied with handkerchiefs to weep over Isabel Woe
A change of bill would be accepted and the com
pany were prepared to wash up and go home. This
meant loss of the entire nights recelpls III
desperation said go ahead; ring up"
scene the child has, but it was absolutely necessary
to have his death scene. placed the chllo peu
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23
BLANCHE BATES.

ment, for they had to ring down the curtain TO re-
All that I know of it comes in reminiscent way
from my mother, who never hears the most romantic
again the mortfication of that scene of her young
motherhood which not intended for the pupncs
cords it. and rye no of it's truth, that at this
particular period was teethlng' that was 1retlui
The play was Romeo and Juliet" and the stage
me in the dressing in the early part of the
evening and finding that could not be quoted she
seated an improvised bench upon the balcony
concealed from the view of the house by VINE
The audience was intensely interested in Romeos
pleadings and his romantic love, which came to
climax in the most unexpected manner Either the
stage carpenter was unusually careless or the supeT
awkward-in all probability both-be that as it may
the front of the balcony came tumbing down. dis
closing most incongruous stage effect
There sat the fair shy Juliet" with her baby at
scene. the audience howed and howled until the
curtain came down Moreover It was 1poss d f 10
that night turned into comedy.
faintng fit or death scene to walk off the stageif
the the curtain happened to go to sleep"-but
waiting the curtain down happened UP north
in The Last Word perf3 n1Gd ice niaro recital Of
Mr.. Roberts The curtain stuck and Mt Frawley told
Roberts and frantically beckoned him to come off.
gesticuated wildly thinking he had not heard Mr..
Roberts, delivered in an awful stage whisper, stop
that mans playing down front d db he orcbesra
list was furnishing the music. very funny and
we all enjoyed the joke hugely
remember a performance in Australia a great
MANY wears ago when an accident robbed the scene
of all its pathos and
MOS rAMNrE VOTING pletely destroyed any illusion
the remainder of the evening
I playing the part of a heroic mother who
separated herself from her young baby while she went
to succor wounded soldiers. The scene was very
pathetic my efforts calculated to wiring tears
from the audience.
I held the baby (Which was doll baby in my
arms and after kissing it exclaimed, as put 1t in
the hands of a trusted servant, Keep my chfld-to
no other arms would I entrust my little daughter"
Ny acting must have been stronger physically than
was aware of, for placed the baby in his arms
the head dropped off and rolled down to the foot
lights. This broke all and the house went wild
In the year 1857, while leading man at the "Old
Crosby Opera house in Chicago, suffered the most
humilating mistake of my
,urr o.Nvu whole stage career. Even
MCKEE HNNN'N yet s look Ok back pack. through ugh
again shrinking of my stature hguratiyey speak
ing. with the memory of that night of nights
The management had put the spectacular per-
Torrance of "Undne," and cast for the part of
the gallant knight. My costume superb-black
tights and plumes galore. If the play had been pro-
duced it written would have been discovered
o o O o O o o o o o o o o o 0 o y o o
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23
Clay Clement.
L. r. toekWelI.
Mckee Rankin.


directly the stage long white spread
close to the floor. We hastily improvised rag papy
and placed it in the bed. Isabel QMme ylne) knel1
between the bed and the audience and stretched
concealed from view in front. The company Rugged
the wings" convulsed with laughter The curtain
Willie opens the and so in the most infantie
voice that could command 1 squeaked out NINE n;
Vine, how long do think 1t will be before die?
The company in Mysteries, but the scene CON
tinued with the usual sobs from the audience Wniie
Isabel frantcaly embraced the bundle or rags III the
bed.
Isabel out she bowed and bowed put lnes nner
We seized the janitors child, who was colored ana
audience with the child in her arms. This was my
first and last performance as child actor.
was down South playing in 1.-The Bells" when
encountered my worst stage predicament AS usual
in those one-night stops we
o,-.,ru- naturally expect some little
CLAY CLEMENT. drawback; but this disturb
and had to make the best of it.
1t was in the storm scene and the situation IN
which always got the biggest hand This theater
was not very we'll provided with mechanlcal appn-
and when the thunder peaed out 1t was simply
deafenng. The house couldn't hear a word and 1t
my very strongest scene
The actor who was on with me my earnest COM
mands of louderl louder shouted himself hoarse. and
l. knowing that my voice would not carry across the
footlghts just pantoimed and gesticulated without
saying word. OF course I moved my lips and,
strange to say. got the hand" from the packed
house that I always expected at this scene The
property in for their share after the cur
tain went down and the next night the thunderous
elements were conspicuous by their mild rumblngs
The most trying time in my stage career occurred
shortly after making my debut, and Is always the
case when trying to feel an
crooc,. v,c,Ic emotional part. the least lit
GEORGIA WELLS. tie thing of amusing ma
ture is enough to set silly
girl to gigglng; so it did
The play the military DRAMA Fort bliss =
my lines pleading for the life of my brother
in-law, of whom 1 was very fond, and who was un-
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

. Placing guncotton on leaf g. The explosion. 3 Per
feet impression of leaf left on slab T. Letters U S.
cut in disk of guncotton and the reverse ettering
as result of explosion iron slab.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

It is estimated that more than four
fifths of the people in London never en-
TER a place of worship.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

higher" and higher" so that it
is difficult to foresee what the end
will be.
Many of the explosives already known
are so delicate as to be valueless. 1odide
of nitrogen cannot so much as be
touched with feather. 1t is made by
mixing the ingredients in alcohol and
allowing it to dry. When it appears as
a brown powder the slightest agitation
will cause it to explode violently. The
power of this chemical is almost beyond
estimate. A pound of it could lay all of
San Francisco in ruins, but, fortunately,
it is so dangerous to make that no sane
person would attempt to produce it, for
to do so would be suicide.
The study of high explosives dates
back only about ten years, but it is
gradually gaining in Importance and
experimenters are at work all over the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23
SAM EDWARDS.

The comedy in reality began on the journey across
the river We very late making the town owing
railroad accident and arrived just In time TO rush
on to the boat while the dray containing our trunks
driven aboard and stopped dangerously near the
end of the boat All went merrly, however, until
about halfway the ferry, when by a sudden
lurch off went three of the trunks into the water
Luckily the handles tied together with rope SO
they just swung under the edge or the poat
BY taking up collection among the company we
got together $50 Ono task), the price charged
by the captain for picking up the floating stock
We billed for performance that n1gnt ana
with a depleted financial condition could not con-
scientously the engagement, soon as the
ourselves shaking out and pressing the damp folds
of our wardrobe There neither time nor money
for new clothes and so the curtain rang up upon the
most dilapidated looking chromos it has ever been
nv lot to work with in professional way. Some OF
the women wore shaws, but the men did nothing but
of that company made serious feeling an impossi-
biIity and when any of us made our exits we llned
I'D in the wings and thoroughly enjoyed the COMEDY
to the discontinue of those who were acting.
A very funny thing happened not long ago In a
vaudeville performance of 'Bootle's Baby" scene
sketch by Charles Stevens the husband of Kate Cax
ton There is a in Chicago against babies appear
ing on the stage, and of course 'Bootle's BABY"
would be impossbility without the baby. so it was
advertised and the humane societies made up the
biggest part of the audience
Stevens had to pay $50 to get baby made at
the wax works just suited him. and 1t looked SO
natural that resulted in the societies swearing out
warrant and the papers were served upon him.
The next day when the case came up Stevens had 10
carry his doll baby the court to prove that
It violation of the law and no cruelty 10 the
wax figure to use it in his performance.
T have had many queer experiences in my profess
sonal career unlocked for situations not booked at
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23
ERNEST HASTINGS.

equilibrium of the players; provoked the irth of the
audience but well nigh resulted in broken arm for
1 playing in Modjeskas company and the play
was "As You Like It." I was cast for the part or
Charles, the wrestler and the accident occurred in
the wrestling scene, where Orlando throws Charles
BY some trick of fate I thrown on top of a
trap door that opened and let me through IKE a
rocket-catching the stage floor with my elbows
nearly paralyzing 1t was so unexpected ana
sudden that Modjeska, who was sitting on the
platform pushed her chair too near the edge In her
fit of uncontrolled laughter and tumbled over back
ward The effect upon the house was, OF course
bowling and the curtain rung down.
/ think about the worst accidental stage comedy
in which I participated occurred good many years
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23
Blanche Bates.
Mrs. Foppie Youpe.
mrs. ElizQbeth Saunders.

~ all the professors that of the stage is the
1 most prolific of "reminiscences and of all the
| world the actors are the very best story
~ tellers.
They live Ia the emotional world and their
abundance of good nature, natural wit and art of
miIncry make these inimitGble jokers the best OF
entertainers. They believe with the cync that Ian
guage invented but to conceal thoughts, and
Interpretation of character is not of words but
of feeling, which is the silent language of the
soul.
oreen-room gossip is Traditional and when the
artists easy in their lines they repair to this
reminiscent chamber and revel in the stories of other
days of strange mishaps and hardup experiences en-
dured when the ghost Refused to walk
But of the very funniest things that they re-
late the accidents which frequently to sur
prise the players and rob the audience Of its Illusion
There is but hairs breadth between the sublime
and the udicrous and often in the most tragic scenes
of theatrical Interpretation the stage hoodoo has In
roduced surprising situations to provoke the house
to laughter instead of tears. Here some Of their
stories:
The biggest hit that I made in my life oc-
Cured in Australia when 1 little that l was
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

In those One-nlght stops we
naturally expect some little
drawback; but this disturb
ance was quite unexpected
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

j" HIS is an age Of high explosives.
A week hardly ever passes but
what some new chemical com
pound of destruction is dis
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23
MCKEE RANKIN.

again shrinking Of my stature hguratveIy speak
ing, with the memory of that night of nights.
The management had put the spectacular per-
Torrance of Undine, and was cast for the part of
the gallant knight. My costume superb-black
tights and plumes galore. If the play had been pro-
duced as it written would have been discovered
o O O o o o o o o o o o . o o o
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

ago. in the Mime. Eugene la
Grande Company. We We're
playing in Canada and the
play was Camille"
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23
/. R. sTocKwELL.

ter but the funniest thing that ever witnessed
while on the stage occurred during the production OF
Macbeth at St John New Brunswick.
difficulty in getting girl to take eth. the
SONS choice in an Irish girl whose brogue was pro-
nounced in conversation, but we hoped with much
Gnoacbing to remedy that fault and we'll salts
fed with her progress at the last rehearsal But the
night of the first performance that was the corker
Ac the "apparition" she strapped to the cage
and sent up through the trap door. She got along
we'll enough until she to the lines Macbeth!
Macbethi Macbeth! Be bloody. bold and resoute,"
and all of her previous coaching down OF the Irish
fuH voice Macbeth Macbeth! Macbeth" and In the
same sepulchral tones said, Let me down! Let me
down! Let down."
The audience not only roared, but 1t broke up the
players as WELL and the expression on her face was
The funniest sight l witnessed.
Another thing happened at the same place about tut
ju,antv-fve years ago and was quite unexpected by
totb the actors and audience. "Old Couldock,"
known by the profession all over the United States,
raS MA wing the part of Louis in Louis XII On
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

Ernest Hastings.
George E. Losk.
T. Dopiel Frowley.

George E. Losk. Ernest +
justly of crime and sentenced to be hanged
My lover, with whom l pleading could not give
much hope. AS 1 cried out in my despair, "Oh,
don't tell me that he will hangi" he sank into a
seat in a of hopeless way, the springs gave
and he doubled up like a ack-knife
He looked so terribly surprised and so thoroughly
uncomfortable that was completely overcome with
laughter. The spectators appreciated 1t and the i'm
preston of ssterly grief that wished to leave with
the audience wholly lost and we just finished the
scene with immoderate laughter.
Actors sometimes suffer excruciatng agonieS in
trying to suppress laughter caused by mistakes that
occur in the best regulated
| roNrcr ,,.cr,.,oo theaters. 1 well remember
chNcol ollNoo. an accident few years ago
that not only disturbed the
equilibrium of the players provoked the rth OF the
audience but we'll nigh resulted in broken arm for
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

Of all It's pathos and com
pletely destroyed any illusion
that we tried to portray TO
the remainder of the evening
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

girl to giggng; it did
The play the military drama, Fort Bliss
In my lines pleading for the life of my brother
in-law Of whom 1 was very fond, and who was un
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

not aware OF my IrtmenuUus
success. My mother was,
however, and so was the au-
diepce, likewise the manage
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

sudden drops OF q HIsHIJ
emotional scene to that o.
burlesque. I was cast fol
the part of Rhadames, anC
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

occur IN the best regulated
theaters. l well remember
an accident a few years age
that not only disturbed thu
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

remember a performance in Australia great
many years ago when accident robbed the scene
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

were all up in the play,
but had no child to play VIII
lie. The editor suggested that
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

The biggest hit that I made in my life oc-
Cured in Australia when 1 little that was
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

Actors sometimes suffer excruciating agonies IL
irving to SUPPRESS laughter caused by mistakes tina
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23

JAMES. M. BROPHY. |
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-23
MRS. FANNIE YOUNG.

I was playing the
separated herself from
to succOr some wounde
pathetic and my efforts
from the audience.
I held the baby (U
arms and after kissing
the hands of a trustee
no other arms would
My acting must have
I was aware of, for as
the head dropped off
lights. This broke US {
In the year 1857, VIII
Crosby Opera-house" i
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-19

that Cuba is virtually the key to the
Gulf of Mexico. a strategic position of
the first order to the United States. and
an immense advantage which calls for
some sacrifice upon the part OF the
Americans
TO this the latter replied at first
that they could not listen to any dis
cussiOn of the matter of the debt, being
under formal instructions from their
government. But on the Spanish COM
mission insisting, and in the presence
of its very firm attitude, not that they
entertain the intention of yielding to
Spain's injunction, they consent TO ar
que against the Spanish position. These
arguments may be briefly summed up
as follows:
The Americans insist upon the fact
that the money raised by the Cuban
loans was not applied to the require
ments or interests of the island. but
was chiefly borrowed to the end of i'm
proving the financial condition of
Spain, and to procure funds which she
could no longer raise in the peninsula.
and that the debt, therefore, is per-
sonal to Spain.
ION the other hand. the Americans
say that America has no intention of
anneXing Cuba, and could not, there
fore, assume such obligations.
Finally. it is held that, owing to the
fabulous cost of the late war the Amer
lean people would not concede the right
TO thus assume such obligations"
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-19
Beautiful Island Formally Passes Into the Posses
sion Of the United States.
Bands Played Old MOrrOS Cannon Doomed, and Span's
Reign of Tyranny Was Ended.

Washington, formally
possession OF the island
partnent has following: =
San Puerto Rico
and sauted with national salutes The
= 4
(sgned) ~BRooKEn =
San 1s-Promptly at todav the
American flag raised
and dgnifed unmarried by disorder of
Eleventh
artillery landed morning. proceeded the forts
while the infantry lined the
JUAN and there people
shley and General Gordon
to the palace
band with of the cavalry,
At 11:40
Gordon the United
the palace, with officers
OF the The
townspeople who stood waiting Hence
AT last
most brathles
developments At the
Dean and Lieutenant Castle
while
heads were barred and the cheered
the habor fred wen-one
other officials of the late nsular
Congratulations and handshakng among
followed Ensign King
military
Tag the captain generals
4 different of the
The commission is now
day next The labors of both
for all concerned The
least delay and in the thorough
y = = = = y - ~ = y = y
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-19

ed by differences in the language
spoken by the commissioners, says:
But, according to the Spaniards, the
main cause of the difficulty encountered
in the negotiations is the lack of con-
ciliation in the attitude of the Ameri-
can commission. 1t is known in regard
to Puerto Rico and Cuba thatfthe arti-
cles Of the protocol are absolutely posi-
tive-Spain comedies Puerto Rico to the
United States and relinquishes and
abandons sovereignty over Cuba.
These two points are definitely set
tied. and are not open to discussion:
besides. the Spanisrd make it a point
of honor to scrupulously abide by their
engagements towards their conquer
ors.
The question of the Cuban debt re-
mains. Upon which power should the
obligation to guarantee the debt rest? ?
Here is where the two commissions
differ in their views. and neither is in
clined TO yield. The Spaniards agree
on the following lines:
when power annexes territory it
is implied that it assumes all the pre-
vious obligations of such territory. 1t
is international law, sanctioned by
usage, and which has always been COM
piled with. Thus. when France annex
ed Savoy, she assumed all the debts
contracted by the latter while still an
Italian province
Lastly, they remind their opponents