davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25
New York Dictates Money Rates to the Old World
 FinanCiers.
While the United States Advances With Giant Strides 10 First Place Among the
 Powers.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

Several financiers have said that Russia tried to raise money in London, Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam, and that she seems to have turned to the United States as a forlorn hope, possibly with the view of reaping incidental political advantages. But it is admitted that it is question of a short time when capitalists will have to reckon with New York as a competitor in high finance.
 The Daily Chronicle comments upon the fact that American capitalists have the courage of their financial opinions if they think they know the capitalists of the Old World"
 There Is much interest here regard ing the choice of a successor of Ethan Allen Hitchcock as United States Elm bassador at St. Petersburg. It is con- sidered that the post demands the presence of the strongest diplomat, in view of the entrance of the United States into the East. Russia has sent one of her ablest men to Washington, though transfer from Washington to Constantinople or Madrid has hitherto been considered in the service as being promotion. Russia expects President Mckinley to reciprocate.
 MT. Hitchcock carries home with him the conviction that Russia is still a stanch friend of America, which he has endeavored to impress upon the State Department at Washington and on all influential Americans he has met abroad.
 The English habit of entirely drop ping serious affairs at the holiday sea son has respited the squabbles about the Liberal leadership, but Sir Edward Russell, who is writing his reminis- cences, furnished material for a new Ia Tt,o@ +; ;lo Lord Rosebery was resigning the Pre- miershtp the Queen earnestly, almost affecttonately, begged him not to turn Conservative.
 He explained that her Majesty dreads the alignment of all the aris- tocracy on the Tory side against all the commoners on the Liberal side. Lord Rosebery has promptly requested the newspapers to deny the statement and Sir Edward Russell says:
 T have good reason to believe 1t is true, though nobody shall drag from me my authority"
 The English newspapers, pursuing their traditional policy of keeping the sovereign above partisan politics, re- frain from commenting upon the incl dent, but the people discuss the story with the utmost interest.
 The Hungarian politicians of the op- position party threaten to throw Hun gary into state of anarchy before they consent to an extra constitutional Compromise" with Austria
 They have -arried out their promise to issue manifesto to the people, urg- ing them not to pay taxes or to allow the enrolling of recruits. As the clergy are preaching resistance to the Govern ment, which they have never forgiven for passing the law allowing civil mar riages, the rebellion may be serious. Trouble is expected from the municipal ities, which have the right to withhold taxes and recruits so long as parlia- ment has not legislated therefor.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25
A Hotel of All the States.

''I ran across one of the queerest hotels in the world not long ago. said a drum mer just in from a trip. ''I don't care to advertise the establishment gratuitously, so suffice 1t to say it's situated in city made by nearly all travelling men out of old chap who has named his rooms after States, instead of giving them numbers. The effect Is somewhat startling. I went there first to inquire for a friend Yes, he's in Texas replied the clerk when I mentioned the name. But he isn't in Texas, l protested, for I happen to know he's right here In this hotel Then he ex- plained. While l was standing there waiting the side talk at the desk was enough to make a man think he was crazy: Gent in Massachusetts is kick ing, sir said bellboy Claims dat feller in Utah is all de time playin de cor piled the clerk No towels in North Da- kota, said a chambermaid, and that fat man in Florida wants to be changed to Vermont. My friend came down looking very rocky He said he'd been sitting in little poker game in Rhode Island the night before and woke up in California. Didn't know how the dickens he got there. The place interested me. and [ could hardly tear myself away My friend assured me that 1t was run strictlyy according to State traditions. He was in Maine at first he said, but they refused to send any beer to his room on account of the prohibition law, so he had them change him across the hall to Kentucky and now he likes 1t so well he has cn1 prietor and found him rabid advocate of territorial expansion. You see, he wants to build an annex. New Orleans Times Democrat.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25
FATAL FIRE IN 4
 FIVE-ST0RY TENEMENT
Several Occupants of the Structure Lose Their Lives in the
 Flames.

NEW YORK, Dec. 25.-Fire broke out in the five-story tenement at 175 Green wich street at about 1 o'clock this morning and resulted in the loss of sev- eral lives. Owing to the fact that there was another fire down town it was about fifteen minutes before the first engine reached the blazing tenement.
 The fire burned very fercely and there was a panic among the tenants. About five families lived in the house and the first body found, shortly before 9 o'clock. was that of a woman sup. posed to be a Mrs. Ramon, who lived with her two sons on the fourth floor.
 boy named Richard Hickson, probably four or five years of age, who lived with his father and mother and five other children on the fifth floor, is believed to be burned to death, and one of the other children has not been accounted for, and probably was also burned to death.
 When the firernen reached the house the stairway and halls from street to roof were blocked with flames, and flames were pouring forth from every window in front. Dense volumes of smoke rolled high above the building. The firemen made their way up to the top of the building by means of fire escapes and rescued number of people.
 rushed through the smoke. and flames. Fire Chief Kreuger ordered them right through the building to the top, and they succeeded in making their way. They found several of the tenants almost suf- located and brought them to the street.
 Two fremen were overcome by smoke, but their places were quickly taken by others. Assistant Foreman of Engine Peter Andrews fell from the first story fire escape and received serious injuries fin the back
 The fire was out at 2:40 a. m. At that hour the firemen were still searching for bodies Fire Chief Krueger said that Frederick Hickson, years old, has been burned to death and that his brother, Richard a little younger, and another child were missing, as well as one wom- an. Mrs. Brannon, who was carried down the fire escape and supposed by the fire men to be dead. was unconscious only. She regained consciousness, but her con- dffioD is serious.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25

LONDON. Dec. 14.-It is no exagger- ation to assert that the foremost topic compelling attention in Europe in gen. eral and in Great Britain in particu lar, overshadowing the dreary broils of domestic politics, is the remarkable, az gressive, commercial prosperity which the United States is manifesting. Hardly a newspaper review or a pub lie speaker during the past month has failed to notice with what giant strides America is coming into the first place In the alignment of powers. It is cer- tainly the chief subject of conversation on Lombard street and on the Conti- mental Bourses.
 The manager of one of the greatest London banks recently drew an Ameri- can business man into his private of- flee and said, in an awestruck tone: "This is the first time in the history a position to dictate money rates to London, Berlin and Paris"
 The bank manager added that Lon- don's purchases of American securities were a feathers weight compared with the balance of trade in New York's favor.
 James Bryce, in speech before the Leicester Chamber of Commerce, sounded a warning to British manu- lecturers. He emphasized the fact that the exports of the United States and Germany had increased S34,000,000 and &21 900, 900 respectively between 1891 and 1897, while Great Britains de- creased &15, ,000 900. He further pointed out that the business of the United States was developing along many inn -s-.l- ID. added, should have held against all competitors. MT. Bryce unhesitatingly asserted that the United States could produce rails cheaper than Great Brit ain, and said he saw no possibility of opening new markets except in China.
 Great Britain seems to have become reconciled to the capture of the iron markets by the United States. Amer lean firms are uniformly successful in bidding against the British firms. The Carnegie Company and the Illinois Steel Company have opened extensive offices in London and are making in- roads upon the British reserve. Colonel Hunsaker, the Carnegie representative, has contracted for 30,000 tons of plates for the Coolgardie road, Australia, and the company was unable to undertake the contract for 9O,0O0 tons more.
 A dispatch from Berlin says 1t is 8 fact that the Russian Government has ordered S0,000 tons of American rails, and the prospect of American competi- ton for the contracts in connection with Russia's extensive railroads alarms manufacturers here and else where. Consuls assert that all Europe is swarming as never before with the agents of American manufacturers of steel, street railways, electrical appa- ratus and all kinds of machinery, who are leading the commercial invasion.
 The reports of attempts to float a British loan in New York have been received skeptically here.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25
PROTECT THE ELEPHANT. A Frenchman's Appeal for the Agri- cultural Interests of Central
 Africa

A learned F'renchman, M. Bourdarie, has made the discovery that if matters keep on in Central Africa as they have been going of late, there will soon be no more elephants left for circuses or anything else. This gentleman has been appealing to the French Govern ment and the King of the Belgians for assistance. Every year, he says, 10000 elephants are killed in Africa for the sake of their ivory, and he fears that, like the buffalo in America, these anil mals will become exterminated if something Is not done to limit the number killed. He considers that the should be protected to serve the future agriculturists of the newly developing Central Africa, as the elephant is the only animal that can work in these re- gions.
 In the meantime ivory Is still an inn portant article of commerce in Central Africa, and the problem of how to get the Ivory without killing the elephant continues to be unsolved. The Quan- tity of ivory used in year for com merciaI purposes is about 100000 pounds, of which three-quarters is used in Europe and less than 10 per cent in the United States. The largest con stunning market for ivory Is the city of Sheffield, in England, and the ivory used there Is part of the enormous ma terial needed in the manufacture of cutlery It is needed for the handles of knives and forks, and some ivory is worked into decorative ornaments, too, though the quantity in Sheffield is not very large. The problem of how to keep up the supply of ivory without exterrninating the elephants whose ho d. eration fora number of years. The ele- phant is a long-lived animal one of the longest lived of animals, in fact, and a baby elephant remains baby ele- phant until the age of thirty. The av- craze age attained by an elephant is 15O years. and an elephant 200 years old, dating back to the seventeenth cen tury, perhaps. is not unusual. As consequence of these conditions the killing of an elephant to secure ivory the ivory found on an ordinary ele- phant weighs about 100 pounds and Is worth $300-is a much more serious matter than would be the killing of any other beast of burden, an OK, horse or camel, for instance, the respective ave- rage ages of which are 25.30 and 40 years.
 AS the central part of Africa is being opened to material development, as railroad, even, is seriously proposed to connect Egypt with the Cape of Good Hope, and European armies are over- running and establishing permanent settlements in regions which a few wears ago were called the unknown ter ritory of Africa, the loss of the ele- plants is a serious one, and. as much of the Congo territory is under the pro- lection of the King of the Belgians, an appeal has naturally been made to the Brussels Government for action to pre- vent the killing of so many elephants for their ivory.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25
MASTER OF DEPoRTMENT. A Modern Turveydrop Discourses on
 the Art at Aunapolis

Signor Hazazer, a dancing master of Baltimore, has been appointed profes- sor of department at the N al Acad- emy. Annapolis. The following ex- tract from a professional talk by him Will show that he is philosopher and fit for the place:
 How often do you see a man enter room like this'-the signor retired to the hall for a moment, then entered if quickly, advanced several steps. and bowed in the quick, jerky manner seen every day.
 '' See he said. how stiff and un- graceful 1t Is. This is the way-and he again entered the room, removing his hat and lowing gracefully at the thres- hold. then advancing.
 Here again is the ballroom bow that is given so often'-he brought both his feet together and bowed from the neck.
 You see" he said, how ugly it is. when just as simply he could do this 1:
 The signor Id along the carpet, plac- ing the heel of his left foot at the hol- low of his right. then lowing, the
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25
UNMAsKED BY SCIENCE.

The lady professor suddenly reached forward and deftly picked long light hair from her husbands coat.
 Wretch" she cried whose is this!-
 "One of your own," he answered stoutly.
 We will sec" she haughtily ob- served, and speedily vanished through a door labeled laboratory" For an hour or more the sound of clinking tubes and glasses was faintly heard through the heavy partition.
 Then the door suddenly opened and the lady professor stood on the thresh- old.
 Her face was blazing.
 ''Villainl" she cried, 'it was bleached!"
 But he had gone-Cleveland Plain Dealer
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25
Wales as a Horse Trader.

The Prince of Wales Is in the horse trade. and he is in it to make money It Is doubtful whether there is more successful horse dealer in England than His Royal Highness. The other dav the Prince had sale Of fifty-four Shire horses at Sandringham, his conntr,, place In Norfolk. These are an Enr, fish breed of horses fitted for the heavi- est kind of work. They may be fine animals, but they do not as a rule brine fancy prices. The Prince got s60. GOO for his fiftyfour draught horses. One of them. lilly, brought s600O from Sir Blimdell Maple, furniture maker. who Is bravely fighting his way into society. MT. Hadley, another strug- gling millionaire, raid $20O0 for a dray horse. Lord Rothschild secured horse for s300Q,
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25
GRAY REFUSES TO
 DISCUSS THE TREATY
But He Believes the Convention Will Be Ratified Without Amend
 

WILMINGTON, Del, Dec. 24.-Unit- ed States Senator Gray, one of the Peace Commissioners, arrived home to- night. He said that while he did not know the sentiment of the people on this side of the Atlantic with reference to the treaty, and had not consulted his colleagues in the Senate, 1t was his opinion that the treaty would be rati- fled without amendment When asked if he was favorable to the conditions of the treaty he evaded a direct reply by saying: Well, I signed it."
 MT. Gray declined to discuss the treaty, saying that it would not be diplomatic at this time
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25
FILIPINO ENVOYS FOLLOW
 PEACE COMMISSIONERS
Agoncillo Continues to Protest Against the Annexation of
 the PhiIippines

NEW YORK, Dec. 24.-The Filipino envoys, Agoncillo and Lopez, following close on the heels of the Peace Com missioners, returned to this city to-day on the Etruria. They will remain here over Christmas and at the close of the holidays go to Washington, where they will await the arrival of Juan Luna, General Reigo de Bros and Dr. Tejo- sada, special commissioners sent out by Aguinaldo to the American Govern ment. The new contingent of Filipinos are expected to reach Washington by way of San Francisco by January 2 next.
 Agoncillo, when he arrived at quar- antine. made inquiries about Judge Day
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25
A DEGENERATE WALTON. Bought Line and Pole for Cat Fish
 ing on the Rack Fence.


 T want a good, stout fishing pole, a reel and some fishing line,' said a young man with weary look around the eyes.
 Going fishing?" inquired his old friend, the dealer.
 Yes"
 Any particular style of fishing?"
 Yes; cat fishing"
 l shouldn't think there was excite ment enough for you in merely catch ing catfish
 didn't say was going to catch cat fish. said was going cat fishing. My room is right over row of back fences. It IS the old, sad story. The noise out side Is like the choir at a Chinese funeral from II D. m. till in the morn ing. l am not cruel by instinct, but self-preservation is the first law of na- ture. Last night I begged a little canned lobster from the kitchen and tied 1t to a piece of twine When the nolse began l lowered the twine out of the window and waited for bite didn't use hook It isn't necessary if you give plenty of twine to swallow. Ii wasn't long before there was a tug. began to haul in. but the animal was so game that thought I'd better play 1t awhile, so as to tire it, and I paid out all the line had. It was the most desperate fighting I have seen since I was bass fishing in the mountains. started in earnest to land it and had dragged it half way up the brick wall. when It wriggled off and got away. It's going to take lot of practice to land tnls Kind or game and want as good rod and as fine reel as the factories turn out. l expect to put in great deal of time at this sport. and if vou hear of anybody who is troubled with, mice and wants cat let me know "- Washington Star.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec PA special from Akron, Ohio, says the Goodrich Rubber Company will not be in the me- chanical rubber combine, which is being engineered by Charles D. Flint. The Akron Company was approached but re- fused to enter the combine. The plant is the largest of its kind in the country.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25

movement of his head. shoulders, hand and even eyes harmonizing.
 Harmony is the great thing said the signor.
 Under the guidance of this reviver of the graces of the last century. the cadets ought to become perfectly irre- sistible.-New York Evening Sun.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25
Trinle Murderer Captured.

TIFFIN, Ohio, Dec. 24-An unknown young man who was arrested this week while in a fit of insanity is believed to be William Collier, charged with the mur- der of three persons an entire family, at Worcester, Mass. The Worcester authorI- ties have been notified and will send an
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25
Election Contest Filled.

SANTA CRUZ, Dec. 24.-J. A. Linscott CR) to-day filed a contest of the election of Ed White (fusion for Supervisor in Pajaro district, on the ground of irregu- larities in precincts in Watsonville and Corralitos.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25
Proving His Past wickedness.

Badger-So you think Simbal is very religious man. What makes you think so?
 Cadger-Why. he talks at the prayer meeting every night, and the way he brags about his past wickedness is enough to make your hair stand on end. Oh, no, there's no doubt about his being a very religious man.-Boston
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25

Ashtabula. Ohio, has for years been treasuring as relic shell which was fired by a British warship in 1872, and which had failed to explode. Somehow if got into a pile of scrap iron delivered to the Phoenix Iron Works foundry and per formed it's functions so well that the fur mace doors were blown to smithereens.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25
Survived the Blizzard.

VIENNA, Dec. 2.-It is now learned that the several hundred Montenegrin soldiers who were recently overtaken by n snowstorn in Lara Pass, and who were thought to have been frozen to death succeeded in making their way through the heavy drifts and have arrived safely at PodeoritZa a town of Montenegro.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25
Captured spanish Gunboats.

NORFOLK, Va, Dec. 24-The captured Spanish gunboats Alvarado and Sandoval arrived here to-day from Guantanamo, Cuba, under the command of Lieutenants Blue and Anderson. They will be repaired and refitted at the Norfolk navy-yard.
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25
Iowa Volunteer Killed.

DUBUQUE, Iowa, Dec. A.-A cablegram from Havana states that Henry Becker Of Dubuque, member of Company A. torueth Iowa Volunteers, fell through a hatchway while disembarking and was
The San Francisco call., 1898-12-25
Will Fight the Combine.

officer after the prisoner, who tallies in every respect with the person wanted
The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1898-12-23
A SUFFERING PRISONER.
His CaptOr Was q Policeman who
Had to Do Something to
Hold His Job.

A certain policeman who patrols a beat
near Calumet avenue and Twenty-third
street had not made an arrest in three
years. 1t is quiet neighborhood, and really
nothing of riotous kind happens there.
Mike" said the captain one morning
last week, you've got to get to work. If you
don't make some arrests pretty soon I'll
turn you off the force"
Mike left the station desperate and fully
determined on arresting the first man he
met He overlook a very mild and unas-
Stunning gentleman who was walking from
the Illinois Central train. Mike placed him
under arrest. The man, it turned out, slut
tered dreadfully and was not able to make
much protest. Mike really knows so little
about the law that he imagined he was with
in his rights in running anybody in. The
next morning the pedestrian was brought
up at the station.
whats your name?' roared Justice
White, who had an attack of dyspepsia that
morning.
'.St-s-s-t," sputtered the frightened little
defendant.
Whats your name?" demanded the JUS
tice, still more severely; don't you trife
with this court, sir!"
'S-s-s-t-t-t," suffered the helpless man
again.
''OGcer, what's this man charged with?'
said the judge, in disgust, turning to Mike.
IL don't know, your honor" STAN
mered Mike. Soda water, l guess. Chi:
caRo Inter Ocean
The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1898-12-23
THE PUBLIC HEALTH.
Provision Design ed to Act Check Upon
the Importation of Adulterated
Articles CT Food.

Washington, Dec. 19.-The agricul-
tural appropriation bill contains re-
taliatory clause authorizing the secre
tary of agriculture to inspect import
ed articles dangerous to health and al
SO authorizing the secretary of the
treasury to exclude such articles. The
restriction is designed to apply to a
large number of articles imported
from foreign countries.
The clause is as follows:
The secretary of agriculture, when
ever he has reason to believe that arti-
cles are being imported from foreign
countries which are dangerous to the
health of the people of the United
States, shall make a request upon the
secretary of the treasury for samples
from original packages of such arti-
cles for inspection and an analysis.
and the secretary of the treasury is
hereby authorized to open such Origi-
nal packages and deliver specimens to
the secretary of agriculture for the
purpose mentioned. And the secretary
of the treasury shall refuse delivery
of any goods which the secretary of
agriculture reports to him have been
inspected and analysed and found to
be adulterated, or otherwise danger
Gus to health.