davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15
SUNDAYS MASS MEETING.

OAKLAND, May 4.-George D. Gray will preside at to-morrow's Red Cross meeting in the First Presbyterian Church. It will take place at 3:30 D. m. and be addressed by Mrs. Charles Webb How ard. Mrs. Sarah Sanford, Hugh Craig, William N. Friend. William R. Davis, James s. Stevens, Chaplain Clark, A. H. Elliott and Hon. Frederick s. Stratton.
 Already some interruptions persons are taking advantage of the generous spirit prevailing and are making collections for their own benefit under the cloak of the Red Cross No solicitors have been ap- pointed nor will be until further notice. The enrichment blanks indorsed by Miss M. D. Babson, which, when signed, call for s1 are the only forms of solicitations vet undertaken, excepting the gentlemen $ finance committee. This is composed of a number of well-known men, with John A. Britton as chairman. They are solicit ing from the banks and other corpora tions, and tonight report $500, with a certainty that on Monday when they turn it over to the ladies it will be 5000. Further acknowledgments of donations are to be made to Mills College, s25 more. SIO0 altogether; Miss Horton's School, s10; Mrs. J. A Folger. $10: Mrs. Charles Webb Howard, $10; l.. A. Booth, $25; a friend. S1O; F. w. Smith. $50; F. B. Ginn, $1OO; S. L. Barker, $50; in small subscrip fionc S151 20.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15

portance, they aim to display it by trying to change the customs and laws of the country by compelling the people, their superiors. to humiliate themselves by undergoing a non- sensical examination for a simple position.
 If the applicants for examination were al- lowed in return to examine the commissioners the people would soon discover the farce of these examinations and discontinue them. for the commissioners would be made the laugh ing stock of the community
 The object of the competitive examinations is not to procure more competent employees for the city, but to prevent the office holders elected from being importuned for a political position. They forget that before election on their pended knees they importune all the voters individually or collectively to vote. for them, and resort to every means honorable or dishonorable known to the science of politics to procure their election.
 These would-be boss rulers know should know that in this republic every American citizen that has arrived at the years of dis cretion and graduated from the grammar schools Is just as competent to hold any elec- tive position within the gift of the people of this city as they are and no American mechanic or clerk who has any self-respect and values his liberty and the privileges guaranteed to him by the constitution since the birth of tho nation, if he stops to consider the matter will vote to adopt new charter that degrades him and his children by compelling them to undergo competitive examination while it exempts another class holding higher positions from any examination whatever.
 And no party can afford to disfranchise it's advocates and friends in that direction when it becomes known and is made apparent that the object is to establish a life-holding class in the civil service in this republic. If this charter is adopted boys who do the fight ing and return maimed and disabled will be told the civil service positions are all taken for life, there is room for you. If this obnoxious doctrine is forced upon the people at special election called for the purpose the people will soon demand that limit of time be fixed by law for all employees in the civil service THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
 AMOS CURRIER, Chairman
 FRANK D. WORTH, President.
 HAMILTON J. HIGGINS, Secretary.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15

the .''all powerful and one-sided new fangled charter"
 The following resolution was unanf- mously adopted at 8 meeting of that body held last night:
 Whereas, The new charter. under the title vdes for the appointment by the Mayor of three Civil Service Commissioners whose joint liked salaries, with their clerk, amount to sG00O per year; incidenta. expenses, sucl as assist ant clerks, janitors, printing stationery. rent fuel. light. etc.. will amount to S6OO0 more :: total expenses in one year not less than sl2- 900, and in ten years 1t will amount to more than s120,000 therefore.
 Resolved, That the members of the Conti- mental League are opposed to creating more useless offices, notably sinecures as these burdened taxpayers, especially as the same service IS now performed by the heads of the various departments, with better results and without any expense whatever to the city Any three citizens selected at random can per form all the work required of these superflu- ous commissioners in twelve days in any one year, and any ordinary clerk, when made chief examiner, aided by the other examiners to be appointed by these exalted commissioners can perform all the work required of them in thirty days in the year, working three hours per day. This work if contracted for would not cost the city more than $500 per year
 And yet our young, esteemed inexperienced two years and using the courts and all the power at his command remove a few over worked clerks employed by the city in order to economize in favor of this useless expensa because it gives the Mayor the power to an point his relatives or partisans in the ring to these sinecures. O to this community If the freeholders had pro- vided for commission of three eminent phv- slcians and made 1t their duty to discover soma speclnc Tor the cure of that terrible disease known as the chicken disease which affects so many elected officers ~
 Saturated with conceit and their own i'm
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15

taurant at a small figure that is in a first-class place and the best in Oakland, so I am fitting 1t up some and will open it the last of hhis week and get it going and then sell it out. The agent is help ing ma~ He is painting the boxes. Every thing fs fine. We will ask $500 for 1t and I think we can get it. We will put in clar& and beer, so we can sell it out, and in a short time I will come home and straighten things out"
 The last letter tells the whole tale. It is as follows: Dear Husband: Inclosed please find where an attorney has attach ed all the houses and restaurants. have to sell them at auction. so l don't suppose I will ever get one cent out % of anything now my position; who is to blame Nellie J. James"
 tor Tames came to Oakland and in one @ boxes of e"e fhs FestaHranf b Thf6 fo ,nur5ar his wife and succeeded in hit ting her twice with bullets; he attempted to shoot the lady he found with his wlfe' and finally fired the last shots or ms re- VolVer into his own braln
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15
SPOILED BY
 THE WEATHER FabiOla'S Friends Parade in a Heavy Rain
 Storm.
Ladies Not Unanimous on the PrOpriety of Racing
 Benefits.
pr. Dil1e Amused at tho Way the Prayer of Rabbi Levy Was
 Ignored.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call.

sos Broadway May 14. Fabiola Day has passed. It was spoiled by the rain. Whether the financial end of the day has been damaged by the stormy weather or not will be known in a few days, but the parade was killed off al- most entirely.
 The day was to have been a day of dis play. and society had decided to appear in all the beauty and gayety of summer dresses and be-ribboned horses and car riages, but by noon the rain commenced to fall and did not cease until midnight.
 The controversy over the advisability of the Hospital Association accepting the gate receipts from the racetrack is not yet ended. There are many who believe that the heavy rain was a sign of dis pleasure, especially as the day has been both condemned and recommended to di- vine favor by prominent divines. Rabbi Levy, in an open letter asked for God S blessing on Fabiola Day, while Drs. Dille, Coyle and Horatio Stebbins have publicly declared that no Christian should take any part that would tend to swell the cCffers, even for charity.
 Rev. Dr. Dille, whose printed prelude last Sunday. night proved such bomb. shell to local society, was asked to-day if he thought Providence had purposely worked against the success of the day by making 1t stormy.
 ''I cannot help being a little amused" :" he said, that charity should be so treat ed by the clements. I am not going to say that it was a direct intervention of Providence, but certainly the man who prayed for Gods blessing on the day must be grievously disappointed.
 ''I have letters from three of the ladies on the directory of Fabiola, assuring me that they approve of my stand, and many prominent people all over the State have sent me letters couched in the same spirit. l was particularly pleased with the letter of Dr. Stebbins, published this morning.
 Now, then l would like to tell you one of the many incidents that have come to my notice in regard to the race track. There is a young lady in Berkeley who is a pupil of a San Francisco art school. For several weeks she was supposed to be going to San Francisco every day, but when the time came to pay her bills she was forced to confess that the money had gone into the race track coffers and that she had been a daily attendant at the racing. She said that she was fully aware of the foolishness of her conduct, but that once she started betting she could not restrain her passion. These are my ar
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15
Oakland News Items.

OAKLAND. May 1.-Two boys named Curtis found Carl Stabenow, an old man, lying in the mud between Towards and Meeks, landing yesterday. They managed to pull him out, thus saving his life.
 The regular Second Ward Republican Club has been called to meet at Milton Hall next Tuesday evening. This is one of the oldest and strongest organizations of its kind in the city. This first meeting of the campaign will be largely attended.
 H. Rowe, a street sprinkler, was thrown from his cart this morning by being hit by an electric car. He sustained a sprained back, and was treated at the Re- ceiving Hospital. He was then taken home to 511 Sixth street.
 The Field Seminary building, a land mark on Telegraph avenue, is being torn down. It was badly damaged by fire about year ago, which accounts for the present action. The grounds will be cut up into building lots.
 Lord Cyril AthoP' refused to allow his preliminary hearing to proceed in the Police Court to-day, owing to the absence of his attorney. It was continued until Monday, the day originally desired uy the court but refused by the defendant.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15
4 MINER WANTS
 TO MAKE MONEY Evidently Thinks Brierling Is Anxious to Become a
 Manager. Proposes All Sorts or Wagers to Work and Walk Fifty
 Miles.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call.


 Since Assemblyman Brierling lost $50 trying to prove that his butcher boy could not walk from San Jose to Oak land immediately after his days work was done, and without any rest, he has learned that there are others who are anxious to walk for money.
 It Is very evident that some of the people who are willing to wager money with Mr. Brierling on the result of a test of their endurance consider the As semblyman quite a nice fellow to do busi- ness with His butcher boy, German, ex- perienced no difficulty in walking the dis tance in fourteen hours, instead of twen- ty-four, and now comes R. B. Sears, a burly miner of Calaveras County, who submits the following proposition:
 SMELL MINE, Calaveras County. May 10.
 Editor Call-Sir: I notice in your paper a walk for a wager between Assemblyman Brier- ling and Richard German will agree to come to Oakland and stay one month, do no train ing; and work in the shop of MT. Brierling free of charge, do the work as MT. German. and walk the same distance in r hours. If win the wager I will then complete 1t in 15 hours. This must be for sum of money no less than $500
 Then If 1 am successful I will agree to com plete the distance Tn F hours. I miner and all the walking I do Is to my work and back, which constitutes about three miles a day Yours respectfully. R. B. SEARS.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15
SMALL WATER FRONT VICTORY Pierhead Lines Will Not Be Changed by the
 Engineers. The Peculiar Brock Petition Fails to Accomplish It's
 Purpose.
Other Tactics Will Have to Be Put in Uso to Disturb the
 Property.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
 

sos Broadway May A.
 The War Department has decided that the pierhead lines of Oakland harbor shall not be changed. This decision disposes ot the petition of the c. C. Brock Company which set forth that the interests of shipping would be best served by disturb ing the present lines and surveys.
 Major Heuer of the United States En- gineer's office received information yester- day that the Secretary of War had sus- tafned the opinion of the local Govern ment engineers, which Is favorable to maintaining the existing conditions The War Department states that it has care fully considered all the arguments sub- mitted, including the stenographic report of the statements of the Brock Company and the city of Oakland, and there is no reason for making the change. This de- cision is final as regards the pierhead lines.
 The Merchants Exchange and the Board of Trade and the City Council are greatly gratifed at the result of their labors, they put in strong protests against the proposed change. The people of this city were not consulted when the petition was drawn up by the Brock Com pany, and as Oakland is the party most directly interested there was more than a suspicion in the minds of merchants that there was power at work not apparent on the surface. It was only after some days that this city learned that a petition had been filed.
 It is the general opinion among those conversant with water front litigation that the attempt to have the pierhead lines changed originated in some quarter where there is desire to disturb the status of the water front cases now in the courts. If the Government could have been induced to make the change 1t would certainly have been an advantage to the water front company, and would have operated against the interests of this city.
 Attorney w. R. Davis, who appeared before the engineers in the interest of this city, is gratifed at the result.
 This decision of the Secretary of War puts an end to this kind of business he said. Hereafter, people that are anxious to get away with the water front will have to adopt new tactics.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15
FROM HIGH ART TO VAUDEVILLE

"DOUARD REMENYI,t the eminent
 Hungarian violin virtuoso, Is l another great artist who has condescended to join the procession of those who have lately flocked to the vaudeville ranks. He will make his debut therein On Sunday evening at the Orpheum, and the master of that king of instruments will undoubt- edly electrify his hearers as he has in the past.
 The distinguished musician. who ar rived Thursday from St. Louis, said yesterday: 'Yes, I have decided to make my entry on the vaudeville stage, and I must say that the con- sideration is such a large one that could not very well refuse to do so. And why not? I am sure the people who frequent vaudeville performances are appreciative Of good music. I will appear in my violin selections at one of your theaters, and I must say that I am glad to be with you once again. It has been said that vaudeville per- formances are attended by a more cosmopolitan audience than have been in the habit of playing to hereto fore, but this will not alter my fixed rule to play only musical compositions of the highest class. I shall endeavor, if necessary, to educate and elevate my auditors to the high standard of musical art which it has ever been my ambition to attain, and I trust that I have not lost any of the power I for merly possessed to accomplish that praiseworthy result. I still have my 'Stradivarius' with me, and isn't it a beauty?" and with that RemenY grasped his beloved instrument, which he fcndled as one would baby. and with a few delft touches of his bow he evolved such delicious strains as un- questionably stamp him one of the greatest violinists of the age.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15
HONOR FOR A BRIGHT STUDENT. George D. Leslie 'e8 Awarded the Le
 Conte Memorial Scholarship.

BERKELEY, May 14.-The Le Conte memorial fellowship for the coming year was to-day awarded to George D. Leslie, who will graduate next Wednesday from the college of social science with the de- gree of Ph.D. The award was made by the Le Conte memorial fellowship com mittee, consisting of Professor Joseph Le Conte, Professor w. E. Ritter, w. R. Davis, Elsie Lee Turner and Herbert Dam.
 Leslie is considered one of the brightest and most conscientious students at the university. He has completed the four years course in three years, after com pleting a three years high school course in two years. He will pursue advanced graduate study in history, politics and economics. His is the first case of a stu dent, not specializing on science, receiving the Le Conte scholarship.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15
{ LETTERS CLEAR UP 4 TRAGEDY Why James Was Led to Kill Himself and
 Wife.
All Over the Restaurant in Which the Shooting
 Occurred.
Mrs James, Wild Schemes Ended in the Total Loss of All They
 Possessed.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call.

90S BroadWdyi May 14
 A bundle of letters which was found among the effects of the late Morris James. who committed suicide in a res taurant on Ninth street and who at tempted at the same time to shoot his wife and another lady, makes the cause of the tragedy very clear.
 It was supposed at the time and was so announced that James was led to act as he did because of jealousy of his wife. This is now proved not to have been the reason why he appeared at the restau- rant with his gun, pretending to murder any one he might meet. The letters just made public show very plainly that James and his wife owned much property in Tehama County, also some in Oakland where they lived became objectionable to them on account of gossip, and Mrs. James came to Oakland for the purpose of trading off their country property for anything she could get in San Francisco, Oakland or Los Angeles.
 Mrs. James evidently considered every proposition that was made to her, for in July and August of last year she wrote to her husband every other day, and each letter contained references to some new deal which was going to make them rich.
 When Mrs. James started out with her system of trading she had property which ing real estate man of this city at s50, ,000 Her first trade was for a valuable piece or property Tn San Francisco which, when she thought it was her own, she discovered was carrying a mortgage which she could never hope to pay. This deal robbed her of considerable portion of her property. Then she entered into agreement to trade all she owned for property at Los Angeles worth $50,000 Somehow or other, which is not made clear, this deal fell through, after consid- erable time had been spent in examining the property. makino abstracts and sim liar proceedings. This deal was so nearly closed in her mind that she told her hus- band she would receive the money next week. Somehow the money never came and another slice of her property dis appeared.
 Trades in Alameda and Fruftvale prop erty followed but the lady always found that there were heavy charges against them and mortgages which she could not possibly meet, and as they passed out of her hands each lett her a little poorer than before.
 There is a vein of unconscious humor throughout the letters. One of them says: T have made a big trade to-day S20 GOO HuTrah for Bryan; good boy; don't be lonesome; will be home soon" The next letter shows that the $2OOO0 | didn't materialize. In another place Mrs | James states that her husband was down here for several weeks and did not make single trade, whereas she was only here week and she traded with nearly every real estate dealer in town.
 Finally. --4S. James found that all she could do was to buy a restaurant. This Is the way she informed her husband of her last trade: T have taken in a res
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15
POOR MEMORIES.
Acquainted With the Hills of San Francisco.

Chow Hing Suey and Chow Gum Choy were before United States Court Commis- sioner Heacock yesterday on a writ of habeas corpus, they having been denied the right to land by the Collector of the Port. They claimed admittance to this country on the ground that they were born In San Francisco and went to China when they were only ' years old. AL though they had travelled from the steamer to the County Jail on Broadway and thence to the Appraisers building, they were unable to say whether the streets of this city were level or hilly. All that they could remember was that it rained here sometimes.
 The Commissioner announced that he would report to the court in favor of the deportation of the applicants.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15
Lowell High Takes First Place.

OAKLAND, May 1.-The twenty-five mile relay bicycle race of the Academic Athletic League was held on the San Leandro road this morning for the second time. The Lowell High School of San Francisco captured the trophy. The Oak land Central and High came in second and third respectively. Time, one hour eighteen minutes fifty-siX seconds. The Oakland High School held the lead until the beginning of the fourth relay. when their man failed to make connections. The time lost then lost the race.
 Delegates to the Federated Clubs.
 OAKLAND, May 14.-Mrs. Alice w. Bunnell, the retiring president of the f,bell Society, and Mrs. E. Southard have been chosen delegates to the National
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15
GLASS PAGEANT POSTPONED.

BERKELEY, May 1.-The rainstorm played havoc with the annual class day exercises at the university to-day. In spite of a threatening sky in the morn ing. the class pilgrimage to the various points of interest on the campus took place, but shortly after noon the rain began to pour and the grand Chinese pageant and class dispensation that were to have been held in the amphitheater on the hillside had to be postponed. The celebration will take place next Tuesday afternoon at ? o'clock.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15
The Weeks Amusements.

OAKLAND, May l.-Ferris Hartman in "The Purser' will be the attraction at the Macdonough heater Tuesday night
 The Oakland Theater did big busi- ness this week with ''rair Cuba. Monday night they open with Iris, or the Pet Of Lone Pine" very interesting mining ,1lt nj play. An explosion in the Streny mlne will be one of the attractions.
 Miss Mary Alverta Morse, a new meg zo-soprano will give musicale at the Unitarian church Tuesday evening, as sisted by Willis E. Bacheller, tenor; Miss Belle Chamberlain, pianist, and William E Zach VfOIiniSt
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15
Husbands Letters in Court.

OAKLAND, May 14.-Constable c. F. Weldon, who levied an attachment upon the trunks and papers Of "Dr." H. E. Rowland, has been served with a sub- all of the letters in his possession into court This Is done to secure evidence against the man in the case of felony now pending. It comes up on June l before Judge Ellsworth for trial. An of- fee boy is the complaining witness. and it is claimed that some interesting affairs will come to light if the letters are read in court.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15
ALAMEDA COUNTY NEWS.

Federation of Women's Clubs, which will meet soon in Denver to represent the Ebell Society. Mrs. Elizabeth Fish and Mrs. John Russ are the alternates The officers of the society as changed at yes terdays meeting, are: President, Mrs. A. W. Bishop; first vice-president, Mrs Prentiss Selby; second vice-presdent, Mrs. w. A. Chids; treasurer, Mrs. F. w. Owens; secretaries, Mrs. L. F. Cockroft, Mrs. Henry Wadsworth and Miss Jennie Huff
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-15
Three Rails to Be Used.

OAKLAND, May 14.-The narrow-gauge raiiwav will not be entirely abandoned in rlit this city. The road over the new bridge will have three rails, and this Will be carried from the mole to the Fourteenth street depot. The local trains will be composed of broad gauge cars, but the freight work will be done on the narro" gauge tracks. The reason given Tor this fs that the city's franchise preeludes a comnIete change Excursion trains for