davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-06

as though 1t was about the limit Of towing and I almost wondered they didn't cut her loose.
 "AS the day went on the weather got worse and night shut In early, with the sky overcast and the wind blow ing gale, the sea rougher than ever, and vessels all around us rolling and tossing. We had heard once or twice: just before dark, when the blasts ot wind had let up little, sounds of f1r- ing to windward, and we knew there must be a vessel there in distress Af- ter nightfall we could see in the dis tance the flash of the guns; the vol ley firing of men apparently drawn up in line on deck. It wasn't our place to help them, there were many vessels nearer. They had all the help it was possible to give them. We learned later that nearly all on the vessel were saved There were about twenty-five lost.
 When we came on deck on our ship the next morning we saw something that interested us very much; the up- per part of the after chimney-the steamer had two smokestacks, rang ing fore and aft-had been carried away completely, and 1t lay on deck over on the port side of the ship. on the starboard side, boat hanging on davits had been smashed, and the
  This damage had been done by the ship we had in tow. Her jibboom had poked off the upper sections of the smokestack and her cutwater had smashed the boat and cut down the rail- According to the story aboard we had occasion in the night to back The story was that there were break CTS ahead When we went astern the ship kept coming, and came aboard or us on the starboard quarter. They cut her loose as soon as they could. and the men on the ship made sail on her. She hadn't done us very much damage-I have sometimes wonderea what would have happened If she had struck us a little harder blow.
 we went on easily enough with one long and one short chimney. We were going slow and we didn't need the draught that we lost through the cut. ting down of one of them. We didn't pick the ship up again, but we saw her a few days later, at our port Of desti- nation, trim and all right. It hadn't disturbed her to be cut loose Tn the storm, in fact I have no doubt that she liked it so much better.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-06

1t has been absolutely demonstrated, be- yond question: that tobacco of a fine qual- ity can be grown in this county, and that is sufficient to bring about vast results in due time.
 So far as the city proper Is concerned 1t is growing at a healthy and satisfactory rate. The population, as shown by the school statistics, Is on the increase at rapid ratio. The schools are crowded to such an extent that several hundred chil- dren are denied the privileges of attend school facilities by voting bonds for new high school, to be the equal, in size and architectural beauty, of the fine buildings already in use.
 The act passed by the last Legislature, providing for the construction of State normal school in this county, has been followed to the extent of appointing. a board of trustees, choosing a beautiful site on University Heights, in this city, and advertising for plans and specified tions for the preliminary building. The cost of the whole building will be s100. 900, but on account of the fact that only $50 900 was appropriated and the great need of immediate work the trustees have devot- ed s95'O0 to the preliminary building and equipment. The preliminary building will be so constructed as to become part of the larger building.
 The construction of business blocks and fine private residences has continued un- interruptedly during the past year. The attractions of this city and Coronado to persons of culture and refinement looking for a permanent home in a congenial cli- mate are such as to bring about the erec- ton of ideal homes, surrounded with semi-tropical vegetation, and command ing views of charming, varied scenery, in which glorious sunshine and summer S magic touch are the benign influences which make all residents here so loyal and zealous lovers of the place
 So, with resources of soil and climate, facilities for commerce, and blessed by nature, San Diego presents to the home seeker variety of attractions such as are not offered by any other one city on the Pacific Coast. IRA E. BENNETT.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-06
THE MATTER OF WHISPERS.
 London Truth.

The day he went to the Palais de rIndustrie to inform the Emperor ana Empress of the Archduke MaXimllian execution the revealing wh1skers 1eil quite lank They recovered thelr trl- umphant air soon after, to lose 1t on September f. They certainly did not recover that air at Tours or Bordeaux, where Prince Metternich looked very much the fish out of water. Jules Ferry's whiskers were often an 1noeX to his state of feeling. I saw him on the day he escaped from the Commune of Paris to Versailles. He related his adventures at the Hotel des Reser- voirs to friends who gathered round him. The whiskers which habituaily stood we'll out like those (his enemies said) of a garcon de cafe, were llmp' and lay flat to the cheeks.
 The most leonine whiskers ever saw were Skobeleffs. They were Of inn mense length when he drew them out. as was his wont, but when let alone seemed only half as long. I dare say they had their lank days, but not so far as I know The term "whiskeran- do" (now well nigh obsolete) had more meaning than those who used IL thought.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-06

duction I watch the audience even more closely than I do the criticisms, and if they show signs of restlessness during any scene I promptly cut it.. During the production of Shenan- doah' in Boston I noticed how thor oughly absorbed the audience was in the signals on the mountains and l determined to try an experiment. said to the stage manager, Continue the signals until I tell you to cease" /" and then I stood in the prompt en- trance listening alertiy TOT the first uneasy cough or rustic or pro grammes. I waited in vain so long that I lost my nerve and gave the cue for the resumption of the play proper. Next night I determined to see 1t through, no matter how long it took, same instructions as before. 1 waited four minutes by the watch, and then gave up in despair. It was my last experiment of this nature, and so my curiosity was never satisfied
 "Mr Howard called several times after this and discussed plays and players quite thoroughly. While leav- ing after his last call MT. Howard said You ought to try to write a play. I think you have the dramatic instinct The seed took root more firmly perhaps than expected. l did try, and the result was my first play. The Speculator. It dealt with lie on the Chicago Board of Trade, and I had the advantage of knowing my subject thoroughly, as I was connect ed with the institution for five years. The Speculator' was produced by Thomas Q. Seabrooke and ran for two seasons.
 My next attempt was The Wrong MT. Wright which was written for Roland Reed and first produced at the Boston Museum in August, 1896.
 "The reception accorded my first two plays having shown me that I had some aptitude for writing for the stage I determined to produce my next piece myself. After considering the matter I concluded that the trend of public taste was toward the romantic and the farce. Feeling that I was not as yet competent to write the former I tried my hand at the latter. The result was What Happened to Jones' What happened to What Happened to Jones' is now a matter of record.
 While What Happened to Jones' is being presented in New York and Chi cago it will also be seen in this city, as Harry Corson Clarke has purchased the rights of presentation west of the
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-06

"HF other evening, at the Cali
 fornia Theater, a sedate, be-
 spectacled, blonde young man
 left his seat and crossed to the \ other side of the house, where
 he shook hands and chatted cordially with M. B. Leavitt. who not so long since reigned supreme in the theatrical world in this city.
 When the blonde young man walked away Mr. Leavitt said to his com panion: Five years ago l met that voune man in Grand Forks, N. D., where he was managing the theater and running the daily paper. He got so much the best of an argument re- garding a contract which he wanted for one of my attractions that l inn mediately engaged him to manage my theater in Chicago. Soon after transferred him to the Bush Street Theater here. At that time he had not written a line for the stage, but this year two of his plays, both suc- cesses, were running at the same time in Broadway houses"
 George A. Broadhurst Is the man who jumped from the snows of North Da- kota to the sunny side or the metropo- lis in five years. He was the last man. ager of the Bush Street Theater under MT. Leavitt's administration, and it was while occupying that position that he first thought of trying his pen at dramatic writing.
 "The idea of doing this," said Mr. Broadhurst, was suggested to me by Bronson Howard. During the en- gagement of Mrs. w. J. Florence he came to the office of the theater to request the courtesy of a box for one of her performances. We chatted awhile, and then the conversation veered to MT. Sothern's production ot The Maister of Woodbarrow,' which was the current attraction at the Baldwin. MT. Howard had not seen the play and requested my opinion ot it. I said that I thought that the scene in which Mr. Sothern put OF his gloves was too long, and being asked for my reasons I answered that the audience began to move uneasily and to rustic their programmes.
 That said MT. Howard, is sure sign. Whenever l have a new pro-
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-06

Water Company Is composed principally of two men, E. s. Babcock and John D. Spreckels. Mir. Babcock, who built the water company, and MT. Spreckels Is vice-president. They are interested in many other important enterprises here besides the Coronado Beach interests, and in fact are the moving spirits of San Diego. The water company is capitalized at s3,5o0, 900, and the cost of the system | is covered by the system embrace the Jamul, Janal. Otay, Rancho de Ia Nacion and other large ranches, with, inter mediate lands, comprising in all 100000 acres of fruitful soil, most of 1t suited for the growth of lemons, oranges, olives and other desirable and profitable fruits.
 The city of San Diego has a contract with the company for the development and delivery of 1000 inches of water per- petually from Morena dam for the use of the city The city has voted bonds to pay s1 800, 900 for this water, delivered at the city limits, and including an entirely
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-06

thority of its officials, expended 5000 per day for every working day, and has done so ever since the city voted the bonds. in June, 1896. The consequence has been that every branch of business in the city has felt the benefit of the construction work. even before there was any direct benefit to the lands themselves.
 The United States Government has recognized the importance of San Diego harbor by expending large sums for harbor defense and improvement. The work of defending this bay is going on very rapidly, more rapidly in proportion than at any other harbor on the coast. placements has had a force of 100 men at work night and day for more than a year at Ballast Point and the result is that rifles of the most modern type will be pointing seaward. and another will be be- ing assembled. Worl. on the fourth em- placement is to be started shortly, and these four guns will complete the battery at Ballast Point.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-06

hotter than any fire London had yet experienced.
 Arthur and his young wife only laughed at the wrathy old earl. and continued on in their own quiet way to enjoy life. A few months later came fire at which Fireman Percrval dis tinguished himself by scaling a danger ous wall and by playing stream stopped the progress of the fire. sav- ing a big warehouse The owner pre- sented Perceval with a 210 note. and the favorable press comments on the work of the daring fireman attracted the Earl of Edgmont's attention. What seems to have impressed him most was the smallness of the reward. for he wrote to Arthur stating that if the old merchant did not know a good thing. an Edgmont did, and with the letter came a check for G50.
 At another time Perceyal risked his life to save that of a child. The crusty old earl heard of this and wrote a very curt letter advising his cousin that if he must risk his neck to do it in saving buildings that cost piles of money to replace, and not in the saving of mere kids, the like of which filled the streets and crowded the foundling asvlums This time he sent only a25. This dis gusted Perceval, and he. concluded then
 
 helmet.
 By the intercession of friends be secured the position of janitor of the new Town Hall at Chelsea. This was job in which the perquisites of Of flee exceeded the salary Peceyal had knocked about the world and rubbed up against all sorts and conditions of men and learned how to take ad- vantage Of such a position. He had carefully put aside every penny do- mated by the old Earl, and with his savings as janitor was soon in n position to go into business on his own account.
 He bought an interest in soma TO- ment works, but the venture did not prove a success. He sold out at n loss, and from that day to this has not been heard from. few weeks after the closing out of his interest in tho cement works the old Earl died. leav- ing Arthur heir to his title and es- tates. Attorneys and others have searched the world over for the heir but the new Earl and his American wife seem to have wandered to some out fthe-way place where the news of their good luck has not followed.
 The general supposition is they left for America, expecting to find some of her people, and when they landed changed their minds and went West If they came to the United States they did so under assumed names for the passenger lists do not reveal inc name of Perceval. There Is no known reason why Arthur should choose to take another family name, yet 1t is not surprising if he did so, for 1t runs in the Egmont blood to do strange and unaccountable things
 One time when Arthur was a how at home in Papanua he was sadly in need of pocket money. He was afraid to ask his father for it, as he had aI case of French sardines, something of a luxury i'll that far-off land, had re- gently arrived and had been placed in the storeroom. Arthur figured that the sardines were not likely to be called
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-06

for for some time, so he put the case on the wheelbarrow and wheeled 1t downtown and sold the whole case to a grocer. A few days after the father began a hunt for the sardines. Arthur owned up as to how they had disap- peared and told the figure at which he had sold the case. The father looked at him a miute, put his hand in his pocket and handed him sovereign, remarking. "You sold them too cheap: you should have got at least sovereign more. Here it Is. My boy, whenever you take notion 10 sell the roof from over my head see that
 Arthur was placed in boarding school after boarding school, but In each instance with the same ending he either played some unforglvable nrank and was sent home or 1T the discipline was too severe he ran away. It was because the list of boarding schools had been exhausted that he came to be placed on board train ing-ship. and how he escaped from it has been told.
 He seems to have turned out a prof. cient seaman, else he could not have obtained a first mates certificate at the early age of 23. Of his adventures at sea little Is known, but his com rades in the London Fire Department describe him as a rattling good fellow. While he was jovial and fond of com pany and joking, he was inclined to be on-communicative. It is due to this characteristic probably that he has never written any of his old friends.
 The strange part of the disappear ance of the new Earl and the Countess is that he should have gone to some unknown point just at the time of the death of the old Earl. l. was just three weeks after Arthur Perceval sold his interest in the cement works that the death of the old Earl was widely proclaimed In the English and Continental papers. Advertisements and rewards for information as to Ar thurs whereabouts appeared in nearly every part of the world, but up to the time of publication of the latest Lon don newspapers that have come to hand Arthur is still wanderer and unknown When he does turn up he will find that he is Earl of Egmont, yiscount Perceval, Baron Perceval and Baron Arden in the peerage of Ireland, Baron Lovel and Holland In the peer age of England, Baron Arden in the peerage of the United Kingdom, and a Baronet of Ireland, to say nothing of few minor titles.
 The IdIHlly oCCiHo u nave Deen uD- der peculiar spell of misfortune. The late Earls father died of jail fever, contracted from the prisoners he was trying at Cork; his uncle was myste- riously assassinated in the Strand, London, in the reign of Charles II; his grandfather was the famous Spencer Percival
 The present Earps misfortune seems to be in his having lost himself just at the time when he ought to be very much in evidence.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-06
MEDIEVAL STUDENTS.

the disorders of the schools and express ing fear of personal violence, and stu dent at Toulouse writes that certain P, against whom he had been warned before leaving his home in Narbonne, had taken forcible possession of his room and so disturbed him in his work that he would like permission to go home at Easter. At Orleans a young man pleads for help from his father because. having quarreled with certain. youth, as the devil would have it, he struck him on the head with a stick, so that he Is now in prison and must pay 50 livres for his release, while his enemy is healed of his wounds and goes free.
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-06

1 pretext induced him to go down to the 1 beach. When on the beach and where his cries for assistance could not be i heard, Arthur forced his newly made 1 acquaintance to disrobe and they eX- i changed suits.
 The dry suit was no sooner on him i than Arthur lit out as fast as his him. | ble legs would carry him. He spent ! two weeks crossing the island, meeting 1 with all sorts of adventures as a tramp l He came to a seaport and shipped as i a sailor boy on a small schooner for ! Australia. He spent several years ] cruising in the Chinese seas, and in 1881 | turned up in Lndon with a first mates S l certificate.
 | He had had enough of the sea, but | still hankered for adventure. He con- | cluded that the life of a London fire man offered more of the sort of sport 1 that he wanted than any other lands l mans vocation. He applied and was
 admitted to the London Fire Brigade, 1 serving as a fireman in different parts l of South London for six years. Mean | time he had made himself known to the seventh Earl of Edgmont at Cowdray | Park, Midhurst, who was his second
 cousin. The late earl recognized in Ar
 thur possible heir to the earldom, and 1 tried to persuade him to abandon his ealing ana attend college.
 Arthur had about tired of his life as
 a fireman, and 1t Is said was seriously
 considering the offers made him by the late earl. when an American girl
 stepped in and changed the whole pro- i gramme. She was pretty, of course, and her chic ways as a waitress in the cheap restaurant near the engineho | attracted the attention of Arthur Per ceval. He forgot all about the old earl
 and devoted his attentions to the wait ress. He won her regard and respect by one day knocking out big bully who attempted familiarity with the girl.
 From that day Arthur Perceval and Kate Howell became the closest friends
 and few months later were married.
 The pretty waitress is now described ! in Burke's Peerage as Kate, daughter of Warick Howell Esq. of South Caro- lima, U. s. A." How she came to leave her South Carolina home and wandered to London and sought employment as waitress has never been told. The young couple began housekeeping in a humble way, but happy, nevertheless.
 Arthur Perceval soon began to be known as one of the best and most dar- ing firemen on the South Side The training at sea had accustomed him to climbing dizzy heights, and he feared neither flames nor accident. His brav- cry won for him the approba tion of his chief. and on one occasion a reward of $50 from a merchant whose build Ing he had risked his life to save. The earl was very much incensed at Arthur for choosing matrimony and the fire department rather than college life
 Soon after the wedding Arthur wrote to the old earl limiting that congratula- tions were in order. The earl curtly replied that he hoped his cousin would find both the fire department and mat rimony closely akin so far as a good warm time was concerned. and further more suggested that if Arthur did not find either quite warm enough he might by again addressing Earl of Edgmont, learn of place that bore the renutation of being several degrees
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-06

the completion of torpedo casemate near by. The. public Is not permitted to tains nor what is it's offensive and defen- sve power. The Government en- gineers state, however, that the most modern armament only is being employed for the coast defenses, both at San Diego and San Francisco. The total cost of San Diegos defenses. as outlined, is esti- mated to be s1,500 900.
 San Diego Harbor. the pride of every resident of the city and the envy of her neighbors, is being improved by the con struction of a Jetty at the east side of the harbor mouth. At this point the Zuninga shoals have worked harm by dividing the flow of the tides, dissipating their tides have not secured the bar and chan nel as they would have done but for the Zuninga shoal. The Government has built a jetty, running from the east side of the harbor mouth seaward a mile and a half, which confines the tides to a
The San Francisco call., 1898-02-06

new distributing system of 50 per cent greater capacity than the present system. This large municipal supply will enable the city to give it's inhabitants the lowest water rate of any city in Southern Cali fornia which will mean the rapid de- velopment of fine lawns, grounds. parks and orchards within the city limits. The city itself owns 5000 acres of old pueblo lands much of 1t suitable to fruit-groW- ing and the application of water will in- crease the value of these lands to such an extent that the water will practically cost nothing.
 During 1897 the Southern California Mountain Water Company, on the au-