davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15
THE LAST METEORIC SHOWER

Mrs. w j. Sloppy of st. Paul has kind
ly forwarded to Notes and Queries the
following clipping from q Philadelphia
newspaper of Thursday, November 13,
1888 which was cut from the paper and
preserved in a scrapbook by her mother,
the late Mrs. L. G.. Stees. It is certainly
a most rare and interesting paragraph, to
be thus reproduced at this date. This is
the description of the extraordinary scene
as given by an eyewitness on the day
of its occurrence: THE meteoric shower
Of the 18th was rare phenomenon. AT
4:30 o'clock in the morning I first observed
1t, and continued to notice 1t until its ter
mination at o'clock two hours later.
From a point in the heavens about fifteen
degrees southeasterly from our zenith the
meteors darted to the horizon in every
point of the compass. These paths were
described in curved lines. similar to those
of the parallels of longitude on an arti-
fetal globe. They We're generally short
in their course, resembling much an m
terrupted line. They ceased to appear
when within about ten degrees of the hor-
izon ] did not see a single meteor pass
the meteoric pole which l have described
nor one pass in a horizontal direction.
Several of them afforded as much light as
faint lightning One of them in the north
east was heard to explode with a sound
rocket The time from the explosion was
about twenty seconds, which gives a dis
tance of about five miles. 1t left SER
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

pentine cloud of a bright glowing color.
which remained visible for fifteen or
twenty minutes Millions of these me-
teors must have been darted in this show
er. 1 was not able to remark a single one
whose proximity to me was greater than
any other, by being interrupted between
my vision and any distant object, such as
trees, houses or the high shore of New
Jersey west of me. The singularity of
this meteoric shower consisted in the
countless numbers of the celestial rock
cts, and more especially in their constant
ly uniform divergence from the point If
teen degrees southeasterly from the zen
ith." The writer closes his description
with the following explanation of the phe-
nomenon: These meteors are supposed
to be gaseous, and when inflamed by some
cause not explained appear darting
through the heavens, generally in various
directions" The following editorial re-
marks on the same subject appear in a
Philadelphia newspaper: THE remarka-
BILE display of meteors on Wednesday
morning continues to form the subject of
conversation in every circle, and our ex-
changes come to us decked out with
graphic descriptions and illustrations of
the strange visitation. A gentleman from
Boston describes the scene In that city in
much the same language as is used by
phia, and as far south and west as we
have heard from the shower of fire was
as incessant as it was in this city"
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15
AROUND THE
CORRIDORS

D. Mckay of Sacramento is a guest at
the Palace.
F. M Swasey, a leading business man
of Redding, is registered at the Grand.
P. j. Mccormick, a wealthy contractor
from Los Angeles, is a guest at the
Lick.
Henry Doyle, mining and business
man of Vancouver, B. c., is guest at the
Palace.
Judge C. C. Bush, prominent jurist of
Redding. is among the recent arrivals at
the Grand
w. H. Stacey, capitalist of San Jose,
is among the arrivals of yesterday at the
Occidental.
]. H. Barbour has come up from San
Diego and is registered at the Palace for
a short stay.
Dr. E. s. O'Brien one Of the principal
physicians of Merced, is at the Lick on a
short vacation
Francis Cutting, a we'll known and pop
ular attorney of Stockton, is among the
late arrivals at the Lick.
Herbert A. Kidder, prominent and in
fuential politician from Sacramento, Is
registered for a short stay at the Cali
fornia.
Captain F. Tucker, lucky mining man
Palace, where he arrived yesterday from
Seattle
Charles league, a wealthy landowner
and heavy oil speculator of Fresno, is a
guest at the Grand on q limited business
trip to the city.
DR.. d. P. burst, one of the best-known
medical men of Wheatland, is at the
Grand where he arrived yesterday on a
short visit to the city.
c. H. Clapp, wealthy coffee planter
of Honolulu is on his way to his island
home after an extended visit to New
York He is staying at the Lick.
T. C. HARRISON, formerly a well-krown
newspaper man of this city and now
editor of n San Bernardino paper, Is up
to attend the Water Storage Convention
as a delegate.
c. B. Booth, Charles e. Richards, T. e.
Gibbon and c. A. Edison. four delegates
from Los Angeles to the Flood-water
Storage Convention, arrived In the city
yesterday and registered at the Palace.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15
WEBSTER'S PLAN
IS CRITICIZED BY
HIS CO-WORKERS
Do Not Indorse New
Curriculum.

Superintendent of Schools Webster is
not to be permitted to inaugurate in the
citys schools the new curriculum which
he announced two weeks ago without the
criticism and even condemnation OF many
of his co-educators. Although all OF the
teachers and principals in the department
and all of the School Directors save those
of the board who are known to be agents
of the book ring are with him it has
come to his ears during the past week
that many of the big guns outside this
county, and particularly those of the IN
Stltute, are preparing for a concerted at
tack upon him and his radical policy
On October % Superintendent Webster
Issued a circular in which was embodied
the essence of all the experience he ha
had as head of the biggest municipal
school department in the West BY re-
ports from the teachers in the department
and by his own close observation he had
become convinced that pupils in the local
schools would be better fitted for practi
cal life and advanced to a greater state
of preparedness for university work If
of the essentials, and less attention di-
rected to the frills that have been intro
few years. He based his circular upon
that conviction, and ordered that such
subjects as mature study" humane ed
ucation, music, drawing and other the
or1st Innovations be either eliminated or
relegated to the luxury list, to be in
dulged in but once week. The time
thus saved he divided between the essen
tials-grammar, arithmetic spelling, COM
position and the like.
The teachers in the department quit
talking about back salaries for at least
a week, and parents hailed the new pro-
gramme as the dawn of a new era in
local education. Not so, however, those
pedagogues who are fond of hemstitched
arithmetic and point lace geography.
Many of them the last few years have
risen to fame and fat salary by their
ability to make the simplest study in the
ordinary curriculum look like a gaudy
piece of patchwork, and they object to
any one occupying as prominent a posi-
ton in the educational world as does
Webster attempting to revolutiOnize the
ideas and experiments that have proved
profitable to them.
Oakland was first to raise a howl, all
though it was not a loud one and was
merely preliminary to the chorus that is
about due to be heard. The institute is to
come next, and it is known that a num-
Der of prominent lecturers in that organi-
cation are preparing condemnatOry papers
to be read at the next meeting. Mean
while Webster with parents, teachers and
the School Board back of him, is rapidly
getting his plan into smooth running or
der and gathering matter with which to
answer the arguments to come. Which
ever way the present clash of opinions
turns out, the inevitable bandying of ar
guments, pro and con, promises much of
value to those addicted to pedagogy.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15
Lecture for Charitable Work.

The first of series of free lectures to
be conducted at the Good Samaritan Mis-
sion, 246 Second street, will be given this
evening by Mayor Phelan, whose subject
will be civil Government" Succeeding
lectures will be given by President D. S.
Jordan of Stanford, Professor LIE Conte,
l. NJ Scott, President Wheeler. of Berke-
ley and others.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15
California Limited

SANTA FE ROUTE-Connecting train leaves
at D. M Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sat
urday giving passengers ample time to see Los
Angeles and Pasadena. Finest equipped train
and best track of any line to the East. Get
handsome folder and full particulars at 62S
Market street.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

RANK OF COMMODORE-B. & D..
Marysville, Cal. Under the provisions of
the personnel bill, the rank of commodore
in the United States navy was abolished
THE COMSTOCK-S. City. There is no
underground tide which ebbs and flows
In the Comstock during each twenty-four
hours of the day"
A WEDDING GIFT-Subscriber, City
In Answers to Correspondents, October
15 1899, there is given the answer asked
for in relation to the engraving of we'd
ding gift to bride.
OLIVE OIL MACHINERY-H. vaca-
Vile, Cal. If you desire to make olive oil
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15
.4Mrs winslow's soothing svrup,,

Has been used for fifty years by millions of
mothers for their children while Teething with
nerfect success It soothes the child. softens
the gums aIlays pain. cures Wind Collie regu-
lates the Bowels and is the best remedy for
Diarrhoeas, whether arising from teething or
other causes. For sale by druggists in every
nart of the world. Be sure and ask for Mrs
Winslow's Soothing Syrup 25c a bottle.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15
Captain Henry's Death

Coroner Hill announced yesterday that
he would take possession of the body of
Captain Henry of the Cyrus Wakefield as
soon as she lays up at the dock and hold
an inquest as to the cause of death The
fact that the body is in this county gives
the Coroner jurisdiction of the case
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15
Tourist Excursions.

PERSONALLY conducted Tourist Excursions.
with latest improved Pullman Vestibuled SIeep-
ing Cars through from California to St Paul.
St Louis, Chicago and Boston. every Sunday,
Wednesday and Friday. Get full information at
62S Market st.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

Special information supplied daily to
business houses and public men by the
Press Clipping Bureau (AIlen's) SO Mont
gomery street. Telephone Main 1872
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15
CALIFoRNIANS IN NEW YORK

NEW YORK, Nov. I'm. A. Roths-
child of San Francisco is at the Holland
Thomas Derby of San Francisco is at the
Hoffman: ]. w. Chisholm of San Fran
cisco is at the Manhattan: j. J. Gottlob
of San Francisco is at the Herald Square.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

but no regret whatever that we have no longer
Vice President In fact under the new succession act
there IS no reason why there should be Vice Presi-
dent or why any one should be paid salary to stand
round and Wait for funeral
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15
sntro Property to Be Sold.

Judge Coffey has made an order grant
ing the executors of the estate of the
late AdoIph Sutro the right to sell prop
erty belonging to the estate in F'ruitvale.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

| HOTEL DEL CORONADO-Take advantage
! Of the round-trip tickets. Now only $50 by
steamship, including fifteen days board at ho-
tel: longer stay, 81 50 per day Apply at New
! Mnntgnm street. San Francisco
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

Remove the causes that make your hair life
less and gray with Parkers Hair Balsam.
Hindercorns. the best cure for corns. Is cts.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

The two soldiers who poisoned sixty of their COM
rades at the Presidio huge joke ought to be made
to feel how funny it is to be locked in an Acatraz
dungeon Their sense of humor is altogether too far
DEVELOPED TO permit them to remain at large
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15
Cal. glace fruit SOC per lb at Townsend's.'

Look out for 81 Fourth St Nr. &c barber
or grocer. Best eyeglasses 10c and 40c.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15
ADJUSTMENTS.

ADJUSTMENTS.
Orpheurn-Vaudevile
Coumba-'Why Smith Left Home"
Caifornia-"What Happened to JONES'
Tivol-'Patence'
lAlcazar-"My Friend India"
Grand ra-house-'"The Merry Monarch"
New Alhambra-"A Lady of Quality"
Chutes TheaterVaudeville afternoon and
evening.
olympia, Ellis streets-Specaltes.
Central Park-Steepechase and performances
Western Turf Association. San MateO County-Races.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

The latest bulletin from the sickroom of Vice
President Hobart says he takes milk with his meals
and milk punches between meals. Whats the mat
ter with Hobart? He's all right.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

WIDE-TIRE Lave. E. w, Nicasio
Marin County, Cal. The following is the
law Of California relating to wide tires IL
California, passed by the Legislature Of
1897:
The width of tires for wheels upon
wagons or other vehicles to be used
upon the public highways of the State
of California shall be for the following
styles of wagons as follows:
Two and three-quarter inch steel or
thimble-skein axle, 1B-inch tubular
steel or iron axle, not less than 3-inch
tire; 112-inch steel or iron axle, 21s-
inch tubular or iron axle, not less than
312-inch tire; 3-inch steel or thimble-
skein, 15s-inch steel or iron, 23s-inch
tubular steel or iron axle, not less than
4-inch tire; 34-inch steel or thmbe-
skein, 1A or rs steel or iron 25s tubular
steel or iron axle, not less than 41a-
inch tire; 312-inch steel or thmble-
sken, Pinch steel or iron, 27s-inch
tubular steel or iron axle, not less
than 5-inch tire; 3A Inch steel or thin
be-skein, 2A-inch steel or iron, 8 or
31k inch tubular steel or iron axle, not
less than 51a-inch tire: 4-inch and larg-
er steel or thimble-skein, 212-inch and
larger steel or iron, 3A-inch and larger
tubular steel or iron axle, not less than
6-inch tire.
Other styles of axles must have tires o
the same width as those of equal carry
ing capacity above enumerated All in
termediate axles must have tires of tn,
same width as the next larger size aboy,
specified.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

After the cruel way in which the Governor triaed
with the feelings OF Colonel Chadbourne the gallant
hero of dress parades ought to have good grounds
for suit against Gage for breach of promise
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

DECOCTIONS-D. L. B., Berkeley, Cal
A decoction of boiled herbs or barks will
keep if placed in bottles tightly corked so
as to prevent the admission of air.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

We seem to be able to take everything in the Phil
fppines except Aguinaldo or rest
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

for your own family, you should use a
small cider press. Olive oil machinery is
expensive.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE
Subscriber City. United States Civil Ser
vice examinations are held in San Fran
cisco generally in April and in Novem-
ber. The dates are arranged by the Civil
Service Commission at Washington to-
ward the close of each year. 1t IS impos-
sble to tell, at this time, when the first
examination will be held here in 1900
To obtain an application blank the can
didate for examination should address
communication to the department in
which he or she seeks to be examined.
Those who apply for special pension ex-
amner, departmental service, ar exam
ined in spelling, arithmetic, letter writing
penmanship copying from plain copy.
copying from rough draft, law and pen
sion law. For such positions the appli-
cant must. as in all other branches of the
civil service, undergo an examination and
take his chance of being one of the eligi-
bles, when a vacancy occurs. There is no
telling when vacancy will occur in that
department In this city.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15
AUCTION SALES.

By Galuck vncent-This day Il o'clock. magnificent
Furniture, 329 Guerrero street
By Chase Mendenhal - Thursday, November 16 at Il
clq, Trottng bred Mares and Gedings Market
and Van Ness avenue
Ven & Co.-Thursday, November 16 II o'clock
Real Estate. at 5l3 California St
><S9EErR@>
---r-- S[sA9ElSSSeeszAl -
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

RAISING A HATH. J. E., City
Should a young man who is a clerk for
a large corporation raise his hat when one
of the directors bows to him on the
street," asks this correspondent. He is
informed that no one can afford to be
rude to another, no matter how high or
how low the other is. If the director
thinks enough of the clerk to recognize
should think enough of the director to be
polite to the extent of raising his hat in
recognition of the salutation. Civility
does not cost anything and always creates
a good impression.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

THE CENTURY-H. B.. City. The mex
century will commence with the 1st da,
of January, 1901. See answer to anothe
correspondent in Answers to Correspond
ents, October % 1899.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

AT PEACE WITH THE WORLD-A
and B, City. BY the expression "at peace
with the world is meant that the indi-
vdual or nation has no quarrel with any
individual or nation or people. At this
time the United States cannot be said to
be "at peace with the world" for they
have an armed contention with Aguinaldo
and his neODIe
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

CHICAGO NEWS STANDS.
Sherman House; P Q. News Co.; Great Northern Hotel
Fremont House, Auditorium Hotel
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

NEW YORK REPRE- SENTATIVE,
PERRY LUKENS 30 Tribune Building
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

NEW YORK NEWS STANDS.
waldorf Astoria Hotel a. Brentano 81 Union Square
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-15

WASHINGTON 10. cI OFFICE....... .WeIIin aton Eote
j. L. ENGLISH, Correspondent.
Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1899-01-20
MINOR ITEMS OF INTEREST

Five small boys met death in a drown.
ing accident at South Gibson, Pa.
Owing to severe storm the Elbe has
overlooked and flooded the lower quar-.
ters Of Hamburg.
Major Jed Hotchkiss, Stonewall Jack.
sons celebrated engineer, is dead at his
home in Staunton, Va.
The transport OLDHAM has sailed from
Savannah for Havana with q battalion
of the First Maine artillery.
Chief of Police Menocal Of Havana
has decided to appoint his three broth.
ers as inspectors at q salary Of $40
month.
Ex-United States Marshal George w.
Pratt is dead at Oshkosh, Wis. He had
held many Offices of trust during. his
career.
Maguey Garcia, a son of the late Gen.
eral Garcia, has entered Union college
at Schenectady. N. Y. He is the first
Cuban to take advantage Of the offer of
the Cuban educational society.
The transport Saratoga has sailed
from Charleston for Matanzas with q
cargo of provisions, camp equipages and
four companies Of the One Hundred
and Sixtieth Indiana volunteers.
Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1899-01-20
THE LADY MAYORESS.

Mrs. Farlovv Presides Over London's
Great Municipal Household.
AZ Sir John Vooe Moore, London's new
lord mayor, Is a widower, the honor Of
presiding over the Mansion House and
wearing the title of lady mayoress falls to
bis only daughter, Mrs. King Farlow. II
Is many years since London town has seen
90 young and charming lady mayoress.
for the lords mayor are usually gray hair
ed, retired merchants and their wives
portly matrons of advanced age.
To be the head Of London's great civic
household carries with 1t a good deal OF
responsibility and care Most women
would be 6azed by the magniflcently liv'
cried, we'll fed and ultra pompous flunkiea
who are part Of the establishment The
lady mayoress Is called upon to preside at
many solemn and heavy municipal din
ners. and she is expected to do 1t all with
a great deal of dignity and suavity. But
Mrs. Farlow has eight brothers, and she
has been queenly sort of person nearly
all her life..
The new lady mayoress looks forward to
her years official position with q good
deal of the freshness and brightness that
60 often are the characteristics of English
matronhood She has four charming little
ohildren-two boys and two girls. She
will not bring them with her into tho city
Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1899-01-20
PERSONNEL BILL PASSED.
Naval Officers Have Worked for tho
Measure for q Decade.

Naval Officers Have Worked for tho
Measure for q Decade.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18.-The house
passed the naval personnel bill without
division on the final passage, thus &C
complishing what the officers of the
navy have striven for during more than
q decade. BY its provisions the line and
engineer corps are welded into an ANAL
salnated linz, staff officers are given
positive rank, but their command is
limited to their own corps and system
q voluntary and compulsory retirement
on three-quarters pay is established,
which is designed to remove the con-
gestion in the lower rank at As. The
hill also practically equalizes their pay
with that of army officers.
Three important amendments were
adopted. One creates judge advo-
oate's court, another abolishes prize
money and third provides for the re-
trement on three-quarters pay Of en-
listed men and petty officers in the navy
after 30 years service. But the most
important change in the bill as reported
was the adoption after a hard fight of q
substitute for the organization of the
marine corps, by which the corps is to
consist of 5000 enlisted men and petty
officers, with general officers and staff.
This will increase the marine corps by
1900 men and increase the cost of its
maintenance 81 100000.
Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1899-01-20
JOHN RUSSELL YOUNG.
Librarian Of tho Congressional Library
Dies After quito an Illness.

librarian OF tho Congressional Library
Dies After quito an Illness.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18.--John Russell
Young, librarian of the Congressional
library, died at his residence here at
B:45 a. M, after an illness Of several
weeks.
John Russell Young has had notable
career as journalist, diplomatist, public
official and the intimate associate Of dis
tinguished public men. He was born in
Downingtown, Chester county, Pa,
Nov. 20. 1S41, and was educated in the
public schools of Philadelphia and New
Orleans.
He secured place on the Philadel-
phia Press in 1857, and from this dated
his ne ,'spaper work. When John w.
Forney came to Washington in 1851 to
become secretary of the senate, he
brought along Young, who by that time
had become fluent writer. While act
ing as Colonel Forney's private secre-
tary, Mr.. Young continued his writings
to the Philadelphia Press, and it was
by his description Of the first battle Of
Bull Run that he won his spurs as a
graphic war correspondent. He followed
the Army of the Potomac to the end of
the Chickahominy campaign. In 1864
he accompanied General Nathaniel p.
Banks on the Red River expedition.
Later he became editor Of the Phila-
delphia Press, and still later of the New
York Tribune under Greedy. He was
European representative of the New
York Herald for time, and in 1877,
upon General Grants invitation, accom-
panied the Grant party on its tour of
the world.
In 1882 he became United States min.
lister to China. He was named as libra
rian by President Mckinley in July,
1907