davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-26
States,
Now
Color
SerQea3t
iD tb9
Forty-Sixtb
Re4ime3t

there will be an infringement Of the rigid
friendship are not easily broken. even
though they conflict with the rigid dis
cipline OF tho army.
What James Robert WassOn has been
doing during the period that has elapsed
since ne was major and paymaster until
he enlisted I'm the army as a private sa-
vors much OF the usual career OF an un-
usually intellectual professional man. Hs
has practiced law and has been occupied
with civil engineering pursuits IN his ma
tive State. The result Is that he Is
wealthy. In those sixteen years he has
amassed a fortune OF upward OF 100000.
He has left the luxuries ot a beautiful
home for the hardships ~ the humble
soldier "A good name IS better than great
riches" II is his name he wishes %
cleanse from the stain OF dishonor-hi5
wealth could not do it-so he has left II
all behind and gone forth 20 face the pri-
vations OF the lowly soldier.
As the transport steamed out i saw
him standing there. mOtionless and grave.
among the restless shouting soldiers.
fondly supporting the fiuttering silken
colors. I'm his eyes the humble hope ana
written on his face the courage 20 strug-
gle up from the wreckage OF his reputa-
ton and the disgrace OF dishonor 20 the
precious attainment of worthy service and
an honorable discharge.
NAN BYXBEE-
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-26
I'm alaskan Home.

An Alaskan hut is not the worst place in
the world-far from IL. Its Interior con-
sists Of a square floor OF earth fianked on
all sides by two wide lodges rising ono
above the other like n terrace. on tho
lower one rest the cooking. weaving and
fishing utensils, the knives and needles.
pots and pans. on the upper ledge. with
much display OF wonderfully woven
blankets, are the beds. In the center ot
the room glows the fre, the smoke grob-
ing It's way out OF hole In the roof After
the days work Is done and the stomachs
Of both people and dogs are fun. the fam
ily gathers around the fire. Facing the
door sits the father. next him the mother.
on one hand the sons and on the other tina
daughters. even 20 the third and fourth
generation. II may De. Beyond these are
the servants or slaves. Each has MS
place and takes IL as a matter OF course.
Without In the darkness, the dogs Clut-
ter about the door and howl. The mys-
terious and implacable sea keeps up its
thunder. The snOw-capped mountains,
with their illimitable glaciers, lie Just be
voud. The shafts Of the northern lights
dart through the sky. like the harpoOns
Of "a titan. with incredible celerity. Is II
strange that, amid scenes 50 wild and
fearful. supersutons also Wild ana fcdr-
ful spring into eNistencet or can one Do
surprised that IN an unlettered country
the story-tellers are OF mighty power
and tell tales that alright the children
TIL they scramble 20 the safe shelter OK
their mothers arms2 When the family
sings In strange broken yet rhythmiCa
measures, the dogs howl louder than be-
fore, and the women sway their squat
bodies back and forth increasingly, keep
ing their hands occupied meanwhile at
their tasks OF weaving or braidlng. The
men carve their spoons or cut curious hg-
ures from the black slate. The suitor for
the hand OF one OF the daughters enters
slyly and takes a seat with The sons. No
protest is made. The father and mother
20 on with their little tasks, the young
girls giggle after the fashion OF girls tho
world over. And the suitOr, thus unre-
pulsed contents himself. thinking his
case won. The oldest among them chants
some old folk-sOng. and the father rises.
IL Is the signal for gOod-nights. Tho
ashes are spread over the fire. and by the
light OF a few fishes tails. dried for the
lighting. the family goes 10 bed. forgetful
OF crashing bergs, OF the mysterious au-
rora. OF the mountains where the snow
lies forever and Away. SO Is home mads
anywhere where the spirit OF home exists.
-Self-Culture Magazine for November.
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-26
tF0~ = a'e Spent Sixty Three Thanksgiving Days at Sea

Continued from Page Twenty-one
mile of the water boiled like a caldron
The wind was Whirling and bringing the
water up ten feet high and coming right
toward Us. / ordered. Let 20 am the
hrl,E.s= Tas sails all came down. but
the wind put them right back again and
lifted my bowsprit and broke IL of. and
the foremast was broken in three places
Then the mainmast went. had nothing
left standing but my mizzenmast. l was
standing aft and never felt breath OF
wind. She went all forward Of the main
mast and took everything she struck over
board
an The midst Of the confusion the Chi
nese cook managed TO get aft. He rushed
into the cabin and bawled out at my wife:
Madam. rnasts all gone; sails all gone:
tulkey an gone: everything gone; no din
per-no nothing Ny wife hurried on
deck and found that the Chinaman had
told the truth"
Captain Holmes recounted his Thanks
Giving "reminiscences not as vaguely re-
membered dreams by any means but he
lived them again with the enthusiasm Of
long ago.
''superstitious? Oh. yes, Of course; all
sailors are superstitious." Then. with an
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-26

tous purpose of Serving honorably and
getting an honorable discharge"
The Forty-sixth have already recog-
niZed his personality and his evident abil-
ity. Within the month he has been pro-
noted 10 the rank OF sergeant with the
special honor Of being a member of the
color guard. He sailed with his regiment
on the City OF Sydney
When questioned as TO his friendship
with the son of General Grant, the GER
geant grew communicative.
I'VE were classmates at West Point
and we have always been close friends
The papers are wrong in their idea that
/ helped him through the academy and
coached him through his examinations
they are wrong. entirely wrong. 1t was
not so; we were classmates and friends,
that was ALL"
Sergeant Wasson is modest g-d loyal
TO his friend. 1t is matter OF tradition
at the academy that Fred Grant was as
duh as he was good-natured. and that
Wasson as cadet was at the head of the
school and was as intellectual and bright
as his friend was dull: Il is a matter OF
tradition also that Fred Grant was pa
tiently aided and pulled through his four
years at the academy by his devoted
friend. and tradition adds also that it
was through the Influence of Sergeant
my were enabled to compromise the mat
ter with their consciences and grant the
son OF the President his diploma"
els It not true that YOU were the pro-
tege and particular friend OF General
Grant himself?"
THE general had the kindness to inter
est himself in me. IL was through his
influence that 1 entered the Japanese
army-in fact II was upon his advice and
by his kindness that l was enabled to go
to Japan at first. 1t was not done through
the gratitude Of the general for my sup
posed kindness to Fred-that is absurd"
Sergeant Wasson has a mother away
back in Iowa. he told me. with tears in
his eyes. and there was look of tender
ness on his handsome face. When told
him he had been photographed he asked
me TO send one Of the photos TO her.
"She is the dearest old lady, with white
hair"
The sergeant suddenly broke of. sighed
and gave me the address-"Mrs. Julia A
Wasson. Stanhope. Iowa" He comes OF
a good old German family of Iowa and he
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-26

IS proud OF the fact.
Sergeant Wasson also had wife He
met her in Japan-the daughter OF John
Bingham, special envoy % the Mlkado's
court from the United States The ro-
nance in the sergeants life was short /.
the bride he brought from the Orient died
soon after they returned TO America It
was the one romance OF his life. though
he was a man very popular In the society
circles 10 which his high position gave
him open sesame. He speaks very tender
ly Of her.
she died before-while I was still in
the army" he said. gently fondllng the
silken flag the honor OF bearing which Is
accorded him.
II is odd and pathetic 10 see the honest
pleasure and appreciation evinced by the
man in the humble honors OF the present
in comparison with the reckless careless
ness with which he threw away the high
offices OF the past.
lit is considered a special honor" he
told me. Ito be appointed color sergeant
1t is privilege any man should be proud
of to be allowed to bear the colors." And
he added with simple pride, 'I was pro-
NOTED sergeant Immediately after ! en-
listed"
Gently Strengthening the folds OF the
flag he spoke again of his hopes OF hon
orable and active service.
Among the thousand passengers on the
City Of Sydney there are many who are
ambitious Of military distinction. but
there are none to whom their ambition
is more precious than that of Sergeant
Wasson.
Besides the friend OF his youth. who is
now Brigadier General Grant. Sergeant
WassOn expects 10 meet many military
friends in the Philippines. for he was
widely known and universally liked
Colonel Walter Schuyler. who is I'm com
mand Of the Forty-sixth Regiment, and
who sailed with them TO the Philippines, IS
an old classmate. He will experience many
bitter humiliations IN his self-enforced
service. II is n serious offense for an
officer Of the army to speak with one who
has been dismissed from military position
and from the army under the circum-
stances which attended the sergeant's
dismissal. unless upon matters OF an OFF,
cial nature. Just what will happen when
the lowly sergeant meets the brigadier
general is a matter OF interesting conjec-
ture. but IT is safe for one to predict that
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-26

sions are the only evidence OF his inner
self. The unmistakable bearing of the
West Point graduate and the retIcence of
Sergeant Wasson nip pointed questions in
the bud, though kindly manner invites
interest.
The photographer was taking a snap
shot Of the color guard. and he was called
10 join the group. AS he stood there. his
splendid physique outlined against the
rough background OF ship masts and
ropes, his appearance was strikingly mil
itary and soldierly. II was not then diff
flcult 10 identify Sergeant Wasson of the
Fortysixth with Colonel j. r. Wasson
chief engineer of the imperial amry of
Japan. the incumbent OF the chair of civil
engineering in the Imperial University OF
Toxic and member OF the Imperial
Order OF Merit In place of the simple
three-stripe sleeve OF his uniform. II was
easy to imagine the imperial decoration
OF the Rising Sun.
1t was less easy 10 think OF him as the
man who, sixteen years ago. proved faitn-
less TO q national trust-as the inventor
OF the cunning but unavailng trick with
which he endeavored to ward off the pun
ishment OF his crime. Ii was this man
who. sixteen years ago. startled the occu-
pants of a Texas train with the news that
his satchel. containing $4,000 in Govern
ment funds, had been stolen from under
his berth. He and his clerk left the
train. telegraphed the officers. organized
a posse and retraced the railroad track.
10 find the satchel. safely locked on top
but cut open at the sides, and the treas
ure gone.
The fever Of the gambling table had got
into the brain of Major Wasson. and he
had been startling all Galveston with his
reckless ventures; so the story was doubt
ed. He was tried, court-martialed and
dismissed from the army and sentenced to
two years In prison, which he served.
That, they say. was how n military ca
reer in the armies of two governments,
meteoric in its brilliancy. was ended in
disgrace and dishonor sixteen years ago
But the end was not yet An appeal was
made TO Secretary Root a month ago in
Wasson's behalf. and he was so convinced
OF the sincerity OF the mans contrition,
and admired his pluck and ambition to
such an extent that Wasson has been per-
mitted to enlist as a private in the army
from which he had been ANONYMOUSLY
dismissed. with the quiet and unostenta-
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-26

M banker is certainly a man OF
" resources, and as the patter
song in "Mikado" runs. he mas
\ devised a plan whereby youns
men may best be steadied," that ls' very
young men, The young man VINO mas
daveloped all this latent talent In Mr.
Martin is his hopeful son and heir' 1ohh
Westley Martin, aged about years.
Mr.. Martins troubles began when ne
gave I'D his comfortable home In this city
and moved TO Oakland for the winter.
His family physician said the baby must
have more fresh air and chance 10 root
In the dirt, otherwise he could not an
swer for his health, and as the peoy oio
not seem to be abnormally ruggeo' onr'
Martin. like a devoted HUSBAND ana a
doting father. moved to Oakland. He
rented a swell fat on Eighth street anu
settled down for few months or peace
and quiet, where the chirp of the cricket
and the croak of the bullfrog harmonize
sweetly with the hum of the trolley car.
Mr. Martin found everything just an
the obliging real estate man had prom
ised. The climate was all right, and tho
dirt for the boy to play In was there IN
abundance. Then there was the con-
venience Of having a trolley car pass ths
door every five minutes.
The baby's health began to improve
they were gradually being worn TO snad-
ows from constant watching During
business hours Mrs. Martin ana the
housemaid had TO stand watch ana
watch. as they do on board ship, In or
der TO rescue that boy from under the
wheels of the trolley car. and when Mr.
Martin came home In the afternoon ne
had to stand his watch. This brougnt
things to the point where patience
ceases 10 be a virtue, and the head OK
the family set his wits on some scheme
TO overcome this constant worry. He
consulted all the neighbors without sue
cess: then he tried the commuters ono
crusty old bachelor advised him 10 Tie
the boy TO a tree Sheriff Martin sald
he would lend the banker a pair or leg
irons, with the further suggestion tnat
Ii might be a good idea TO place ring
bolt in the sidewalk. then 1asten tne
irons TO the ring with chain !ust long
enough to keep the boy clear OF ths
track. But somehow none OF these sug-
gestions seemed 10 please MT Martin
very much. and Mrs. Martin considered
them just brutal. -
One day. in order to give Mrs. Martin
a much needed rest. her husband SAID
he would take the boy to the circus, ana
while enjoying the wonders of the
mcnageric they finally arrived In tr0nt
of the monkey cage. OF course the III
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-26

is TO be 10 by u. and quite large enough
for both children"
The very day after the circus had vf.-
tied Oakland Mr. Martins idea, that pro-
lection like charity should begin at home
was working reality, and now each
pleasant morning John Wesley Martin
and Miss Susie Meyers. aged respectivelv
three and four. are carefully locked IN
the monkey cage, there to remain until
their parents think proper 10 release
tograph-
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-26

pressed excitement; Just tell me where
| can find carpenter. l Will show you
When the carpenter came he was ordered
to build a simple monkey cage in the
front yard. Mr.. Meyers. a neighbor, said
as II became known to him, for he, too.
had child who was taking try at dis
putting the right OF way with the trolley
company at least ten times a day. He
thought he would build one himself
Never mind that" said Mr.. Martin; ''it
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-26

tie boy clapped his hands in delight when
he seheid Sa cr,a the PLAYFUL beasts cs oh
playhouse the monkeys have, and they
can't get out on the railroad track, so
they never get whipped for running
away"
Lucky start Surely there was an in
spiration. AS soon as the show was over
Mr.. Martin hurried home and informed
his wife that he had struck the correct
solution for their problem at last Never
mind what II is" he exclaimed with sup
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-26


wv out from the Folsom street
= dock the other day there was
"a great waving Of hats and
handkerchiefs. and the usual
sound ~ "a thousand leave-takings-some
careless and gay; some sad and sorrow-
ful. High up in the ropes. over the rails
90 both decks. and from the towering
masts The restless blue-clad figures waved
and shouted. and the company band
PLAYED the strains of "A national air-but
among an the noise and nutter Of the
upper deck there was one silent and mo-
uonless figure. standing alone and grave
beside the great silken flag Of the regi-
ment There was none 10 bid him god
speed and none 10 whom he felt con-
strained 10 say E0od-by.
II was the figure of Sergeant James
Robert Wasson. the color bearer of Com
pany n. Forty-siNth Regiment.
N0t always has Sergeant Wasson's mil
starry title been so simple. The man who
one month ago enlisted as a private IN
the United States army az Washington is
sixteen years older than the man who
was uoJor and paymssrer Of the same
army IN the year lss3-much older. mulch
grayer ana much wiser-but the same
man.
The upper deck OF the transport was
hgurauvey alive with soldiers. and had
much difficulty IN finding him. A kindly
corporal sought him out for me and con-
Quoted ne 10 where he stood. motionless
and alone. wrapped in his own thoughts
and looking out 10 the sea.
Fe started when ! spoke to him, and
hcsitated.
"fes." he said. Il am James Robert
Masson. I suppose you want 10 write me
up. ] have been pretty well written I'D
already, ] believe" He smiled sadly.
II is said that he is SO. He looks 45. and
his steady gray eyes have a way OF 81
lencing thoughts Of his past-that past
which rises against his future and kills
all hope of military achievement with the
poison Of a cishonor and disgrace that
S. deemed In the ethics OF the military
profession objectionable.
no said he. Il am not entertaining
any thoughts OF beginning at the bottom
~ the ladder again. / have about done
Win ascending and descending ladders"
Sergeant Wasson offers no excuse for
Us past and makes no effort az a defense
lie speaks of his past as a thing unalter-
able aad therefore 10 be dismissed from
discussion.
You can say. since my motives are
questioned. that have enlisted-well. lust
for the purpose Of serving honorably and
The San Francisco call., 1899-11-26

Err. SHELBY MARTIN. the
II banker, is certainly a man OF
v resources, and as the patter
song In "Mikado" runs, ne mas
4 devised q plan whereby youhs
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-03
YOURS TO PLEASE,
M. RYAN.

will command it is Vice Admiral Sir
Harry Rawson, veteran sailor, 56
years old, who has seen service on the
high seas for nearly 40 years. He has
fought his ships i'll China, in Egypt
and in South Africa, and ranks as one
of the most popular officers in the
royal navy.
DIR. w. III. EgglestoD, of Warsaw, has
been engaged i'll raising English pleas
ants for year or more and now has
about 40 of them on hand 1t is his in
tentiOu TO llberate a number of them
in the hope that they may seek the
woods and there raise brOods of young
They were Matched and raised by Ordin-
airy hens and are kept III wire COW
cred pen especially constructed for that
purpose. He also makes the liberal
offer of furnishing TO the farmers who
will agree to erect enclosures and take
proper care of them, a pair of pheasants
as long as they last. BY this means the
farmers can soon stock their woods
with the most beautiful of game birds
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-03
Two Barns Burned.

AT 6:20 Sunday evening the barn
in the rear of w. w. Hill's residence
was discovered to be fire. 1t had started
several minutes earlier for by the time
the alarm was turned in, smoke was Is
suing in immense quantities from I'M
der the caves and the flames had already
begun TO envelope the roof. During the
five minutes occupied by the fire de-
psrtment in coming upon the scene it
had spread to the barn on Norman
Woodward's property and both were
fast being consumed. Very soon TWO
streams of water were turned upon the
blaze and it was brought under control.
While adjoining buildings became in
tensely heated, they did not take fire
and it was confined to the barn.
The fire must have originated in the
upper part of Mr.. Hills building,
though how no one knows. The horses
had been cared for and the work about
the barn done before dark and no
match nor light of any kind had
been taken in. The horses were taken
out without any trouble and the bread
wagon and other vehicles were saved,
though the grain and hay were de-
stroyed.
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-03
a BROKEN BRIDGE.
Patched and Broken Bridges Unsafe
for Man and Beast.

Patched and Broken Bridges Unsafe
for Man and Beast.
1t is an old and true adage that a
bridge is only as strong as its weakest
tlmbers.
Practical builders are unanimous IN
the opinion that it is poor policy to
patch up broken structure. 1t is more
profitable to build 1t over anew.
This is also true of the hum an struct-
ure, designed bv the greatest of archi-
tects and fashioned by the Divine
Builder.
When disease lays It's hold upon the
human body it Is folly to patch up the
system with stimulants and drugs. 1t
is wisdom to start at the seat of the
trouble and remove the cause.
The stomach is the seat of most of
our bodily ills. Keep it strong and
healthy and there will be no sleepless
nights, no bilious and nervous attacks
Impure blood affects the stomach and
that organ at once shows its dlsapprO-
val in dyspepsia, headache. nervousness.
constipation, languor, catarrh, and
many other ills.
Like the decaylng bridge it cannot be
patched up. The whole structure must
be made strong and healthy again. You
must begin at the found alton, the seat
of the disease. Remedies that assist in
the digestion of food do not reach the
cause of the trouble. They only make
the stomach dependent on a stimulant'
Knox Stomach Tablets are a new
combination of thoroughly tried and
tested remedies for the publication of
the blood, the cure of catarrh, nervous
ness, inactive liver, constipation, dys-
stomach, blood, liver and kidneys. They
do not act as a stimulsnt, but purify
the blood and transform the week and
infrm into strong healthy men and
women. A single box containing fifty
ia blets will be worth more than gold TO
the sufferer; not only affording imme-
diaLe relief from indigestion, but a pos
tive cure for dyspepsia.
Ii unable to secure them of your drug
gist, send fifty cents with your address
and that of your dealer to the Knox
Chemical Co., Battle Creek, Mich, and
full sized box will be seat postpaid.
Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-03
The Farm Beats the Mortgage.

There is a story from Buffalo county
going the rounds that illustrates the re-
sources of a Nebraska farm: A farmer
up there from Missouri got discouraged
because be didn't get rich the first year.
and, as there was mortgage of 500 on
his farm, was about ready to jump the
whole business, but determined to make
one more effort and sowed 80 acres in
wheat. 1t happened to be poor year
for wheat and the stand was not very
good. Concluding that it wasn't worth
harvesting he pulled up his stakes and
moseyed back to Missouri, leaving the
farm to fight the mortgage all by itself.
The farm was equal to the occasion.
The wheat ripened, fell down and de-
posted the seed in the soil again. Next
spring the wheat began to grow Justify
Some of the neighbOrs were honest
enough to write about it down to the
fugitive in Missouri, and he got inter
ested enough to come back and take a
look. Then he stopped and harvested
his voluntary crop. He sold it for
enough to pay off the mortgage and the
rest of his debts and had tidy little
surplus over, with which he moved his
family back and now declares there is
no state like Observation-Disclosures (Neb.)
Journal.