davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-07

Theater envied its sisters who had
gained admission to the sheltered co-r-
ridor. and waited their turn before the
dread tribunal Voices were TO be tried
to-day; new engagements made for the
great dramatic spectacle which should
delight London during the autumn
months. Advertisements for artists at
tracted many aspiranJs. From SUI
burban purIieus. from offices, from re-
mote country parsonages. even from
the kitchen and the scullery. the
would-be famous came Al types. all
conditions of girlhood and womanhood
were 10 be observed in the throng. Be
draggled mothers. abandoning hope
upon the threshold, nut too weak TO
draw back. stood elbow to elbow with
stylish "soubrettes" trained to the
business and vulgar in their display.
Timid creatures hid their faces and
seemed already ashamed of their mis-
sion. But here and there, one frankly
ambitious spoke of chance and oppor-
tunity, of her great desire to appear, ."
and Of her belief in a vocation. But
for the most part. a JacIt truce of ri
vairy prevailed. Each knew that the
others gain might be her loss. The
battle was often for bread
Esther Venn had arrived at the ther-
ter at quarter past ten. and fndirg
many already in the corridor before
her she took a place by the iron gates
and waited patiently until she might
DC called. Tall and countrified and
very quietly dressed, she was at 8nce
the subject Of remark; and the poodle
ocs which sat so patiently upon the
edge of her skirt did not escape some
pleasant comment from the Night
hearted girls who would have Made
friends with him. Some said. not NJ
kindly, that dogs nowadays earn more
money upon the stage than human be-
ings. while one dark-eyed beauty from
Clapham expressed the opinion thai if
justice were done she would be riding
in carriage with a King Charles
spaniel upon her knee. re these and
others Esther answered with what
kindness she could. that the dog would
never leave her; and being strange to
London she had thought it would be
no harm TO take him to the theater-a
confession which provoked some merri-
ment and not little instructive chat
ter.
"Ah." said ore youu have many
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-07

theater won't run away. so there's no
need for you to look so sharp after it.
Stand back there and keep quiet, will
you?"
His last words were addressed in
seTerer tones 10 u forward girl in the
second rank, who related al quite un-
necessary length and in an exceeding
ly unpleasant voice the precise circum-
stances which had induced her to re-
fuse the part of principal boy in a
country pantomime The difference of
opinion was al it's height when the door
at the end OF the corridor opened and
shut very quickly and a slender girl
passing out with buoyant step. the
commissionaire astonished Esther by
touching her upon the shoulder, and
saying:
Your turn next, miss
She had waited long for this sum-
mons; hut now when the ordeal was at
hand and all must be won or lost in
one deciding moment, the rashness of
her act and the improba bility of sue
cess robbed her of that little self-pos-
session which renal med TO her. She
followed the commissionaire with fall
tering step, vainly racking her troubled
head for word or story which should
help her in such a dilemma. OF thea
tricaI mana cement she knew nothing
her knowledge of the stage was such
as she had learned from travelling COM
panies as a spectator in a provincial
theater. The dim splendor, the tawdry
pretentiousness of the stage. WHICH she
now crossed revealed TO her the @draped
mysteries of an unknown kingdom. 1t
seemed to Esther that she went down
into some pit. where the walls were
daubed with sickly green paint and the
sunshine veiled by whitewashed win
dows. The darkened theater oppressed
her with a. sense of its immensity.
Stalls and galleries were. covered up
by dTuggets. each of which might have
harbored its particular ghost. Flaring
gas jets Illuminated dusty corners.
Nothing was new. nothing whole. The
stage managers room helped this har-
mony of disorder. 1t was very poor.
very insufficient. very dirty. The man
himself proved to be but an ordinary
person. He sat before a little table
debating letters to a driven clerk. A
third person stood in a patch of sha-
dow cast by a crazy screen, and ap-
peared anxious to disguise his identity.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-07

The, manager himself finished debating
his letter before he SO much as noticed
Esther or in any way recognized her
presence. When he did so, 1t was TO
stare at her. for many minutes, IS he
would have stared az Some curiosity
offered for purchase. or. approval.
We'll" he, asked at length, in a
quick restless way, "and who are you,
young lady ?''
My name is Esther venn." she said
quietly Il wrote to you about an en-
gagement."
He laughed softly-perhaps at the
idea that he should read a letter Of
this kind
And is it for yourself or your dog
that you desire employment"
Esther answered quite frankly
':Oh, which you please. I am sure my
dog will not refuse an engagement"
The retort amused him, and he
stretched out a hand to peckon Mou-
ton to his chair; but the poodle. a
Judge of men. showed his teeth and
began to growl. Esther held him firm
ly by the collar; she was afraid Of the
consequences
He don't like strangers" she said,
apologetically. I'm afraid he's given
TO first impressions.
With a desire apparently to leave
them upon my calf The dog is not en-
gagged, Miss-er, let me see, y1u said
your name was"
Esther venn," she repeated quietly.
hushing Mouton at her feet; Esther
Venn of Exeter
Who is now anxious to be Esther
Venn of the Casino Theater. A COM
mon ambition, young lady; hope you
have more than the common talents"
II should be very surprised if had. >"
said Esther. in spite of herself
Come. that's. not a bad beginning.
Most Of the people WHO cvme here are
Calves in disguise Can you sing, at
all?" -
MY friends say that can"
"Ah, ones friends generally do-when
one is listening. Have you brought any
songs?"
None; but I can remember some ?"
ITO your own accomplishments?
ooh, yes,''
"Then go to the piano and do your
best.
He indicated an open cottage piano
drawn across that corner of the room
which was nearest to the door. and
composing himself in his chair he sat
like one resigned to a painful ordeal.
In spite of her ready answers. Esther
was in such state of nervous agita-
ton that her hands trembled when she
tried to draw of her gloves. and the
few Introductory chords found her I'm
gers heavy as lead. Presently. however,
she began to sing a dainty chansonette
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-07

IN a voice OF singular freshness ana
charm. Music was won't to carry her
out Of herself. but its spell to-day
seemed absent. and she had no heart
for it. Her singing was without verve
or any depth Of expression; she knew
its shortcomings. Perhaps an antici-
patton Of failure already deprived her
Of the will to make an effort. She up-
derstCod the consequences OF refusal.
If she did not obtain an enga cement
this very day, tomorrow might md
her without roof above her head She
said that she must do her best; and
saying it she did her worst. The freez-
ing tones in which she had been COM
manded to sing were in some measure
responsible for this She felt already
that she hated the perfumed and larded
man who sat at the writing-table. And
his friend, the unknown who stood In
the shadow Of the screen. what was he
doing there2 Esther believed that he
came out while she was singing and
stood at the table. II was quite relief
when a voice said
Thank you. that is enough"
The unknown was in the shadows
again when she rose from the piano.
4 SnOCklUEs 1911 IL Suc G4-
claimed. with a hard laugh. II really
think left my voice in Exeter"
Otto Hemming. the manager. did not
take the same view; he was more cour-
Reconstructed, almost deferential when
she had ceased to sing She knew that
she had done very badly. and could not
understand it at all. For an instant
she really believed that the coveted en-
quite polite.
You have a pretty voice but it needs
training" he said. in a way that 50
felt to be not altogether unfiattering.
Il suppose you have had a local mas
ter?"
Il was taught by poor Frenchman
at half crown a lesson. Major
Venn. my father. died when I was a
child" she replied quietly. There is
not any conservatoife in Exeter, at
least, none that I could afford to at
tend. Ny stepfather. keeps the library
there
L see; your pages were mostly in
waiting. And so you thought you'd
come TO London to make a living on
the stage?"
Indeed I didn't! I came to make
living by my pen
Worse and worsei The editors
thanked you. I suppose, and the manu-
scripts came back; oh, j konw, know.
and now you come to my theater with
out any qualifications At all just be-
cause there isn't anywhere else to 60
to. Isn't that the truth. Miss venn.
Just the truth ?"
She began TO pat en- har gloves and
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-07

THIS is the first install
ment Of DIR. XAVIER"
1 Max PembertOnS. 5. well
known novel of mystery and
adventure. The story deals
with the adventures of
. Esther Nenn. who. plain of
feature. friendleSS. and in alb
sOlUte want in the mighty
maelstrOm of London life. is
transformed. through the art
of DR.. Xavier. into the reign
inc beauty Of the Paris sa-
Ions, and a bride of royalty.
Who DIR. Xavier is. and what
the objects Of his almost
magical Vaccinations with
respect TO Esther Eenn are.
form elements Of mystery
which hold the interest and
suspense Of the reader at
high tension until the final
denOHement.
The story viii be published
complete. with illustrations.
i'm four iaStallments.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-07

things to learn about the profession.
miss, and no mistake neither. 'Tisn't
all what the people in front see of it.
believe me. You ask Clara over there
what they paid her for fourteen calls
at the Temple. and notices upon the
Saturday. Oh, it was different when
first began. Every young lady didn't
want TO play the lead then and rob
poor girls of their daily bread AS true
as the Lords above me, I've been
twenty-five weeks waiting for this job,
and here / am no better than the rest,
and just as likely to wait twenty
more"
Don't frighten the young lady" said
another. less pessimistic and more vul-
gar; shes all right. she is-they want
tails for the front row, and she's just
the height. l could have gone on last
May II Id abin as tall as she is; but
there, it's always something. Come to
that. l shall drive a chariot at the
Folly, and a pretty job, too. at sixteen
a week and shout your lungs out Oh,
the profession, what's it coming to, |
don't know"
Its the amatoors as ruins it, said a
substantial lady, who obviously suf-
feed much by reason OF the heat.
Just think, my dear, here l am away
from home at nine. and eleven o'clock's
gone and my glass of stout with it!
What I'm going to do, l really don't
know"
She volunteered other information,
both about the number of her children
and the Importance of those occasions
upon which she had caused her hus-
band to make a distressing appear
ahce before a magistrate. Esther
Venn, drawing back ashamed for the
publicity which was thrust upon her,
wondered IL thsse dreadfuI people were
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-07

typical of a London theater and its
people. she had gone there as last
resource. Penniless,. friendless, she
knew not whittier to turn for shelter or
for bread. Pride had carried her from
her quiet home in Exeter; pride for
.bade return to its inhospitable por-
tails. She came TO the theater as to
some final tribunal which would pro-
nounce a verdict of the supreme mo-
ment So much she had hoped of it, so
greatly believed those fabulous tales Of
it's opportunities and rewards And
now she stood in this vulgar company,
where every word Jared upon a sensi-
tive ear, and the rouged cheeks, the
brazen gestures and the laughing pen
ciled eyes spoke of a world CT which
she had not even dreamed. Vain err
rand, indeed; Londons solitude was
more kind than this place or blank de-
spair. Esther would have drawn back
even then had the throng permitted.
But the crowd was too deep and firmly
wedged in the narrow passage. A com
missionaire had all he could do to
maintain even a little discipline in
those serried ranks.
Come, young ladies'" he said, kind
ly enough, pushing won't help you.
don't you think it will. First come.
first served; that's our motto. The
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-07
copyrisht BY Max Pemberton
CHAPTER l.

"HE press about the door Of the
thester increased as the day wore
on: and many OF those waiting in
4 the front ranks Of the queue gave
place 10 newcomers and aban-
doned their advantage. II was a hot
day of July, and the sun poured down
dercely upon the torrid steps Of the
Strand. Whirling dust and the veno-
nous breath OF the drought bore Wit
ness 10 the enduring heat and its har-
vest u tagging energies and Ieaden
steps The bevy Of young girls iinger-
ing about the stase-door OF the Casino
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23
Cost of Living and Wages.

1t i a peculiar feature Of the in
dustrial reaction" says the Springfield
ReFuL lean. THAT the cost Of living.
as To mere necessities and immediate
articles. has been rising. while wages
and incomes are quite generally tend
ing downward" Ii il worse than pc
culiar. II means hardship and dis
tres. Brcao@ tufts in particular have
strikiUglN increased in cost. and 81
also have meats and clothing. The
wheat market has been in the hands
Cf the grain gamblers. cotton * con-
trol,ci by the Gotten gamblers. the
tariff without bencfting our sheep
raiser>-Tracti prohibits the inn
portatiCn Cf wool above the carpet
grade. ana the meat supply i at the
mercy cf the packers combination,
aided by traffic Arrangements with the
railroads. And - ON and 80 on.
The people are supposed 10 he in
terested in all this Perhaps after a
little more grinding. greater reduc-
ton in incomes and a more startling
increase in the cost If living they viii
begin to inquire as 10 the. why's and
whcrcfure> Of an unnecessary condi-
iion. They should do 1t now and de-
mand effective relief before relief i
impCs siblc.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23
NEWS IN OUTLINE.

The scEatc has confirmed all the
army nominations held up pending ac-
ton on the nomination of General
Leonard Wood.
James *. Taylor, supervising archi-
tect of the treasury department. esti-
mates that plans for government build
inGs cost from 312 to 4 per cent. Of
the total cost.
Marines at Lea que island navy yard
are Disguised with the new regulation
uniforms and especially against trous-
crs which have no pockets.
Some tax-dodscr, conscience-strick-
en-, sent SO 10 the county treasurer
at Chicago with the request that it
be given to charity.
The price of anthracite coal will be
reduced 30 cents a ton April !.
French Primo Minister Combes de-
uies the reports that he will retire as
d result OF the recent cabinet re-
verses.
Mayer Mcclellan, of New York. is
confined To his home by a severe at
tack of grip.
y steamship load Of Easter lilies
has arrived at New York from Ber-
muda
An unknown man who committed
suicide at Van COuver. b. c. on Feb.
Is has been identified as W. W. Cock
rell. OF Harlan. Ia.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23
ELECTION NOTICE.

Notice is hereby given, that on Tues
day, the fifth day of April, \. ID. 1904,
in the city Of Rock Island, Illinois, an
election viii be held for the following
officers, to-wit:
CITY OFFICERS.
One alderman in the First ward for
two years.
One alderman in the Second ward for
two years.
One alderman in the Third ward for
two years.
One alderman in the Fourth ward
for two years.
One alderman in the Fifth ward for
two years.
One alderman in the Sixth ward for
two years.
One alderman in the Seventh ward
for two years.
TOWN OFFICERS.
One assessor for one year.
One collector for one year.
One supervisor for two years.
Three assistant supervisors for two
years.
Which election will be open at :
O'Clock in the morning and continue
open until ) o'clock in the afternoon
of that day. Places of registration
and voting will be as follows:
First ward-First precinct, No. 4O3
Fourth avenue.
First ward-Second precinct, No. SOC
Fourth avenue.
Second ward-First precinct, No
1914 Third avenue.
Second ward-Second precinct, barn,
No. 91g Sixth avenue.
Third warG-First precinct, county
Jail. Third avenue and Fourteenth
street.
Third ward-Sccond precinct, No.
1922 Seventh avenue.
Third ward-Third precinct, No. 1115
Fifteenth street.
Fourth ward-First precinct, Tricks
livery. 1914 Third avenue.
Fourth ward-Second precinct, NJ
Levy's carriage house. Nineteenth
street. between Sixth and Seventh ave
nueS.
Fifth ward-First precinct, hose
house on Twenty-second street.
Fifth ward - Second precinct
Schmid's grocery, No. s23 Twentieth
street.
Sixth ward-First precinct. hose
house. Twenty-siXth street, near Sew
enth avenue.
Sixth ward-Second precinct. y. J.
Riess' barn, No. 7O9 Twenty-seventh
street.
Seventh ward-First precinct, No.
.311O Fifth avenue.
Seventh ward-Second precinct. Pc
-
ty-fifth street.
Seventh ward-Third precinct. Al
bert Olscn's barn, Forty-fourth street.
between Seventh and Eighth avenues.
H. {. SCHAFFER.
City and Town Clerk
Rock Island. H.. March Is. 1901.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23

professional men and small traders
are engaged in a struggle to make
both ENDS meet" that the marked and
very general advance in wages has
raised the cost of living enormously,
and that the salaries and incomes of
these middle-cIass workers have not
been advanced at all.
Like most republican newspapers
and speakers. the Commercial does
not put the blame for the increased
cost If living where it belongs-upon
the republican party, which made the
Dingley tariff law. which is the moth
er Of trusts. which now charge Us
monopoly prices-but upon that por-
ton Of the strugglers who belong to
trades unions and who, during the
last two years. made some unsuccess-
fui attempts to have their wages in
creased somewhat in proportion IL
the increased cost Of living.
If the wOrkingmen know their own
interests they will this year vote with
the party that * striving to reduce
tariff duties and thus cripple the
trusts and lower the cost of living.
This viii not only virtually raise
wages. Indirectly. but il viii lead to
greater consumption and production
in goods. This means more demand
for workers and therefore higher
wages
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23

For a crowd Of republicans that but
q few weeks ago had everything their
own way in Rock Island. the Low-.eH
people have been up against some
pretty hard luck lately. First. Loon
eyi~m through his alliance with the
McC Miller control. started Il
stampede in the ranks. Then Mans
field NJ. Sturgeon put through the
trick that led the forces that really
lad the majority i'm the convention
into trap that lost them the coutro,
in the sacrificing of everything To- the
state board of equalization que>-
ton. And. worst of all. at Bushnell
yesterday the Moline end &C il got
away with the peach as usual and
Rock Island Lowden men came home
with m empty sack. They have sim
ply gotten il coming and going all
along the line since Loeney entered
their ranks
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23

Gen. Fred Grant. like hi~ Ci>tin-
guiShel father. il no speech maker.
but unlike his father. - una bile to as
sumo the front of sphinx when called
upon for an expression. The Gen
Grant # To-Day WAS unexpectedly call
ed L. respond To the toast The Prc~i-
dent" and in cndeayoring to make Il
funny. Otf-hand remark has involved
himself in explanations ami apologies
intermiHahie. 1t was the general i'm
preston that the speaker was "uying
President Roosevelt. but il appears
that Gen. Fred i Saddc>t when ne
smiles and what appcared to he rid
icule WAS really a testimonial Of re-
spcct and reverence.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23

Former GOV. Hoard. Of Wisconsin,
declares that the demon graft j. de-
bauching the very tissue Of American
mamie Cd. that it Is corTupting our ma
tiOual. state and municipal life. that It
j. a>kin" from Us the sacrifice OF hon
or, honesty patriotism, heaven. The gov
ernor does not confne the term 10 it,
common aCccptance-that IL to say.
the barter and sale of votes of alder
men. Legislators, etc. but includes dis
honesty IN all the business OF life
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23
One-way Settlers Rates to North anC
South Dskotas $l4.

The C., NJ & st. z. railway viii sell
one-vay settlers tickets to points in
North and South Dakota at ra e of
SI4. Children OF half-rate age a. one
half of the above rate. Dates of sale,
March 1. S, Is. %, % and April 3, 12,
10 and 20, 1904
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23

jacob Rauers. for 80 years German
consul for Georgia. has resigned on
account or III health. Mr.. Rauers
commission was signed in 1865 by En-
peror William I. and counters @ncI by
President Grant. He has received in
formation from the imperial govern
meut that the Order Of the Crown has
been conferred on him for faithful
service.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23

Illinois republicans are sore over
Gov. Yates system of Spending his
SluSh funds.-Wash ingtoH Post. still
there is a certain percentage of them
perhaps fre-that may be said 10
approve IF II entirely.-Chicago Trib-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23
The Struggling Glasses. :.

TIE New York Commercial. whose
an. >I;y toward organized labor il
seccnj only in Intensity Ia its zeal Ia
the ,,.'r - the siRnd-Patters, J. tell
ing some important truths relative Ia
the SITUATION confronted by many peo-
pie in New York and other cities It
asserts that in the metropolis today
uucounted thousands of managers. acf
countants, clerks, solicitors, engineerf
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23
Taxes Due.

Taxes for the year 1908 are nov due.
Parties having personal tax and no
real estate will be expected to make
immediate payment. The statute in
regard to the collection OF personal
property taxes viii be strictly enforc-
ed. Payments made previous TO March
25. 1904, will save cost of collect on and
ANNOYANCE
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23

Anna Eva Fay. the mind reader.
says the Russians viii win in their
war with the Japs. This is once
where we hope Anna has the wrong
done
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23
Lsnd Ercur.lon. 70 okIahomn

Land excursions to Oklahoma will
be Run over the Rock Island System
Jan. ) and 70, Feb. and 10, March ]
and IS and April and 10. For fur
Their particulars, call on or write
E. Z. MORGAN,
Skinner Building.
HENRY j. GRIPP,
1410 Fifteenth Street, Moline, III.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23
Raw orIntinmed Lrngs.

Yield rapidly to the wonderful cura~
tive and healing qualities of Foley's
Honey and Tar. 1t prevents pneun Dn-
ia and consumption from herd rnlG
settled on the lungs. All druggists.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23

TERMs-Dany. 10 cents per week Weekly,
81 per year IN advance.
AL communications OF zrgumertative
character, political or religious must have
real name attached for publication No
such articles will be printed over fictitious
signatures.
Correspondence solicited from every town
sh D in Rock Island county.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23
Wednesday, March %, 1904.

1t all happened just this way-Sher-
man would not bite at the Sturgeon
bait.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23
TIPS TO TRAVELLERS
EDUCATIONAL roUE.
Peoria, Ill.,, to Washington. ID. c., and Re
turn AprfI -. 1904.

turn April -. ISOA.
Directed by G r. Naudervorf, prin-
cipal OF Greeley school, Peoria; $40
the regular railroad fare. covers every
necessary expense for the week, in
cluding meals, sleeping ear berth,
board in Washington. guides. side
trips. etc. Send for circular giving
detailed informa zion. Allen M Nye,
I. p. A., Big Four Route, Peoria, Ill
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-03-23
WILLIAN G. PITMAN

Townchip Cole ctor.
Office with Fckhart & Buffum, Room
Is. Mitchell & Lynde Bldg.