davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

low with shaggy white whiskers
Where he hailed from we never knew.
but we all felt convinced he had been
baniShed for his misdeeds from some
community of his kind up the noun
tain side where the jungle was espe-
cially thick, and that he had come
down to join fortunes with the cor
poral. whom he had evidently recog-
nfZed as a fellow after his own heart.
1t was only week after this that the
corporaPs disreputable band was in
creased by another recruit, who looked
every bit as rufhanly as the rest. We
named him the Rake, because he had
the permanent appearance Of having
been out all the night before, given
him by his NANCY coat of fur and one
eye gone. Then he had rolling sort
of gait which suggested a chronic state
of inebriety. @ At 3
Nor did the corporal cease to in
crease his following here. One by one
more monkeys OF various sizes and
kinds appeared. alike only in their one
quality Of being disreputable, trouble
some characters. We thought when
the number reached seven that the
corporal would have enough regard for
military rules to- pat the limit there,
but they kept on coming until they
numbered nine. There were monkeys
everywhere; in the trees outside, on
the fenceS, in the balcony, on the roof
and on the stafrways. It is true that
only the corporal himself and Missouri
had the audacity to make themselves at
home in the wards. The others kept at
least a respectful distance, but they
were ever within hearing distance.
The hospital soon became known all
over Northern LuzOn as a resort for
outcasts of the monkey tribe. When
our chief went down to Vigan for med
ical stores they asked him there if he
hadn't better apply for a license to
keep thugs drinking resort. which
his hospital establishment seemed to
be. He couldn't convince them that
the cOrpOraPs crowd was abstemious
in the matter of hard drinks. They
seemed to have the impression down
there that we all INDUCED in nightly
carousals and that we men were not
bit more respectable than the corporal
and his gang. Thus the rumors grew
as they spread, until the reputation of
our establishment suffered consider
ably.
Let me tell of one of the many incl
dents wherein the corporal brought us
all into dfsfavor with the citizens of
San Ramon, and obliged us to undergo
the IndignitY of having our personal
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

honor aSsailed. 1t came about through
one of the corporal's raids on a local
sterekeeper.
This was at time when I had suffi-
c1ently recovered to so down into the
plaza sometimes and sit on the big
stone bench by the band stand 1t
was late in the afternoon one day, and
l was sitting there breathing in the
fresh breeze. I had a fine view of the
hospital gateway and the corridor lead
ing into the stairs.
Suddenly, from a small side entrance
l saw figure appear in the gateway.
1T was the corporal, and he stood
alone. erect, alertly surveying = the
plaza before him. Then he advanced
cautiously, and behind him appeared
hrst a face, then the figure of Mis-
souri,, and after him came Whiskers
and then the Rake, and one by one the
rest followed in single file, ever alert.
utteFlng low. conversational gruntS. /
knew their methods well enough to
featlze that they were about to carry
OUT one of their many plots against
the public happiness of San Ramon.
Ihey advanced across the plaza shell
tered by a row of bushes, passing with
IN Few feet of me with an utter dis
regard of my presence that gave me a
painful sense Of completely. They
went slowly along in single file. the
corporal leading, until they had crossed
tne plaza and were hidden in a clunp
OF tlger lilies that stood opposite the
Irult tfenda of Jose Ramirez There
they remained some time, so quiet that
wondered what their tactics would
oe- NOW and then the shaking of a lily
stalk told me they were still there.
suddenly two of them leaped out, the
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hair anyway. Any of us could induce
the corporal to accept some tempting
bit of fruit from his hands. He was
never too bashful to come up and take
1t. In fact, if he saw a man eating
some article of food that particularly
appealed to his chronic appetite. he
did not hesitate to make a dash for 1t
and carry 1t off, and then if the morseI
proved deceiving in appearance, he
took 1T as personal grievance against
him Whom he had robbed, and would
hurl 1t back at the offender as a mis-
sile. The moral makeup of the corporal
was the weakest thing about him.
One day a big Missourian was
brought to the hospital He had been
wounded in'one of the frequent skirrn-
fshes with the proWIing guerrilla bands
up in the mountains. It CHANGED that
he had had pet monkey over in the
barracks, and the head steward weak
Iy allowed him to. bring the beast along.
Perhaps the steward had a sneaking
nope that the new monkey, a big,
husky fellow, would kill the corporal in
combat. or at least chase him off the
premises.
But that was where the head stew
ard miScalculated The big monkey
tried hard enough to eblige the stew
ard, but when the corporal got through
cries of beaten bully, and loud, bread
swear words as they are sworn in Mis-
souri,. There might even have been a
personal encounter between the big
M1ssourfan and the corporal had the
rest of us not interfered.
The result of that fight was not at all
gratifying. Missouris monkey recog-
nized one who could lick him, and he
truckled to the corporal ever after
wards The two became as thick as all
bad characters usually are, and COM
bined in warfare against public de-
ceney. OF course, the corporal was al
ways the leading spirit, but in his new
companion he found an ever willing
accomplice in all his nefarious schemes
against our general peace.
Where those two seamps spent their
nights we never knew They always
disappeared at dusk, and only showed
up again with the dawn of the next
morning. The natives said they roost-
ed in big mango tree that stood in
the plaza, but we never knew one who
could confidently state that he had
seen them there.
One morning when the shell blinds
were opened the two rascals bounced
in, but not alone. They had with them
a big, black obstreperous looking fell
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

closes treasures from Constantinople
Egypt, and, in fact, from every part
OF the Levant.
Outside of Rome there is nowhere
else SO magnificent collection of Ital-
IAN masterpieces of art as in the an
c1ent City of the Isles. The Doge'a
Palace alone is a perfect treasure
house, with acres of frescoes and mural
decorations undimmed by the paSSa ge
OF centuries. More than fifty of
Iltlan'S canvaSSeS are in the different
galleries, and the other names famous
In the story of Italian art are generally
represented.
The more human elements of Vene-
tlan life one feels as powerleSs to de-
scribe as it's great monuments. The
Nenet1ans are musical, dancing
laughter-loving people, although their
greatest glories have departed Gayety
and pathos are always close neighbors
among them, but these are elements
that are not easily transcribed to print
They must be seen and felt to be ap-
preciated-a slow moving funeral pro-
ceSS1on making its way under the Rial
to bridge, the caSket resting on
lack-draped gondola. the lighted cam
dies giving 1t solemn aspect; or
warm spring evening on the Grand
Canal when boats hung with Chinese
lanterns fit to and fro like firefifeS
while the strains of guitar and mando-
lin accompany perfectly attuned
voices singing some soft Italian air. 1t
is then that one feels that the pages of
the fairy books that delighted his.
childhood have opened before him once
more.
Lest it should seem that the story of
Venice Is altogether one of departed
grandeur 1t should be added that in its
industrial features, as in all else. Ven
Ice Is different from other places. The
workshops where its wonderful mo-
sales. it's famous laces, it's beautiful
woodcarvfngs and artistic decorations
on glass and china are wrought are no
less attractive than the features more
usually catalogued for the benefit of
the Sightseer. He who cannot take
away from Venice something to add to
the treasures Of his hone and the en-
5oyment OF his life must be p06E In
deed both tn purse and ntnds
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

Those who saw the look Of recognf-
ton that passed between the two firm
ly believe they had met before. Pedro
always denied any previous acqaint-
ance with, that little bundle Of pure
cuSSedneSS, and never would own up
to the responsibility of bringing. him
there, but the evidence clearly points
the other way.
Anyway, the monkey never could be
got rid of. He stayed and became as
much a part of the establishment as
the head steward himself Like all bad
characters he was known by various
names. The natives in the casualty
ward named him first, Ell Cabo, which
means The Corporal, because he
was such a peppery little chap, and
was a natural born leader Of his kind.
wounds or other troubles had made
inmates of the hospital, referred to
him as the corporal at once as being
the literal translation of his native title
in a military sense. Now, in Spanish
''ef cabO" also means "the end" and
some of the boys took that sense Of it
and called him "The Limit"
Well, the corporal, alias the Limit,
made himself fixture In the Second
division hospital Of San Ramon. There
was no part of the premises too sacred
for him in which to introduce his
pugnacious little personality with a
familiarity highly obnoxious to men OF
military training. The chief surgeon
and the head steward issued DEGREES
beyond number for his expulsion, but
the corporal evaded them with an in
difference bordering on contempt He
paraded up and down the aisles be-
tween the cots of all the wards, usually
erect, his shoulders hunched up, his
eyes rowing about to all corners on the
lookout for all possible trouble, and
heralding his approach with aggressive
little coughs. Even the doctor could
not keep him out of the dispensary.
where he found him one day appar-
entity playing marbles with some quf-
nine pills.
We thought at first we could tame
the corporal and make general pet of
him, but that was a mistake on our
part. The only one to whose call he
ever responded was Pedro, and then
he only came if his mood was agree
able. Not that he was afraid. One of
the boys threw some water at the
corporal one day in a joking sort Of
way, but the corporal landed on that
man and didn't leave him until he had
snatched several handfuls of hair from
pate none too thickly covered with
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

PPLAUSE. and call before the cur
~ tain. are not the only ways the pub
lie has of showing its appreciation
of beautiful and clever actress. There is
the man who waits for her outside the
stage door, and the anonymous admirer
who overloads her with strange and won
derful presents.
One actress records that in one day,
after a successful performance. she re-
ceived three dozen pairs of gloves, four
sizes too big for her. and an enormous
consignment of patent hair curriers'.
At first she attributed them TO some
person who did not mind throwing away
a pound or two ON subtle insult, but
subsequent letter revealed that they
had been sent to her by an enterprising
tradesman, who was seeking testimonial
from her.
In provincial towns this form OF ad-
vertisement Is often resorted to by local
tradesnen. The testimonial OF a celeb
rity is much coveted by them. and the
only celebrities who go their way with any
degree of regularity are those or the stage.
Thus an actor or actress finds himself or
herself the recipient Of all sorts of en-
baFrasSing presents. These often take the
form of foodstuffs.
Two fair musical comedy artists came
In for lavish display of attentions on the
part Of an EaStbourne fishmonger, whose
heart they had evidently won. Every night
the worthy tradesman haunted the pre-
cincts of the theater, armed with choice
cuts OF salmon.
At first they regarded 1t as a nuisance.
but the quality Of the fish turned out to
be so good that they agreed to accept each
tnstallment. and gave fish supper parties
to tine rest OF the coEnpanyr with great sue
cesse every nfghtasss
A locaA. grocer eot to- iseaE -ofs the Asts--
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

which the gondolas passed ON dark
nights bearing the bodies of those who
vanished suddenly and without ex-
planation "for the good of the state"
is TO go back into the ages when life
was atl romance and mystery. 1t seems
almost as if the same scenes might
De repeated here tomorrow; and in
deed they might, save that the day of
such summary methods has passed
In the wall of the great council
chamber in the Doge's palace yawns
the fatal lions head, in whose open
mouth were thrust the denunciations
OF citizens suspected of treason or
reasonable views-those who were
4ater to cross the Bridge of Sighs and
languish in the darkened dungeons.
And there are the very cushions upon
which the councillors sat to pass sen
tence. In no other city, not even in
Rome. are the relics of past ages so
faithfully preserved, and certainly in
no other is the atmosphere of the past
so nearly present.
The artistic attractions of Venice, as.
indeed. the greater part OF its life and
activities, center chiefly about the
piazza San Marco. The square itself
is never lacking in interest, for If. as
seldom happens, few persons are
about, there are always hundreds Of
pigeons waiting to flock around the
visitor who purchases two soldi worth
of corn. They alfght on his hands, his
arms, his head, wherever they can
gain foothOld, and scramble in fiut-
tering confusion for the yellow ker-
nels. The pigeons of the piazza San
Marco are famous the world over, and
they nobly maintain their reputation
as entertainers for the slight consider
alton of as much grain as their plump
crops will hold.
st. Marks itself is truly Venetian In
that 1t is not to be compared with any
other cathedral. Less stately than the
famous edifices of Rome, Florence and
Milan. 1t is more beautiful in its own
fashion than any of these. Byzantine
In style. tt is reminder that here is
world, the gateway to the Orient. In
deeas 1t is the truest memorial to the
former dominion OF Venice throughosaE
the Eastern Mediterranean, forlit en-
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

comfort of a long European railway
journey is avoided and the voyager
steps almost directly, so to speak, from
the American pier into the mystical
CltyAef Isles with the charm of con-
trasf which it offers all unspoiled.
Certainly there is no other spot in all
the world that offers so much of inter
est and romance to the unfamiliar
visitor, whatever his tastes or calling.
Other cities of classic traditions have
been modernized out of all romance If
not out of all resemblance to their
former selves; Venice alone remains
unchanged in all it's essentials. The
means OF conveyance, the style of arch
1tecture, the churches and palaces are
still today exactly as they were CEN
turleS ago. One can do" Venice In
three days so far as viewing its prin-
cipal sights is concerned, or can spend
as many months in the occupation and
never weary of it. The city is always
in season. in that it invariably has
plenty of interest and variety of at
traction to offer, though the time when
1T is sought by visitors in greatest
numbers is the spring.
Here is an old city that really looks
its age There are towns of classical
antiquity which now are nothing but
heaps OF picturesque ruins and there
are others that have been rejuvenated
and naodernized. But Venice displays
all lgns of hoary venerabIeness
and. hust be admitted, many of
senih crepitude. Floating along the
highS S between rows of age-stafned
buildings one scarcely needs to be told
that here was a aourishing seat OF
trade which levied tribute on half the
known world through many centuries
and which, now that it has fallen on
less prosperous days, exists chiefly In
the reflection of its former greatness.
The very moment of entrance iHte.
Venice brings the Traveller from the
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

corporal and Whiskers, and advanced
Do1dIY across the road and made a
dash for the tienda. Each grasped q
ripe banana, and with loud cries re-
treated down the road Old Jose. at
tracted by their noise, rushed out and
aItef them down the road, Yelling In
stick.
heanWhiIe have kept an eye on the
tiger hlles, and presently I saw the
seven others of the band emerge on
all fours. and with shrill screams.
make dash for the fruit stand. Some
grabbed eggs, some bananas and man
sos ana nuts and oranges. From in
SIDE the t1enda came a Woman's scream
and Jose's old wife emerged with A
broom. desperately trying to beat off
the marauders and shrilly crying for
help from the old man, who by this
time had been inveigled quite a dis
tance down the road. Hearing his
wires screams, he turned and came
pe4tlng back to her assistance, but not
before the seven thieves had success
fully made off with all they could carry
and had upset basket of eggs in the
Skfrmish.
The way those rogues scurried across
the plaza into the hospital grounds
was surprising. and the last I saw of
them they were disappearing over the
eouAS VI tfAc eEkC EOOI TO security De-
yond. Then / got back to my quar-
ters as soon as possible, before old Jose
should see me and accuse me of COM
plicity In the robbery.
1t was one night about a week after
this that l could not sleep. The air
was humid. Through the square shells
of the blind came a mellow flow Of
tropical moonlight. l started for the
door to the balcony, thinking the air
might be fresher there. In doing SO
passed Pedro's cot. 1t was empty. I
was a little surprised as he was still
quite crippled, but expected to find him
out on the balcony.
He was not there, but I soon forgot
Pedro in the beauty of the moonlit
scenery-so brilliant that the birds
chirped where they roasted. Every
leaf of the big mango tree close by
Shone out clear in the yellow light
against a black background of deep
shadow. The whole had a dreamy,
somnolent effect on me. and / think
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

Is only within the past few wears
that Americans have begun to Wis
1t Venice in numbers really consider
able. To be sure 1t was usually In
eluded in the itinerary of those who
did the grand tour" when that was so
fashionable, and it has long been the
favored haunt of artists and literary
men. But the ordinary sfghtseer, the
everyday man of affairs with three or
four months to devote to Europe, has
only recently penetrated so far.
At first this average traveller from
''the states" contented himself with the
British isles and run over to Paris.
Then, gradually, he advanced up the
Rhine and into the mountains of
Switzerland. Even when he had con-
quered the Alps and descended into
Italy the queen of the Adriatic was
usually too far distant to come within
his orbit. Now, however, all this is
changed and at any season of the year
one will find in Venice quite as many
Americans as English and almost as
many of them as of Germans or Aus
trians.
The reason for this is partly that a
yearly increasing number of Americans
are discovering the charms of the ISL
and city, but even more largely be-
cause Venice has been brought so
much nearer to us. Since the great
steamships have been put into commits
sion between the United States and the
Mediterranean it is possible to reach
Venice in twelve days from Boston by
way Of Genoa. or by more leisurely
stages from Naples another port of
call through Rome Florence and Bo-.
10gaa- Thus the annoyance and dis
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12


West into a world apart His luggage
is taken from the railway station down
flight of stone steps to a gondola in
which he also enSconceS himself and
thus makes the journey to his hotel.
Nothing more delightfully."- mysterious
can be imagined than first trip along
the Grand canal at night between the
rows of dimly outlined buildings, with
no sounds but the tapping of the water
against the boat, the warning cries of
the gondolierS, or the faint strains Of
music from some serenading party.
No wonder poets have sung and artists
painted Venice for ten centuries!
In the streets the impression Is of a
place equally unreal. They are narrow
lanes such as are matched only by
some of the courts in the midst of
London. Many are so narrow that two
persons can hardly walk abreast
through them. and they dive between
high buildings, skirt canals and lose
themselves In broad court yards In
most bewildering manner. Not a horse
or cart is to be encountered ANY,
where and the way the people occupy
the full width Of the highway instead
of being restricted to narrow walks at
either side gives Venice a sfnguiarly
crowded appearance.
Aside from the. fact that it is abso-
Aotciy Sllt 1oAAI any otheF CITY IN
the world. the principal charms of
Venice are found in it's art treasures
and its literary and historical land
marks. To stroll across the arched
bridge over the Grand canal and along
the way that leads to it, the Rialto,
brings Shyloek and his fellow charac-
ters from "The Merchant of Venice
to real life. To cross the Bridge OF
Sighs and enter the dungeons beneath
1t, where not the faintest ray of light
peDetFates, then peer along the pas
sagesNay ti0Rn to- the water. where are
the gates opening oatward, Through
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12
W The SEVEN THIEVES
SUCCESSFULLY MADE OFF
WITH AS MUCH AS THEY
COULD CARRY -

dropped over the railing. doing. when
suddenly sharp cry awoke me.
from far out in the jungle came the
cry again. Then rustic of leaves. and
on the far side Of the mango tree
l Saw black object shoot up out Of
the shadow into the lower limbs. I
heard the snap of tWfigsE tba holloh@ :
nearest me shook, and the black object
new out and landed on the railing be-
s1de me. with thump. 1t was the corr
pOraL S0A-
Hello. Corporal, what are YOU do
ing out at this time of night?' 1 asked.
But he was too busy with other
tnlhgs TO answer my greeting. TAX
ing seat firm On the railing with hfa
hand-like feet, he began ind1striouslv
TO examine and analyze some object
ne held IN his hand. He bit it-then
sWore, monkey fashion. 1t was hard.
reached out and grasped q long. mar
row back tape which hung to the cor
PofaFs prize. With a crisp bark he
cropped 1t, turned once to me, then
shot upward and outward into the
black shadows of the tropical FOLIAGE
He was gone
examined the thing I held in nv
hand. 1t was black waterproof cloth
nat band. Attached to it was three
cornered piece of brass, with cloth
trimmings like a rosette It locked
ASAAhAIeAs A1d SeStl SOIDet0l0R SINH
Iar before. tried to remember. Then
I knew.
It took me less than two minutes tn
reach the majors quarters, and in an
other had him up and he was Iookfne,
at what the corporal had given me. On
the black band. in big yellow letters. we
read: "Brigada de Tino.'- -'--
1t IS fine sight to See men respond
to sudden call to arms at night.
saw 1t ten minutes after / had called
the major. The two companies were
lined up on the plaza. No doubt the
guerrlIlaS, in ambush had intended to
wait until moonset before attacking.
but they must have heard the men
tumbllng out. A volley came crashing
out Of the jungle beyond the hospital
building. Two of our men fell. Then
the two companies concentrated their
f1Fes on the one spot. A few feeble
Spurts of flame anSwered-then silence.
That was all there was to the fight
At dawn ten dead insurgents were
brought in and tumbled into a ditch.
But tive of us from the hospital reeov-
cred one OF them and carried it up into
the jungle and there buried it alone
He had been a spy on our troops, but
We thought enough of Pedro to do that
As for Pedro's confedeFates, the cor
poral and his gang, we never saw one
of them again. But there came rumOrS
from the natives that the corporal had
been seen in colony of his kind up the
mountain. where he would never trou-
bic the majors dispatch file again.