davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

but this drum. It is not even a real
drum-not what I call a drum. It's a
little boys drum-the sort of thing
I used to play with myself. at one
time, until people took it away from
me and threatened that if they heard
it once again that day they would
break it over my own head. It's cow
ardly going about the street playing
a drum of this sort where there is
nobody to stop you. The man would
not dare to do it If his mother was
about. He does not even play it. He
walks along tapping it with a little
stick. There's no tune, there's no
sense in it. He doesn't even keep
time. 1 used to think at first, hear
ing it in the distance. that it was some
young gamin who ought to be at
school, or making himself useful TAX
ing the baby out in the perambulator;
and l used to draw back into door
ways. determined, as he came by, to
pull his ear for him. To my aston
ishment-for the first week-I found
it was the Belgian army, getting itself
accustomed, I suppose, to the horrors
Of war. 1t Is making of me a peace
at any price" man. They tell me that
these armies are necessary to pre-
serve the peace of Europe. For my
self, / should be willing to run the
risk of an occasional row. Can't some
one tell them that they are out of
date-with their bits of feathers and
their odds and ends OF ironmongery
grown men that have to be sent out
for a walk accompanied by a tin
whistle and a drum out of toy shopt
always think of them In connection
with the White Knight out of "Ali-s
in Wonderland" take it that for
practical purposes-to fight for your
country or to fight for somebody
else's country, which is generally
speaking. more popular-the thing nee
essary Is that certain proportion Of
your people should be able to shoot
straight with a gun. How standing in
a line and turning your toes out is go
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

ing to assist lou under modern condi-
tions of warfare is one of the many
things my intellect is incapable of
grasping. In medieval days, when
men fought hand to hand, there must
have been advantage in combined and
precise movement. When armies were
mere iron machines the simple en-
deavor of each being to push the
other off the earth, then the striking
simultaneously with a thousand arms
was part Of the game. Now, when we
shoot from behind cover. with smoke
less powder, brain, not brute force, in
dividual sense, not combined solidity
is surely the result to be aimed at
Cannot somebody, as have suggested,
explain to the military man that the
proper place for the drill sergeant
nowadays is under a glass case in
some museum oe antiquities?
lived once near the Hyde Park
Barracks and saw much of the drill
sergeant's method. Generally speak
ing, he is a fat man with walk of
an egotistical pigeon. His voice is one
of the most extraordinary things in
nature. If you can distinguish it from
the bark of a dog you are clever. They
tell me that the privates after a little
practice can-which gives one a
higher opinion Of their intelligence
than otherwise one might form. But
myself, 1 doubt even this statement.
I was the owner of a fine retriever
dog about the time of which I am
speaking. and sometimes he and
would amuse ourselves by watching
Mr.. Sergeant exercising his squad.
One morning he had been shouting
out the usual "Whough, Whough,
for about ten minutes. and
all had hitherto gone well. Suddenly
and evidently to his intense astonish-
ment the squad turned their backs
upon him and commenced to walk
toward the Serpentine. Haiti yelled
the sergeant the instant his amazed
Indignation permitted him to speak.
The squad halted. who the thunder,
and the blazes and other things. told
you to do that?" The squad looked
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

bewildered, but said nothing and
were brought back to as they were be-
fore. A minute later precisely the
same thing occurred again. really
thought the sergeant would burst. L
was preparing to hasten to the bar
racks for medical aid. But. the
paroxysm passed. Calling upon the
combined forces of heaven and hell
to sustain him in his trouble, he re-
quested his squad. as man to man, to
inform him of the reason why to all
appearance they were dispensing with
his services and drilling themselves.
AT this moment Columbus barked
again and the explanation came to
him. please go away, SIR" he re-
quested me. How can 1 exercise my
men with that damdog of yours in
terfering every five minutes" 1t was
not only on that occasion. 1t hap
pened at other times. The dog
seemed to understand and take
pleasure in it. Sometimes meeting
soldier walking with his sweetheart,
Columbus, hidden behind my legs,
would bark suddenly. Immediately
the man would let go the girl and pro-
ceed involuntarily to perform military
tricks. The War Office authorities ac-
cused me of having trained the dog.
1 had not trained him. That was his
natural voice. 1 suggested to the War
Office authorities that instead of
quarreling with my dog for talking his
own language they. should train their
sergeants to use English. They would
not see it. Unpleasantness was in the
air, and, living where did at the
time, / thought it better to part with
Columbus. I could see what the War
Office was driving at. and I did not
desire that responsibility for the in
efficiency of the British army should
be laid at my door.
Some twenty years ago we were
In London, passing through a riotous
period, and call was made to law abid-
Ing citizens to enroll themselves as spe-
cial constables. was young and the
hope of trouble appealed to me more
than it does now. In company with
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

Jerome has had a hard life. When
one considers what he has passed
through It is difficult TO realize how
there remains within him enough ma
tive humor to have turned out such
a work as Three Men in Boat" and
other tales of laughter. The musings
in idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow
strike US as Jerome-like only where
they touch US with a tinge of pathos.
when they Craze the high spots. The
light butterfly humor seems strange
plant to have sprung from the seed of
hardship and want. Not that Jerome
has passed through the log cabin to
the Presidency lane; but he has had
his troubles" none the less. His school
has been hard-for a humorist. There
is more meat" between the lines in
"On the Stage and OF" than there is
in print. The upwritten tells strik-
ing story Of privation and suffering,
hard battle with harder times, sting
ing indictment of the dishonest theat-
rical man, plain recital of the wrongs
TO which the unfortunate actor Of Eng
land is heir.
Jerome is Al years. old. In turn he
has been clerk, a tschoolmaster, an
actor, a newspaper man, a journalist
(note the difference). an editor. a play
wright, and an actor-manager, quite
an experience TO crowd into a single
life and yet meet success. A Jack of
all trades and master Of one. This
sums up Jerome.
But with all his humor. close OBJ
server can note a tinge OF bitterness
in this sQuare-jawed man, 2 little
worldliness in his conversation. 1t is
difficult for him to refrain from saying
bright things. but one cannot but
think he tries his best when he talks
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

for publication. 1t seems as II un-
consciously he realizes that his brains
are his bank and he hates to give
away his capital He faces the inter-
viewer. as he might face a necessary
operation. He is considerate, will an
swer questions in an affable manner,
but he won't volunteer much. His
manner is solemn: he never gets away
from the serious side of the question.
America would like to know more
of you personally. Mr.. Jerome, some
thing more Of your earlv career. 1t
has been quite varied. has 1t not?"
20 Each man in his time plays many
parts, and 1 think I have played my
share"
You were born"
Yes: in the coal district of walsall.
Ny father was an independent minis
ter. lie owned property in coal mines;
but at an early age. through the food
ing Of the mines, ] was thrown more
or less on nS own resources.
Pretty rough" We were just hav-
ing a cuiet little chat.
Yes" A few puffs at most vii
la.nous cigar.
And your early education?"
The first elements of my education
were Obtained at a pathological
school" a pause. More puffs a that
awful cigar. Jerome seemed to be
thinking he never could have got
along in the world if it had not been
for that pathological school.
When about eight years old 1 went
to a middle class school in London
(Pause.) II was particularly fond of
mathematics"
"Of mathematics?
Yes, mathematics"
And your literary tastes?"
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

Now, then, gentlemen, shah We try
little walk7 Quick march! Thank
you, gentlemen Sorry to trouble you.
but it may be necessary to run-for-
ward, I mean. Of course. 80 II you
really do not mind We win now DO the
double quick. Haiti And II next time
you can keep a little more In line. 1t
has a more imposing appearances. *
you understand me. The breathing
comes with practice"
II the thing must be done at al, why
should II not be done In this wayT
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

''I think Coleridge was my favorite
author then; and tales of travel al
ways interested me.
When about Is it was necessary
for me to get some employment, and
an old friend in the Northwestern
Railway found me a situation as
clerk" Jerome was almost funereal in
his solemnity by this time. TT was
at Euston station. / kept this posi-
ton three years, and then could not
stand 1t any longer. The routine was
simply killing Another pause; the
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

villainous cigar again. 'I made up
my mind to get out of railroading."
ITO, let off steam?' No attention
paid to interruption.
II wanted to go~on the stage"
We sat fully minute before the
author spoke again. Then he resumed
his narrative, as authors say.
After some maneuvering I got an
engagement. l was then about 1S, and
1 began the life of a travelling actor in
the English provinces"
IAN actor?'
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

rNHILE It may be apart from
Ah 4 the subject in hand, II may be
w Wen to issue a warning to
travelling Americans who in
tend while in nEngland visiting the homes
OF English authors, particularly that
OF Jerome K. jerome. Don't mistake
Vantage for wellingford; walk UP the
long driveway and ask II Mr.. jerome
lives there. The houses Of the two men,
Mr.. Jerome and Richard Croker, are
only mile or less apart, and mile in
England. as every one knows. is the
veriest detail. especially in the country
districts. The writer made this mis-
take, and it proved rather disastrous.
During the time wasted, Mr.. Jerome
had taken his favorite hunter. and was
going IL" over a few fences and hedges
when a call was made at his house.
and so another appointment had TO be
made. Jerome is a very punctual man.
Incidentally Americans should know
Gin order TO avoid all possible blunders)
that Jerome x. Jerome is pronounced
Jer-'Um x. Jerome, the first syllable
being accentuated; at least so l was in
formed. His friends call him Jer-'um-
sometimes indeed Jerry his ac-
ouaintsnces, Mr.. Jerome. The Jeromes
are spelled alike. but pronounced diff
ferently-a little way the English have.
II should not be assumed from this,
however. that Mr.. Jerome is OF the
genus pompOus. He is simplicity itself.
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

''M'yes;s in the provinces Very few
people know what that means. In the
course of my adventures 1 came in con-
tact with the kind Of manager who abb
seconds. and leaves his troupe without
funds and 1 had a great many other
experiences which were more interest
ing to read about than to participate
in.
II kept on acting for about two
years. Then 1 began to write a little.
My first effort was a story called The
Princes Quest 1t was published In
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

eels Is a bright and cheerful
town and think I could sue
ceed II IT were not for the
Belgian army. The Belgian army fol-
lows me about and worries me. Judg-
ing it from ny own experience Of ii,
7 should say II was a good army. Ma
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

Y desire is to pass a peaceful
and pleasant winter in Brus-
sells attending to my work,
improving my mind. Brus-
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17
ON DRILLING A MODERN ARNfY--BY JEROME X.

poleon laid it down as an axiom that
your enemy never ought to be per-
mitted to get awav from you-never
ought TO be allowed to feel, even for
moment, that he has shaken you off.
What tactics the Belgian army might
adopt under other conditions l am, OF
course, unable to say, but, against me
personally, this is the plan of cam
paign it has determined upon and car
ried out with a success that is as
tonishing even to myself 1 find it ut
terly impossible to escape from the
Belgian army. I choose the quietest
and most unlikely streets. / choose all
hours-early in the morning, in the aft
ernoon. late in the evening. There are
moments of wild exultation when L
imagine have given it the slip. 1
can't see it anywhere, I can't hear it.
Now" I say to myself, nov, for five
minutes quiet and peace" / have been
doing IL an injustice. It has been work.
ing round me, that is all. Approaching
the next corner 1 hear the tattoo of it's
drum. Before I have gone another
quarter OF mile IT is in full pursuit
OF me. I jump on a train. 1 travel
for miles. Then, thinking have shaken
1t on, 1 alight and proceed upon my
walk. Five minutes later, another de-
tachr1ent is upon my heels. 1 creep
home. the Belgian army pursuing me
with it's exultant tattoo. 1 creep UP
into my room and close the door; the
victorious Belgian army marches back
to barracks. 1t is too good for me. I
confess it. Ny insular pride has van
ished.
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

II II would only follow me with a
band! / Ike a band. / can loaf
against a post. listening to a band with
any one. Should not mind it so
much IL II came after me with a band.
But the Belgian army apparently
o sn't run a band. u has nothing
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17

copyrighted, 1904. by Central New
and Press Exchange)
The San Francisco call., 1904-04-17
" " q NoRrHRoP.

81 v. q. NOhIHEDP-
special photographs copyright 1908. by Cen
ttal News and Press Exchange: entered
Hall I.0rfou
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-08
#Ia#8II565855###5z%@

Softly the music died away. and from the bamboo house there came the voice of o Chika's mother, and the child quickly obeyed the summons. "IIai! 1Iai! Beautiful young mother with the white hair. did you call me?'' she said.
 My Pink Cherry Blossom" replied her mamma, 'Ume has told me of the song you learned beneath the tree. o Chika San bowed politely and sang the melody in a clear voice. When she had in- ished there were tears in the soft dark eyes of her mother. Tt Is most sweet ly sung," she said. She arose. and go- ing to a carved cabinet opened num- Der of small doors. until at last there lay exposed upon a velvet cushion a small. beautifully polished box.
 This" she said to O Ckika San, "is the box, and you must some day prom ise to keep 1t always" Then she re- placed 1t, carefully closing one after another the many small doors.
 During that night O .Chika San. who could not sleep for thinking of the Souls in the Tree. arose and stole from her room to peep once more at the mysterious little box which had caus- ed so much mischief.
 She drew 1t forth quickly from the cabinet, but alas, the room was so dark she could not see it.
 Hail" whispered Chika San, T will push back the Shoji and go out into the moonlight, where I may look at the beautiful box"
 In the moonlit garden everything was as bright as day. O Chika laugh ed at her shadow, for the loops of her ht0 ch looked xxyinO ha amined the box admiringly and while she was thus engaged the wind sigh ed through the cherry tree. Something seemed to urge o Chika San to sing. and she began the melody in her clear voice.
 Suddenly as she sang a strange rust ling and clanking arose in the branch | es of the tree above her head. As she looked up the sight which she saw al most caused her to drop the lacquercd | box In astonishment
 From every cherry blossom there had l burst forth suddenly the head of q l Japanese soldier, and as each of these appeared the murmur of the song grew louder, until the tree. with it's strange flowers, shook with the sound of many voices singing.
 | Ihen the singing ceased, and a voice spoke from among the many heads o1 | the Samurai:
 Little Cherry Blossom" commanded the voice. open the lacquered box foi | at length the time has come to fire,
 us' that we may seek in heaven ou, rest and reward for brave deeds I en thy honorable father. Seven times tn, obedlent, beautiful mother refused tn, box to the Fox Woman. Seven years therefore. our souls have remained i'm prisoned and couFl only be set ire, IT the box were still in the possession Of thy dutiful mother. Now, o Chiks San. thou shalt open the box and thy mother will know that thou hast re leased the souls.
 he voice of her father died ava, and o Ch!ka San no longer afraid Joyfully pressed a spring in the sid,
 of the box. At once the cover spranf open and small blue flame burs
 forth from which there arose an in
 cense that soon hid the cherry tre, In great blue cloud.
 once again there arose the murmui
 of the Samurai song:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-08
Webber & Johnston, ~hore 3SO. III Bibb St.
A Japanese Lady's Wardrobe.
|!hore 350.

woman of fashion among us may have more new dresses in year than there are months in 1t. but the chances are that she no longer possesses in December those she started with in January, for she would consider them quite out of date.
 Japanese lady has. perhaps. many as five dresses in year, but they are made as beautiful as her means and exqui- site artistic taste will allow. Next year they will not be cast aside for new. for fashions don't change in the land Of the chrysanthemum; so what is beautiful one year Is beautiful the next and for as long as the garment can be worn. Thus 1t hap pens that lady may have as many s.xty or seventy dresses and. by the bye, these will go to her eldest daughter.
 preses are handed down from mother t daughter in Japan much as treasured pieces of furniture with us. and the mothers dresses are considered far more valuable than those winch are brand new.
 Dressmaking. exclusive of the embroid. cry that may be on the material is c very simple matter in Japan, for one pat tern serves for the kinono of the princess Q, tho peasant, and every woman knows how to make it.
 The exquisite taste of the Japanese is f marvel to Western nations. and 1t s cul tivated from very babyhood. Our child ren," says a Japanese lady, 'are not child ren long. and can do most with then when they are little. Then we show then only beautiful things, you know-only beau tuful things-lttle silken balls and Mttl, carved ivory things Oh, your oh ldren. things-toys, don't you call them?-ar g; ] ugly We would be afraid of what on children would be If we gave them you childrens toys"
 And the Japanese mother Is probabl, right. for children may be trained by us to admire the ugly as well as the beautiful
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-08

diers. your brave father was fighting.
 The Fox Woman stood close to the edge of the battle ground. and as the soldiers fell to the ground slain she gathered up their departing souls and packed them one after another into her bag. which after while began to re- semble a great pudding.
 At last your father fell in the fight ing, His soul also the wicked witch stole and stuffed into the bag. and when the battle was ended the strong winds blew the Fox Woman to the foot of this mountain. where she planted the souls under the roots of the cherry tree.
 Having thus revenged herself she made her way into the presence of your grandparent. who. with his house. hold. lamented the death of his son.
 You may we'll weep" she said. for the souls of your son and his soldiers are imprisoned beneath the cherry tree. They cannot rise to heaven to claim the reward of bravery. All this have I done because thy daughter de- nied me trifing gift on my depart ure from your hospitable abode"
 Having said these terrible words the wicked witch was blown by the wild winds to her cave in the mountain and was heard of no more; but upon hear ing what she said your grandparent was angered at your young mother be- cause she had caused the imprison- ment of the souls in the cherry tree His anger continued to grow, and at length he turned your mother from his door. bidding her never to return unless the poor souls were freed from their tree prison.
 Tt Is because of this the once black hair of your beautiful small mother has become white with grief, though she still guards with care the small lacquered box which caused the sor- row." concluded Ume
 .TIai! Haiw sighed little o chika, ''if I but knew the way to set free the souls!'
 Alas, no one knows how to accom- plish that so desirable thing" said ITme. and went into the house, leaving o Chika San to gaze sadly at the pink cherry blossoms. Soon the breeze blew the flowers from side to side, and again the little girl fancied she could hear the murmur of song.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-08
CITY ELECTION.

Montgomery, Ala. May 3, 1904. Notice is hereby given that polling places in the several wards of the city of Montgomery will be opened as hereinafter designated and an election held for the purpose of ascertaininG whether or not the City Council of Montgomery shall issue bonds for the city of Montgomery in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars for the purpose of purchasing or constructing public school houses, and whether or not bonds shall be issued in the amount of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars for the purpose of extending and otherwise improving the city's water works sys- tenn; and, also. at the same time, de- ciding the question as to whether or not bonds shall be issued in the the purpose of extending the sanitary sewerage system of the city. Said polling places will be opened on Monday, the 9th Day of May, 1904. by the following named persons, who have been appointed by the City Coun- cil of Montgomery as managers and re- turning officers in their respective pre- cincts:
 WARD I.
 Polling place in Durr's stable. Managers-Sweatt Taylor, Charlie Anderson and J. H. Dent.
 Returning Oficer-I. Abraham. WARD 2.
 Polling place at Crommelin's store Managers-Isadore Dreyfus. D IA Cromwell and c. D. Sands. Returning Oficer-John Hancock.
 WARD 8.
 Polling place at the jail. Managers-Clifford Lanier, Jr, J. L. Barry and James McTyiere. Returning OfHcer-C. D. Faber.
 WARD 4.
 Polling place at at No. 2o6 Dexter Avenue.
 Managers-B F. Finn, D. Abraham and Carl Roemer. Returning Officer-William Browder.
 WARD 5.
 Polling place at city water works office.
 Managers-Hugh Nelson, H. c. Me- Rec and w E. Ledyard.
 Returning OfTicer-J. H. Hardawsy.
 WARD c.
 Polling place at market house. Managers-W. H, G. Rives. J. 6 Kigrow and James Armstrong. Returning Oficer-Langley Ivey. The polls will be opened between the hours of and 9 a. m,. and be kept open until p. m. Thomas H. Carr. Mayor. c. P. Hardaway. City Clerk. 3G
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-08
THE SOULS IN THE CHERRY TREE.

Little O Chika San lived with her mamma and her old nurse. Ume. in a small bamboo house at the foot of the mountain.
 In the garden there was. a great cherry tree that bloomed beautifully. with pink and white blossoms. during the month of April.
 o Chika San wore a bright red ki- mono and broad sash of blue silk. tied behind in big bow. All day long she played in the pretty garden where the cherry tree bioomed. and when the light winds stirred the branches she fancied that the pink and white flow CTS hummed soft little song.
 O Chika tried to remember the tune. and one day she sang it to old Ume |. This is how 1t sounded: t-