davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1904-06-12
From lydia 10 lola.

l Stanbury Road. Peckham. London,
April 10. l9Of.-Dear Friend: [ am 60
ing to tell YOU a little about our Lon
don schools. Most of them are very
large. Our school. Waller Road School,
is situated in the South of London 1t
Is made Of bricks. We have a large
playground, where we have all kinds
Of games. Our walls are painted green
and brown on which hang all kinds of
pictures and maps. We have a cloak
room In which to hang our hats and
jackets when we enter school. The
class rooms, which are six arranged
ed the hall. In winter we have a fire
IN each room 10 keep us warm. We
learn arithmetic, botany. geography,
grammar, history reading, drawing,
and needlework We also &c once o
week 70 a cookery or laundry class.
In summer we 90 to the swimming
baths. Ny favorite lessons are botany
reading. drawing and needlework Lon
don, the capital Of England, Is situated
on the River Thames, which is a large
river. London Is noted for it's large
streets and beautiful buildings. Not
far from MS Is a large glass building
called the Crystal Palace. where all
sorts Of amusements are held for the
public. There are also grand concert
held where sometimes as many as So
and 10000 voices sing together. One Of
our chief public buildings Is Greenwich
College, In which are kept all sorts OF
The Washington times., 1904-06-12

have had no changes in our scnOol vet.
but If we do. ! viii tell you later on
/ viii try TO describe our school to
you. II is a very large building consist
ing Of three parts. The first part IS the
infants school, whore the little ones are
taught. When they are about seven
years Old. they are generally forward
enough 70 go into the girls school or
the boys school, as the case may be
The last two departments form the sec
Ond part OF our school. The last part is
where cookery and laundry IS taught
We have a nice large playground
/ expect that your eighth grade would
correspond to our seventh standard We
call our classes standards. They start
at the first standard and goes up 20 the
seventh and eX-seVenth Standa rds The
two latter are I'm the same room as the
lessons Of each are almost the same
Our SchOOlrOoms are large. We do not
have pictures on the wall az you do
but maps. We are not obliged TO go to
school after we are fourteen, but we
can still continue our education by go
ing to the evening schools.
There is one thing that makes our
school specially interesting. We have Il
guild called Honour Guild" We have
happy meetings every month. This
month we are going to act Cinderella"
In which take part. We wear a badge;
we have a large party every Christmas
which is enjoyed by everyone. ] will
write about our city in the next letter.
1 am sending you post card. with a
picture Of the MansfOl House. The lord
mayor lives there. Now with love l re-
main. your affectiOnately, Lucy Geary.
The Washington times., 1904-06-12
Albert Harding to Alfred Rodrick.

Hecton's Road Higher Grade School.
BermOndsey, London Southeast. Marcn
-. l904.-Dear Alfred: I thank YOU for
your letter because It interested me and
my schOolmates to hear from you In
far country. My name you can see a !,
the end of my letter. 1 am thirteen
years Of age, and am In the eighth
standard. J have two or three hobbies.
One Of them Is painting After school
hours, If l do not go out for a little
recreation, I generally do some painting
l suppose you would like to hear about
where I live. II Is on the south of the
River Thames. In part called Bermond-
sey. which is a very busy part Of Lon
don
The chief part Of Bermondsey where
all the large factories are is on the river
side where thousands OF men and
women earn their living We boys in
London cannot walk out into the fields
whenever we like. for II is too far. The
place we do go to is a large park. three
or four minutes walk from our school
called the Southwark Park. This is gen
orally where we play our games. AS l
haYe told you before that 1 am in the
eighth standard, / am going 10 tell you
some % the studies. There are drawing
(model freohand and geometry, science,
arithmetic, composition. French, gram
are three departments in the school. One
Is for the infants, one for the girls, and
the other for the boys. We have five
large Fairgrounds. one of them covered
In. The best thing We Ike in our studies
Is the manual training We have much
the same tools as you. and have our
work given away every quarter. Ny
teachers name Is j. II. EngledOw, and
we like him very much. Some of our
games are cricket, football, fox, rowing
etc l should think that boys over IN
America have heard Of the Tower
Bridge. which, in its way, Is very inter-
esting to you. as well as some of your
bridges are TO us. 1t is only about a
quarter Of an hours walk from my
school
l must not forget the Tower of Lon
don, which Is close to the bridge. This
is a very interesting place where you can
see old swords. armor, the crown jewels
and 4 lot Of other things.
The place which l like best IS the
Geological Gardens. where there are
nearly all the kinds of animals which
exists Perhaps a time will come when
you will be able 20 come and see The
wonders Of London for yourself.
1 have iuclosed in this envelope two
views, one OF Westminster Abbey, which
The Washington times., 1904-06-12
Lizzie Rogers to Rosie BRYAN.

90 Somerville Road. New Cross. Lon
don. S. e. April 4. 190ADear Friend:
Although we are strangers, was
pleased to receive your letter from
my governess; II seems now az If
we know each other a little We
are certainly separated by the Atlantic.
but both being scholars Of national
schools our actions and thoughts must
often be the same. Your descriptjon Of
your school life is of course fresh 70
me; and L will now tell you the way
our time IL spent at school We start
at the age OF four to six We begin q
school year at the end of August. and
the first OF the three terms of the wear
ends at Christmas. then after fourteen
days holiday we go on until Easter
when we have another ten DAYS recess
After that We continue until the sum
mer vacation, which is at the end of
July; this ends our school year. ON
reading this you must not think thar
these are the only HOLIDAYS we have
for we have a few half-days. Our
school session commences at 9 o'clock
continues until u. when we have two
hours for dinner. We resume lessons
at o'clock and continue until 4:3O; be-
tween these hours we have a quarter
OF an hours recess at 1920 a. IN. and a
quarter of an hour at 3:15 D. m In
the sixth standard. of which / am a
pupil, We are taught arithmetic gram
mar, geography. history. botany, needle
work, and drawing. We have singing
on Tuesday and Friday. NV favofite
lessons are arithmetic and grammar 1
have been to two courses IN cookery.
The Washington times., 1904-06-12
English Boys and Girls Tell of Their Meth
DDS of Study--lnteresting Differences
From American Ways.

letter. Our school is situated near the
celebrated Oxford Street It is one OF
the main thoroughfares OF London.
From the school windows we can see
the people passing along Oxford Street
On Monday afternoons some Of the girls
go to cookery at another school. where
there are special arrangements for cook
ing lessons. On Wednesday mornings
some OF the girls go 10 laundry classes
at another school. where they are taught
TO wash and iron. I do not live far
away from our school The back OF our
school is facing our house. Our school
is three storey high In the morning
we go to school at a quarter to nine.
and go home at twelve o'clock. We go to
school in the afternoon a. a quarter TO
two. and go home at half past four. We
have drill exercises three times a week.
and we have fire drill at different times.
We have a playground on the roof.
where we play. 1 am IN the sixth
standard. and we learn the geograp ply
Of North and South America IN the
seventh standard the girls learn French.
We have about 200 pupils IL our girls
school.
Now, I have described our school.
viii tell have five sisters beside my
self I am the eldest. being thirteen,
and I have no brothers. We do not
live far from Hyde Park There are
some splendid parks in London. where
it is very pleasant 20 play in the sum-
mer I go to Sunday school on Sunday
morning and afternoon, ana go 20 Band
Of Hope on Wednesday evening. on
pril p, it was the annual meeting,
whom the girls sung and recfted- A few
weeks ago the minister of our Sunday
school died. While he was preaching ne
had a stroke and died at four o'cloek the
same day. VIC have a week s holiday
at Easter. I and my friends went 10
Hye Park and played. For our Whitsun
holidays we have from Friday TO Tues
day. We are all looking forward TO the
bright days of summer. We have four
weeks holiday. Some people ike win
ter better than summer, but I like sum-
mer best. Next time / write 1 viii tell
you about some OF the buildings in Lon
don
Hoping TO hear from you soon. ] am.
your loving distant friend, Henrietta
DAILY.
To Agnes Dowlns. Brookland School
The Washington times., 1904-06-12
From Nellie to Elsie.

Barrett Street School. Marylebone
London w, May %, 19O4-NIy dear Elsie:
Many thanks for your kind and most
interesting letter. in my first letter. /
am not going 20 tell you only a very
little about our country and London.
] am thirteen years of age. and / am
OF a fair complexion, and I am a lit
tie over five feet in height My father
f. the caretaker Of our school, so i have
only 70 20 across the playground to
school ] am an only child. and / was
born IN London. There are nearly 300
girls I'm our school. and 1 am in the
seventh standard. our studies are read
ing. writing arithmetic. spelling,
French. music. geography, history, and
science. Our geography this year Is the
continent Of America, and we have
studies about the United States. and our
teacher has explained 10 us the Govern
ment Of the United States, and she has
told us about the Capitol and the White
House. in which President Roosevelt
resides. The London home for cur
King and Queen IL Buckingham Palace,
and ] darcsay YOU have heard that they
travel about "A great deal. and this week
they have left England for Ireland. The
The Washington times., 1904-06-12
Some of the Letters Received in Reply to
Those Sent Them by Washington Chill
dren a Few Weeks Ago.

King and Queen returned last week
from a visit to Copenhagen. in Den
mark. They went to see the Queens
aged father. who is the King Of Den
mark. Because the King and Queen
are very often travelling about, they do
not reside a very great deal in Buck
ingham Palace.
Our school is three stories high. and
the popularity Of our school is. that
the girls playground is on the roof OF
the school. The reason why our play
ground IS on the roof Is. because the
land about here is so expensive. We
have TO be seated in our rooms at 8
O'Clock every morning, for prayers, and
we nave, during the morning, a quarter
OF an hours recreation, and then dis
miss Tor our dinner at y O'Clock. In
the afternoon we come to school at 2
O'Clock, and go home again at 4.3O
O'Clock. We have four rooms on each
our class-roOms are adorned with very
beautiful pictures. Every week the
class which attends the most regularly,
has for the following week. our Eng
lsh nag. the union jack, hung in their
room for a reward. For the last two
weeks we have the flag In our room, and
hope we shall be able 10 keep IL, because
II seems as though the other classes
are rivals and are trying to fight TO
gain possession Of our precious union
jack. / suppose you have fire drill
the same as we do. and my father has
to ring the school bell, and when we
hear IT we all march down in lines into
the playground, and back again. While
l have been writing TO you l have just
Music that have passed my second
exam in music. and I can tell You how
nervous / felt when / had two eNamin-
ers round me. Wishing you every sue
cess in your school life. 1 am your sin
cere friend. Nellie Brown.
To Elsie d. Lord, Brookland School
The Washington times., 1904-06-12

reCr in tho artists studios for she was
very early on the stage. so beginning
her career in two branches. She was
cast for g part IN Liberty Bellies" and.
when she saw that she was 10 go I'm
a bedtime scene, she rebelIed Il never
could wear a niGhtgown." said she.
Then put on patamas,'' suggested the
manager. And soon the pink pajama
girl was known all over the world and
Miss Polly was the pink pajama girl!
They say that the prettiest girls are
the ones that are done UP IN the small
est parcels. Certainly. Miss Polly. who
is not much over five feet. IS an exam
pie Of daintiness on a very small scale.
She Is a pocket edition Of Venus. II
Venus can be imagined with big blue
eyes, lovely wavy blonde hair. and the
pinkest cheeks IN the world
Polly's figure is perfect, Polly's smile
is the sweetest, PolIy's laugh is the
most infectious, and PoIly's ways are
the dearest. She is the daintiest. cum
ningest little example of American girl
hood that ever could be imagined.
Hit in Human Hearts.
After she made her hit on the stage
she made hit in human hearts. Men
who saw her fell in love with her. and
soon. she began 10 hang SCalps at her
belt and each day a new scalp.
Her engagement was announced sue
cessively to six millionaires. and was
promptly denied by Miss Polly. How
ridiculous she would say. Ito sup
pose 1 would ever get married.
Now, over in London. at the Princess
Of Wales Theater, where Polly dances
nightly. she trips over the hearts Of
men.
She is engaged to Millionaire
The Washington times., 1904-06-12
Florrie Smith to Carrie.

Nunhead Passage, Girls School, Peck
ham, London. S. E. Il, ;, 'O+-Dear Car
RE: In answer TO your letter. I am go
ing to tell YOU about our school I am
thirteen, and am in the seventh stand
ard. NY classroom is very pleasant.
There are very pretty gardens at the
side. which look very nice in summer.
There are cookery and laundry centers
TO which most of the elder girls go.
The boys go to manual training and
woodwork. In each Of our schools
the boys and the girls there are seven
standards and one eN seventh. The
board make all our rules, but the
schools have been transferred from
Board schools to the London county
council. They were transferred from
the beginning of May In our school
there is a school at the side Of ours
especially for the infants. The little
ones in the infants are taught nee
dlework j do not suppose you have an
Honour Guild at your school like we
have at ours. All the best girls in the
entv girls in it and four officers. We
are in this Guild. There are over sew
enty girls in II, and four officers. We
meet on Friday nights, the third in each
month. This month we are having
play got up by the girls in my class.
called cinderella" which is a Yer
pretty play. Next month we are gOiI
TO have a play called The Sleeping
Beauty" by the VI standard. The
girls in this guild wear a little red
rOsette, and there are three committee
girls in zach class who wear a blue and
red rosette. The officers are recognised
by a committee badge and brooch.
We have tre-drill at our school, At
this school we are taught French by
French master. We are also taught
arithmetic, singing, reading, needle
work drlli geography, history, draw
a letter from YOU soon, 1 remain. your
afectionate friend, Florrie Smith.
The Washington times., 1904-06-12
Pauline Chase, the ''Pocket Venus" Has
Broken With an English Nobleman
and Become a "Man-Hater."

At her door stands her automobile
waiting for her to take a drive and her
heart is 1T the lever. She has given it
TO no man. Tickle Polly.
In the hallway leading to her apart
ment there are messenger Doys bring
ing whole trunks OF American Beauties
specially obtained in this Tar-off land
for the American girl who scorns them.
At her feet, literally, kneel suitors
galore while in their hands they bring
wonderful offerings of jewels, and
money, begging her 10 accept them.
Take my heart with them" they say.
But Miss Pauline says NO"
Pauline Chase, the young woman who
holds the record for millionaire pro-
posals. is just twenty years cid. She
began her career four years ago when
her pretty face led her to the artists
studios iE Gotham and for four years
she has been a great belle.
Pauline IS from Washington. but she
lived in New York go long that she
considers herself a Gothamite. Though
living in London. now, she feels as much
as American as ever and proudly SAYS
that she would like to come home again
and be a little girl on Broadway.
But London cannot spare Miss Polly.
She is playing the part OF the Little
Dancing Girl And the play is Edna
Mays pretty play, THE SCHOOLGIRL. -
Miss Chase's part IS very dainty one
and those who did not know that she
could dance are quite taken off their
feet by her pretty antics.
Pretty Girls Career.
Perhaps It would not be riSht 10
say that Miss Pauline began her ca
The Washington times., 1904-06-12
Dozens of Suitors Literally Kneeling at
Her Feet What She Has to Say
About Beaus in General.

And now Miss Polly has turned men
hater. She wears distract, < little lace
waists. but there is no man to see. She
puts on the cutest Of little necklaces
and there is no man 10 admire She
wears the most delicious floating fIrny
things with no man there 10 be en-
shared And all because an American
girl has turned capricious.
Danced for Princes.
Miss Polly has danced for the Prince
Of Wales, who encored her. She has
danced for the Duke Of Marlborough
who clapped his hands 70 smarting in
her honor She has danced for all the
young bloods Of England. and, one by
one, all have fallen IN her snare.
And how does Edna May, the star OF
the play, feel about it? She says moth
ing II she thinks she shows no signs
Of thinking. There is only one pretty
Polly and there is only one Edna May"
said London chappy one Gay. which
shows that the English heart can be
true to two beauties at once
So. understand IL. all ye chappies who
are within reading distance Pretty
Polly, the Pocket Venus, has turned
man bater. She win not wed Keep
your bouquets for more susceptible
hearts Bestow your diamonds else
where. Polly Chase. the g. ntiest little
girl in the world, is going r. live and
die an old maid
Il am going TO work hard for I'VE
years" saws she, then II I do not sue
ceed-weIl that IS another story"
AUGUSTA PRESCOTT
The Washington times., 1904-06-12

Nunhead Passage. Girls School. May
II. 19O4-Dear Leila; I have much pleas
ure in being able TO correspond with
one 50 far away. Thank you very much
for the nice interesting letter yod sent
me. / am sure by the description you
gave me OF your schOo!-life sou must
be very happy. I VIII tell YOU about
mine. / am thirteen years old and am
"A scholar Of the school above My
teacher is Miss Gordon. and ] am in the
seventh standard. / must first tell you
that the London school board has pasg-
ed into the hands Of the London county
council. This happened on May l. We
The Washington times., 1904-06-12
CORRESPONDENCE betv

- CORRESPONDENCE between pu-
pills OF the Washington public
- schools. and those OF like in
situations in the capital and metropolis
Of Great Britain is one of the new
features Of the modern system of educa-
ton as applied here. The correspon-
dence was begun here. and a number Of
letters have been received from school
children in London.
Interesting enough the letters are, con-
tanning naive accounts Of things and hap
penings as they have impressed them
selves upon childish minds. They are
AL In response to letters written by pu-
pills Of the public schools Of the city.
When the correspondence plan of 10
struction was first instituted the letters
OF the pupils were addressed TO other
pupils In other cities Of this country. so
satisfactory were the results attained
and Of so much value were they consid
cred by the responsible heads OF the
school system, that it was determined
20 broaden the scope Of the cnrrcspon-
oence AID have the pupils write to
pupils across the sea. This they did and
the letters that follow are the first that
have been received.
The Washington times., 1904-06-12

TERE IS the sensation of the year
n the Pocket Venus has turned
Il Il man-hater!
I did not like American men
because they were too ardent. TI.ey
frighten me. I do not like English
beaus because they are too stupid
They bore me" SO says Venus.
over in London they call her The
Pocket Venus" At home she is Miss
Pauline Chase. anectionately termed
Polly.
Though often reported engaged to
be married. she has at last made an
announcement which she says is her
final one. She hates men and will wed
no one. The English lord whose heart
has lain at her pretty feet is out OF the
running. She has refused him.
4 love three things" says she, MY
mother, my art and my automobile"
And. then. she adds prettily, and
live for three things. for fame. for the
work I expect TO do in the world. and
my dog" The last is with laugh to
take the seriousness out Of her words
SO. the prettiest little girl in the
world has announced her determination
TO die an old maid
II am welded to my art" says she
"If l could marry anyone it would be
my mother. But my heart tells me that
/ can never, never marry"
Sees No Lords.
SO discourses beautiful Miss Pauline
Chase, who IS voted By all the most
marvellous young American girl in Lon
don. While she chats. she looks out Of
the window affectionately. but she sees
not lords or miIliOnaires-
The Washington times., 1904-06-12

she had wanted to marry she could
have been married long ago.
Her first sutton was the millionaire
owner Of newspaper. He gave her a
diamond crescent and laid his heart at
her feet
Her next sutton was the president Of
a great manufacturing company. For a.
while she wore his ring. When she
broke of the engagement ne insisted
upon her giving her mother many valu-
able presents. all for Polly
Miss PolIy's next sutton was a rich
young college man, an inventor and a
writer Of ability. She became engag ed
TO him in the afternoon and broke il in
the evening
Her next three suitors were business
men who thought they would be per
fectly happy with such a ray Of sun
shine IN thcir homes. She rejected all
three so quickly it made their heads
spin and their hearts ache.
Galaxy of Men.
Then came a galaxy Of men about
town, chappies and young fellows Of all
descriptions and ages. As an example
Of how a pretty girl can attract both
old and young it can be mentioned that
within a year Miss Polly has made two
deep conquests. one Of them being a
man of eighty-seven. with title, and
the other a boy Of seven, both Of whom
were willing and anxious to lay their
hearts and other incidentals at her feet
She has had proposals from working
men and men of leisure and proposals
fro.a men who were nothing at all but
just plain simple adorers Of Miss Polly
Chase.
The Washington times., 1904-06-12

Lempcs," said the gossips, one day last
winter.
1T isn't true" said Polly.
She is engaged 20 me-" said Million
airc Cannon.
said Polly.
Then marry me-" suggested another
millionaire. a man prominent in the bus
mess world of London.
I shall never marry" reiterated Miss
Chase.
This Is why have made up my mind
TO be IN old maid says Polly. Il have
had as many suitOrs now as most girls Of
twice my age. J know the men Of Europe
and the men Of America. And while ]
like them. would not think Of marry
Ing them"
She Is a Man Halter.
ITO tell the truth" conhdes Miss
Chase, i have become a man hater.
am outgrowing my liking for men and
from liking them I begin to dislike
them I prefer to live for my mother.
Men have too many faults"
Miss Polly and her mother are always
together. They travel together and drive
together. Occasionally Mrs. Chase lets
her daughter get out Of her sight a few
minutes, FOR what mother can always
watch her daughter. But, when evening
comes. thu two are together again din
ing, or enjoying the play, with Miss
Polly on the stage and her dear little
mother IN the audience.
I'VE are going to take a house in the
suburbs this summer" says Polly, land
while there we shall enjoy the country
We both like the country, my mother
The Washington times., 1904-06-12

Is in london. and the other. Windsor
Castle which is a good way out of Lon
don When YOU write 10 me again
would YOU kindly tell me your age
Hoping these views and the letter viii
interest you. I remain, your friend,
Albert Harding. To Alfred Rocrick,
TYLER School