davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13

Considering that the oil I'm, while TIE o,
ter is on his vacation, Is not only In the
public eye, but also in everybody's mouth,
the woman decided that it would be the
proper and timely thing to do to interview
him.
Frightened at the thought Of approaching
the naughty Little Neck clam, surrounded
as he is by the show OF expensive table
cloths, the hum OF stringed instruments,
the perfume Of flowers and the supercilious-
ness of walters, she HE'D her to the home OF
the Poet and the soft shell clam on the
Shrewsbury River.
There with the help Of hoo she gained
access to the soft shell clam. Together
then they sat on the sand. she and tho
Poet and the clam. She felt confidence
unusual in an interviewer. There we're
no doors through which their victim might
escape, no office boys to protect him. She
had him fast in her hand.
The woman tried to think up an appro-
pirate question and hold on to the inter-
viewed one at the same time. At last one
came to her.
slave you ever seen clam chowder9'
she asked.
She was struck with amazement at the
effect OF this question. With wildly
reproa chful glance in her direction the clam
shut right up.
"You should be exceedingly careful"
advised the Poet-the Poet was full OF
advice, what questions you begin with.
Don't make them too personal. He ia either
hurt by your remark or he is afraid that some
day he might be in position to gaze upon
=, .ho -dar Yon'H hottar allow
The woman heaved a sigh.
Il am sorry l tried to interview him.
she said. He is 80 sensi''"r. wish now
l had interviewed hl. shell crab in
stead"
She waited while. At length the clam
poked out his head and once more took
look at her.
Thank you very much for that smiled
the woman. Then In the effort to smooth
over her ofrenso she began in this wise;
Il knew that some city CLAIMS might have
passed through the kitchen while the
chowder was being made but should have
realized that you couldn't have heard of
one down here in the country"
Tho clam smiled back at her. He reached
his neck little further out. He spoke.
There are so many more interesting
subjects OF conversation here in the country
he said vaguely. III you must talk. I
would much rather you talked of the
weather and the scenery, II you please
There are plenty Of those"
The woman lapsed into silence, wonder
ing at the smallness Of his voice and il il
was NO small be- ause ii , al to come 30 far
up through his rJhEo- rc,! X,
you Tcust ave eon Somewhere nca,
a stew. the ~, L.. .e.i't .tu?' Sic asked
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13
titude a Quality Of the Swapping Turtle.
Chain Of sortunes That Drove Cousin Dooe Back to Pen
vana After Life Of Ease Over Toward Pochuck

CHESTER, N. Y, Aug. 12.-"Cousin
Doolittle has gone back to Pennsylvany :"
said the man who in insisting that he comes
from over toward Pochuck is not abashed
by any doubts. either implied or expressed
He's gone Cousin Dooittle has. and I'm
mortal 'feard he won't come back no more
I'd a had him come over here to stay a
spell, only was afeard mebbe you'd have
snappin' tortle soup. and that d panied
Cousin Doolittle ag in, and sot him in the
dumps"
The landlord didn't say whether there
might have been a chance OF his having
mapping turtle soup or not if Cousin Doo-
little had come over, and presently the man
whose fealty to the allegation Of his domicile
is answering resumed.
-Yes." said he. 1T was snappin tortle
coup that druv Cousin Doolittle back to
Pennsylvany.
He'd been sort O. visitin' Uncle David
Beckendarter and Aunt Sally sence last
npring, and when corn plantin time come
along he was took had with the roomytiz
and he couldn't help none with the plantin',
much as he wanted to. When he was
.ufferin' with it the wust way he did manage
TO git to the county seat, twenty mile, to
70 to the circus, sayin' that mebbe it mowt
do him power O good, but it didn't, and
re never seemed to rally and git around
no way ablebodied at all, not till the corn
was oil in.
.Then, when haydn come along poor
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13

There is 30 much uncertainty about the
merits OF song before 1t has been tried
that managers sometimes spend thousands
OF dollars in an attempt to make 1t 60,
not by means OF it's own qualities, but by
external elements.
"A catching melody said man who
expects to prepare half a dozen musical
shows before Christmas, will do more to
make a musical piece 60 than all the in
cidental business and show girls in crea-
ton.
Belinda for instance, would have
needed only one voice to make 1t sensa-
tional success, although it was undeniably
improved by pretty girls. maneuvers and
fine costumes. The seAtet Of 'Floradora
would have made ss great a hit II only
two people had sung it.
There was real melody In those two
times and the vital element OF success,
Pretty girls in pretty clothes performing
graceful evolutions were, of course, an
addition to the songs, but they could never
have been downed If they had been given
in way that let the audience hear them.
But all the song writers don't do their
work so we'll as these two did. and the
managers have to pay not only for the
privilege Of bringing out songs but also
for the costumes and the wages of the
chorus girls that sing them. Formerly II
eight or ten girls came out and went through
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13
Thousands Spent by Managers to Make Songs Succeed

incidental aid that could think Of
we bad for those four songs forty
girls who could do little else In the show,
a. they were required to make eight changes
Of costume as il was Thor salaries added
$500 to the expenses.
For the four songs I made only four
changes. sent on each lot In four sets
Of costumes, sixteen at time. Tho first
bunch had to appear for the fourth chorus
and thus had two changes. Il was arranged
that each one Of the sets Of sixteen had this
double change In one OF the four songs.
sThe number Of costumes needed for each
change was sixty-four. Each Of them cost
not q cent less than 500. That made the
dresses for every song 600 The four
brought up the cost OF dressing these four
songs to about $25, 900.
there have been fancy songs In the big
pantomine productions that cost even moro.
A pansy ballet with different kinds Of dow-
ers referred to In every verso cost In pam
tomine at the New Amsterdam moro than
$3.50
ager said as he mopped his brow and
went back to put another set Of young
women through their stunts preparatory
to starting song that was to be feature
Of Q new extravaganza, x always love to
read an advertisement that '1uokahoe, ;
'Cordelia' or some other ditty Is the real
success Of the India Rubber Girl hap
pen to know how much money and work
it costs to get even two recalls for that
song;
out Of song writer's than their own pub
fishers do
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13

sAnd you expect ms to eat snappln'
tortle soup" says Cousin Doolittle. Uncle
David says he, how could you?
I couldn't says Uncle David. But
know what I'd "a done II I'd been along
that creek, says he. And Cousin Doolittle
says what would he "a done?
I'd "a yanked that snappin' tortle
of O. that bear as it had you by the legs
says he. and I'd "a let the bear proceed
with It's chawin'r says he.
Cousin Doolittle, poor unfortunate Teller,
could stand the roomytiz and the lumbag,
In the back and the fever and agur, but he
couldn't stand that, and SO he's gone back
to Pennsylvany. and I'm afeard he won't
come to see Uncle David and Aunt Sally
no more.
and to show you how much I think O.
Cousin Doolittle, and KNOWN what snappin'
tortles done for him, / won't be able to
ever eat snappin tortle soup agin. though
there amt nothin' that was ever stewed
or billed or baked or fried that sets half al
good on me as snappin' tortle SOUP"
But when the landlord said that was too
bad, because they were going to have
snappin' turtle soup for dinner at the tavern
to-day, and he was going to ask the Pochuck
narrator to stay and dine with him, the
Pochuok man appeared respondent, and
got up by and by and went away. saying
something about Cousin Doolittle not being
the only Teller that misfortune was on the
trail Of, not by jugful,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13
Modesty of the Soft Shell Clam.
An Interview With Prominent Citizen Of the Shrewsbury With Con-
cuon Satisfying to the interviewer.

-Efiss ss: THAT is at some time in your
Here strong commissions spoke Of a
second retirement
Il think It would perhaps BE- better.
suggested the Poet, TO leave tho subject
Of eatables out Of this interview. You
might realize that he would DO touchy on
the subject.
-You are quite right returned the
would hardly b worth while to say any
thing about fritters. He wouldn't care
to fritter his time away answering, would
he? And it's q pretty warm day, too. to
dwell upon fries: Isn't it7 He doesn I
seem to be particularly clamorous any
comes right down to being interviewed:
Poet. shat he didn't -,ek the interview.
You had to dig him up, you know
You have to dig most Of them up the
woman informed him, but they get chirpy
enough after they are dug up: First they
pretend they don't want publicity, then they
end by hauling out life sized portraits of
She was interrupted by the clam, who
began to rubber again.
III you please. said he, would much
rather not he interviewed to-day. Some
other day, maybe. This hurredly, lis
my busy day
The woman sent a serene smile In the
direction Of the Poet.
Fancy his talking like that. she said,
"I'd good deal rather not have any
attention attracted to me-. the clam has
Il think 1 know Why explained the
Poet. He's afraid II he gets the reputa-
,ion Of the Little Neck clam they'll all want
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13

few graceful movements while singing
the chorus the audience was satisfied.
Now five times as many are necessary.
The reason for this increase came with
tho greater elaborateness Of production
and from the failure Of the song writer to
deliver the goods often enough.
That song won't 80 with ten girls
the stage managers :. ~asoned. Then We
will try it with forty ~. g.,
take the process now. When song
is accepted for a musical production It is
handed TO the stage manager. He takes
it home and thinks about 1t hard.
'The music may sound all right to him.
Ke has seen so many unexpected successes
and failures that he doesn't pay any atten-
ton to the melody. He merely tries to
think out all the incidental business he
can.
$50 he sends in for the first chorus, q
troupe Of girls dressed az. Indians Then
be will put In sixteen more dressed as sail
ors, and 30 on.
nowadays that does not have three big
songs at least. And the general public
sitting in front has no idea what the effort
to make these songs successful costs the
managers and how often all their invest
ment is wasted
Il will give you an example OF what 1t
costs sometimes to make q song composer
seem as clever as ne thinks he Is. I put
on a big spectacular production last week
with four OF these big songs with ever
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13

Teller, he was took the helplessest kind with
lumbago In the back, and he couldn't git
even as fur as the medder back O the house,
and he actu'lly shed tears. he felt 80 bad
cause he couldn't help git In the crop
and yit Uncle David didn't seem to have no
sympathy for him at all, and Aunt Sally
from all could jedge, was leetle peppery
to'ards him. too.
Il never did see misfortune foller any
mortal man the way 1t follered Cousin Doc
lit le We got in the last OF our hay and
he was beginnin' to feel a good deal better
of the lumbago and said he was so glad;
cause now he could pitch in and help with
cuttin' the rye, when the first day O. harvest
he was took outrageous with the fever and
agur and couldn't git to the kitchen door,
he shook so.
But Aunt Sally was unpityin' enough
to say that 1t was good thing for him that
our rye crop was short this year, cause now
he wouldn't have to shake and SILVER not
moro than three days. II 1t had been a
good season, she SAIL the agur would "a
lasted him more than week. But, poor
Teller, he never said word back.
"The day the last O. the rye was In Cousin
boo little come to dinner, and Uncle David
asked him il he'd have some O. the snappin'
tortle soup. l thought Cousin Doolittle
ID fall out O. his chair.
'Snappin' tortle soup! he says. Why,
I'd as soon eat piece O. my brother as to
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13

more than getting by, but I'm no hog if
the figures anywhere near right. Let's
have It straight. What's the haul-down Of
the municipal department going to come
tor
-One-half the receipts, he remarked. he
thought would appease the municipal de-
partment for the injury which had been
Inflicted upon the Plaza by the more or less
Of q nuisance of a merTy-go-round.
and had 'er cased up for shipping before
morning. I'd ha' lost money with a de-
olare-in Of half. and couldn't see it.
Il made the long jump from Buena Ven
tura to Callao then. When got to Callao,
0u1a t9 here assa CT
the municipal departmkt told me that I'd
have to set up right alongside Of him or not
at all in Calao.
Il took the alternative Of going into COM
petition with the greaser. for his whizzer
only make about ten revolutions a minute
without falling apart, and Id tinkered my
spinner up until 1t was pretty good again.
figured that l could nail the business on
the strength Of running superior machine,
and was right.
Il got a scrub Andes pony for twenty
gold. and l had the greassr skinned from
the minute that / began to whirl. They
all fell for my faster-fying machine, and
for week or 30 I was scooping in the silver
almost as fast as If Id been in the States,
while the greaser's wheczer was neglected.
Then, one morning when l got down
to where my'plant was anchored found
my Andes pony lying on his side. as dead
as a sailed dogfsh looked over to where
the greaser ,wi;s standing. rolling cigarette
and looking disinterssted
~ didn't say anything to him, but got
another pony and did another days bust
ness. That pony, too. was very dead
when got around the next morning. My
greaser colleague was rolling another
cigarette, over by his whizzer, and from
the movement Of his lips appeared to be
mumbling his mathis.
I think says l to myself then. that
the Orpheum and the Bella Union and
such odds and ends Of places Of call and
entertainment up in San Francisco ought
to look pretty good about now
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13

eat snappin' tortle!' says he.
And before Uncle David or Aunt Sally
could git time to flare UP and say some
thin hotter yit than that snapper soup was
Cousin Dooltte went on and says:
Jest you listen a minute he says. and
then l guess you won't expect me to eat
snappin' tortle, neither in soup nor anyways
else! One time up in Pennsylvany some one
ketched tremendous big snappin' tortle
and they put it in barrel at the tavern
to fatten and git in shape for soup. when
they was goin' to have big layout.
Now. had different iCees about natur'
and natur's creeturs, and one day l tished
that tortle out O. the barrel and carried
1t over to the creek and let 1t 60. It stopped
second or so on the shore and took long
look at mo, and l says to myself that
guessed that tortle d know me the next
time it see me.
And did 1t know me the next tins 1t
see me-? says Cousin Doolittle. Jest listen,
and yol'll see whether it did or not.
One day, a month from that time.
was goin' up the creek, on my way to set a
bear trap. when what should Jump out O.
the brush and pitch into me but an all
swattn' big bear. That bear says Cousin
Doolittle, proceeded to shake me out o my
boots and breaches. and he was 80 dead sot
on to it that he'd "a done it, too. and it'd
been all up with Doolittle Pergenkamper
If hadn't tore loose and plunged into the
creek and pulled out for tother shore. the
creek bein' rampagin' flood, OWN to
weeks rain.
But takin' to the creek wouldn't "a
saved me II somethin' else hadn't happened,
for that bear plunged IN, too, and it follered
me 80 close and 80 fast that when got to
t'other shore and was pullin' myself out on
the bank the bear was right onto mo.
1T grabbed both O. my legs and went
to chawin' me and yankin' me back into
the ragin' food. shet my eyes and eaid
good-by to everybody, for couldn't see no
good reason why the time o. Doolittle
Pergenkamper hadn't come.
Suddenly, though, the bear give a
howl that almost druv mo deef, says Cousin
Doollttle, and at the same time it let 20 O.
my legs and tumbled back into the water,
I drug myself out on to tho bank and looked
back.
There was this bear howlln' and sput-
term and splashin' in the water, and tryin'
it's best to get away from somethin' or other
tnaG WEE OIUWuuih II ~ - buIO % LndC tlQe
was rollin'. And drownd that bear 1t did.
And the water whirled the bears carcass
back into an eddy that lay Jest below where
was sitttn'.
s'And then what did seef' says Cousin
Doolttle. I see tremendous big nappin'
tortle come crawlin' up out o. the water
from that dead bear. reco nized 1t IN a
minute as the one had saved from bein'
soup, and 1t had see me betn' chased by
that bear, knowed mo and Jest blocked
the bears little game by grabbin' 1t by
the hind feet and hoidin' 1t there till it
drowned the bear and saved Doolittle
Pergenkamperl 49,. Nksy
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13
$50

to eat him. He IL comparatively IT,
known now and consequently not 80 mu'
.There does seem to be Considerable
method IN his Madness said the woman,
but after travelling down hero especially
question or two at least.
II you had only left me IN my little bed
neck. III you hadn't disturbed me-
not be Interviewed, 4 you please. 1 have
no desire at all for notoriety. like it here
on the jersey coast. The mosquitoes are
flick sis suits me down o" to e. s ground
and under. I'd rather live humtly here
on the jersey coast, mosquitoes and ALL
he reiterated sadly, -than be served in New
York.
tight the woman couldn't get it open.
though she tried with all her might and
main.
Its a good deal for a claT to say in a
bunch, she said, but 1t isn't half enough.
1t won't on make s more than three nngers
him to utter q word or two more.
you see, said the Poet, 'there are some
they don't want. to be interviewed"
clam gave up and opened bis she'll again:
Tho woman gazed upon him. He gazed
back at her sadly without saying a word
see your finish, she sternly informed
him. "Now that I've got an interview
with you-such as 1t isl am going to
eat you"
She gleefully sprinkled pepper and salt
on him.
This is the first time In my life" she said.
that have had o chance TO get even with
the interviewed. have often felt like de-
youring them, but they always got away.
But nowl But now!" and she Laughed again
In a cannibalistic way as she spread on
final sprinkle Of salt and swallowed him
down.
In its conclusion at least the interview
was satisfactory.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13
SOME HOBBIES OF THE LOVELY
WAITER WHO WAS A COLLECTOR
or BUTTERFLIES.

Pull,,,s an Conductor an Artist-One Bar'
tender q DOC Trainer, Another
student Of Neutrality-suspicious.
Scientific Navigator Other Hobbies.
Stumbled on queer freak this morning,
said one Of tho group on the hotel piazza
What do you think Of waiter who has
fad for collecting butterlies?"
Always thought that collecting tips was
a walters limit said some ono else.
$50 did L. responded the first man.
till to-day, when found tho waiter
who's been bringing me my breakfast
cantering about on the hills back hero armed
with net and bottle Of chloroform and
paper Of pins.
Confessed to having collected butterflies
for Year,. He said he took summer hotel
Jobs 30 he could chase EN- when he WASH t
on watch.
sThere was no joke about his knowledge
Of EN-, either. He knew the Latin names
and pedigrees Of the whole boxful OF specl-
mons no had with him.
THAT sort Of thing isn't 80 uncommon
as you seem to think remarked . man
who observes things. Il get deal OF enjoy
nnent out OF q study OF the hobbies Of the
humble.
For instance, the Pullman conductor OF
ono OF tho trains running hero - clever
enough ct sketohing TO earn his living BY 1t.
When Il was suggested that ho might 1--we
more pleasantly and more proftably by
skstohing than BY taking up sleeping Gar
tjolets, be said that once when out Of . Job
he had earned enough to live ON by the sale
Of his sketches.
yet he went back to conducting tho first
chance he got. Sketohing was pastime
for him, and he couldn't seem TO grasp
|, the idea that It might be . real work.
sBartenden frequently have surprising
hobbies. One man who for many years.
mixed drinks at q big Broadway hotel
put In his spare time training dogs. have
been told that he was ono Of the most sue
oessful dog trainers IN the country and that
a visit to his homo was like . trip to the
CIRCUS Probably this man could have
dawn a biz salary with . circus or II,
vaudeville, but be preferred to compound
martins and mint fuleps for . living.
Another bartender had an acquaintance
With English literature that I rarely have
seen equaled. He was well known IN the
| days when Madison Square was tho center
OF New York life. II you were surprised
to find your waiter catching butterflies
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13

From he Richmond (Va.) formal.
Jack Johnson's yallow dog ohewed mp one
Of Gabe Tyler's boys white capes the other
day. and now tho dog has g. canvas back.
The Gotta ges are al filled and the summer
season Is At its height. Zach morning games
oner's base. rim E-around-rosy. hop SCOTCH
and poker, with an occasionaI same Of pe :
nockle. The afternoons arc spent In dis.
the nelghbors and sleeping. and at night the
the games are started over q gain. The sum.
msF ssa:sn o saRs d9r
IL thinking Of moving here to start flower
garden. We hope he will. for We are al fond
Gabe Tyler left this week for somewhere
IN the country: He loves to wander among
the daisies aud dells In the wildwood. Mr..
Boyle Ii going to whitewssh the new window
blinds during his absence.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13

UTICA, N. Y, Aug. l9.-Ten miles out Of
Utica. lying peacefully In the valley Of the
Oriskany, is the little village Of Clinton.
the home OF Hamilton College. with which
Secretary OF State Roots family has long
been associated. 1t is here that Mr.. Root
has his summer home.
One OF the most beautiful summer homes
in this part OF the State is the one occupied
by Secretary Root. II is situated almost
at the top Of College Hill and next to the
residence Of his brother. Prof. Oren Root.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13
y .EZHYY R0oTJ .SlVY2zEe REJDEWCE! CZLN2N

The house IL not new ono, but during the
five or six years that Mr.. Root has owned 1t
extensive improvements have been made.
OF late Mr.. Root has bought up much
property on the hill, and largely out OF
sentiment, for the price he pays is out Of
proportion to the value. The Harding farm,
a late acquisition, Was much admired by
his parents. Especially admired by his
father, Prof Oren Root, was splendid elm
tree and often he expressed the hope that
its life might be spared. Only time and the
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13
elements can disturb 1t now that secetaz,

elements can disturb 1t now that Secretary
Root 10 It's owner.
The house adjoining the homestead Mr..
Root secured because Of the pleasant
associations conferred there. He has gath
cred in one room the portraits Of it, former
residents, including Simeon North and
Prof. Upson his former teachers. This
dwelling now constitutes the Seorotarys
summer home.
Mr.. Roots home overlool1s tho campus Of
Hamilton College.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13

In the England of Elizabeth traces of the Middle
Ages fingered everywhere. Only Nifty years be
fore the date OF Shakespearc's marriage an italian
occupied the see of Worcester. "Rcllques. beads
indulgcnccs. dspenses. pardons. bulls were hardly
yet "the sport OF Winds: Wears General melted out
punishments for sowing discord betwi1t neigh
bors, working on festival days. playing 'foteoall
In prayer time. and playing the Middle on Low Sun
day: and a man might be communicated for
marrying In Advent.