davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-27

effort. 1t pays, too, for 1 go to shave
him at his house, and barber who
can talk discerningly about carbure-
tors and spark plugs and such things
is valuable as a conversational aid
and gets liberal tip.
Eyes, sir, the modern barber is all
things to all men. Every customer
has something which he likes to talk
about and he starts up the topic often
to let loose his enthusiasm or to ex-
press his Indignation. If the Giants
have lost and he feels that the situa-
ton with regard to the pennant is
disgraceful, the baseball enthusiast
finds in the barber an intelligent and
appreciative listener to opinions about
umpires and managers and ice wagons
and punches of errors.
"One of the favorite topics of con-
vorsation which engages the attention
of the regular customer is the nation
ality of his barber. For that reason I
always keep posted on everything per-
tanning to Italy, for although / was
not born there 1 am so Italian in my
appearance that the gentlemen think
that I only recently landed. l am we'll
versed now in Roman history, the
beauties Of Florence and the Italian
school Of music. That answers very
we'll for at least three customers, one
an Italian banker, another an archi-
tect and the third a German professor
of music who is often pleased to tell
how Wagner excels anything in the
way of italian opera ever produced.
That young man who just went out
is connected with a neighboring dane
ing academy. 1t is fortunate that
saved that clipping about the new
waltzes. Anticipating that he would
be in soon read 1t with great care.
think 1t should be good for shampoo,
a facial massage and ten cent appli-
cation of the newest hair tonic"
Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-27

heart that you have done all the dam
age you possibly could? There was that
little Collins girl, with the snub nose,
who started in to captivate the boy
with the ruddy curls, and full, rich lips
are you positive you got him COM
pletely away from her and that he
didn't sneak back occasionally when
you were upstairs getting your daily
facial massage? That would be a seri-
GUS oversight and you would fail in
your mission of fascinating widow If
any one escaped even while you were
upstairs with a masseuse.
What are you widow for if it is
to lose any chances? You might as well
go into colors at once!
mot that you wanted the boy, Of
course; but simply the natural pride in
attaching everything that came your
way. The widow more than any other
being appreciates this!
Another thing-were you perfectly
satisfied with the black silk princess
bathing suit-did it create the havoc
for which it was planned, and are you
sure the curves were perfectly fault
Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-27
CULTURE FOR BARRIERS
Educated Customers Require Distin-
guished Ability in Conversation

did it ever occur to you," asked the
educated barber, "how much a man
who stands in a tonsorial esta blish-
ment all day may learn? Now in this
neighborhood there come here reg
ularly gentlemen of refinement and Gull
ture. We cater to no other class. 1t
keeps me busy reading to have enough
topics on hand to talk about. The bar
ber is not responsible for all the con-
versation in the shop. AS matter 0f
fact, he does not start the conversation
IN most cases. No, sir; l would not
presume to engage gentleman in con-
versation unless he first began 1t.
The up-to-date barber must know I'LL
about the last interesting murder case,
and when a customer says, Now what
do you think of that-do you think the
tall man with the red beard or the
short man with the black mustache did
the shooting?' the lather artist must
be able to give quick and intelligent
answer.
"The operator at the next chair to
just now. One of our best customers
came in, and 1t was evident to me that
he felt very strongly about revelations
concerning society persons being black
mailed. MY associate, saw at a
glance, was not in touch with the
situation. I gave him signal to say
yes and he could make no mistake. go
he started up asserting vigorously,
saying that 1t was shame and that
the rascals should be brought to JUS
tice. He did 1t very well. and after
we were alone heartily congratulated
him on his exploit, at the same time
putting him en- rapport with the situa-
tion. The gentleman who just went
out knows all about automobiles. and
the way have been studying the in
side Of those vehicles required mental
Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-27
Bennington Was Once a Cholera Ship

men viewed the matter. So they di !;
their early work, ate their breakfasts
and lit their pipes when the smoking
lamp was aglow, and smoked in silence.
Talking wasn't going to do anybody
any good, and they knew it.
But the lily livers of the crew
for'ard (and I'm bound to say there
were few Americans among them) took
it another way. They turned out shak-
ing, and muttering and exchanging
looks with each other, and blamed if
some of them didn't appear to be afraid
to go as far aft as the hammock net
tings on the main deck to stow their
sleeping bags, they were in such panic.
"Well, the skipper of the ship (Com-
mander Pigman he was. and no better
man ever ate in a one-handed mess)
had the crew called to quarters a bit
ahead of time that morning and then
made us a little talk. He didn't try to
minimize the terror of cholera but he
said there wasn't any danger. He de-
SLIlOGd lllG lAPlOilo VI
the disease and said that If a man felt
any of these during the day he should
report at once and have the surgeon
look him over"
Naturally, imagination played havoc
among the more fearful and in FIVE
minutes a dozen or more were present
ing themselves to the surgeon. There
wasn't a thing the matter with them.
Then occurred that which is a part
Of sailors superstition-the presence
Of sharks when there is death on board
ship. In Honolulu harbor there are
many sharks and the next morning they
came in great schools about the Ben
nington. There they remained until
the body went ashore to be buried about
noon.
Then the ship was put under in
definite quarantine. In need of fresh
provisions the crew was not permitted
to land, being kept off in one attempt
at Lahaina by the we'll directed guns
Of the natives, who lined up on the
shore and forbade their approach. Re-
dueed to dining on junk and cracker
hash twas a pretty blue time for the
crew.
At length. after three months of this
miserable existence. they We're per-
mitted to land at Hilo on the main
land Of Hawaii. and In celebration of
once more being at liberty there fol-
lowed "the most whooping blue jacket
drunk" on record. The Hilo author
titles swore in many Kanaka deputies
with the idea Of curbing the enthusiasm,
Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-27

From the N. Y. Herald.
Much has been written about the pic
turesqueness of Cuba's capital, it's eli
mate, its attractions as a winter resort
but little has been said about it's social
life, and that is rather an important
feature in city of 250,000 inhabitants
Tourists who go to Havana for a few
days, unless they carry letters of in
PRODUCTION, see nothing of the social life
of the city, and many complain that
the women are neither beautiful nor
we'll dressed. But that is from lack of
opportunity for seeing at close range
the members of Havana's best society.
If one has letter of introduction to
some prominent family he will be en-
tertained in so charming a manner that
he will have no cause for complaint
about Cuban hospitality, and he will
see more pretty women in a shorter
where. Cuba has been a republic for
only three years; the yoke of Spain, al
ways a CALLING one, was especially Sc
we're on women, but it is surprising to
see how quickly the Cubans have re-
sponded to American influence and how
much the educated Cuban woman cop
les her American sister.
Under Spanish rule women of position
never went out alone, married women
as little as single women; they were
n lr,ox,s aoooronantad hxr oOpna m oanah har
of the family or an old servant. Today
many women pay visits and shop alone,
and in few years it will be a common
sight to see Cuban women on the streets
unaccompanied by the proverbial duen-
ma. Girls go out in pairs, and as
families are large and family affection
strong, friendships between sisters are
more frequent than with us. Cuban
women have fewer amusements than
we have in large cities. There are no
matinees to which they can go alone,
no art exhibitions, no fairs, few con-
certs, no card parties and no women's
clubs.
The most common mode OF entertain
ing is the afternoon or evening day at
home, These occur every week, twice
a month or once month. In the latter
case the evening reception usually
means a dance. for the Cuban is very
fond Of dancing and seizes with avidity
upon each opportunity to indulge in the
favorite pastime. The large salas, with
their marble floors. ceilings from fifteen
to twenty feet in height, with full
length windows opening upon little ball
comics or wide verandas, make excellent
bathrooms. and II It Is understood that
Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-27

There; think that will do for the
present.
Having summed up you lovely
bronze haired thing, I wish to know
precisely how many men you have had
at your feet since the first of June
now don't forget any, for it is highly
important to remember each one.
Couldn't count them on both hands?"
CHolding them up before glass, and
spreading fingers with their beautiful
rngs.) THAT is well, and only what
every properly brought up widow ought
to be able to say But, how many
young girls, think you, are able at this
minute to say the same thing? Poor,
hard working, ill-succeeding summer
girls What trumpery lot they are
and how fortunate you are in not being
one of them If they lead one poor, un-
suspecting man to the water and make
him propose they are the envy of all
their sisters, and have done great
things with their summer; whereas
widow, if she had to work a quarter
as hard and only reaped such meager
results, would think that her mis-
sion in life was ended But the ques-
tion, now that the summer is over, and
a very vital one:-Do you accept any of
these offers and marry, or do you re-
main as you are?
Don't answer hastily; it is a serious
matter-the most serious that can con-
front a widow. You remember the life
Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-27
PANACEA FOR EVERYTHING
New England Woman Was Generous
to a STRANGER

Last fall an Englishwoman of letters
was staying. as the guest of an elderly
lady at a country house in western
Massachusetts While they were driv-
ing one afternoon they had the mis-
fortune to meet the omnipresent auto
mobile at a sharp turn of the road. The
horse, being spirited, SHE'D, dashing
the carriage against a tree and throw
ing it's occupants into the road.
The Englishwoman picked herself up
uninjured, but was horrified to see her
aged hostess lying on the ground un-
conscious. Running TO nearby farm
house, she knocked for some time be-
fore she finally succeeded in bringing
a sunbonneted woman to the door.
"A lady has been hurt-thrown from
a carriage. She is lying down there in
the road. Can you give me some whisky
for her?" cried the visitor in breathless
anxiety.
"Well. no, we don't never keep no
whisky" said the native-born after
some deliberation. Would the lady
like piece o. pie?"
Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-27
Gay Social Life i'm the Capital of Cuba

there will be dancing at certain house
the hosts will not lack for guests.
Dinners are confined almost entirely
to the diplomatic set, and dinner dances
are unknown. Cards hold sway only at
the mems clubs or In the American
colony, and no description of the social
life in Cuba of the present day would
be complete without a mention of the
American colony. It's principal head
quarters Is in the Vedado, the pretty
modern suburb by the sea, where the
houses are mostly detached and set in
quaint tropical gardens. 1t is easily
reached by trolley from Havana. There
Is fine carriage road sllrting the
sea from the Malecon to the Calzada,
with the exception of a few blocks
still uncompleted. In the Vedado the
American influence is very strong. Here
you see woman and girls alone visiting
at the weekly progressive euchres,
bridge parties or at the tennis club.
This club is quite an institution, its
membership including all the young
men of social prominence who gener-
ously offer the freedom of the club to
their women friends on Mondays and
Fridays. This winter the club went In
for football, and the games were tre-
mendously popular.
The presence of so many foreign min
listers gives a diplomatic flavor to So
ciety which is very pleasant. Our min
lister, Herbert G. Squiers, who went to
Cuba from China, where he was first
secretary Of the legation at Peking, has
his residence at Marianao. The lega-
tion is at Prado 49, altos. or the upper
floor of a two-storied house on the
Prado, where all the business is trans
acted. Mr.. Squiers' house was for
merly the summer home of rich
Cuban family. 1t is one story in height.
with a patio IN the center and mag
nifcent garden at the rear. The sala
extends across the front of the house
and opens on wide piazza. 1t is beau
tifully furnished and contains many
objects Of art picked up in foreign
countries. Back of the sala is Mr.,
Squiers' library. The long corridor
leading to the dining room has its
tables and chairs. its pedestals, bric-a-
brac and vases of flowers. The dining
room. opens on the garden, and is al
very stately apartment The minister
and his wife, assisted by three attrac-
tive daughters. entertain charmingly
They have weekly reception day, and
usually give a couple of dances during
the season, invitations to which are
eagerly sought after. Opposite the
Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-27

The Bennington, so lately the victim
of dreadful explosion and the scene OF
such dire loss Of human life, was once a
cholera ship. 1t was in Honolulu in
1895 that she was avoided as a leper
by all the Hawaiian ports.
For three months in quarantine in
that vicinity, within sight Of land but
with not chance to get ashore, that
was job wouldn't go through again
for quadruple sea pay" was the YER
dict of man who was on board at the
time.
The ship was not really swept by the
cholera and only one hand died of the
disease, but the ship was as isolated
as the island of Molokai, the prison of
the Kanaka lepers.
The presence of cholera on board was
traced to singular cause. cargo Of
Chinese coolies had been shipped to
Honolulu on the steamer Belgic, to lie
put at work on the sugar plantations.
On the way over cholera had broken
out but was set down as pneumonia,
and no report was made Of it.
In the Chinese quarter at Honolulu
runs a creek wherein the coolies wash
their clothes. Near the mouth of the
creek lay the Bennington and in that
place the crew OF the Bennington took
their evening swim. At Honolulu the
dread disease had broken out The first
evidence Of 1t on the ship was in the
case Of Willie Goebel of Georgetown,
d. c., who after his swim and during
the evening watch began to show the
symptoms. BY midnight, after terrible
suffering, he was dead. and the crew
felt that the plague was upon them.
"It was mighty curious to watch the
effect of that news on the men for'ard"
(quoting again from the same member
of the crew. "It gave us a fine chance
to mark dead line of cleavage be-
tween the game. or rather the self-con-
tanned men and the natural born
towards
when all hands were piped the men
who were there with what you might
call the nerve turned out the same as
usual, lashed and slowed their ham
mocks and turned to without any
ehaw among themselves or casting any
glances aft The boy was dead Of
Asiatie cholera. Well, what Of that?
THE cholera had a fine chance to
sweep the ship and make her charnel.
Sure, but what OF that, either2 That
was the way the decent self-controlled
Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-27

you led with poor Harry-cat and dog
was the name for it, Are you anxious
to try that again? For, of course, it
would always be the same. Don't fool
yourself into thinking that it wouldn't.
while the life of a widow is full of
varied and interesting experiences.
Poor Harry! Perhaps he would be
surprised at your remaining in black
so long, for he hadn't the highest opin-
ion of your devotion, If you remember?
Was there ever anything invented
which brought out the tints of a fair
complexion more effectively? (She
turns that the light may fall upon her
complexion at different angles.)
"Ah, it would be a pity to give it up!
"A young girl has little or no horizon,
a married woman none at all, while
widow-she has the world at her feeti
$50, after your fifth summer of
widowhood, what is it to be? (She
smiles fondly at the reflection in the
glass, which smiles back at her.)
mo, Marie Louise, you are too young
and too pretty, and you know a good
thing when you see it, SO stick to the
weeds. ~ IA
"There is no necessity for haste. You
could have Mrs. on your tombstone If
you died tomorrow, and, ah, black is
supremely becoming. I think you'll
keep them guessing one more season
any way"
(The end.)
Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-27
fearful MIX

A lady was complaining to her dairy
man some time ago about the quality
Of his milk. short o. grass feed. mum
short o. grass feed this time O. year."
said the Jocular milkman. "Rless you,
them COWS o. mine are just as sorry
about II as / am. | often stands and
watches 'em cryin'-regular cryin',
mum-because they feel as how their
milk don't do 'em credit. You don't
believe it?" "Oh. yes, / believe IT,"
said the lady hut / wish in future
you'd see that they don't drop their
tears into our can."-The Taller.
Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-27

freckles. think you feel do you not,
that he was constant, even when the
daily massage was going on7 That
thud, thud of tennis shoes outside your
door while the masseuse was at work
would seem to imply that 1t was so
even without the utter discontinue of
the brunette-ugh how she hated youl
And from girl to a woman is there
more sincere compliment?
'It was too bad that that golfer should
have escaped, and so near the landing
point, tool Not that you cared in the
least for him, but it's a pity to spoil
your record when it has been such a
clean one-makes you feel as though
you might as well be merely pretty
young girl, or something of the sort!
Another failure like that and you may
as we'll leave off your weeds.
What have you to say to that, Marie
Louise Burton? You know you can't
deny it, so it is useless to give me those
reproachful glances; they don't go down
with me, M. II. b.!
But if you failed with the golfer I
think you squared it with the husbands
who came up over Sundays-you GER
tainly would be losing your fascination
if they had hung around their own
stupid wives instead of stealing off into
shady corners with you'll Do you know,
think it awfully good of you to be so
entertaining to other peoples husbands?
It's philanthropy, that's what it is, posi-
tive philanthropy.
For you know. and nobody better,
what husbands are-oh, 1 didn't mean
to make you look triste, nor to speak
on boresome subjects-but other peo-
pies husbands, that is different pro-
position. When you tire of them you
merely send them back to their devoted
loyal spouses, who, by the way, are
ready to eat you, instead of feeling
grateful to you for taking them off their
hands and amusing them little. other
mems wives-pshaw! 1t is impossible
Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-27

house is the tennis court, and on Sat-
urday afternoons friends of the family
come out for game Of tennis or cro-
quet and a cup of tea.
Havana is at its apogee during the
carnival season, which not only In
cludes the three days before Ash We'd
days. There are balls, professions. the
afternoon paseo along the Prado, when
the coaches pass in triple line up and
down each side of the broad boulevard,
some of the occupants in costume. some
in mask and domino and others in rich
afternoon Dress all receiving and
throwing showers of confetti and rolls
of serpentina.
Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-27

| less and that the black silk beauty
bonnet was as becoming as you meant
1t to be?
ut certainly was an inspiration to
have the graceful black French poodle
follow you to the waters edge and
stand with rosetted feet mincingly
poised, while the black gowned maid in
her 'bonne cap, with the long stream
ers, held him on leash.
your black silk bathing cloak which
she wrapped about you as you came out
was it as effective as you thought it
would be when you posed before the
full length mirror at home to try it on?
"Ah, do understand you to say that
the bathing suit, with the poodle and
all the other accessories, went abso-
lutely beyond your widest anticipa-
tions? 1t is well, and you are credit
to your class!
There was not a creature on the
beach-that is, a certain species Of
creature, for, of course, nothing else
COuDlS-WnlCn was nOI dltfdCteu dS liS
lodestone attracts the magnet, and the
poor debutantes and summer girls were
routed completely. Good girl Marie
Louise! That's what you're a widow in
black silk bathing suit for, and 1
must pat you on the back. Ooes so
approvingly).
"Then, my dear, how about the sheer
black mulls and grenadines for which
you paid such outrageous prices-did
the fair white flesh suggest itself salts
factorily through the mist as you in
tended it should? What was it that
blond Adonis said-the one, 1 mean,
who came up to see his fiancee that
insipid little freckled brunette with the
pouting lips, and who never got beyond
well, you know whom.
ga gleam of heaven behind dark
clouds A fairly decentish sort of thing
for blond Adonis to say, and it would
be a pity to waste speechmaker of
that sort on an insipid brunette with
Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-27
-HE speaker is a tall Titan haired h
vision in shimmering black, with a

THE speaker is a tall Titan haired
vision in shimmering black, with
little turnover collar and cuffs of
sheerest white muslin. Her Titan
tresses are done in the most approved
fashion, with a wealth of marcel wav-
ing, and her frock fits as though she
had been reduced to syrup and poured
in while warm. She sits before sconcc
decked dressing table, her elbows rest
ing in clearing between the embossed
silver pieces, and takes earnest counsel
with the reflection in the glass:
Eyes, Marie Louise Burton, the sum-
mer Is over and what have you accom-
plished? Are you thoroughly satisfied
with yourself, and what you have done?
-'ear me, think there are few traces
of that horrid sunburn yet in the cream
iness of your complexion, near the left
ear! They must be removed with
dream cream or a visit to the beauty
doctor at once-no such blemish must
be allowed to remainl l repeat Marie
Louise, are you satisfied with your sum-
mer and do you feel in your inmost
Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-27

for any one, least of all for a widow,
to please them, so why try?
IT want to know if you can look me
square in the eyes and say it is the
most thoroughly satisfactory summer
you ever passed? It's your fifth, you
know, in your present interesting role
and unless it is the most completely
satisfactory of all you are losing, has it
been a series of brilliant successes, and
do you feel that if you had it to live
over you could have possibly made a
better score? Take your time to answer,
think it over carefully and let me have
your mature verdict.
mo? A record breaker in all re-
spects and has exceeded your previous
records by large majority-not
thing, except the golfer, that didn't
fall as easily as a sparrow to your
darts? That is well. Marie Louise and
you are a clever young thing, worthy
of the name of widow. 1 respect you!
THAT isn't the suggestion of
wrinkle, is it, coming there between
the eyes? Heavens! that masseuse
must be discharged tomorrow if she has
no more conscience about her work
than that! AS If wrinkles had any place
on widows face, precisely as if she
were one of the sad. careworn mortals
of earth! Perish the thought and per-
ish the wrinkle" (She begins slowly
with her taper fingers
outward from the nose and very daftl,,\