davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-16

stock flashed above his head in the sun
rays that had just topped the distant
mesa and swung down as swift as the
flash it let out. The crow woman
dropped in a heap on the sand, her
body jerking with the muscles that
tightened and relaxed, frightened and
relaxed. Over her quivering body the
shaman bent, his voice mingling wildly
with the cry of the little mother.
Then he remembered the white man
who had brought this woeful thing
to pass. and he whirled toward the
hogan entrance. calling aloud to him
within. cursing him with all the curses
of the Navajo tongue. He threw his
rifle down and drew a knife from his
belt. Bears eat you! Snakes bite
you! Cheendy take you!" he cursed,
and he rushed into the hogan to kill.
The place was empty.
20 ye of little faith" kept ringing
in the tenderfoot's ear as he urged his
horse over the desert. THE mission
ary's wife would not have run away,
we of little faith the missionary s
wife would not have run away"
The horse was stiff from the night
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-16

other, and the Buster Brown con-
ceits are examples where newspaper
stories amount to genius. But this is
away off from correspondence. that We
started out with.
The letters that woman receives
run the gamut. from the most pathetic
TO those that are so silly or aggravat-
ing that one wonders at the nerve that
pens them.
While at the Worlds Fair wrote up
the ACQUISITION, the electrical contriv-
ance that promises to do much for
those who are deaf. Letters poured in
from people all over the country, whose
friends had sent them. copies of the
story. These letters were absolutely
pitiful. many of them appealing to my
very soul and asking If really thought
the writer's might be benefited. Every
letter of that nature received is an
swered personally, and if any good re-
suits the assurance that it had been in
my power to help one so afflicted would
be most grateful to me.
Again, story will fit exactly some
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-16
QUEER CORE SPONDENCE OF WRITERS

with hubby thrown in! 1t looks like a
cinch for any one who likes a farm and
nine children.
Being generously inclined, if any old
spinster or widow is hankering after
this farm and nine children and will
write me I will pass him along. We
are always generous with things we
do not want.
One woman wrote me a most abusive
letter some time ago that she knew
her husband was putting me up to
writing things. about her. and he tor
tured her by reading my stuff to her. /
felt sorry for her, because if any one
tortured me reading lots Of my stuff TO
me am sure I should land in a
straitjacket. The woman won all
my sympathy. Do get love lettersl
Honor bright. did not mean TO give
that away. but some of them must ac-
tually scorch the railroad ties And
when you think OF these letters coming
from absolute strangers who have
never seen you and never expect to, it
is awfully funny
Do like it? OF course do Even
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-16

tie girl on way-off Western farm and
the fearless outdoor life had got into
my brain. I never having been on a
Western farm in my life or any other
farm, his memory is a marvel.
Another wrote that he remembered
my brilliant stage career. This did him
credit, as my stage career Is limited to
one ride In the Deadwood stage of the
Wild West show. Then 1 was scared
to death nearly Haven't the ability
for a ''styge lydie'': wish I had
Some men feel sorry for me and want
to know If marrying some good fellow
would not be better than working, and
tell me they have nice little homes on
farms, and always wind up by saying
that the writer is considered rather
good looking" and a lot of other stuff
that smacks Of the BOBBY headed
house.
One man on a farm lost his wife; I
think she ran away with the hired
man, and he had only nine small chill
dren left on his hands. of which he gem
erousdy offered to make me the step
mother Declined with thanks. Just
think. farm and nine small children
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-16

particular case, and letter will come
actually "hurrahing'' for me and tell
ing me to "whoop 'em UP" adding that
1t was the best thing ever wrote, and
the evident satisfaction will make me
feel real good to know that some one
liked it.
Another will write, criticizing with
brutal frankness any cuts of my un-
fortunate self. One will praise them
exrravagantly and another will be Gym
ical and tell you so candidly what they
think of you that all the conceit is ta-
ken out of you in a solid lump. Such
letters are too funny for anything. 1t is
so queer to see yourself as others see
you.
Letters begging for your photo also
come in good share.
After my Nan Patterson story five
letters from eminent specialists asked
for more details, besides other letters
asking if I thought she were guilty.
Two noted criminologists also wrote
me.
During the fair a quantity of letters
came asking me to sell lot of old junk
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-16

for different people. To have read
them one would have thought me the
proprietress of second hand bazaar.
Another set of letters, presumably
written by men, wanted to know If
were woman or man." and the
funny reasons they would give for sus-
pecting me CT being a man would make
a wooden Indian grin.
The women write me long letters
about their domestic woes. asking ad-
vice as to the adjustment of matrimo-
NAL obliquities. Now, unless one be
hunting for trouble, it is wisest never
to give advice of that kind. Women also
write me, asking me to find them good
husbands, and men ask for wives They
certainly want lots for their money,
don't you think? Married women write
me of their troubles. asking me to
write on given subject, hitting it
hard, so that they can read 1t to hub
by. Scores of young girls write me as
to how they can get into newspaper
work and tage-struck girls ask me to
get them engagements.
One man wrote me that he remem-
bered me ever since was daring lit-
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-16

bringing full consciousness. and his
situation began to come TO him in all
its terror.
Down the river bank rushed the In
dian pony, following the tracks OF tha
tenderfoot.~ The white man was out OF
sight and the Indian was urging his
jaded animal. Into the stream the pony
staggered. In an instant the water was
at the saddle cinch and the horse reared.
plunged and fell on his side. Horse and
rider disappeared under the yellow
water; then the mans head came out
and he struggled at his leg to free ir
from the stfrrup under the horses
body. The animals drowning struggles
dragged them lower and lower. They
were both gone; then for an instant one
brown hand clutched at nothing above
the shiny water and was 1erked sud-
denly below.
The struggles in the water ceased
and the ripples ran to the shore. The
shadow OF crow fell over the boys
face and swept across the river.
"Quicksandi" shrieked the tenderfoot.
biting the blood from his fingers In his
terror.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-16

The sun was overhead when the cot
tonwoods along the Little Colorado
came in sight The white mans horse
was gasping for breath through
parched nostrils and his muscles were
working in jerks His feet dragged in
the sand and he stumbled and swayed
as he ran. Not two hundred yards be-
hind, the Indian rode. calm and deter
mined His gain had been slow but
constant
Somewhere across the river among
the cottonwoods was the mission where
the tenderfoot would be safe among
friendly Indians and with the brave
missionary and his wife. He was fifty
yards from the steep bank that led
down to the river, when the Indian
fired The tenderfoot wondered why
he had missed At the bank he felt a
great blow on his head and he knew
only that he was clinging TO his horses
name and going down, down, down.
In the silt-laden river the horse
stopped suddenly. burning with thirst.
and thrust his nose into the water
The tenderfOot rolled into the swift
stream and went whirling down It In
the water he became more conscious
of his condition, and when his arm
struck the branch OF a dead cotton
wood that had lodged at one side he
caught 1t and swung himself toward
the tree His body struck a rock and
he sat on IL, clinging to the cottonwood.
his head Just out OF the water. He
looked up stream, then rubbed away as
best he could the silt and blood from
his glasses He looked again-his horse
had disappeared He did not then real
ize what had happened. but the water.
playing on million feverish pores, was
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-16

when they criticize me it Is amusing
and many of the writer's become quite
interesting If it be any pleasure to
write 1t certainly does no harm to re-
ceive, and all helps in the mighty
study of human nature that is the un-
tagging study OF all who write.
Where one correspondent will say
something mean. often incfning 70 be
insulting, others will say something
awfully apprecfative- Letters that bear
the stamp Of sincerity are answered az
far as practical. and any requests COM
piled with OF course. I can't sell old
junk-and have no desire to marry a
farm and nine children when the man
would hardly suit, milking cows and
playing chambermaid for chickens and
children not being in my line. but taxi
ing it altogether the correspondence is
a moving picture Of life in its various
phases. a study of human nature. and
IL any satisfaction or pleasure accrues
to the writer I am repaid While 1t
would be impossible to reply to all. yet
the majority are answered, and were
they suddenly eliminated II would seem
as If something were missing out ok
life.
DO like thern7 OF caursA A-a
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-16
AY Lu1LzW GILL oEZn1r
TOULzRD ElII -Hy1D LZDZIC2JzZYG NzllL1.

the rags from the child and bathed
him gently. With part of the shirt he
dried the little body and wrapped it in
the remainder. Then he poured lit
tie cool water down his throat and car
ried him into the hogan, for the chill
of the desert night was coming on.
The medicine man, who had watched
all this in silence, followed into the he-
gan and picked up a repeating rife of
ancient model. -Squatting on the floor.
he pumped half a dozen cartridges
from the magazine, examined them
carefully and replaced them, looking
from time to time. from the tenderfoot
to the child.
The .tenderfoot understood and fear
parched his throat and sent the blood
in sickening bounds through his body.
A few Indians were standing in front
of the hogan around the fire they kept
burning brightly to keep off the cheen-
dy. The crow woman, who had sat a
little apart from the others, arose,
crept forward and thrust her head into
the low door of the hogan. The sha-
man cursed her and she fled hastily to
the fire. Fearing her crow prophecies,
he hated her.
The trembling squaw squatted oppo-
site the tenderfoot beside her child. who
was sleeping. his body refreshed by one
of the few baths of his life. After bit
the tenderfoot arose, his courage back,
crossed near to where the shaman sat
and knocked out a chunk of mud from
the hogan side to let in fresh air.
A feverish little cry from the child
sent him out hastily to the fire for hot
water This he mixed with few drops
of goats milk, and with the aid of the
mother got some of the mixture down
the chiId's throat. Quiet came again,
and the tenderfoot, as feverish as the
child, sought the cool Of the night out
side the hogan.
Beside the fire sat the crow woman
aud three other Indians. The white
man turned from them toward the cor
raj where horses were kept. A move
ment at the fire caused him to turn, and
he saw the shaman watching him, rifle
in hand Endeavoring not to show fear,
he sauntered back toward the hogan.
In his ears rang the simple prayers of
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-16

the missionary's wife-prayers he could
not voice. 20 We of little faith,' he
whispered, and his brain ran wild with
plans of escape-plans he knew were
impracticable under the watchful eyes
of the Indians.
The shaman and the crow woman
talked together earnestly, and then the
little squaw came out and touched the
tenderfoot on the arm. He say you
cure him boy" she said. and then her
voice died into whisper, you cure or
he KILL
Understanding fully, the tenderfoot
swung toward the corral, but four In
dians were watching from the fire and
the glow of the Goals danced on some
thing metallic just within the hogan.
Together he and the squaw returned
to the child.
Long they watched through the night
beside the papoose. and the sleepless
shaman watched the three. Toward
morning the child's breathing became
less and less regular. The tenderfoot
felt of the little body; the fever was
gone and it was trembling with the
chill that followed. The lungs were be-
ginning to fill and the breath was COM
ing in painful gurgles.
The medicine man had seen other
children die and he fastened out to
consult the crow woman. In broken
English the wife whispered that the
crow woman was urging the white
mans death, saying that the crows
had promised to save the child If the
man were sacrificed.
The tenderfoot heard, but he did not
heed, for he was watching the dying
convulsions of the little one When
the mother saw she caught her baby to
her breast and with a wall for the
dead rushed out of the hogan The
sllaman heard the cry for the dead,
he saw the limp body of the child, and
grief and anger controlled him. Above
grief and anger surged that keenest
of emotions, remorse. Had he not
listened to the crow woman-lying
prophet that she was-the boy would
yet have been alive. All his bitter
ness centered for an instant on her
and she was beside him. His rifle
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-16
Kate Thyson Mari.

WONDER If people who are chari-
table enough to read the stuff that
women write ever imagine for a
moment the queer correspondence
that often drives away the blues"
when one is so tired and hardly knows
what 70 write.
eGrinding out copy" as they call it
in newspaper parlance, is pretty
heavy strain, and yet newspaper people
are generally the best Of cheerful folk.
who are supposed to know everything,
and what they don't know they must
make up. Some days the pencil glides
along like skating on a CREASED pond;
on others it lags, halungly, as II
weighed by ball and chain.
ReportoriaI work is never the strain
of other matter, because facts are right
at hand, simply to be built up. but
weekly or daily special matter is very
different. Mr.. Dooley." one of my pet
admirations, is a wonder; his stories
are SO full Of wit ''Dinkelspiel" is an
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-16

tory-if the child's life could be saved.
If not-the tenderfoot removed his
sombrero and felt carefully of his
scalp.
All his plans were laid before the
hogan was reached. He would send
back for the missionary's wife, who had
a wonderful way of fetching sick In
dians back to health with her simple
medicines and gentle prayers. She
would come and all would be well.
The Indians pony, had been ridden
hard-his master had spared neither
quirt nor heel and the distance was
telling on him. A few miles from yell
low Burro the horse fell, the rider
dropping on his feet like a cat, and
without one glance at the dying ami
NAL, swung swiftly into stride beside
the tenderfooGs pony.
The medicine man had grown sons
and daughters, but the child that lay
dying at his hogan was the son of his
new wife-a mere girl when he had
bought her three years before. She had
spent part of two years at the white
mems school at the canyon before her
father had received many horses and
sheep for her. She remembered the
English she had learned and the re-
finements of civilization had appealed
TO her woman's heart, but ii was easy
to drop back to the old life again.
Above all else the medicine man
loved the little brown papoose that had
come to him. The woman who under
stood crow talk said that the black
birds had told her that the boy, if he
grew to manhood, would drive the
white people from the deserts edge and
lead his people to green pastures and
flowing brooks. But he may not live, .
added the crow woman. slowly shak-
ing her lowered head: the crows say
he may not live"
So the boy fell i'll and for nine days
the wild dances and songs of the
medicine man had gone on, and at the
end the boy lay still with his little
body burning inside and out The crow
woman looked upon him and NUT
tered: THE. crows say a white man
shall cure him.
And so the great shaman rode toward
the mission and brought back the ten
derfoot to work miracle.
The white youth adjusted his glasses
and knelt beside the baby that was
wrapped tightly to a board by strips
of rags. Somewhere in his brain was
the thought that a change was good
for sick person. Vaguely he remem-
bered that, but he would act on it
something must be done.
I'll give this kid the change of his
life,' he unused. and he ordered that
water be brought land heated in Hopi
pottery and white mans tin. While it
was heating he scrawled note to the
missionary setting forth the case. This
he gave to the shaman's wife and told
her to have it sent Immediately to the
mission. But no one would take it;
night was on and the cheendy would
be abroad.
mo go tonight" said the little
squaw. -Cheendy, cheendy.''
The tenderfoot knew that to urge
would be useless, for the Navajo fears
the ghosts that walk in the dark more
than he loves his child
Removing his shirts the tenderfoot
waved the soft undergarment in the
air and held 1t before the fire to warm
and dry ii thoroughly.
1T isn't clean," he said half aloud,
''but it beats anything they have
here"
The water was warm and he removed
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-16

-S HE tenderfoot readjusted his
glasses. for the scorching desert
sun had heated the gold rims to
A an uncomfortable degree. When
he had located them more agreeably
on nose and ear the lenses were SO
out Of place that the shimmering
sands danced from vision altogether
Then the tenderfoot brought his pony,
rather savagely. TO a stand and made
a second adjustment.
The desert came back and the young
man took advantage of the halt to
look about 10 assure himself he was
on the right way Three months at the
mission had made him familiar with
the beaten paths for many miles about,
but this unmarked way was new. An
Indian had directed him with many
wavings Of the arms. explaining in the
sign language that the white man
could reach the mission while the sun
was as high as the highest OF the San
Francisco Mountains would he go this
direction, while to take the regular
trail would keep him from home until
long after the sun had set.
To the left lay the cinder cone he
knew well. OFF yonder were the San
Francisco Mountains; the river and
the mission must be straight ahead.
one look he cast behind to locate the
familiar lava mountains that thrust
themselves above the horizon of pur-
pie mesa, sand and rock, and half a
mile away he saw an Indian galloping
toward him and motioning wildly. The
tenderfoot turned his horse and went
10 meet him.
His heart gave a thrill Of fear when
he recognized the Indian as the big
medicine man from Yellow Burro
Spring. He was not afraid of the In
dians he met usually, but this medi-
cine man was a bitter enemy of the
missionaries who were teaching his
people that his ceremonies were worse
than useless. He had brought down
on their heads all choice curses
of the Navajo tongue. The gentle wife
Of the missionary had but recently
cured a woman this medicine man was
singing to death, and the tenderfoot
knew he would never forgive her.
Alone on the desert with the big
chief, the white man of % reined his
pony beside the Indians and saluted
him in curious Navajo. He knew some
few words of English. What was not
understood by use of bits of two Ian
guages the Indian made plain with elo-
quent gestures.
The medicine mans little boy was I'll
and the father had come for help from
the mission. He wanted the tenderfoot
TO turn back with him to Yellow Burro
and he pointed to his ponys heaving
sides and trembling legs as reason
enough why they should not add an ex-
ira ten miles TO their journey. The
tenderfoot tried TO explain that he had
no medicines and knew nothing of them
even If he had, but the Indian either
could or would not understand. Fear
ing to displease. yet little knowing
what he would do when he reached the
sick child, the tenderfoot spurred his
horse toward Yellow Burro.
II was twenty miles over the desert
TO the spring and the tenderfoot did
2. deal Of thinking on the way. 1t came
to him that there would be prayers of
thanksgiving at the mission when the
folk there were told that the big medi-
cine man had acknowledged his sing
ing futile and had come to the white
men for help 1t would be great VIC
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-04-25
CHARTER AMENDMENT
PASSED THIRD real NC
Called Up i'm State Senate Monday
noon-Edueatf0n Trustee Bill
Special Order for To-day.
Greatest American Actor
Passes to Great Beyond

ter was called. The patients condl-
ton continued to grow worse all
through the day, and the brief bulle-
tins from the bedside contained no
words of encouragement
The sickness of Mr.. Jefferson which
ended in his death, was contracted, II
is believed, while on a recent visit 10
his son, at HObe Sound, few miles
above Palm Beach, where he went to
meet his friend, former President
Cleveland. 1t is believed that from a
slight indiscretion in his eating he suf-
fered an attack of indigestion Since
his return to his home this condition
grew steadily worse, with slight raj
lies until the end.
The body of Mr.. Jefferson was taken
to BuZZard's bay on a special train
leaving here this evening, accompa
MED by all the members of his family
who are here. 1t will reach New Yorb
Wednesday morning and the family
hope to reach Buzzard's bay the even
ing of Thursday
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-04-25
PROHIBITION
BILL IN HOUSE
AnAnti-S Sunday Ease
bail Sill introduce
ed i'm the SEN
ate.
SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM COVER
NOR eRoWARD ON DRAINAGE
PROPOSITION EXPECTED SOON.
BILL COVERING DRAINAGE TO
BE INTRODUCED DURING The
PRESENT WEEK.
Special TO The Journal.

Tallahassee, April 24.-The bill
amending the charter of the City of
Pensacola passed its third reading in
the senate this afternoon.
The educational trustee bill was
made a special order for tomorrow
morning.
constitutional amendment prohibiting
the sale OF liquor in Florida. Also a
bill requiring patent medicines to bear
the percentage of alcohol.
In the senate Mr.. CanoVa introduced
a bill prohibiting Sunday baseball.
Governor Broward has prepared a
special message to the legislature,
which will be transmitted early in the
week. on the drainage proposition that
formed so important a plank in his
platform.
A bill specifically covering the same
ground will also be introduced during
the week
The title Of this bill may be sur
missed as follows; An act for. tie or
ganiZation of drainage districts, and
TO place such districts IN charge of
the Board of Internal improvements.
These lands will be assessed for
the benefit derived from the drainage
system proposed by this important
measure, while. on the other hand, the
owners of such lands as may be in
jured by the opening of the canals
will be duly Unidentified
The principle upon which this bill
is based is identical with that upon
which a municipality conducts a street
paving improvement The abutting
property is assessed its pro rata share
of the benefits involved. while any
property deprecated in value is pro-
tected.