davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-15
Picturesquely Discussed by Ben c.

more than one army and navy officer;
that she had even thrown an old
duffer with lots of coin, but that she
wanted young millionaire whom we
all know; this southern girl! Now,
had she been from Massachusetts and
had done all these things and even
captured the yound "spendthrift" OF
Lamanda Park, would she ever have
been mentioned as the northern girl?
In charity play given in this city
a few months ago FIVE or six pretty
young women took parts. The best
impersonation was by California girl
of many accomplishments, and she was
properly praised; but she nor no other
from above "the line' was alluded to
as northern-well, it would have
sounded ridiculous. But the tall,
pretty girl who essayed the little part
of the Queen was pietorially posed as
the southern girl, and Miss p, who
also did a little bit of stage coquetry,
was alluded to as from the south.
Even the newspapers in Paris and
London have long been infected with
this mild complaint. The newspapers
of those two cities generally sympa-
thized with the south during the civil
war; the English papers, not that they
wanted to see the south and its slave
holding scheme triumph, but that Eng
land was anxious for the destruction
of the American republic; and the
French papers because of their mer-
curial tendencies and the genuine SYM
pathy of the French for "the under
dog" Thus everybody, and especially
in Paris, were held In high esteem,
while northerners of the best quality
were hardly ever mentioned. / spent
a month in Paris in 1866 and seldom
took up Gagliani's Messenger that l.
did not quietly mention the arrival Of
some lady either from Boston, New
York or Philadelphia; or, more ex-
uberantly from the south"
At ball at the Elysee in 1900, at
which Miss Cockrell, very stunning
daughter of the Missouri senator, was
present, / heard Mrs. Palmer OF Illl-
nois many times in attracting atten-
tion to her remark: rshe is from the
south" There were also present Miss
Gowdy Miss Porter and other young
ladies from the north, but no mention
was made OF their residential section
/ had the honor OF Introducing MISS
Cockrell to several ladies' and gentle
men one evening, and found myself
Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-15

instance, as we go south in Europe,
manners indicate an increasing atten-
ton to general courtesy, with a dispo-
sition not merely to please, but to
make one pleased with ones self.
This last feature, it has struck me, is
the chief charm of southern manners,
as it's too frequent absence portrays is
the chief defect of the northern.
II think the southern girl more than
the northern betrays lively feeling
and sensibility to beauty for its OWN
sake, of whatever nature, and joy in
manifesting i'm it's varied manifesto
tions; and when Joined to sound mem
tai culture the choice impersonifiea-
tions of the southern characteristics
are extremely fascinating, because of
their impressibility, frankness, viva
city and high-toned breeding.
freely admit that the southern woman
is often more gushing and more
effusiye than her severer sister, but
this is really a lesser fault than north
ern brusqueness, haughtiness or indif-
ference. Vue pensee vous?"
Well, as ! had taken in her remarks
attentively, l thought about as she did
Continuing the subject little fur
ther, however, / noticed in the tele-
gram concerning the controversy be-
tween Bishops Irvine and Talbot that
Mrs. Elliott, a prominent Pennsylva-
mia church and society woman, and a
Divorce of more than one court, in de-
Tending herself against the asperslons
of her defamer, declared: II am a
southern woman!" Which meant that
she was born IN land that produces
some of the finest women In America;
and that whether in purple or jeans
the stamp is blown in and can neither
be counterfeited nor effaced, She also
declared that she was the daughter Of
General Desha of Alabama, who was a
distinguished officer under General
Scott in Mexico. according to the an
nails of our country Now, had Mrs.
Elliott been a native Of New Jersey
and her grandfather a general under
Jackson at New Orleans, she never
would have declared In her defense: II
am a northern woman!" and submit
ted other splendid reminiscence.
For a year or two fair Kentucky
girl, who was visiting in Santa Monica
was the subject of hundreds of para
graphs in the society columns Of the
daily press and always was the reader
Informed that she was a southern girl,
It was given out that she had fooled
Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-15

During the past fifty years, or since
journals that have reported doings of
society people, the southern girl, 1r
woman, has always been placed in the
foreground. Take up any paper in
any northern city and turn to it's So
ciety column and you will learn that
Miss So-and-So is southern girl
or from the sunny SOUTH" or ''is a
maid from Southland" etc. AT the
same time, no matter what may be the
Establishments of the girl from Rhode
Island, from Indiana or South Dakota,
she is never catalogued as the pretty
Miss Joy from the north, nor thc
charming Miss Love from the west,
nor the yivacious Miss Chief from the
Pacific slope. But just let her blow
in redolently from Lexington, Rich
mond, Savannah, Tallahassee or from
any of the merer breeding places below
Mason and Dixon's line, and the so
ciety scribe catches her up and parades
her as the beautiful Miss Gay from
the SOUTH" and attires her in all the
glory and beauty and bewitchment at
tainable in the writer's bright leXi-
con" of howery adjectives.
"Now, why is this?" l asked a ra-
diant daughter of Tennessee-there
go myself, committing the same little
mannerism-the other day, and she
replied about as follows:
"fhere is an engaging openness of
manners and a naturalness which
gracefully wells the elf-consciousness
of the southern girl and adds to her
social charm. The girl not southern
born is often more intellectual more
self-reliant, more particular, possibly,
and more ungenerous of look and
smile. We meet a sturdier mental
positiYism, greater reserve and, in the
best examples more solidity of char
aeter and less spontaneity of deport-
ment than in the southern sisters,
whose outflow of temperament seems
as natural as song of bird. without the
pereeptible mental calculation. balance
of motives and incisive directness OF
the particular aim in view of the for
mer type.
II can go 10 a tea or other reception
where l am thoroughly unaequainted
and in half an hour pick out the south
ern born from the other women pres
ent But the more / examine into
these conditions the more 1 have con-
cluded that they have arisen from the
land rather than from the living. For
Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-15
AN EXPERIMENT THAT FAILED

AS the plan of assessing department stores for each
speciality has been advocated in this country to some
extent, it is interesting to note the result of test of
the plan in Germany. The modern department store
wherever it appears affects the business, less
of that operate in single lines, particularly
small dealers 1t is the latter class who urge the tax
ing of every line covered in each department store
reasons that are obvious.
The chamber of commerce of Chemnitz. city about
the size of Los Angeles, recently issued its annual
report, in which we find statement bearing on the
department store tax question. After thorough trial
il is declared by the chamber that "the department
store special has entirely failed of it's purpose"
Strange it may seem, the owners of such stores
the chief eomplanants does it appear that they
made any great objection TO the special tax But there
is loud complaint from nearly all manufacturing inter-
ess This because the latter stated in the report
find it difficult to dispose of their products in
large quantities. Hence in order to prevent restricting
of their own market "the manufacturers have been
compelled pay the tax in order place their goods
in the department stores"
This experience in Germany is simply another illus
raon of the folly Of attempting to regulate by statu
tory laws the natural laws Of economic production and
marketing
Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-15
LET THE PRESIDENT TACKLE 1T

The logic of the presidents special message to
gress relating the Panama canal commends it to every
person of large business experience The gst of it is
that the commission of members, consti-
tuted is ''inelastc and clumsy" He recommends,
therefore, that the commission be reduced to five
preferably three members, whose duties, powers ana
salaries should be assigned by the president"
The president intmates clearly that he desires to
have free hand in pushing the canal work during The
four remaining years of his executive office. AS the
sponsbility for the work rests him. it is right and
proper that he should have authority commensurate
with the duty imposed Therefore he suggests that
broader discretion be given to him by congress in
order that he may not be hampered by such limitations
attach to the cumbersome commission.
1t always is good policy in great work of public
improvement to concentrate both power and responsi.
bility. The rule will apply in nearly all i'm
portant business undertakings striking example in
point in the construction of the $50OOOQ0O
subway in New York, which completed only few
weeks ago. That vast and exceedingly difficult enter
prise, from the engineering viewpoint, controlled
absolutely by man in the construction department.
Two managed both the financial and the construc-
tive features August Belmont handling and John
D. Mcdonald the other.
The American people will indorse the presidents
suggestion that his discretionary power concerning
canal be broadened to his views The people have
absolute confidence in his ability to handle the great
enterprise in a general way, and they know that he
would brook unnecessary delay in prosecuting the
work.
The present canal commission is group of we'll
meaning old gentlemen, but they individually slow
and collectively unweldy
What the people want earnestly and urgently is the
completion of the canal at the earliest possible
They would be assured that fundamental point if
President Roosevelt had such general control of the
work he desires. Give him that control and dirt
will fly in the canal during the next four years
as it cannot be expected to fly under the guidance OF
a ponderous commission.
Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-15
GROWTH OF COLOSSAL FORTUNES

The report Of society event which occurred last
week IN New York AFFORDS whole meal Of food for
Thought" Il is the account Of grand ball given BY
Mrs Astor, leader Of the 400" and recognized queen
Of society in the metropolis BY tentative edict Of
this queen the number Of the social elect raised
to 600 in the invitations the ball and nearly
every person thus honored gladly responded
report of the ball says; ct was estimated by a
person fully competent to Judge that $40 OOOOOO
worth of diamonds adorned Mrs. Astors lady guests
Ten detectives eight men and two women,
ployed in the guse of guests to keep sharp lookout
for disguised thieves. Mrs Astor herself dia
monds valued s75OOOO and several other ladies dis
played jewels valued at 100000 or more"
In the closing year of the American Revolution a
young German butcher emigrated to New York. He
had stopped in London for time, where he worked
for his brother and where he picked up some knowl-
edge of the fur business Having saved little money,
he engaged in that line in New York in small way,
branching out gradually until he controlled the fur
market His profits he invested in real estate In New
York and when he died in 1S4s his fortune rated
at $4,000 900.
John Jacob Astor not only the richest in
America with his $2OOOOOOO, but there only
other in the country whose wealth approached his
That Stephen Girard of Philadelphia, whose for
tune figured at $1OOOOOOO Nearly all of Astor's
estate inherited by of his two sons, William
b. Astor. The other mbecie. When Will
lam B. died in 1876 the Astor inheritance had grown
to figure variously estimated at from $1OOOOOOOO to
S150000.000 Two sons, John Jacob Astor and William
Astor, inherited nearly all the fortune and both of
them died several years ago 1t is estimated that the
two branches of the Astor family have fortunes
approxmating 5000, 100000 EACH this enormous ncre
ment resulting from the increase in the value Of
New York real estate since the death of the Astors
OF the third generation.
So much for the growth of the Astor fortune down TO
the fourth generation, and what of its future The
present representatives of the two branches John
Jacob Astor and William Waldorf Asor, greatgrand-
Of the original John Jacob Asor the first named
of the greatgrandsons being the of the Mrs Astor
who figures as the queen of New York society.
The $400 900 900 which the two Astor families
mand is almost wholly in New York real estate, in
cluding thousands of in the upper part of the
city, which is growing in value with amazing rapidty.
1t will not take many years for the value of these for
tunes to double and it is quite likely that before the
present generation passes away the fortune will
have doubled again.
But the Astor fortune is not the only in the
United States that is png up thus to stupendous
portions How long will it be at the present rate of in
in such fortunes before the Astors Rockefeller
Vanderbilts, ETC.. "own the earth?
Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-15

adding: "she is one of our southern
girls" or "she is from the south"
Unconsciously, therefore, / must have
caught on to the impressiveness Of
this mode of warm sectional reference
or actually believed that in so doing 1
had made the mutually of introduce
ton more radiant and more effective.
also had the honor one day of intro
ducing the sparkling and pretty Miss
Thorn and the yivacious and hand
somely-gowned Mrs. Lankershim TO
some admirers at the Longchamp
races, but / did not add that they were
from the north.
Throughout the west, and particu-
larly in California, the daughters Of
northern and. southern parents betray
no pronounced dissimiliarity of char
acteristics. They have attended the
same schools, meet at the same con-
certs, theaters and tennis courts, and
even partake of the same or about
the same cookery. In the eastern
cities, and eonspicuously in Washing
ton, where the best of the two ex-
tremes meet, the southern woman car
ries off the honors of the social circle
and captures the admiration of the
men folk while the northern woman is
still in the act of preparation. The
former is at once frank, gracious.
smiling and full of pretty sayings and
meanings; in other words she draws
you up closely to her, metaphorically
speaking, and makes you feel comfort
able right from the start The other
surveys you intellectually and seems 20
antagonize those little graces and
rapid aequaintances which are really
the circulating coin of polite society.
She Is inclined to view concessions to
the natural and the beautiful as tokens
Of mental or moral weakness. She is
much more intellectual, more philoso-
phic and philanthropic than the south
ern woman, and more angular and
positive. more critical and prolx as
well. This dissimilarity is growing
less and less every decade, an asslml-
lation Of each others sectional char
aeteristics having commenced shortly
after the civil war and the coming to-
gether Of hundreds of thousands oe
eastern and southern families in the
great and glowing west But the
southern woman viii continue to be
pointed out by her admirers and de-
voices just as the searohers of the
armament show you Areturus as the
highest and most beautiful OF stars.
Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-15

one OF the most remarkable char
acters developed in Los Angeles during
the past forty years or 50 was un-
doubtedly L. J. Rose. AS the creator
of Sunny Slope, horticuiturist, a viii
culturist and breeder OF horses he
combined many merits, and those Of a
high order. For many years his
Sunny Slope was the beauty spot of
Southern California, and his stallion
Sultan and many others Of his famous
stud were known all over the United
States.
l.. J. Rose came to Los Angeles from
a western state with little but his fine
intelligence, dauntless pluck and In
domitable industry to depend upon for
success. or money he had no share.
His keen eye saw the opening for en-
terprise in the superb San Gabriel
valley He at once purchased, mainly
on credit. a considerable tract of land
near the foothills of Sierra Madre
range. IL was covered with chapparal
and greasewood and some stunted tim-
ber. He paid for his land and Inn
provements by chopping wood, hauling
it into Los Angeles and selling 1t for
what he could get. In those years he
was always compusorily a large bor-
rover of money and he paid for Il
the large issuance which was common
in those days. Indeed, he was large
borrower until the last five or six
years of his life. He probably paid
enough interest money, while carrying
out his splendid schemes of improve
ment, to make an ordinary man rich.
He carried out his plan of making
Sunny Slope the most magnificent
orange grove in the state. If there
were any rival to this noble plantation
1t was the Wolfsklll orchard in the
city of Los Angeles. on a portion Of
which the Arcade depot of the South
ern Pacific railway now stands and
which consisted of an unbroken sixty
acres all now covered with blocks
and blocks of warehouses and resi-
dences. The great distinction of
orange trees. These were enormous
seedlings and it's fruit was of exquis-
ite flavor. l have heard Vice Presi
dent Thomas A. Hendricks say, while
devouring a lot of them with school
boy ardor, standing under thar
boughs, to Col. Charles Crocker and
others that in his trip to Spain and
Italy he had tasted nothing so good in
those storied lands.
But L. ]. Roses fine orange grove
splendid vineyard, with it's ample
winery from which he turned out
great quantities of the sweet wines for
which Los Angeles county has always
been noted. In those years he also
succeeded in making a light wine of
the hook variety, which gained great
reputation and for the production Of
which Los Angeles sun and soil were
thought not to be adapted. 1t is a
great pity that the making of these
light white wines, such as Mr.. Roses
Blanc Elben, have not become a spec
ialty in Southern California. This
section needs all the productions its
latent resources admit of developing.
Not only was L. j. Rose a great
vigneron and great orchardist, but,
like Mr.. E. j. Baldwin ('Lucky" of
that illl) he was great horse e-breeder
as WELL His Sultan" "Stamboul'
and other crackerjacks were discussed
all over the country, and added to the
fame that Baldwin, Titus, Hancock,
NJ. Johnston and others had given to
the stud of Los Angeles county.
Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-15

tinued his way to the desk. This I'm.
dividual was no less a person than
Ned stokes. the murderer Of Jim Fiske.
and whom I supposed to be in the
New York penitentiary, to which he
had been sentenced in 1872. There
could be no two Ned Stokes, just as,
for that matter. there could be no two
Jim Fiskes. or Jay Goulds. The
moulds in which such men are made,
fortunately for mankind, are broker
when used.
When Ned Stokes had passed me go
ing to the elevator I emitted a low
whistle and wondered who was going
to get it now out here, for the gracious
Ned was so constituted that he must
always be doing something and some-
body. I also opined that he probably
wanted the penitentiary air to blow off
of him before resuming his operations
on the people of his native city. Being
obliged to spend some time in Saa
Francisco l soon saw that stokes was
spending much of his leisure in the
Golden Gate with John w. Mackey
l.. j. Rose and men of that stamp and
1 was satisfied that those gentlemen
would soon have cause to regret their
making his acquaintance. No human
being who ever had anything to do
with Stokes ever failed to regret 1t.
In the fall and winter of 1912 1 had
an Office in Demas Barnes building In
Park Row, New York city, right
amongst the newspaper boys. Being a
briefless barrister, and having been a
newspaperman--havi nothing to do
i'm fact, | was in the habit of spending
a good deal of my time with the re-
porters. A particular chum of mine
i'm those days was Harry Brown of the
Tribune. / was In and out of the
Tribune frequently Ned Stokes was
a great intimate of Shanks, the city
editor of that journal AS 1 would b1
going up to see Brown, he. Stokes,
would be coming down from having
seen Shanks. or vice versa. 1 thus
learned to know him very well by
sight. although up to that time l had
not been introduced to him.
He was a man not likely to be for
gotten. He was a strikingly hand
some fellow, one over whom a woman.
like Josie Mansfield would go wild. This
infatualion was by no means confined
to that fascinating demoiselle. He wa.
unquestionably, and remained to the
end, the king of lady killers.
1 was walking down Broadway one
day near the Grand Central hotel, in
the winter of 1912, when there was n
tremendous commotion, which arose
from the fact that Stokes had just shot
j i'm Fiske as he was ascending the
stairway of the ladies' entrance of the
present in Sheriff Brennan's private
Office where Stokes was staying prep
aratory to his arraignment. The space
around the new city hall was black
with people, who thought the right
thing to do with this elegant of the
ladies of easy virtue was to take him
out and hang him to a lamp post. The
persons who were with Stokes on this
occasion were his counsel, the cele-
brated John Graham Sheriff Brennan.
Deputy Sheriff Judson Jarvis, Harry
Brown of the Tribune and myself.
Stokes was exceedingly nervous
when l was introduced to him by
Sheriff Brennan. Just as we were
shaking hands tremendous yell to
hang Stokes went up from the crowd
outside. Thinking of nothing better
to say, I remarked, That's the price
one is obliged to pay for fame, Mr..
Stokes