davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15
DUEL WITH WAX BULLETS

good shot of everybody, as natural aptt-
tudes are necessary to shoot well. NJ
Gastinne-Renette says that two things
must be learned: Cd How 10 press
gradually and regularly on the trig-
ger: (2) to avoid any nervous contrac-
tion and to breathe quietly. Shooting
Is marvellous training of the will. and
develops self-possession. Trihing cir
cumstances. a good dinner, an exciting
play, are sufficient to spoil ones shoot
ing.
Sometimes chance plays a great part
in this sport. NJ. Joseph Renaud in
London once hit with his pistol a pup
pet two inches high at twenty five
yards. AS the head was still hanging
on the string, some one said, joking.
You ought to hit the head now! NJ.
Joseph Renaud answered nothing and
aimed at another puppet with another
pistol, but quite BY accident the second
puppet. All present were amazed at
NJ Renaud's extraordinary skill!
Shooting "at command" Is generally
used in real duels. The opponents
stand at twenty or twenty Ave yards
distance; they are asked: Are you
ready?" raise their arm at the word
Fire" and must shoot before three"
This is the method practiced by DR..
Devillers. However. there is a second
one which consists in placing the ad
versaries back to back; they walk nf
teen or twenty steps in opposite dtrec-
tions, quickly turn around at the order
and fire at once.
The third way is called "au wise" In
this method OF dueling Eau wise" In
aim at each other so long as they
The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15

All this time Mrs. Bleevehall had. Of
course. been keeping the books faith
fully and was proud of it; that long list
of entries for grain, insect powder.
wire netting. charcoal, oyster shell and
tarred paper for the henhouse roof, in
the Or" column looked very business
like. On rainy evenings Henry and his
wife enjoyed adding up and then null
tiplying and doing other things TO the
total and subtracting the product from
what they estimated the "Cf." column
would foot up to some time
There was already one figure in the
"Cr." column which gave them both
great deal of delight as an Indication
of what the future had in store for
them The figure was "30," the
amount which Henry had received
from a friend at the office for one
dozen Of the farm eggs which ne had
taken in one morning to prove to
some scoffer that he really was en-
gagged in agricultural pursuits.
Bleevehall had neglected to put down
as part OF the cost of the poultry
business the charges for telephonfng
at 80 cents call. to let Henry know
at the office every time that first hen
laid an egg In order to get in his
walk. trolley. train and ferry and be
on time at the office Henry mad to leave
the house before the hen was ready to
produce Tor tne day. On the other
hand, If they were to succeed in poultr~
at all IL was necessary for 9enry TO
keep in close touch with the details of
the business at the outset. so when
ever the hen cackled during the frs.
fortnight Mrs, Bleevehall rang up Cen
trail and asked. hurriedly. for San
Francisco.
One day the call came when Henry
was out for luncheon and on his return
an office boy gave him this cipher mes
sage:
Another at about 11:15. a lovely
shade of brown and little larger than
the one of day before yesterday. win
fry this one"
Neither did the BleevehalIs see fit 10
put down the 25 cents for killing and
dressing the first pair of SQUADS. The
books themselves had said that souah
raising cost absolutely nothing and the
one thing that Henry Bleevehall wouIs
never do was to try to go back of and
undermine the authorities.
Things went remarkably well ALI
summer. All Henry's relatives and All
Mrs. BleevehalPs relatives went to see
them for weekly visits so that they
The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15

She'll lay an egg day and in thir-
teen days. have a clutch. Then three
weeks later" continued Henry. hastily
consulting his poultry pamphlet, she'll
hatch out her brood That will give
me time to make a coop and read up a
little more on the best kind of chick
feed. One must have something with
lot of nitrogen in it."
The neighbor who had sold them the
hen explained that it was barred
Plymouth Rock, and they had discoy-
cred for themselves from the books
that that was the best general purpose
breed in the world. General purpose
meaning, Bleevehall kindly explaine ed
to his wife, both meat and eggs.
I'VE probably won't want to sell the
first thirteen eggs as that will be our
original stock" said Henry, so we
don't need a horse Immediately. So far
as the going back and forth between
the farm (they insisted on calling 1t a
farm and the office is concerned, 1t is
better for me not to have horse, be-
cause the exercise is just what ] need
to harden me for haying and things
like that next year.
II don't mind that mile and half
walk bit Then the half hour on the
trolley gives me a good opportunity to
note the gardens along the way and
see If they are according TO the Agri-
cultural Department bulletins and that
hour ride on the train twice a day
will be just the chance for studying the
farm pamphlets.
I'll have plenty of daylight in which
The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15

l long way the richest. So far as the
control OF solid cash is concerned. there
is little doubt that Mr. Bek is the
richest self-made man in the world.
He is the son OF a German merchant.
md at 20 years OF age found himself
vfth very little money. but w!ta fair
prospects. sitting on clerks stool in
shipping ONCE at Hamburg 'FIe was
+ aeir to his fathers steady goIning BUSH
! ness, but he was put In the Office as
/ IN ordinary employe TO learn the
-echnicalities of the business from thu
bottom to the top. 1t was IN connec-
tion with this business that he took tb~
step which led him on 70 fortans
Thirty-sight years ago the nrst dfs~
mond was picked up In South Africa.
and there was a great rush to the
country from Germany. as wen as from
England. A brisk trade sprung up and
large orders for stores and machinery
Of all kinds reached the Hamburg mer-
chants One Of the firms affected by
this sudden growth Of commerce was
the shipping firm TO which young Belt
belonged. and as at that time the pros
pect In South Africa was not certain
one and credit orders were risky. .
crash being possible at any moment.
the frm decided TO send out a represen-
tative TO investigate and report Mr..
Belt was 22 at that time. but he had
established himself so well in the good
graces OF the heads of the business
that he was chosen for the s@s-
Going TO Africa in those days was
not such an easy thing as it is today.
Not an inch of the II. 900 miles OF rail-
way now in use had been laid. ard the
only way of travelling in Africa was
by bullock team. In this way Mr..
Belt journeyed some 600 or 400 miles
from Cape Town TO Kimberley. where
he found a city o. madmen- Gold
seekers from every part Of the civilized
world were there. attracted by the
stories of fortunes made by a stroke
of the pick. There was no order. no
system. no laws. no method either In
business or government; competition
had brought many OF the mines to the
verge of ruin; there were enormous
losses from thefts against which there
was no remedy; Illicit diamond buying
was carried on on a huge scale. and
general chaos prevailed
II was the young Germans great
opportunity and he was not slow 70
seize 1t. His years OF training in the
Hamburg shipping Office had not been
wasted. He was cool-headed, a man
OF orderly business methods, and he
quickly realized that not all the
wealth of the mines would save Kim
berly from ruin unless order took the
place OF chaos and the industry was
placed on a proper commercial basis
Forgetting the purpose for which he
had been sent out, Mr.. Belt set TO work
to accomplish this object. and soon
found himself so indispensable to the
diamond industry that he resolved to
remain In the country for some years
From that tirne his fortune was made.
and since then IL has been growing
faster than he can count it,
The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15

In the course Of his constant collect
ing Of how TO do it, literature Henry
Bleevehall ran across book that made
IL apparent 10 the most stupid Of read
ers that there was a moderate fortune
In raising squads. and that for anybody
not satisfied with a modest fortune
there was untold wealth in adding hens
as side line TO the prolific pigeons.
Henry came on TO his SQUAD and pOul-
try book before he had fully recovered
from the effects Of his book telling how
10 grow rich in stock speculation on
Z capital Of 800. So IL was very time
ly. he thought. because the SQUAD au-
thor was very careful in his preface to
explain that no capital at all was need
ed TO embark in the hen business and
its allied industries-that is, no capital
10 speak OF.
OF course 50 cents for the first pair
Of pigeons was necessary, and another
dollar for a brOOcing hen and a clutch
OF eggs ought to be invested il exces-
sive wealth was desired. On the score
Of experience, however, the author was
uncompromising. None at all was
needed.
That particularly appealed to the
BleevehaIs. for Mrs. Henry was Just as
them had lost faith, not even after
stock speculation. But she was eau
nous and more methodical
Now, Wen put down everything this
time. so well know just how we stand. q"
she said. There's 25 cents that you
paid for the poultry book"
and Mrs. Bleevehall neatly wrote
~Dr" with ".25" under It on fresh
sheet Of paper with "Cr." off 10 one side
for future use.
This paper viii do till we get new
blank book" she said, "or we might use
,the blank pages in your stock book at
first"
oh no; let's have fresh start alto
gether.' remarked Henry, as he ran
over the pages OF his stock record TO
see just where his system had failed
10 hold up falling market on a two
point margin.
The next day he bought a new dollar
blank book with index letters on the
edges OF the pages so that no time
would be lost later on by turning to
the squab account when Information
concerning the broilers was wanted
or course they couldn't keep hens In
q fve-room fat, so the Bleevehalls
hunted UP place near San Mateo with
IN committing distance. An advertise
The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15

choose before firing
Another interesting personality in
the duelinE world IS DIT. Aumont,
clever feneer himself. whose assistance
is required very often
In the course Of an interview DR..
Aumont pointed out that the conditions
of modern duels have changed entirely.
Twenty years ago duelists In Paris
met in the Island de la Grand Jatte, In
the middle OF the Seine. This had one
great disadvantage. In the winter the
duelists might escape a bullet. but
rarely escaped a cold Now the ma
Wheel. There is a heated hall with an
adjoining drawing-room and bar.
Sometimes ladies witness the fight, and
they are often more bloodthirsty than
the legal witnesses.
being fought at the same time under
the shadow Of the Big Wheel. 1t was
a regular performance which reminded
the spectators of the first act of Dumas
Three Musketeers."
The romantic tendency Of their an
cestors his not yet vanished from the
character OF modern Frenchmen. Some
weeks go a few prominent swordsmen
proposed to prohibit IN the future
compte-rendus OF duels In the news
papers. These gallant gentlemen as
sufned that duels are private AFFAIRS of
honor which ought not to be revealed
to the public. They forgot that the
majority of persons who exchange
cards do II in view ef the reports OF
the newspapers. which will advertise
them in a fashionable way.
Hence the failure of their suggestionl
The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15

wouldn't get lonesome In the begin
ming Of their country life. The guests
were so enthusiastic about fresh eggs
that once in a while the Bleevehalls
had to buy a few from the neishbors.
but they were just as good as their
own. Next season. though, they as
sured each other, after their plans had
been fully developed they would not
only supply the nearby local market,
but have enough for themselves and
company. with some to give away.
In another year. too. they would fix
up a proper place for the pigeons. The
barn. they had to admit. wasn't suit
able, for the squads grew faster than
the books said. and new away before
they were caught.
In fateful moment Henry read
somewhere that it hardly paid to win
ter hock of hens. that il was better
to begin all over in the spring He
also realized that the trains might be
hampered through the winter and ne
couldn't AFFORD TO be late at the Office.
And Polly Bleevehali was getting old
enough now TO go to dancing school
and ought to have city advanta ges in
the winter at least.
On top of all that. the country club
had been a disappointment. because
when the hunt season began in the fall
the riding members Of that organiza-
tion in pursuit OF an anise bag had
dashed across tR- back yard in which
Henry BleevcaE-- had planned to sow
winter wheat for market. Henry
cussed the hunters and that caused
hard feelings. so the Bleevehasls never
Joined the cIue.
None of these things alone. however.
would have caused change In their
life plans. AS a matter OF fact Henry
Bleevehal1 happened to run across an
innocent looking book called How to
Succeed at Play Writing" He began
at once on a plot and both he and Mrs.
Bleevehal1 fully realized that to make
a go of it he would have 70 go to the
theater frequently to make a study OF
the stage business. which was impos-
sible on the farm.
SO the Bleevehalls came back to San
Francisco. But only for a year or two.
AS soon as Henry's royalties from his
plays begin to roll in they will have
larger. better appointed country place
and raise fowl merely for diversion and
so that Polly may grow up with some
intimate knowledge OF living things
and natural history.
That is the plan at present
The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15

lowering by? OF course, with his back
ground of monasteries and abbeys. pal
aces and baronial halls. Scott was often
impelled to the same course. In the
whole realm of pure romance there Is
perhaps nothing more romantic than
Amy Robsart's midnight escape from
Cumnor Hall. Neither the stirring g
scenes in the Queens palace at Green
wich nor all the shows and splendors
OF Kenilworth can for a moment vie
with 1t in interest We follow poor
which would not yield to the master
key without some hard wrenching. and
are with her as she mounts the palfrey
forth in silence on her dubious moon
light journey"
Even the modern novelist finds it
hard to discard the postern. OF course
it has q less imposing setting than in
old world romance, but it's meaning and
effect are Just the same. Instead of the
picturesque little portal in park or
courtyard we have perhaps door in a
to the grounds or stables, which an
swers every purpose. OF course it is
formally closed. and the lock quite
unworkable from rust, but 1t is left
to the hero TO see TO all this. He is
the authors fortunate confederate and
carries a little key in his pocket which
will overcome all difficulties. Such
plots as those contrived by Wilkie Col
Inns could hardly have been kept going
without some such arrangement. And
in the novels of Gaboriau and other
similar writer's the same kind OF ma
chinery is continually at work. The
The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15

Whether il be set in the secluded re-
cess Of an ancient abbey or castle wall
or adapts itself TO the requirements OF
some old manor house still the living
center OF its own demesne. there is
always a certain mysterious attractive
ness about postern gate. When we
chance upon a portal Of this descrip-
tiOn within precincts OF historic inter
est it is almost certain TO be closed up,
and the legends of which it is inevita-
bly, suggestive are generally those of
8 remote past. OF course, the great
gates in front have their own story to
tell, but interesting as this may be. it
/. IS a little cold and formal as compared
with the traditions which cluster so
closely about the postern- However
imposing is the main entrance, we are
not necessarily stirred by its sugges-
tions OF wealth or magnihcence. But
as we pass through the postern in
some hanking wall-ivied, perhaps, in
the days Of the Tudors-it appeals TO
Us with a nearer human touch. In
some lines by J. r. Lowell, the poet
says:
] love to enter pleasure By postern
Not the broad popular gate tnat gu.Ds the crowd.
Romance. too. IL il does not invariably
enter by the postern. has clearly q
preference for it; and all its great mas
The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15

Richer than Rockefeller. richer than
The OH King. whose wealth surpasses
that OF governments, is Alfred Belt. OF
6outh Africa and London. He himself
does not say IL, for he has no way of
estimating-within millions of pounds
Bterling-his tremendous accumula-
tiOns. But with a perverted pride,
England sets him against America in
the matter OF money, and ii must be
said that England's claims seem worthy
OF recognition.
F-- this undersized. nervous. timi6
little man is the actual head of the dia-
mon5 industry OF the world. and con-
trolls with undisputed power the output
and price Of this most precious of gems.
He Owns-Or commands the company
which owns-the only diamond mines
OF any Importance in the world and it
is for him TO say just how many shall
be mined and put on the market for
princes. wine agents and other mil
lionaires 10 buy.
Alfred Belt according to authorities
adopted country, for he was born in
Hamburg-is said 70 be a Millionaire.
the only man who has ever achieved
that distinction. Just what this means
no one can think for the human mind
cannot comprehend a billion.
Ishn D. Rockefeller. it has been
shown. is as near to being a Millionaire
as a man can well be. under existing
conditions. OF course, this does not
mean that he has a billion dollars, or
could convert his tremendous holdings
into anything like that Not in actual
cash. that is. for the total stock Of
money in the world is less than s3,-
500 600 ooo
The question is. whether John D.
Rockefeller, il he had 10 convert his
wealth into cash or collateral. could do
it to as great effect as Alfred Belt.
Probably, in such a contest, Belt
would have the advantage. for dia-
monds and diamond mines look more
like ready money than railroads and
oil fields. Rockefeller, Of course, can
BY turning his hand add immeasurably
20 his fortune by increasing the price
OF ell cent a gallon; but. on the other
hand, 50 can Belt, by pushing up the
cost OF diamonds a shilling or so
karat The fortune of either man is.
il may be said. just as much as the
public viii stand for
Rockefeller's wealth is the result pri-
marily Of his having what the world
must have-Oil and its by-products.
Belt. on the other hand, deals only in
luxuries. But there are enough people
who must have these luxuries to make
them practically a necessity.
It is precisely his ability TO do this
that makes him such a power in the
money world. He controls the three
great cones" or mines in Kimberley.
whence all the diamonds of the world
come. Two Of these are being con-
The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15

novel reader, indeed, soon learns to
regard the postern gate as the pre-
cursor, If not the very smybol, of
mysteries to follow. And the artist has
often given happy expression to the
same truth. Notably in HIS pictures
Of country house lifaEa oesftury ago,
in which the late NJ Wai$r SO ex-
celled. the psinter more than. once de-
lighted us with the romantic sugges-
grand doings which proclaim them
selves from the main entrance to the
mansion. while the vital scene of the
drama is really being enacted at the
secretive little door in the side wall.
OF course the postern was in its orr
gin a necessary compliance with the
needs of great household. Here
lounged the army of retainers which
it was the province as we'll as the
privilege of the mobiles to keep on foot.
In those old days the active little gate
turned on it's hinges without question.
and the merry men so constantly pass
ing through it generally found a house
or entertainment hard by. The old
tavern sign of the "Postern" is now
almost forgotten. 1t seems to have
been dropped when the wide sealing up
of postern doors deprived the houses
distinguished by 1t of so many of their
droughtiest customers. Such side gates
were, OF course a necessity of the
ancient walled cities and had always
to be placed under special watch and
ward. Several were made in the wall
of old London for the ease of citizens
and passengers" one of which, near
the Tower, bore the distinctive name of
"the" postern AS for Tower itself
that. OF course, had its own dread pos
terms. from which scared romance fed
- L. f,,1
place among the ancestral homes of
F,u gland
The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15
Useful Memoranda for Young Men

Have you ever noticed that the front
brim of your hat Is always the part
that is first to get out Of shape? This
can be almost entirely avoided by plac-
ing the hat on the head from the side.
The side brims of hat are usually
more strongly made. and will generally
withstand the action of pulling the hat
down on the head to At comfortably.
And for the benefit of young men who
may happen to have no Wallets, 1t is
perhaps worth noting that the judi
cious investment of 5 cents in couple
OF lemons will renovate last years S
straw as well as any hat cleaner Cut
the lemons In halves and rub boldly
over the straw, avoiding the hatband
II the band is removable, take it OF
The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15

do not then get accustomed to any par
ticular shape of shoes.
Still another tip that has nothing to
do with clothes. Do you know how to
avoid the embarrassment of compli-
menting a fond mother on her off,
spring, and then find that you have
mistaken the infants sex? Here is a
certain guide: Girl babies always wear
pink ribbons and never blue, and boy
babies always wear blue ribbons and
never pink. Another infallible indica-
ton is that boy babies garments have
yokeshaped arrangements around the
neck.
Finally, remember the Importance of
always leaving a good impression be-
hind.
The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15

before beginning operations.
Neckties last much longer If they
are carefully rolled each night. A still
greater economy is effected. If a sep
arate necktie is provided for each day
of the week Wear small tie with a
clean shirt and four-in- hand the sec
ond day.
Bachelors sometimes have to sew on
buttons When through sewing twist
the remaining length of the thread
round the sewn threads and thus pro-
tect them from wearing against the
buttonhole.
1t is a real economy to have seven
pairs of shoes In use. 1t is good for
the shoes to give them few days rest;
and it is better still for the feet, which