davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07

This chapel was dedicated to an
other man whose name is mighty in
English history-Thomas a Beckett,
who fell a martyr to his love for the
church of Rome. 1t was originally
a very handsome structure but when
in the days of Henry VIII the wave
Of religious revolutions swept Cathon-
cism from Britain the chapels and
monasteries were dissolved, and the
beautiful building in honor of the brave
statesman. whose memory is revered
alike by Englishmen of all denomina-
tions, was permitted to fall. in decay,
and was also damaged by mobs.
The tower, which is seen at one end
of the bridge, was another feature of
the venerable span that traced its his
tory far back into the remote middle
ages. 1t had been built in 1882 as part
of the waterworks that supplied the
city IN case Of fire. The pumping
machinery, which was in that time con-
sidered a model of engineering skill,
was the invention of a Dutch expert.
The water tower had a chance to con-
tribute its share of lighting the flames
in the terrible fire of 1866. that fearful
blaze that lasted six weeks and nearly
destroyed the city.
For $50 years the original bridge
stood the force of all the tides and bore
the passing Of untold thousands of
passengers. It seems little short of
crime that it was ever permitted to
be taken down, for it had record
matched by no other similar structure
in the world, but this was an instance
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07

said to them Stand fast and you VIII
win the victory. Let two meh instead
OF one lie behind each tree and fire In
turn"
He also gave orders for posting the
men in better positions. so that It
would be impossible for the enemy to
get behind them, and his directions
were carried out under cover of the
storm. which prevented the British
from seeing what was being done
AS soon as the rain ceased the COM
bat was renewed. and the wisdom OF
his orders was quickly shown The In
dians. as before, ran forward whenever
they saw the fash OF ride. expecting
to find its owner an easy prey; but now
a second bullet laid them low before
they could come within striking dis
tance. and they were compelled TO give
up this mode of attack.
Lightfoot had grown accustomed 20
the fighting and he found that he
could watch the battle without expect
ing every moment to feel himself
struck He saw the men led by Lieu
tenant Jacob GARDENER attacked by a
body of Greens. One Of them was
made a prisoner. but the lieutenant
sprang forward and killed his captor
with his bayOnet. Several OF the Greens
rushed upon the lieutenant and bore
them thrusting at him with their bay
onets, but the lieutenant pulled one Of
them down upon him and held him
against his body as a shield. so that
the others could not reach him. The
Americans came to his aid and he was
liberated. but not before he had slain
another of his assailants. There were
many such deeds of bravery while the
fight was being waged hand to hand
with the greatest fury
Suddenly the cry of "Oonah, Oonahr
began TO sound above the rife shots.
What's that?" asked General Her
kimer.
'It is the Indian call OF retreat"
Lightfoot replied. The Mohawks will
fight no more today"
That settles itr' the general NUT
tered. and resumed his smoking.
His prediction proved true. As soon
as the Indians retreated the British
were no longer able to hold their
ground. The battle was at an end.
Both sides had suffered great losses
The Americans had held their ground.
but they had been unable to reach the
fort. The garrison. however. taking
advantage of the opportunity. had at
tackled the camp of the enemy and had
managed TO carry or a large part Of
his supplies into the fort.
Lightfoot lost no time In seeking
his father, and each was OveriOyed to
find the other unhurt. But il was
sad march homeward. General Her
kimer was carried in litter and al
though he saw the fight won. he did
not long survive. dying of his wound
a short time afterward. A monument
TO his bravery stands today on the
spot where he and LightfO0t sat be-
meath the great pine and watched the
battle.
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07

board and trim off the edges with a
sharp knife; then cut the sandwich in
two diagonally.
Sticks of celery, olives, raisins, dates,
figs, oranges, baked apples and cram
berries are suitable accompaniments to
the sandwiches.
Simple desserts, such as chocolate
blanc-mange. rice pudding with raisins,
lemon or other gelatines, cornstarch
or bread pudding and cup custards can
be carried safely in a jelly glass slipped
into baking powder can and stuffed
tight with tissue paper.
Wrapping the sandwiches or similar
viands in parafln or wax paper will
prevent their being mixed or un-
slightly.
The school luncheon is a very i'm
portant matter and lack of care and
attention may lay the foundation for
indigestion and Ill health generally.
The luncheon should always be eaten
slowly, and it should also be preceded
by exercise. a little walk or run in the
school yard.
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07

they reached the shelter Of the pines
Lightfoot's sharp eye caught the gleam
of a red feather in the thickets a short
distance from the road. He pulled his
father by the sleeve.
What is it boy?" Captain Van Pelt
asked.
"I believe there is an Indian hiding
in the brush yonder." Lightfoot said.
What's that?" General Herkimer
said. Where is hep
HE was there" Lightfoot said, point
ing to the place where he thought he
had seen the feather.
Both his father and the general
looked but they could see nothing.
You must have been mistaken" the
general said; but these woods might
hide a regiment without our knowing
It, Send out the scouts on both sides
as we advance. captain"
He rode on and the long line of
soldiers followed him into the wood
About 700 of them had crossed the
ravine, when suddenly the stiffness was
broken by a fierce warwhoop. 1t seemed
to come from every side. Instantly the
woods in front of them, to the right
and left and even behind them were
swarming with soldiers and savages.
The American troops that had not
already crossed turned back and tried
to save themselves by flight, just as
General Herkimer had predicted that
they would. The Indians pursued them,
and more of them were killed for being
afraid than would have fallen if they
had tried to help their comrades. They
met the fate that towards usually
meet.
Close after the warwhoop came a
volley of shots from the enemy. Light
foot could see the flashes of the guns
from behind the trees. where the
British soldiers lay hidden. and he
could hear the bullets go clipping
through the leaves about them. Gen
eral Herkimer's horse reared. throwing
his rider to the ground, and then fell
backward. He had been shot and the
bullet that killed him also pierced the
generals leg. breaking it below the
knee so that he could not walk.
They've hit me boy." he cried to
Lightfoot Take the saddle off the
horse and put it where 1 can sit on 1t
under that tree"
He pointed to a large pine tree on the
top of a small knoll, from which it was
possible to see some distance into the
wood on every side. Lightfoot with
some difficulty managed to unbuckle
the saddle and place it where he had
been told. The general, meanwhile, had
bound his neckcloth around his leg and
twisted it tight with stick, so as to
stop the flow of blood from the wound
When he had done this he crept up the
knoll to the saddle, upon which, with
the help of Lightfoot he seated him
self, leaning his back against the
trunk of the tree.
On every side there was the greatest
confusion among the Americans. They
had been taken wholly by surprise and
did not know which way to turn. Many
of them fell at the first volley as they
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07

stood huddled together in the open
road. But by the time General Herkimer
had established himself under the pine
the survivors had scattered to both
sides of the road ana had concealed
themselves as best they could behind
tree trunks where they began to return
the fire of the enemy
Liglffoot was greatly excited and he
looked everywhere for his father, who
had left them to carry out General
Herkimer's orders before the firing be-
gan. 1t was the first time that Light
foot had ever been in a battle and he
wondered how the general, wounded as
he was and surrounded by foes, could
face the danger so calmly.
Il want you to stay heres with me.
boy" General Herkimer said. kindly.
"Sit down here beside me. Who knows
but shall need your help?"
Lightfoot obeyed. although he ex-
pected every moment that one of the
bullets which were flying through the
wood in every direction would hit him.
to get something out of the pocket of
his coat. Lightfoot saw with surprise
that it was the long stemmed pipe that
he was so found of smoking. He helped
him to extricate 1T and to light it.
When this had been done the wounded
general leaned back in apparent COM
fort, smoking away unmindful of the
rattle of the shots and the fierce shouts
and cries that filled the wood.
There was no more desperate con-
fict in the revolution than the battle
of Oriskany. The men OF the valley,
knowing that if they should give way
they could expect no mercy from the
Indians and that their homes would
be left defenseless behind them fought
with the greatest bravery. But the
British and Tories poured a constant
fire upon them. and the savages crept
from shelter to shelter. and when they
had fired rushed in with their knives
and tomahawks before they had time
to reload their rifles. In this way q
large number lost their lives.
Although more than one bullet struck
the tree trunk over the heads OF Gen
eral Herkimer and Lightfoot, both OF
them escaped injury, and the sight OF
the general sitting in full view and
watching the combat added greatly &c
the courage of the Americans. They
Were all skilled marksmen. and they
soon began to repay the losses they
had met in the first attack. But fight
as they would, the British and theiI
allies still pressed upon them, and
every moment it looked as though they
would be overwhelmed.
While the result of the contest huns
in doubt and the fighting was hottest
there came a crash of thunder. and ir
a moment more the rain began to fall
in a binding deluge. The firing ceased
as the downpour made 1t impossible tC
load with dry powder. BY common con
sent both sides drew back little fol
a truce while the storm lasted, and the
officers gathered around General Her.
kimer, painting from their exertions.
you have done WELL" the genera
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07
History Of Old London Bridge hsra,n,

of which it is impossible to estimate.
AMERICAN LITERATURE
The American authors have been pur-
posely omitted, since they do not seem
to fit into the movement Of literary
ideas in England. They are more SIM
ply and obviously artists. giving to the
people what they can that they think
the people Will like, and each In his
own way.
IRVING-1S2O
Our first writer of Importance was
Irving, whose ''Sketchbook" was pub
lished in 1920 Irving has been called
the american Addison" He might al
most as well be called the American
Lamb, though Lambs essays did not
begin to appear till five years later. and
he was more of a story teller than
Lamb
James Fenimore Cooper began his
literary career as a professed imitator
of Scott in 1920, but he soon developed
a purely American romantic novel. the
novel of the Indian. He IS no very
great novelist, but his books are still
popular.
The first American poet was William
Cullen Bryant, whose best poem, Than
atopsis" was written when he was
is, in 1912.
Between 1880 and 1910 appeared some
of the best work of Poe, LongfelloW
and Emerson. but they were as utterly
distinct in their spirit and purposes as
If they had belonged to different ages.
Poe was the poetic inventor. the dis
coverer of the dramatic principles of
plot in story writing, and the original
literary critic; Longfellow was the
sweet singer of the people, the home
poet, unoriginal but beloved by all; En-
erson was the philosopher and man Of
letters combined, the serious essay
writer and interpreter torthe people of
the new discoveries of the great stu
dents of philosophy.
Following Longfellow were the poets
Lowell, Whittier and Holmes, all of
whose best work just preceded or just
followed the civil war.
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07
WAyERLY--1s14

n the novel the first great date to
remember in the nineteenth century
is 1S14-the year of the publication
of "Wayerly." Between the Vicar Of
Wakefield" and "waverly" no great
work of fiction appeared, though Jane
Austen was writing her aristocratic
little stories. But when 'Waverly" was
published every one felt that a new
era was at hand. The book at once
became immensely popular. 1t did for
the novel what the Lay of the Last
Minstrel and '.Marmion" had done for
poetry-it introduced the romantic era
in fiction.
HUGO, DUMAS, BALZAC-1s3o
Scott held the field almost entirely to
himself until 1890. In that year Victor
Hugo, Alexander Dumas and Balzac, all
three acknowledging the genius and
power of Scott, appeared in France.
Hugo and Dumas were professed ro-
manticists; but Balzac was a realist,
and advocated ideas that were not gem
orally accepted by the critics till many
years later, though the common people
bought his books freely.
1t was Dickens who really made the
REALISTIC novel popular The date to
remember is 1885, the year in which
Sketches by Boz appeared and Pick
wick" was begun. Vanity Fair"
Thackeray's first masterpiece, was pub
lished in 1913. and in 1858 George
Eliot's Adam Bede'
Since 1860 the forward movement in
English literature seems to have
stopped and such writers as George
Meredith and Thomas Hardy appear
rather as belated members of the older
group than representatives of any new
type. With these we must include
Tolstoi, Turgenev and Ibsen
In Stevenson, Kipling and Barrie we
undoubtedly have the beginning of a
new literary movement, the Importance
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07

called on to furnish their proofs, and
did so in the form of statistics that
showed a large number of lives sacri-
feed every year
One compromise was offered, which
il followed might have preserved the
bridge to the present time. One emf
nent architect wanted to correct the
trouble by widening the arches. 1t
probably would have been done then,
it would be easy now. but the tiTnid
Londoners feared that the result
would be to weaken structure al
ready more or less affected by the
passing Of the centuries, and it was
finally decided to put up an entirely
new bridge, at a point about 100 feet
from the original site, where it was
thought it would be less subject to the
effects of the current.
The present wonderful bridge, which
is said TO be crossed in the course of a
year. by more persons than any other
known structure, not even excluding
the much discussed Brooklyn bridge.
with its nightly crowding, was designed
by John Rennie. AS was the case with
the designer of the Brooklyn bridge.
one of the other most noted bridges of
nineteenth century construction. the
man who planned the structure did not
see lit finished. Rennie died while the
work was in progress, his son bringin g
it to completion in 1881. 1t has five
granite arches and is architecturally a
model.
Visitors to London are fond of saying
that London bridge is the best place in
the city to study human nature.
The affection in which the bridge is
held is shown by the enthusiasm with
which thousands have examined the
completed model of the old structure.
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07

under General Herkimer waited for the
signal. It took the scouts longer than
they had expected TO get into the fort
without being discovered by the enemy.
The Americans had hoped to hear the
cannon shots early in the morning, but
they did not come. Many of the
colonels and captains grew impatient.
They went TO General Herkimer and
asked him to lead them against the
British without waiting for the signal.
General Herkimer did not wish to do
this, but the others accused him of
cowardice and even of being on the
side of the enemy. The brave old man
could not stand their reproaches.
4 yield he said, but you will be
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07

~ FTER an incredible amount of
research. the history Of London
4 bridge, the most famous span in
all the world, has been traced
through its 500 years Of existence. and
a model OF the old structure as It was
before the days Of the present one was
made for the recent AngIo-French ex-
hibition.
The craftsmen who undertook the
work had to go back almost to the
period in which William the COpQueror
slew Harold in the battle of Hastings
in order TO ind the first record Of the
structure.
It was early in the twelfth century
when the plan for spanning the fast
flowing Thames first resulted in de-
signs for q wooden structure.
A priest, whose last name has passed
from the memory OF man, and who is
only remembered as Peter, chaplain Of
Cole church, drew UP plans and first
told builders how with the rude imple-
ments and material Of that day they
could fashion a structure that would
bear traffic and Withstand the rush Of
the waters.
The architect died before the work
was completed, for with the pitiful
bridge was a work Of some thirty-three
years.
But in 1908. ten years before, on the
island Of Runnymede, the barons Of
England forced from King John that
immortal magma charta. the virtual
basis OF the worlds civil liberty, the
bridge was opened TO traffic
Since that time, through the long
record Of eight hundred and three
years London bridge has been one Of
the show places of Britain's greatest
city, and in tracing its history the
committee came across hundreds Of
weighty incidents that happened on it's
broad expanse or in the buildings that
once lined both sides.
Men are now yet living who remem-
Der the buildings that used to stand
out above the river on both sides of
the bridge, though they were taken
down some so years ago.
The model shows the old bridge as
Il was with these buildings standing.
Il is a picture Of nearly a century ago.
and al that time there still survived
many important structures, such as
the Church Of St Michael
The model is nine feet long and is
constructed in the proportion OF ! TO 100,
the whole bridge measuring 92e feet.
In the center OF the restored bridge
is shown the chapel Of st. Thomas
which is interesting from the fact that
here for centuries lay the body of
brave old Peter. the creator of the
first bridge that threw its arches
across the moving bosom OF the
Thames.
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07
In THE BATTLE OF ORINSkANY =. e. e19hER 69sER.
LIC1FITFOOT SAT WTTH GENERAL ETEE2ENFfER AND
FIGHT THE rTOETAN1Ek VALLEY.

III IL the valley of the Mohawk was
ahame with excitement when
General Nicholas Herkimer is
sued his call for troops to de-
fend the border from the British and
their savage allies in the fall of the
year 17T7. The Americans had good
reason to feel alarm. General Burgoyne
with victorious army was advancing
toward Albany from the north and
General ST. Leger was coming from the
west with the intention of sweeping
the valley clear Of all enemies Of King
George.
Brave old General Herkimer called
upon all men and boys between the
ages Of 16 and so to arm themselves
and follow him against the enemy.
Lightfoot Van Pelt was only Il, but the
knowledge Of Indian ways that he had
gained during a long captivity among
the Mohawk tribe made his father
willing 10 take him when ne himself
shoudered his rife to join his regiment.
BE careful. Lightfoot" said he.
stay with the rest Of us and don't run
OF into the woods, for think there is
going 10 be lighting this time"
General ST. Leger had gone up the
st. Lawrence river and through Lake
Ontario, while General Burgoyne was
sailing up Lake Camplain. He had with
him some British regulars a detach-
ment Of Hessian troops hired from Ger
many. force Of tories who had fed TO
Canada and were now coming back TO
make war upon their old friends and
neighbOrs, and a large company of
Indians under Brant. the famous No
hawk chief He had invaded the prov
, nee and was laying siege to Fort
Schuyler, where he had shut up the
garrison under Colonel Gansevoort.
General Herkimer was calling the
militia together with the idea of NOV
ing TO the relief of the fort
The Americans began their march
early one August morning, advancing
up the Mohawk. They reached Oriskany
without meeting any of the enemy and
as they were then within eight miles
o. the fort General Herkimer halted
and called council Of war II was
agreed TO send a party of three men
20 Colonel Gansevoort to tell him that
they were ready to make the attack
Ihey asked him TO fire three cannon
shots as signal for them to advance
and 10 send some OF his men out from
the fort TO aid them when they should
arrive.
This seemed like a very good plan.
and, while the scouts went forward to
carry their message. the little army
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07

the first to run away when we meet
the enemy"
He then gave the command to go for
ward, and the troops started with a
great cheer, little thinking of what was
in store for them.
Indian scouts had discovered General
Herkimer's men while they were wait
ing at Oriskany, and General st. Leger
was warned of their approach. He de-
termined to send force against them
and prevent them. if possible. from
reaching Fort Schuyler. With this
idea he sent a strong band, composed
of British and Hessian soldiers, Sir
John Johnson s renegade tories. known
as the Greens, because they wore green
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07

with two white and two black sides.
Last cut out the eight round discs
these are used in playing the game.
Mount them upon heavy paper and let
them dry under weight so that they
will be fiat.
How to play the game: Two players
can play this game Each one chooses
four similar discs to play with and
places them on one of the four symbols
of Good luck
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07

coats to distinguish them from the red
coated English, and many Indians
under the sachem, Brant. In order to
reach the fort the Americans would
have to cross a marshy ravine, which
led them over a stream and into the
forest on the other side. The British
and the Indians concealed themselves
in this forest. forming into a great
circle into which the Americans would
have to march when the crossed the
rNvine
Captain Van Pelt was friend of
General Herkimer, and he and Light
foot were close beside him when the
Americans marched over the road
which led them across the ravine. AS
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07
A New Game

BY way OF a change from the seden-
tary games have a fan race. For this
q course is agreed on in advance. Each
player receives a downy feather and a
fan the former TO be waited with the
latter The winner in each race matches
a newcomer and this continues until
but one player remains The feather
can be caught on the fan If it threatens
to fall. but must not actually reach the
ground. as IN this case the player Is out
of the running.
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07
An Ungrateful Boy

Hardly had Mary recovered from the
measles than her little brother John fell
i'll with the same malady. One day
when John was almost well again his
mother gave him piece of cake Nat
urally, Mary wished very much for a
piece. and when John refused her she
reproached him. indignantly saying:
If you aren't the greedy boy, Here
I gave you the measles and now you
won't even give me a crumb.
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07

In turn each tosses up the counter
and tries to get all his men on good
luck corners Players may move only
when they turn black down on the
counter and then they move from
square TO square The first one to get
all his men on good luck corners wins.
Players may rest together on the same
squares IL they wish The game may
be made longer by having a larger
board with more squares.
The San Francisco call., 1908-11-07
low to make the game:

diagram. The board should be made
of stiff cardboard or heavy brown
paper 1t should be about six inches
square. The four good luck emblems
are cut out and pasted on the corners
of this board as shown in the diagram.
The rest of the board is drawn off in
squares as shown. There are four
squares to each side, including the en-
blem corners.
Next cut out the counter and fold ii
on the dotted lines so that when the
flap is pasted you will have a pyramid