davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25
The Runaway Cats
Los Angeles,

Los Angeles, Oct. Il, 1908.
Dear Aunt Laurie:
am going to tell you about moth
er kitty and her baby that used to
have.
Some neighbors next door had lit
tie gray kitten. When it was about
half grown they moved away and
left 1t.
It kept coming over to my house,
and so we kept it, and had 1t for our
own.
The people that used to own it named
Betty or Lady Betty"
She grew to be such nice pet. When
she wanted to come into the house she
would take her paw and open the back
screen door. But if the door of the
kitchen would happen to be shut, she
would hunt around for door that
was open. If she could not find any
she would wait until one was opened.
When papa was reading Betty would
jump up on his lap and get in between
him and his paper and sing. OF course
papa would have to pet her.
When Betty's baby came mamma
put it in a big dry goods box that had
some old clothes in. The baby and It's
mother were contented there for
time. One morning mamma brought
the baby in to me when she came to
wake me up. After that Betty was
bound to be in the house. Mamma
would take her out, but she would take
the baby in her mouth, open the door
and bring it back in again.
Some friends of ours that had
ranch near here wanted our kitties
because they had so many mice.
Thinking 1t would be such a good place
for them, we had them taken out there.
OF course we thought We could see
them quite often.
The people neglected to lock them
up then and the kitties tried to get
home. I am sorry to say we have never
seen them since.
CLYDIA BROKAW,
ATS East Avenue 2S
Gates Street school, grade A6; age AZ.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25
An UnmusicaI Cat
San Bernardino, Oct,

San Bernardino, Oct. IA, 1908.
Dear Aunt Laurie:
1 have a very fine pet cat. He is. 5
years old. He Is of a tiger nature: has
spots of black, gray, brown. tan and
white.
He does not like to hear any singing.
My aunt is a nice singer and when she
sings piece or two he wants to get
right out of doors.
Once as I was lying on the cot Che
was asleep 1 commenced to sing. He
raised his head and- said, "Mee-ow."
That means to stop. He repeated it
again and again. I kept on singing.
All of a sudden he gave large leap,
hit me, tore my hair all down. I am
afraid to sing any more around him.
He does not mind to hear piano.
He Is all right then. When sometimes.
leave the piano open. He jumps up on
the keys, walks back and forth several
times. He loves to be praised over
everything he does.
am a little girl, Aunt Laurie, II
years old.
MURRILL LEVETA STEIFF,
5S6 Mt Vernon avenue.
Mt. Vernon scho |, grade z.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25

table. He ate in large box, which
he also used for bed.
We called him XII. One day Ki got
loose. He would not come around the
house in the daytime. At night lie
would come and play with the dog In
the evening we put his milk in the
pan. AS soon as we went into the
house and closed the door he would
come and eat. When we would go out
to look for him we could not find him
anywhere. One day papa fastened one
end of a string to the drop door of the
box and the other end inside the house.
The first night Ki noticed the change
and would not go in. Each night we
set the milk farther back in the box,
till at last he had to go clear IT, to get
his food. After two or three nights he
dared to go into the box, and finally he
would eat in there. We watched frS m
the window one night, and when we
saw him go into the box we pulled the
string. The door dropped down and he
was penned in. Ki was very quick;
when we gave him food he would not
eat 1t but go Off from 1t a little way
and sit very quiet. The chickens would
often come up to his box to eat from
his pan very often. He would watch
his chance and quick as a flash he
would have one.
Papa gave him to a neighbor who
wanted him, but he ate so many chick
ems that they had to kill him.
EDNA MURPHY.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25
A Captive BADGER
Dear Aunt Laurie:

Dear Aunt Laurie:
This is my first story and I hope you
will like 1t and put it in your paper.
Several years ago when l was a little
boy about 4 years old my father came
home one rainy night bringing some
thing wrapped up in a gunnysack and
put the bundle on the floor. when out
scrambled the cutest little animal
ever saw. Papa asked me what it was,
but I could not tell him, as had never
seen anything like 1t before. so he told
me it was a little baby badger. 1t was
too young to feed itself, so we fed it
on cows milk. 1t had a white stripe
from the point of it's nose to the tip of
his sharp tail and dark sides.
We kept it iIP a box in the basement
to keep it dry and warm. One morn
ing we went to feed it and it was not
there, and we could not find 1t until
we heard one of our neighbors making
terrible fuss about something, and on
going over there found that my little
badger had strayed into their yard and
they were so afraid of it that they
climbed up on some sacks of coal. and
he was just as frightened as they.
brought him home and took good care
of him, but he died soon after. 1t did
not suit him to be a captive.
RALPH b. CLARK,
1905 Waterloo street, aged years.
Caseo school, grade ga.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25
An Alaskan Dog
San Bernardino, Oct. Is. 1908.
INT Laurie.

San Bernardino, Oct. 10. 1908.
Dear Aunt Laurie:
As have and do own some real in
teresting pets I will tell you about
them:
A few years ago one of our cats had
the cutest little kitten imaginable, a
fact of which she seemed to be aware.
One day she carried it to lady that
was at our house, put 1t down at her
feet, looked up and meowed, as If to
say, "See my kitty?' The lady replied
that "she saw it," and picked it up.
That kitten is now quite grown and
has three Of the cutest kittens of her
own, one of which is sitting on my
shoulder as / write.
Now, about my dog. His name is Dia-
mond. A lady tanned a fox up in
Alaska, and he is one of its pups. He
is half Siberian fox and half Japanese
pug. Another lady brought him from
Alaska with her and just thought
everything of him, but as her husband
is a railroad man and they travel
around so much they could not keep
him, so decided to give him to me. She
was offered $50 for him, but would not
take it, as she wished him to have a
good home and didn't want just anyone
to have him AS he was not around
cats much he did not like the idea CT
being peaceable with them, but though
we have only had him since the 1st OF
September we have gotten him so he
will lie down near them and almost eat
with them. There is nothing like him,
and people have come for miles to see
him. 1 never saw a dog mind better,
and he seems to understand everything
said to him. He is not very big and
rather like a fox in color; also his feet
and face. If you ever noticed fox's
foot you will know what his look like;
long toes and sort of like duck s
underneath them. 1t is hard to de-
scribe it.
1 could tell you many more things,
but will have to wait till next letter;
also to tell about my canyon home.
MARGUERITE RUTH STANLEY.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25
The MotherIy Turkeys

Dear Aunt Laurie:
This is a true story of my pet tur-
keys and kittens.
One stormy night when my Uncle
Tom was returning from work he heard
a Ditiful wall of a kitten, SO he got
down from his horse and went INFO
brush near the road and found two poor
little half-starved kittens. lie put them
in his pockets and brought them home.
We took them in and fed them good,
then put them in a box with three pet
turkeys we had been trying to bring
up by hand. Strange to say. the little
turkeys took right to the kittens ana
made friends at once. OF course the
turkeys went to bed early and when 1t
would come bedtime for them they
would run around after the kittens,
crying and making such fuss to have
them go to bed with them, but the kit
tens would play around and pay no
attention to them until they got ready
to sleep. Sometimes my Uncle Tom
went out to spend the evening. Then
when the kittens would hear him drive
into the yard they would get out of
their box and go to purr around him
while he put the horse in the barn.
Just as soon as the kittens got out or
their box the turkeys would come cry
ing after them and follow them all
about and beg them to get back to bed
and keep them warm. But, no-not
until Uncle Tom came in the house
would they go into their oox. Then
you could hear their contented little
squeak And so they slept until day.
light. The first thing when we got up
they would race to see who could get
there first for breakfast.
l want to tell you how much / like
the Junior, and every Sunday l can
hardly wait for the carrier to come with
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25
The Hen "WaddIe"
Los Angeles. {

Los Angeles, Oct. Is. 1908.
Dear Aunt Laurie:
/ take pleasure in telling you about
my pet. Two years ago mamma
bought some chickens. / picked one of
them for my pet. She had very fun
ny walk, so l named her "Waddle,"
Well, l had her about six months, then
l named her Sassy" because she does
not want to feed the other chickens;
she wants 1t all herself She also has
nest of her own and she lets no other
chickens In it. But If one happens to
get in when she is not looking, there
certainly is some fun then. as she
takes them by the head and pulls them
out of her nest. Then she cackles about
an hour before she goes In herself. and
about an hour when she comes out.
Mamma tells me lots of times 1 Will
have to part with her. but I tell mann
ma it is very hard to give her up, as
she Is very smart. For instance, last
year mamma gave her some duck eggs
to hatch, as she is a very good mother.
After they were hatched she knew
that they were not her own kind. 1t
seemed she was ashamed of them, as
she would not come out from under
the house for two weeks, and then she
left them and went right into her
chicken pen.
THERESA M. SPIESS.
1887 East Fifty-seventh street.
Fifty-second Street School, grade AS;
age 10 years.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25
A Queer Hunter
Buena. Park, Oct. IL,

Buena Park. Oct IL, 1908.
Dear Aunt Laurie:
Several years ago when was about
five years old we had q black and
white bulldog named Cid. The great
est fellow you ever saw to hunt for
squirrels. Some days he would come
home covered with dirt from trying to
dig them out OF their holes. MY father
was farming In the foothills then and
the coyotes were plentiful. Early one
morning when my father was out plow-
ing and Cid was along digging for
squirrels as usual, papa noticed
coyote loping along on the other side
of the wire fence. Papa stopped his
team and called Cid to set him on the
coyote.
BY this time Cid was half out OF
sight in a squirrel hole and the mere
papa called the harder he dug. When
the coyote. who seemed to be watching
the dog. bounded over the fence and,
coming up behind him. actually nipped
his tail and bounded back again.
Cid gave a little yelp, half turned
and went on digging. The coyote loped
on out of sight and papa gave Cid up
as a bad job.
HUBERT STOCKS.
Grade 6; age IL.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25
Not yellow In Spirit
Pomona, Oct. IA,

Pomona, oct. IA, 1908.
Dear Aunt Laurie:
One morning when my mother was
in the yard she saw a puppy peeping
out from under the house. She called
my sister and me, but puppy had dis
appeared. We called and coaxed, but
1t would not come out again. So we
crawled under, through the dust and
cobwebs, and in the darkest corner we
and her coat was such pretty light
brown color. We named her Valen-
tine, but call her Val for short.
All this happened more than a year
ago, and we have her still, and think
her about the dearest pet there is.
There were times when we thought her
q little nuisance, as when she followed
us to school and we had to bring her
all the way home.
When she was naughty and had to
be punished my sister used to make
her sit on a box in the front yard with
a paper Ounce cap on her head. She
did look so funny when the cap slipped
around .nder her ear. but she sat there
blinking solemnly until released.
Our mother often let's Val lie on the
rug In the kitchen, when the morning
Is cold, though she does not care to
fondle dogs very much: but I really
think Val is more delighted by one of
mothers pats than she Is by all the
pettings and huggings that Jean and
l give her, and she nearly wags her
tail Off when mother says to her: ''val
is a good little dog" Though she is
quite small and nearly yellow, we still
think her the best playmate one could
have. HILDA HARDWOOD,
203 N. Myrtle Ave-, Pomona, Cal
Central school, Az; age IL years.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25
The Baby Sister

Long Beach, Cal, Oct IL, 1908.
Dear Aunt Laurie: The incest pet 1
ever had was my baby sister.
One bright morning. the 9th y. June,
1908, l was awakened by my sister and
told to come down stairs and see what
we had. l hurried and dressed and
came down stairs and there was a lit
tie new baby
l was years old then and We lived
on a farm in Iowa.
We named the baby Mary Louise.
One day my sister had finished bath
ing Mary and brought her in to NAM
ma. My sister had had the bath room
too warm and Mary laid there SO still
and quiet that we were frightened, but
she got all right again.
One day we took her out on the lawn
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25
Bantams for Pets

Los Angeles, Cal, Oct. 1S, 1908.
Aunt Laurie:
have not had many pets. I had
two bantam chickens given me by my
grandma and 1 thought a great deal of
them, too, and would feed them and
care for them all the time. Mamma
thought they were no good because
they could not lay big eggs and because
they were so small and because they
eat so much. She killed them and we
ate them up, and that was the end of
them; but they were not bad. But
papa said they would have been better
If there had been more of them.
Then had dog, Prince" Prince
was bulldog, but he was good to us.
We used to play all the time with him.
We would fasten him to our wagon and
away he would go ''lickity split" down
the sidewalk. One time he threw US
out by running against a big tree. I
hit the tree with my nose, and papa
says I took the bark off the tree. but
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25
Aunt Launie's Twin Nieces

Dear Aunt Laurie:
We have been reading letters in The
Herald Junior and like them very
much. We thought we would each
write letter this time.
Probably you are wondering vno we
are. We are twins, is years old. Ne
go to Carroll Park school, and are in
the eighth grade Your twin nieces,
VERA AND EDNA MURPHY.
Long Beach, Cal, r. r. D. No. 2,
box 25A.
You are the first twins to write to
the Junior, and are very welcome.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25
SNOWFALL and Granger
Riyerside. Oct. 13, 19OS

Riverside, Oct. 13, 1908.
Dear Aunt Laurie:
We take The Herald and like it fine.
I will tell you about our pets. I have
a snow white kitten named SNOWFALL.
He is two months old and is quite play
full. My uncle, who lives with us, has
bantam rooster that we call Granger
He is afraid of SNOWFALL and runs and
flies up on the back of uncle's chair and
crows, as much as to say, You can't
get me now.'' When they are out in
the yard Snowfall tries to catch Grang-,
er's tail, but he gets away from him by
flying over the fence into the poultry
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25

and put her behind the go-cart and she
could take a few steps with it. The
first word she ever said was dada" :"
She called my sister that
She was year and a half old when
we left the farm and two years old
when we came to California.
She is now five years old and lives
out doors all the time.
1 am 12 years old and do not go to
school at all. MILDRED MEAD,
$50 East Ninth street.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25

the paper to see what the boys and
girls have to write about.
l showed their letters to my teacher
and she thought them very nice. Wish
ing you every success, am your little
niece, CHARLOTTE TREADWAY,
612 Daily street.
Sacred Heart school, age 10.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25

am going to get with my prize money
"a fountain pen-which 1 have long
been wanting and which can hold as
a memento of one of my first cash
prizes. remain ever your loving niece.
MARGUERITE RUTH STANLEY.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25
WRITER'S CONTEST

Two prizes will be given in this contest each week.
One dollar for the best original paper submitted by Los
gee girl or boy and dollar for the best paper submitted
girl boy living outside the city limits of Los Angeles
Papers must be from $50 $50 words length
side OF the only and with margins top and side of
paper.
All contributions must be signed with and address,
of school and grade
Papers for this competition office later than
Saturday afternoon, October 31
Topic: Between Ny House and the School House"
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25
Our Pet Coyote

Long Beach. Oct. Is, 1908.
Dear Aunt Laurie:
While we we're living on the frontier
a bachelor came one day and asked us
If we wanted a new kind of kitten.
After looking at the kitten. which was
a coyote, we told him we would take it.
We put a collar around the coyotes
neck and fastened him by a chain. We
fed him on milk and scraps from the
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25
Received Her Prize

San Bernardino, Oct. IA, 1908.
I received my check this afternoon
and was very delighted to get 1t. l
just want to thank you for your kind
choice of my story, which I appreciated
very much. No one knew had writ
ten it, and sent my Limerick in for
sort of an excuse.
Aunt Laurie, hope to be able to see
you some time. / must tell you what
Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25

I think skinned my nose. Papa gets
things wrong sometimes. But l like
pets. and when l get big I am going
to have q monkey and a parrot.
JAMIE GIBBS.
1882 West Twenty-first street.
Washington Street school. B4.
New-York tribune., 1908-04-14
N. Y. G.. PARK AVE. WORK
Fight against Bill Granting Indef-
mite Ertension of Time.

A determined fight is being made by the Citizens
East Side Improvement Association. with offices
at No l55 East 51st street. 10 defeat bill now
before the State Legislature granting an indefinite
extension of time to the New York Central to de-
press its tracks in Park avenue. between 18th and
56th streets and throw bridges across to con-
meet the side streets According to an act OF the
Legislature of 1893 this work be finished by
July /, but II is not nearly done Officers of the
association say they do not object extension
of eighteen months. but they want heavy pen
atty provided for failure to have finished by that
time
In addition TO the officers OF the association, Of
which DR. Alexander Hamilton Is president and
the Rev. DR.. George L Shearer is vice-p president,
the rectors and pastors OF almost every church in
the district affected have written to Albany pro
testing against the bill Among these are St Pat
rtck's Cathedral St Thomas's Episcopal Church.
the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church and the Coz
legiate Church Of ST. Nicholas.
Il have resided at No III East 54th street for
thtrty-seven years, and in common with others
have patiently suffered the inconvenience, loss and
deterioration of property caused by the isolation
of the district extending from 42d street 10 5oth
street and lying east Of the railroad tracks ana
yards, said Dr. Shearer in one Of his letters For
nearly two years past the work these improve
ments. especially on the west side Of the tracks
and yard, has either been suspended or continued
at sna1Fs pace, and at this rate our sunering IN
the loss of our property in its use and It's financial
value, Will be continued indefinitely
According to Ira A. Place vice-president and
general counsel Of the New York Central the rail-
road finished by December almost all the Work
covered in the contract made under the act or 1873
But in 1895. said Mr. Place yesterday, the Board
of Estimate and Apportionment approved plans
for almost doubling the improvements on ac-
count of this, Mr. Place said ii would take almost
five more years finish the work.
The bill was introduced in the Assembly by Bev-
erly Robinson and passed there When II came up
in the Senate II amended by Senator AgneW
10 give the Board of Estimate and ApPor-
tionment power. subject to the approval OF the
Public Service Commission, to extend the time FOR
eighteen months. but provided no penalty II the
work finished by that time. December 81
1909 The East Side association is urging pen
atty Of least $3.50 for every day Of delay less
than one month and $3.50 for every day after
that time.
why. the city knows that the work can't ne
finished in eighteen months asserted Mr. Pace
yesterday, "and it has known 1t for a good While
too. We estimate It VIII take five years or some
thing less Ii is a tremendous undertaking, ana
made all the difficult by the care which We
are taking TO eliminate all danger 10 the thousands
of passengers on the trains coming in here every
day while the work OF depressing the tracks IS
going on
New-York tribune., 1908-04-14
THEATRICAL INCIDENTS.

The first new incident at hand viii oe 'he pre-
sentiment Of The Wolf" a new play oy MI
waiter. author OF Paid in Full" at the Bijou
Theatre next Saturday night
Mr. Edward Vroom will appear at the Garden
Theatre next Monday evening, in his play called
The Luck OF Macgresor
Miss Spooner and the stock company AT the Lin
colin Souare Theatre will effect. Monday,
revival of Dorothy Vernon Of Haddon Hail.
A numerous company, led by Mabel Barrtson and
Joseph Howard will perform at the Majestic The
atre next Monday. in a play called The Flower Of
the Ranch"
Miss FRITZ scher viii come TO the Academy Of
Music next week. presenting the well known Mile
Modiste"
Mr. G. NJ Cohan's Yankee Prince" will be pre-
sented next week at the Knickerbocker Theatre.
Miss Kitty Cheatham will give musical and
dramatic recital at the Lyceum Theatre next Mon
day afternoon.
The Circus remains in New York only this week.
Next Monday it will go 10 Brooklyn, and the per-
formance will there be given under canvas.
New-York tribune., 1908-04-14
OBITUARY NOTES.

MRS ALETHEA BLANCHE MERRY, wife OF
W. L. Merry, American Minister TO Costa Rica
died yesterday at the home Of her daughter at
Stonngton, Conn. from heart disease. Her hus-
band was with her when she died.
MRS. SOPHIA DAY JENNINGS. widow of the
Rev. Isaac Jennings. died Sunday her home,
in West 10Th street. She in her eighty second
year One son. Frederick Beach Jennings. a law
yer survives her. The funeral will take place at
Bennington Centre, Vt, tomorrow.
JOHN YOUNG. eighty years old, father Of Police
Captain Horatio Young, died yesterday in St Vim
cents Hospital Staten Island, a result OF a
fall The funeral will take place at Captain
Youngs home, No. S2A Targee street Stapeton,
on Thursday morning.
CAPTAIN CARL EDWARD WILHELM Won
I.ELIVA engineer to the Yonkers Board of As
SCISSORS died yesterday from gangrene OF the foot.
He was eighty years old and born in Ger
many. Coming TO he United States at the out
break of the Civil War. he commissioned by
Governor Seymour captain Of Company c. 5Sth
Infantry. He went Yonkers twenty-five years
ago.
New-York tribune., 1908-04-14
MAUDE ADAMS AT YALE AND HARVARD
Actress Will Play for Undergraduates OF
Both Universities.

Yale and Harvard will have an opportunity this
summer to witness Maude Adams's Interpretation
Of Shakespearian characters. When II vas an
,o,,,cad several weeks ago that Charles Frohrna1
had arranged for her appearance before the under
graduates and faculty of Harvard old Yale de-
cded TO share in the Offering, If 1t might ana
at once invited the actress to give speclaI per
formance on the campus.
Mr.. Frohman has accepted the invitation for her
and it was made known yesterday that the order
OF the performances had been changed According
10 the present arrangement, Miss Adams Will act
-, +bs e+aga Of Sanders Theatre on June and
II Is possible that an extra performance may oe
given on the afternoon Of June 4.
The following night Yale will be favored oy
nerfornance on its campus. which will be tnclosed
e. ~ occasion II II should rain Miss Adams will
act IN WooIsey Hall The attendance at ooth UNI
versitv performances will be restricted 10 under-
graduates. members OF the faculty and theatricaI
writer's The sale OF tickets 10 neroers O. Eiai H- "
1-is,+,- u,iu he conducted by a committee from
ENGLISH department