davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
IF WERE A MILLIONAIRE
WILLIAM IRWIN.
Ila4 Ocean Avenue. Oakland. Age ~
Years

If John D. Rockefeller or any one
else left me 81 200. 09O / would build
nome Tor poor chemists In connection
with this building would be a huge
Ia boratory containing all the latest
and best apparatus necessary IN the
study of this science. At the present
time wonderful discoveries are being
made in this branch of study, but, as lt
requires years of study and thousands
of dollars to continue the experiments
many chemists who might otherwise
accomplish much have been Obliged 10
discontinue their work because OF the
lack of funds
Strange 10 say the majority of the
men who are Interested In this sci
ence are extremely poor AS a body
they obtain little encourag cement. al
though chemistry enters into all or
nearly ali of the great manufacturers
industries OF rhs world. and with
out the application OF its laws and
principles all such enterprises wouldN
result in failure.
For these reasons 7 would build the
home so that the phenomena in nature
could be studied and We Americans
could say, as in almost every science
known that we are the most learned
in the world.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
SUMMER RESORT FOR poor
JESSE HINES,
X. II. ID. No. 4. BOX $50, FruityaIe. w.
II. FriclS school, Fourth Grade.
Age IL Years

III John d. Rockefeller left me
s1,000.000 I would have a summer re-
sort for poor people who can't afford
to go any place in the hot summer
months. l already have an ideal spot
for the resort and it is Mount Diablo.
In Spanish this means Mountain of
the Devil. as this mountain used to be
volcano, but is now extinct We
have gone there five summers in sue
cession and we are sure to go this
year, which Will make the sixth. 1t is
in Contra Costa county and is 1850
feet high and il is fine camping there.
would have all the poison oak cut
down, as no one would like to camp
in a place where, in a few days ii
they weren't careful their faces would
look like a washtub. l would build
little cabins with four rooms in each
and then large hotel for rich folks.
The profits of the hotel would keep
the cabins in repair and keep up other
things. ] would have two rules in re-
gard to cabins, that is. tenants must
not in any way damage furniture or
cut the walls of cabins, and no gun
would be allowed TO be~fred within
distance of one mile from the edge of
my property.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
AWARDED A WATCH
TFi
HELENE e. HOFFMAN,

HELENE f. HOFFMAN,
224O Brcderick street. san Francisco.
Age re Years
What would I do with a million?
First, as mamma and I are alone,
would invest a sufficient capital to
afford US comfortable income
throughout life.
Then I would arrange for a tenn
porsry home in the beautiful city on
the Hudson, where Nassar college is
situated q am from New York city,
and 7 would attend the college.
At the END OF my course I would
travel. not only to see the places but
because travel materially aids the wri
ter which is what | want TO be-
This world contains a certain class
OF people well educated but impecu-
nious because of reverses.
They are too proud TO let any one
guess their financial difficulties. and
therefore find existence more burden
some than the really poor. AS a usual
thing the former have been IN good
circumstances, so that poverty comes
hard. while the latter having always
been poor, can not generally appreciate
their condition.
There are enough institutions and
charities to assist the poor, so l would
ESSAY. very tactfully. OF course, to as
certain the true financial condition of
the other kind and some nice way in
which TO alleviate their sufferings.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08

and girls who have to work as cash
girls, etc, and have poor positions.
Such as these could attend this home
ana sho learn learn good TRACES anq also receive eve
get If working. to send home.
This is not the only thing / would
do. l would also build a home for
Inmates properly attended to. This
building would have all the convent
ences to make them happy without
costing them a cent. and when they
We're sick they could have the best of
medical attendance
All l would keep would be enough
TO keep my immediate family and my
self comforta bly,. and when l died /
would make will in favor of these
institutions.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
ROSES MILLION
ROSE McGLYNN,
SO Steiner street. Lincoln Evening
School, Seventh Grade.
Age 1G Years

l tossed on my pillow with a head
ache. unable 10 sleep. | wondered why
Dame Fortune distributed her favors so
unevenly. Why she always gave head
aches 10 the girls who have to work
next day
/ fell asleep and dreamed a glorious
dream. Mr.. Rockefeller had sent me d
million dollars,
Oh joyl My dreams are realized. /
am going to help my friends realize
their ambitions. Each shall have a
chance.
Genie's tmy pretty chum's) picture
comes to view. No more hard work
for her. She shall have the best edu-
cation before she chooses her life
work.
Like moving picture. Olive stands
before me. Olive, born an artist. shall
develop her talent. No more factory
work. She must study here, then in
Europe under the masters.
olives picture fades. Mays comes.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
AWARDED A WATCH
IF | HAD A MILLION
OWEN McMANU

OWEN McMANlS-
San Natee. Homestead school, Skin
Grade. Age II Years
If had 1000, 600 / am sure l would
be a very happy boy. The money would
not make me happy, but the good which
j could do with il would. First | would
take my little brother and together We
would leave the orphanage- 1 would
build fine home and have my little SIS
ter. who is in an orphanage IN the city
and also my three older sisters, come
into my home so that We could all be
united and happy once more. would
ziVe a large sum 10 having my lame
sister cured. would lay aside large
amount for my education and that Of
nav sisters and brother. ! then would
pnt some money IA the bank for my lit
Tie brother and / to go into business
with when we are men, After / had my
sisters. my brother and myself COM
fortably situated ] would erect fine
monument over my dear mothers grave.
j would not forget the orphanage,
where the people have been kind to me
since my mothers death. / would do
nate a fine library TO the orpbanage. i
would spend a large sum in helping the
poor who are willing TO help themselves.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
JNI0R STORIES AND PRIZE WINNERS

me million dollars 7 would hsee
msnv pIans in which L could dispose
of il. -. o~,hs,
ebffdren -rbfs home would be IN the
country. where the children could get
plenty OF fresh air. ;., -
,a,.rs ,or..b s11r-ounding it, This pOrch
would be covered with rose vines.
Each room would be large ana neatly
kept. s--o,,,d
for each 10 have his garden woult~
nlsrf plenty OF vegetables wo1t~.
have a large orchard. with All klnqs
have plenty OF fresh fruit would
have this home fixed so Il wouid not
look like the present homes or the
orphans I would also have dairy
so the children could have plenty OF
fresh milk
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
IF | WERE A MILLIONAIRE
MAUD REESE,
1872 Grand Street. Alameda. HaiEht
School. s Grade. Age II Years

+
If | We're fortunate enough to have
John ID. Rockefeller leave me million
dollars here are some of the things L
would like very much TO do.
First, l would buy several acres OF
land in some nice country place, and
| would build a home, to which | could
take the poor children from the or
phans homes for part of each year,
where they could enjoy themselves ike
other children.
This done / would establish real good
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals branches everywhere |
could. and also have dogs, cats ana
wornout horses taken care OF, 1nstead d
of being shot or turned out IN the
streets to starve.
Having done this for the benefit OF
others l would like to take my mother
and father to Europe. and also 10 see
the many things of interest~in our own
beautiful country.
Whatever money was left ! would
put in the bank for future purposes;
] should like people who We're IN neeq
to come and see me for help IL l
am ever rich / shall be very glad TO
do all these things
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08

by other penmen in the public schools.
All of these books were made with the
quill and blackberry juice. While
lithography had been introduced into
this country decade or two before,
1t had not yet penetrated to the west
ern reserve. 1t was not until 1S4S that
Spencer heard of the possibilities of
hthographing and published his first
book of copies. For 16 years after that.
or until his death in 1864 he prepared
his work and distributed it through the
medium of printed books. His sons,
each of whom became q skillful pen
man, continued his labors.
For 90 years the Spencerian style was
accepted, as standard through the
United States 1t was taught in every
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
SPENDING A MILLION
CATHERINE FORD.
342E Saerannenfo street. Richmond
Grammar school, Fifth Grade.
Age IL Years


IL I had luck enough like some pe9-
pie have to get s1.000.e0o from John ID.
Rockefeller / think 1 would be very
happy / am fond OF dolls and have
five beauties at home, so L want no
more. But l am longing for watch. l
would not buy one with the million, as
have plenty of other things TO do wltn
il. But ] hope / shall win watch from
The Junior Call.
/ am very fond OF travelling and some
times take my dolls down Ia the yard
and put them in our big buggy ana
play we sre travelling to different parts
of Europe. So with the million l VIII
spend on travelling to Paris. ltaly.
Rome. Athens and many other different
and interesting parts or Europe.
/ am also fond of playing that own
a large orphanage, and have few
companions act as the orphans. So In
stead OF making believe owning one
hope ! shall see the day when / will
spend half of the million in building a
real one, which will have all conven-
iences and comfort. The remainder 1
would give to many poor families who
need help. / think that is a good, hon
est way 10 spend a million.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
WHAT | WOULD DO WITH A
MILLION
HANS CARRIGAv.
ii Walnut street. san Francisco. Ar
N Years

IL Mr. John ID. Rockefeller left me
q million dollars I would go travelirx
L would first go to 81. Louis and theN.
l would go 10 Chica go. then to Ne{x
York; from there I would go to Eng
land, and then all through Europe and
Asia.
When 1 came home would make
homes for poor children and build
a public library.
would be very nice to my friends.
4 would give parties and great many
other things would get married and
settle down in big house. When nv
children got old enough 7 would send
them to schools and colleges. Then
would then get my boys good posi-
ttons in business.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
| WOULD DO WITH
$I,0O0,OOO
GEORGE sTUDLEY.
135 Sixth Avenue. SutrO Grammar
school, II Sixth Grade, San Fran
cisco. Age 13 Years

My, wouldn't / be rich! think l know
what l would do with it. With 5000 or
$500 l would take my mother, sister,
brother and myself for a trip to Yo-
semitic valley. l would give or build a
nice new building for the homeless
children. With some more of my
money / would invest it in San Fran
cisco property. l would be glad if poor
people came TO me and asked for help.
! would give them some money
would live comfortably with my family.
/ would, with about $4,000, invest
il in the San Francisco Call paper
routes. / would get good, honest boys
to deliver il.
| would with some more money pay
my own way through college, and the
expenses of learning how 10 become
a locomotive engineer or a steamboat t
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08

highest ambition). if anything should
happen to my fortune.
l would build a home for old people
who were so sick and poor they could
not take care of themselves.
/ would go to large cities and visit
the poorest quarters and find the sick
people and children. Then l would
give them money and food and try TO
help them in many ways
/ would go to the prisons and VISIT
the prisoners and try TO help them
see the nobler side Of life and do better
when they were released.
I have many more plans to help less
fortenate people, but / can not tell
them now.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08

would never allow her TO %orN
hard again. l.. nao-
Then / would loan my moneN 20 ped
pie whom | knew were honest -
whose greatest worries, ike my
ther's were their debts .,ta
would not press them If they coulu
not pay off on the principal IN a esiT
tain time, as promised. nor Woulu
make the interest so high as 70 ar
all their savings to pay the
only.
l would try to help along mnsH st
as possible the fight against the
white plague for L think II - Hos1
worthy of any ones help.
4 million dollars seems a great deal,
bur I think it does not take long 10
find many good uses for it.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
WHAT | WOULD DO WITH A
MILLION
DOROTHY GISE.
Benleia Public school. Box 2t2- Age
Ia Years


If Mr.. ,RockefelIer or any other "fel-
Ter" gave me S1,000,000 I would first re-
turn thanks 70 the donor and wish him
health and happiness. Then i would sit
down and think. A lot of money ike
that would bother a Il year old brain
quite a while. Here are a few Of the
things I would like to do I would put
500 900 In some safe bank or reliable
investment that would give good inter-
est, for such emergencies as earth
quaksS, Hoods, fires. etc, 10 use for the
benefit of the unfortunates who lose
their means OF livelihood. Then I would
build handsome home for my parents.
get a fine automobile and live in com
fort and style. Then I would look up
poor churches, converts and orphan
ages. like Miss Helen Gould OF New
York. have never been ont Of Califor-
mia. and would like TO see foreign couu-
tries for education and amusement, tax
ing my parents along. 4 am not going
to buy any foreign dukes or counts
with my money; I will make better use
of it,.
II you print this I might send il TO
Mr.. Rockefeller. Maybe he would send
me that million
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
HOW l MOULD SPEND A
MILLION DOLLARS
KATIE WALTERS.
13s Tiffany Avenue. Axnsnfx S.hooa
FIfth GrnAe. Arnd m

IT my good fortune gives me 81 600
oOo quarter would be settled on nv
IN their old age In the event az fheSr
not needing the money i would en-
gov oed in some hospital would
utNioe quarter of a million among
my favorite aunt, grandma. two broth
ers and sister. A quarter would he
dIvlded between the home for aged
incurables and orphan asvIurn. 80
other quarter would keen for r,vsalF
70 travel all around the world. The
rest OF the money I would invest IN
real estate II I double the money I
should Use II in charity. I should Iks
70 oe great In the world and nor iesd
an idie, good for nothing life
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08

public and private school. Toward the
close of the last century vertical styles
began to make their appearance.
Schools were asked to adopt these and
discard the Spencer system The fail
ure of the vertical writing and the
reversion to Spencerian, or the slant
ing system, is now general In the
height OF the demand for vertical writ
ing business schools stayed close to the
free hand method.
Six or seven years ago many schools
were teaching vertical penmanship. 1t
was favored because of a claim for
greater legibility and more speed in ex-
ecution. Pupils trained in this method
left their schools and sought TO enter
business. There they were frequently
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
SPENDING $I,OOO,OOO
EDGAR LYNCH.
564 Fourth Avenue, Fifth Grade,
Richmond school. Age 10 Years

If / We're fortunate enough to have
John d. Rockefeller or any other rich
man leave me 81 900, 900. | would spend
New York and see the manufacturing
done there. After seeing all ] wanted
! would visit London, then Paris. After
visit the T9rkisb FapifaI constantino-
pie. / would also while 1 was there
visit the Mohammedan mosques and
watch the Mohammedans pray. After
being satisfied with what l saw Z
would sail to Hongkong on the eastern
shores of China. Hongkong belongs to
the British, although it is in China.
In the harbor are many fishermens
boats with sails looking like the wings
Of bats. After staying a couple OF
days 1 would visit Yokohama. q sea
port in Japan. After seeing all | want
ed to there | would return home by
crossing the Pacific. With the rest
of the money | would settle down in
the city till the end of my DAYS
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
AWARDED A WATCH
MY AIR CASTLES
EMILE THOMPSON.

EWTLIE THOMPSON.
4I2 Third street. Aapa. Age IS Years
II / were so fortunate as TO be given
81 00o. 000 by Mr Rockefeller l would
be very happy and use il TO the best
advantage.
would first put small sum away
for rainy day. ] would also invest
some proftsbly. so that ! would always
have enough.
Then I would like to take trip TO
Europe and study the different teach
ing systems. 50 that I would be able
20 earn my living by teaching lmy
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
WHAT | WOULD Do IF j. d.
ROCKEFELLER LEFT
ME $1,000, 900
WILLIE SoRENSEN.
Warm Springs. Warm Springs Public
school. Eighth Grade. Age Is Years

If John d. Rockefeller left me $1,000
600 would buy big farm and build
lot of houses on the farm and keep poor
children and orphans there and let
them have a fine time. l would take
them to picnics whenever possible and
would give them an education and
supply them with food and clothes and
would give them some money to spend
for whatever they wished and give
them horses TO ride. i would put some
money in the bank and would keep a
Sunday school.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
WHAT | WOULD Do IF ! HAD
$I,000,000
EUGENE COONEY.
Lockwood School, Fifth Grade. Nufiey
Avenue and Noble street. Fruit
vale. II. r. ID. No. 1. Box z01,
Care of A. Petitpierre. Age
II Years
EUGENE COONEY.

Well. first of all j would buy large
piece of ground embeHished by nature.
and upon this l would build a beau
tiful home for my mother and grand
mother also an aviary, and one OF the
grandeSt Conservatives in California.
which would give work TO many gar
deners who have families to support !:
then | would buy up fertile tracts Of
lands suitable homes would be erected
for colonists, giving deeds OF title
after three years OF use. providing the
and pledged allegiance 10 Uncle Sam.
Next | would have a bakery to dis
tribute many loaves OF bread daily to
the poor. / would pay the expense
OF this charity Also put at interest
a large sum until it would become
compounded. The balance OF million
to be wisely taken care of-not for
getting to present a souvenir OF
thanks to John ID. Rockefeller.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08

cock Grammar school, q Sixth
Grade. Age I3 Years
One million means a great thing for
me. If Rockefeller gave me one /
would do great things with it,
l would hunt for a fertile region.
This land I would buy and then divide
it into 10 acre farms. After this l
would go to a large city and find the
men that did not have any work. L
would ask them if they wanted to be
farmers. The first year 1 would let
them live free on this land. 1 would
also sell their crop. So when I sold
IL 1 would give ii to them to buy
clothing for themselves. The next year
/ would ask them TO pay a little rent.
With this 1 would buy more land to
be divided
When the farmers had a good crop
I would ask them If they would sell
ii right TO the fruit stores. and not
first to the wholesalers. When the
fruit stores bought it cheap they could
sell IL cheaper than if the farmer sold
il 10 the wholesalers and the whole
salerS to the fruit stores and the fruit
stores to the people. Each one would
want 20 earn q little on the crop.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
WHAT | WOULD DO WITH
$I,000,OO0
BERNICE BUNCH.

Paso Ro4les. Paso Robes Grammar
School, Sixth Grade. Age 13 Years
If John d. Rockefeller should offer
me Sl.00O.00o I would surely accept it,
for / know / would find use of it. First,
would take a trip to Europe and back
then when / got back to dear old Cali
fornia l would have a large room built
with large tables all around the room
covered with cakes and pies. etc Then
whenever L saw a poor. old hungry
tramp l would bring him in and let
him help himself TO all he wanted. for,
oh, / do love to watch poor hungry
people eat! l think I would have some
money left over to send to the orphans
home. ] hope some day that l will be
able to do all this
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
IF | HAD A MILLION DOL.
LARS
JOSEPH HAHN.
COtati, Cal. Cotati school, Fifth Grade.
Age IL Years

When my father died he left my
mother in very poor circumstances. The
first thing | would do if / had a mil
lion dollars would be to pay off the
mortgage my mother owes on our
farm.
Then I would have my mother. who
has never hardly known what pleasure
means take a trip somewhere and get
a long rest.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
AWARDED A WATCH
THE TENEMENT BABIES
u.Dy EIRUSH.
HADN FIBUSH.
20 Mesa Avenue. Piedmont. Piedmont
school. A Seventh Grade.
Age IL Years

Were John d. Rockefeller TO leave me
81. .000, 900 ! would use nay money by
helping The tenement babies of New
York / would try to annihilate some of
the awful filth and sickness. First OF
all ] would procure clean milk and
warm clothing for them, and for those
who are sick l would get doctors. Then
1 would nave the old tenements torn
down and new, spacious, clean ones
erect ed. In each room l would have a
cot in which the mother would sleep;
next to it a small. comfortable crib for
the baby. Then on the other side Of the
There would also be a furnace, so that
the people could be warm in winter
When Jacob Riis was here he spoke
Of the awful dirt and disease that are
carried throughout the entire tenement
region.
And with my million l would try to
bring happiness, health and care to the
poor tenement babies.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
IF | HAD Sl,0OO,0oo
CHARLES INGRAM,
$40 Archer street. New Monterey. Age
IL Years

If ] were so fortunate as to have
John d. Rockefeller leave me a miihon
| would do all the good | could win II.
First l would get years suhscrlp-
ton to The Call for a great many ram
lies with children. so they could read
The Junior Call every SATURDAY l
would then put a large college up SO
that poor bows and girls conld go TO
school and learn a trade free of charge.
would then build aRtemperance house
SO young men could have enjoyment
would put up a nice house and
give my father some of the money SO
he would not have to work any more.
i would buy a yacht with the. rest or
the money and take my friends around
the world to see all the places of In
tereSI.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
WHAT / WOULD DO IF / HAD
A MILLION DOLLARS
MATTIE ". WEBB,
HAI IHFl W " tlBhs
ReedIey Grammar school. A Sixth
Grade, Reedley, Cal. Age N Years


If Mr.. Rockefeller should leave mo
s1.O0O. 090 what would L do2 Well. the
hrst thing is an education i would
have an excellent education. so II
lost my money i could make a living
Then 1 would build a fine mansion and
surround IL with parks. I would give
to beggars, hospitals. the sick and
poor and churches / would put $780,
900 in the bank, leave it until it drew
enough interest and take trip around
the world. I would visit England. the
Bank OF England and all other places OF
interest From here would visit
France. I would visit the most beau
tiful city in the world" I would also
visit the places OF Importance and the
president. Then I would 20 to the
great German empire and all OF the
other places OF interest IN Europe.
Then for Asia. where the Chinese sleep
on their wooden pillows; then to see
how the Arabs travel around the Per-
SLAMS make carpets and all the other
places of interest of the world Then
back to dear old America. back to
California. 70 dear old Reedley. to HVs
among my many friends.
The San Francisco call., 1909-05-08
HOW l WOULD ENJOY NV
MILLION
GRACE sERPAs.
6enicta. Age 1S Year.

have often wished TO be rich a.
cocia take tour back east
would Ike very much TO 70 10 r~hi-l
cagc. - III
II Mr.. Rockefeller should leave M
mutton today | would start or nexr
week Tor Chicago i have never ers.-
eled much, but my wish is ~ 80 -
Snicago- have heard so much ~
Chicago that I would like 10 visit A.