davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18
THE PLAYTHINGS OF KINGS

At Buckingham palace there is a
room devoted to the storage OF various
toys which kings and queens at one
time played with. There may be seen
In this interesting collections of play
things a wooden rocking horse given
to King Edward by the prince consort
when his majesty was years old On
the neck of this horse which was known
once in the royal nursery as Jupiter
may be seen the name Edward. carved
by the little boy who was born to be
king of the British isles.
A bright gun metal cannon. IS inches
long, mounted on a steel carria ge
stands next to the horse. 1t was his
majesty's favorite toy. and was pre-
sented to him by the duke of Cam
bridge. 1t is a working model of one
guns. now, of course. quite out of date;
II was capable of sending a small bull
ct through an inch board at a dis
rance of 100 yards. and was given to
he king when he was a. but his ma
esty was not permitted TO use it until
se was TO- A gun range. $50 yards
oHg, WAS THEN CHOSEN al Windsor
where the king used often, under the
Eatchful care of an old aTsilleryman
o practice with this splendid toy.
Another extremely interesting toy is
fine model of a schooner designed
and made by William ~ Ii is not q
very big model. being only little over
j. inches in length. but il is abso-.
luteIy accurate in every detail 1'fsis
model vanished for q time from the
royal collection of toys when il was
lent to Prince Edware; OF Wales. who
used frequently TO sail Il on yi--
ginia water when al Windsor 1t was
however. replaced in the collection re-
eently.
Queen AIexandra's favorite sdolf Is
among the most treasured articles in
the collection. The doll IS clad al
together IN white. and ali the garments
were made by her majesty when she
was. very little girl. long before she
had any idea that she would be one
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18
Point ed Poems
Quaint School Customs

j. l. Patton head master of Man
chester grammar school, in a speech at
Rochdale, referred TO custom at
Rugby school which ferbids a. boy of
less than three wears standing TO turn
up his trousers and insists on his doing
so after that period
The custom is only a minor instance
of the quaint practices that exist at all
of the great public schools and are
maintained with religious care though
In many cases their origin is obscure
or unknown. The Shrove Tuesday
tossing of tie pancake at Westminster
school. with its ensuing scramble for
the largest fragment. which gains for
its possessor a guinea from the dean. is
perhaps the best known among them
curious custom at Marlborough re-
qufres every boy to bring 10 school
with him a cushion, technically termed
-kisf'-with the ~ long This
article is his fnseparable companion in
school time, and in addition to the ordi-
nary functions of cushion is employed
to carry books from one form room TO
another
AT Shrewsbury school All the begin
ming of each term hall elections are
held for the posts Of hall crier, hall
constable. hall postman and hall scav-
engers. The genial brutality of youth
often selects for the position of hall
erier the most nervous boy in the school
or one who is afflicted with stammer
The new boy in the schoolhouse. at
Rugby is early called upon to take his
part in house singing At this fHne-
ton. which IS held N oae Of the dor
mitoriss.. ne mas e EandeSsa song td fIIe
satisfaction of his audience. the pen
atty being the swallowing OF a mouth
full of soapy water.
Another ancient school custom is the
parade of the Christs hospital blue
coat boys before4 the lord MAYOR at the
mansion house on st. Matthew'S day,
when the "Grecians. who correspond
to sixth formers elsewhere. receive
a guinea each and the rank and file of
the school are presented with new
illings.-London Daily Mail
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18
Call Readers
Epicurean Elephants
Junior
To DaffOdils

Fair daffodils. We weep to see
You haste away so soon.
As yet the early rising sun
Has not attained his noon:
Stay. stay
Until the fastening day
Has run
But to the even song:
And having prayed together, we
VIII go with you along
We have short time to stay as you
We have as short spring.
As quick a growth to meet decay,
As You or anything.
We die
As your hours do: and dry
away.
Like to the summers rain
Or $ the pearls of morning dew.
Ne'er to be found again.
Robert Herrick.
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18
Dogs in Germany

The dachshund is the favorite dog
in Germany. and very useful and
pleasant companion he seems 10 be.
The English bulldog is a good second
in popularity, and the nearer he is TO
our standard points the better lie is
liked. The fox terrier varies a good
deal in size and marking and is evi-
IDENTIFY not so we'll known in Germany
as he deserves to be.
The ladies there are a fond Of their
little Poms and their King Charleses
as are their English sisters of their
pet dogs at home
Some few dogs in tie streets are
harnessed to four wheeled trucks
Usually a man and dog pull The
work seemed too heavy and exhausting
for the dogs. which are generally
mongrels of the mastin type They
look in fair condition and are not i'll
eated.-Farm and Home
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18
The Four Seasons

Deep hush: the sky glare Of red'
Dim distances of heat;
And. oh. how drags the silent tread
OF Times relentless feet,
Bleak gusts adown a sodden sky:
The drip of freezing rain;
Gloom saddened dreams of years gone
by.
And lonely days again.
Snow glinted nights. and whittier days
That hasten TO their end;
Mute longing in a heart that prays
The solace OF a friend.
Moist winds astir in azure skies:
Green hints against the gray;
And. oh. the dream of those dear eyes
That co not smile today,
Percy NJ. Cushing, in Munsey's.
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18
Constantinople

Where The Thracian channel roars
or fordiv Europe's eastern shores
Where the proudly jutting land
Frou-ns on Asia's western strand.
Efsh on seven hills is seen 10 snihe
Tire second Rome Of Constantine
pe,estb her feet. with graceful pride
p-oDorffs spreads his ample tide
I4fs fertile banks profuseiy pour
or luscious fruits a varied store
Rfch with a thousand sliterfng dyes
gFfs food a finny shoal supplies,
While crowding sails on rapid wing
The rfned south's bright treasures pflns
With crescents cleaning TO the skies
Mosques and minarets arise
Mounted or whose topmost wall.
The turbaned priests 10 worship call
The mournful cypress rises round,
Tsperfng from the burial ground
olympus. ever capped with snow,
crowns the busy scene below
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18

day Englands queen. The doll was
added to the collection by the express
desire -of the king, and was brought
over. from her majesty's home at Den
mark few years ago.
Many of the toys in the collection
were made by their royal owners. For
example there is wooden model OF
a fire engine made by the prince of
Wales a dagstaff made by his royal.
highness the duke Of Connaught. and a
wheelbarrow constructed by the late
duke of Edinburgh.
The toy most recently placed in the
collection is a splendid kite of inze-a
nfous construction. made by little
Prince Henry OF Wales.
The royal children are taught tc'
take good care of their toys. and are
not permitted 10 break them when thes
are tired of them When toy ceases
To please its royal owner It is some
times placed in the collection. but il
not considered 10 be OF sufficient inter
est Tor such a purpose II is given away
usually 20 the family of some one
connected with the royal household
Though many Of the royal toys have
been carefully stored away for sorns +.
years past. no regular collection wa
made Of them until King Edward as
eended t@es throne. when his majesty
conceive.t the idea Of gathering them
81 toGstheF. and Placing hem in a spe-
cial room at Euc bingham palace
There are over 500 TOYS now in the
collection. but many Of these are really
very valuable models Of beautiful de-
sign and vorkrnanSfip. anc can scarce
~ be regarded as ordinary playtnings.
For example there is an exquisite sill
YER model cf the 6rst Paris exhibition
which was presented 10 the Princess
Victoria on her tenth birthday by the
late Empress Frederick This model
IS said TO be worth several THOUSAND
pounds and is the only complete model
of the exhibition in existence
Even more valuable is the model OF
q diver clad in full diving costume pre-
sented by the German empress t.
Prince Edward of Wales 2 few years
ago It is Of pure gold and was made
~ = Polish artist who spent several
Years in completing this beautiful little
work of art Such models are orna-
ments rather than pIaythinSa
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18
Japan a BreadIess Country

Japan always has been and is Vet
practically a breadless country. The
staff of Iife. older than Christianity,
and the main food of many classes and
nationalities. was not known in Japan
until the Portuguese first entered that
country in 1912. Rice. beans, fish. eggs.
and milIet We're and are still the chief
articles of food. In 1890 there was
a rage for foreign bread in Tokyo, even
among the coolies. and piles of it We're
seen in every little cook stall, but the
fashion subsidized like a fever. and ordi-
nary Japanese victuals resumed their
wonted place. The American boy looks
for a piece of bread. often we'll but
tered and sugared. on his return home
from school or play; the Japanese boy
expects rice
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18
RIRDS AND BEASTS IN THE ADIROkDACKs

= THING that strikes the chance
a wanderer through the wilderness
OF the Adirondacks is the tameness OF
the birds and beasts. as il they had
hardly learned 10 fear men as hunters
A guide who goes daily from this lake
10 neighboring hotel garden has
seen morning after morning WITHIN a
few Yards Of the place where the gar
deners are at work a mother grouse
with her brood Of ? or = chicks
Each time the hen has displayed her-
self freely almost at the feet OF lhe
human intruder. all the while giving
little warning cry 10 her brood, at
which every chick disappears as II py
magic II is the belief of the natives
that the grouse chicks actually cover
themselves with dead leaves Much
more probably they melt by reason OF
their color into the general surface OF
last years fallen leaves until they can
get 10 cover among the blueberrtes-
The RULED grouse, even when unen-
numbered by family. surprises one in
these parts by its taneness- These
birds love 10 haunt the edge or old
wood roads. and they are sometimes so
indifferent 10 the presence Of 2 man
that they viii permit him TO approach
within a few feet
Spruce grouse. with that pretty red
distinguishes the male. are found in the
wilderness chiefly in the hardwood
highlands but also on the edge Of
-narshy plains. These birds again are
euriousIy tame and easily approached.
AQUATIC fowls IRE also oddly in
5feerenf 10 the presence of men. Black
aucks. which are found in punches
OF four or fve in the streams that feed
az drain this lake, rise ahead of a boat
rrithin easy gunsilot and often settle
svsfn Just around the next turn
eock used TO frequent the lake within
sight of two camps and conduct them
selves more like barnysrd fowl than
Wild creatures
II the black duck is Indifferent. the
n,s.dhen is stupid IT sits silent and
.tnrnoxed as a boat passes almost with
in reach Of oar or paddle. and rises un-
willingly al the nearer approach of the
human intruder only TO settle again at
no great distance. Sometimes a mud
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18

hen viii repeat this performance three
or four times
AS tame as any OF the birds is the
native red squirrel. Its ticking chat
ter is heard from all the trees all along
the lake through the neighboring carry
and up and down the streams.
There was pest of red squirrels at
one time on an Inhabited island in this
lake. The mischievous little creatures
ran familiarly about the porches and
carried off all sorts of small articles.
When the island camp was opened one
summer great number of dry and
hard currant buns were found slowed
away In hiding place selected by the
squirrels The buns must have been
snatched from time to time when set
out to cool by the cook. Why the
squirrels had not eaten their carefully
stored provender it is hard to guess.
Although the guides hold small game
in contempt. they put into the iarder
of their camps whatever the hunter
kills. Such a camp will have deer
hanging in the trees, and squirrels.
grouse and perhaps ducks. along with
trout awaiting the spit or the griddle
1t is the improvident way of the guides
TO cook at once all they have on hand
in the way of game. Thus you have
at the same meal fried trout broiled
or roast duck, partridge and venison
steaks cooked to a turn over the Goals
besides whatever edibles may have
been brought in from civilization.
Any bird below the size of a ruffied
grouse is in no danger at the hands
of the hunter or his guide unless the
larder is absolutely empty The result
is that birds of many kinds are ex-
tremely fearless.
The waxwing alights within a few
feet of the hunter and grackles are
seen standing on the lily pads in search
of worms while boat glides by scarce
Iy 10 yards away. Even the hermit
thrush accounted the shyest of its
tunefui family, sings within few feet
of the carry where human beings are
frequently passing back and forth
Curiously enough, though constantly
heard and often close at hand. the bird
is not easily SEEN The larger birds
such as s,the blue heron and the fshing
eagle, keep well out OF gunshot.-New
York Sun.
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18
Interesting
Heroic Acts Of Boys

4 MONG the child heroes Of history
AVE must place not only brave chill
dren who afterward became famous
men and women, and also boys who
showed their bravery in battle. but no
less those other children whose bravery
has been recognized in some public
way. There have been thousands and
thousands OF brave children whose
deeds have never come 10 general no
lice. 50 thar it must not be thought
that those = bout TO he mentioned We're
the only child heroes in the United
States Al the time But here are
some OF the facts on record.
Twenty seven Of the I2s Carnegie
fund heroes were l. years old or less
Fifteen Of them were from Il 10 Ia
Years Of age. In all but four of the
= cases the special deed Of heroism
was the rescue Of person from
drowning.
Leaving these cases to another time.
there is room 10 record the heroism
~ Lyndon r. Phifer. aged I5, who
saved ; year old boy from being
ran over by q train at Rich Hill. No.
october u. 1905 Phifer ran out on
p long frestle bridge while q train was
spprosching released the other boy
whose foot had been caught between
2 wo ties. dropped him over the side
Ito small stream IS feet below and
rhen managed % escape himsett Just
: : the train went BY
p Thomas r. Taylor, aged Is was one
- four who entered q room filled with
deadly slnunonfa~f fuTfres and saved the
Nfe Of fellow workman in Boston
Junt Is 1909
Joseph Gray. aged i. saved three
cafidren under years Of age from
fire in New York January - 1901 By
way OF the roof and fire escape ne en-
,e-ed = room filled with smoke on the
5fth floor OF ? six story building he
rsrried the children one al tihe 70
- ,oof an the fire escape. which the
DANES were licking. and. having as
qembled them all on the roof. led them
aiong 10 another place where they
could descend in safety
These three brave boys not only
were brave. but showed cooiness anu
s..s,-,er+ =, making these rescues.
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18

N elephants digestive functions
N are very rapid and the animal,
therefore. requires daily a large
amount of fodder-S00 pounds. at
least In it's wild state the elephant
feeds heartily. but wastefuIly. 1t is
careful in selecting the few foress
trees which II likes for their bark or
foliage. But IL will tear down
branches and leave half of them un-
touched. II will strip Off the bark
from other trees and throw away a
large portion
As IL is nocturnal animal Il Sc
lects it's trees BY the sense of touch
and smell Its sense of smell is so del
icate that wild elephant can wind an
enemy at distance OF 1000 yards.
and the nerves of its trunk are so
sensitive that the smallest substance
can be discovered and picked up by its
proboscis.
An elephants palate is very delicate.
and the animal is whimsical in Sc
Iecting or rejecting morseis of food.
Sir samuel Baker. In his Wild
Beasts and Their Ways. tells an an
ecdote illustrative of the whims OF a
tame elephant belon sing to the poiies
of Dhubri:
This elephant was fed with rice and
plantains...Tbe Stems Of 1he piantains
we're split and cat into transverse sec
tiors two feet in lsng5h- Three-q quar-
-ters of pound OF rice was placed
within each tube of plantain stem
one day. while the elephant was
being fed lady offered thes animal a
small sweet biscuit. lie was taken IN
the trunk and almost Immediately
thrown on the ground
The mah0uJ. or driver. thinking
that the elephant~had behaved rudely.
picked up the biscuit and inserted il
in parcel of rice within plantain
stem.
This was placed in the elephant
mouth. and at the very first crune.t
it showed its dislike by splitting out
the whole mess. The small bis@"' z
had disgusted the animal, and for sew
eraI minutes il tried by its in5ea--
trunk 10 rake out every atom from
it's tongue and throat
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18
Mine Host of the Colder
Apple"

\ goodly host one day was mine,
Golden Apple his only sign.
That hung from long branch, ripe
and fine.
My host was the beautiful apple tree;
He gave me shelter and nourished me
With the best or fare all fresh and
free.
And light winged guests came not a
few.
To his leafy inn, and slipped the dew,
And sang their best songs ere they
slept at night on downy he'd
OF moss. and my host benignly spread
His own cool shadow over my head.
When l asked what reckoning there
might be,
He shook his broad boughs cheerily-
A blessing be thine. green apple tree!
Thomas Westwood.
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18
Good Night

Baby. baby. lay Your head
On your pretty cradle bed:
Shut your eye peeps. now the day
And the lights are gone away:
All the clothes are tucked in tight
Little baby, dear, good night.
Yes. my darling. well | know
How the bitter wind doth blow.
And the winters snow and rain
Patter on the window pane;
But they can not come in here
To my little baby dear.
For the window shutteth fast.
Till the stormy night is past.
And the curtains warm are spread
her cradle bed:
So till morning shineth bright.
Little baby. dear good night.
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18
Origin of Sailors Collars

In the course of an after dinner cha {
recorded in Sir Algernon Vests 3
Recoileetions' the late Admiral Sir
Harry keppei. who served in the navy
under four sovereigns. said that the
blue collars worn by sailors had their
origin in the dressing of the pigtails
which Sir Harry recollected being in
use-when a blue cloth was put on
the mems shoulders TO keep the erea Sc
off their Jackets. The pigtails dissp-
peared. bfst the collars remain to this
daeALondon Globe
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18

lFoET yea ot.i~t.es.s cider brother was
Just convalescing from an attack of
typhoid fever. and the fact that all solid
food had been forbidden. not even much
liquid could be given. had made a very
strong Impression on Lees mind. The
little fellow and his mother were
invited out to dinner with a friend
Shortly after their arrival there the
friend said: Well. Lee. we haven't any
playthings for little boys. What shall
we do to amuse your? And Lee re-
piled: Just let me eat"
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18
English Wit

He was smart junior. with rising
reputation for genius in the art OF cross
txs minatiOn- Said he 10 witness. gar
rulous but alert old lady.
How much money had you in your
pocket when YOU say it was picked
-Four shiiIings. two sixpences and a
sovereign in gold came the reply trip
pingly on the tongue
Did you ever see a sovereign in any
thing but goid.- was the next question,
cynicaIly put
Yes: 1 once saw King Edward in a
carriage. .'-TiI-Bi
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-18

katherine. aged years. who had on
a new pair OF shoes. had her picture
taken. and when asked why she did
not look up instead OF down. said. =
wanted to see il my new shoes got
their picture taken.
The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-05-17
BIOGRAPHICAL CALENDAR
May IS, 1909.
ALIGHIERI DANTE,

There is some doubt as to the exact
date of the birth of Alighieri Dante.
but it is certain that he was born
some time after the first part OF the
month of May. and according to many
authorities he was born on the six
teenta of that month. There is no
doubt however that he was one OF the
greatest poets of all time. and incom-
parably the greatest among the ltaf-
ians. The elements of knowledge
Dante probably acquired in Florence.
the city of his birth, and in ripper years
he studied philosophy at Padua and at
Bologna. After his Punishment for
political intrigue, he pursued theology
for a time az Paris, and il Boccacclo
were to be believed, even visited Eng
land. His studies however. did not
prevent him from discharging the pfl-
waite duties of a citizen. He fought N
the successful battle Of Aretines at
Campaldino in 1899, and was present
at the taking of the fortress of Cap
roma, 1895. What civil offices he first
held we do not know, but 1t is certain
that he was sent on several embassies,
and at last in 1900, rose to the highest
dignity of the city, being chosen one
of the priors for two months, an office
which was the source of his subse-
ouent unhappy fortune. A tumut IN
the city, occasioned by the heads OF
the ultra Guelphic or black, party,
caused their temporary expulsion from
Florence. They hurried to Rome to
Law their complaints before the Pope.
Dante. who belonged to the Bianchl,
was sent by his party to Rome 10
counteract their Vaccinations; but
Boniface the VIII, in concert with
Neri.got Charles of Valois, brother OF
Phillip the w of France to come 10
Florence and restore the peace under
the title of the peacemaker. This ex-
Mains the deadly enmity of Dante to
Boniface. The peace established Dy
Charles of Valois consisted in reca
ing the banished leaders of the Neri'
in giving up the houses of the .Blanchi
to be plundered, and in banlsnlhs
MANY of them, including Dante. Dante
never entered his native city again, and
his whole subsequent life was spent
wandering from place to place In italy
The unsuccessful siege of Florence aIter
the death of the emperor. winch ioi-
lowed i'm 1913, annihilated the ais,
hopes of Dante, and he spent the clos
ing wears of his life at Ravena, unoer
the protection of friend. He went OH
The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-05-17

a mission for this prince to Venice, re-
turned sick and died in 1921. His i'm
mortal work of Divina Commedia, de-
picts a vision in which the poet is at
first conducted by Virgil the represen-
tative of human reason, through he'll
and purgatory, and then by Beatrice
representative of revelation, and finally
by st. Bernard through the several
heavens where he beholds the triune of
God. The name Commedia was given
to the work by the poet because it be-
gins with the horrible and ends with
cheerful
The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-05-17
Yields to Vaudeville.

NEW YORK, May Thames X
Hackett has at last fallen-for vaude-
vile. "One of the most popular leading
men on the American stage" as his
admirers sometimes refer to him. has
been unable to resist the lure OF gold.
His own theater, named for him. 10
occupied by another star, his admiy.
able company may look for engage
ments in other fields, while Mr.. Hack
EFT presents himself in a playlet. with
perhaps an acrobatic team ahead q
him and a couple of slap stick artists
following on the bill.
Mr.. Hackett will make his vanlle-
vile debut under the management sf
William Morris at the Plaza Mnsis
hall tonight.