davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-24
By Lucy Baker Jerome
1T BIS is the betrothal ring of
Martin Won Luther"

Martin Won Luther"
The words swept across my
consciousness like Transforming
wand. blotung out the streets and
houses OF san Francisco and bringing
before my mental vision the narrow
streets and gabIed houses OF old Ger
many at that troubled time when all
civilized nations were fred with re-
llgious zeal and each man was sure that
he had the only pass to the heavenly
, kingdom. the time when the reforma-
ton was gathering strength and Mar
Tin Won Luther was becoming a power
IN Europe. ] saw the towering figure
amidst the wreck and debris of those
days and wondered how the giant OF
the reformation ever had time to think
OF wooing and buying betrothaI rings.
Then nay thoughts swept back TO san
Francisco and the ring which / held
IN nay hand. This is its story
More than three centuries ago in
The year 1902, Martin Won Luther after
being publicly banned by the church.
and sore with the knowledge that his
struggles for his beliefs had made him
the byword Of Europe. met and loved
Catherine Won Bora His love was re
turned and the pair were betrothed.
The changed religious thought had then
penetrated as far north as Iceland
where the priests Of the Lutheran re-
ligion were earnestly at work Luther
had eight copies Of his betrothal ring
made and sent one TO each of the sew
eral jurisdictions. One OF these wa
sent 70 Iceland. where Arch Preston
Arnesen was the sacred authority For
years the ring WIS used at every mar
risge feast and was handed down from
father to son as a sort OF church sym
Dol until IN the course Of time. II came
10 California TO remain IN the possess
sion OF a lineal descendant OF the old
Iceland viking stock, the eldest daugh-
ter OF descendant Of Arch Presten
Arnesen-
On close observation the ring is fas-
cinating and terrible Worked ia the
outer surface are reproductions Of all
the Instruments OF torture used at the
cruclhxion. There Is the figure of the
Christ upon the cross, the face OF his
mother, the bunch OF switches with
which he was scourged, the garment
he wore. the spear with which he was
pierced. the ladder on which the men
climbed TO take him down, the torches
that blazed that fateful night, the
gives and ropes with which he was
bound, the anchor which held the
weight. the altar that held the cup,
the dice the men used IN playing for
his garments, the nails and the three
leaved plant that ever since has been
spotted with blood. Above the head of
the figure are the letters. l. n. r. /,
and within the ring on one side the
name, Catherine Won Bora and on the
other D MARITIME Luther. It is made
only OF common silver, but within that
tiny circlet IS contained the history
Of the Christ and his reformer. and
OF q man and moman who devoted long
long years TO his work. Remembering
Of T14f
ried a thrill OF stern JOY in its utter
ance, across the dead space of three
centuries. ] felt an answering thrill in
me.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-24

under the weight OF steaming stockings
and wadmul garments. In the heat of
the fire of brentwood on the open
hearth. and my greataunt. Bertha. as
she told me this tale. was dressed in
her holiday garb from Hadeland; blue
jacket trimmed with braid. black killed
skirt and cap with ruff1es and bows.
Her sharp black eyes with irregular
pupils. her projecting chin and broad
nose were startling, but sne was con-
sidered "a wise woman" and you know
what that means. She told me about
the christening just as her mother had
told her in the same room amid the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-24

and she continued:
This dates from 1851. The christ
ening of a son in Norway is always
a great event even in these later
times, and got the story OF this par
ticular christening from my greataunt,
Bertha, who then lived on the old
farm OF the Nordtvedt-Tiller family.
Imagine listening to the following tale
in an old room whose contents were
looms, spinning wheels, chairs. brooms.
buckets, half finished ak handles, the
hens on their perch behind the door and
the old musket from Charles Kills time
under the roof. The rafters groaned
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-24

known to western studios. And, rarer
still, with it was ever coupled the
praise of goodness and purity.
Her first real distinction was when
selected as the model for the statue
representing the Beauty OF the
Golden West" at the worlds fair. A
California girl was hailed as peerless
in face and form, and the patriotic
bards of the golden state sang her
praises.
Rupert Schmidt was the sculptor and
the success of his creation resulted
in Marion Nolan being known as the
California Venus.
Ambition for fame wider than that
of a mere beauty led the girl to seek
success on the stage, and she appeared
in the Black Crook" company, later
essaying a role in "Pygmalion and Ga
latea'' at the old Alcazar theater. She
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-24

the earth. So it was with the little
West Oakland school, for one name
honored the rolls which is a household
word wherever heroic tales of romance
are still loved-Jack London.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-24

The author of The Sea wolf' and
little Marion Virginia Nolan were play
mates and fast friends-one destined to
fame and the other meeting a tragic
death in the prime of beautiful youth.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-24

picture OF the virgin queen on one sids
and on the reverse the shield and date.
1857 but il interested me more to be
permitted TO view a little book OF more
modern date, written by the kindly,
genial, child hearted old man now
passed away and whom every child in
the world should know and love-Hans
Christian Andersen. In this day" said
the custodian of these objects. when
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-24
By Percy w. Whitaker

n 7 ordinance passed and approved,
the city hall is to be dismantled
and obliterated. Thus passes into
history what has been a bone OF
Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-07

sends the members home to forget all
about II.
There are many purely western in
terests which eastern men cannot be
expected to take up and Of which they
know little or nothing. Concerted eff
fort could secure recognition for them,
but in the multitude of demands re-
suits are improbable unless the object
is persistently pursued. The west is
not unmindful of the interests of the
east, but the cas- may be depended
on to look out for itself, and pushing
western interests does not necessarily
mean antagonism Of the east.
If the coming session Of the Trans
mississippi congress is made up of
doctrinaires, each with a fad, It will
accomplish nothing except an oppor-
tunity for its members to be enter
tanned in a delightful city, but If prac-
tical men will take hold and organize
and direct it for practical purposes it
will have something to show for its
being and name.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-07
PERSONAL NOTES.

James ]. Hill has seen his statue unveiled
himself while he was still alive.
Caleb Powers, recently p~ardoned after
several trials, having been convicted of
completely in the assassination of Governor
Goebel Of Kentucky, has announced his
candidacy for congress.
Emperor william of Germany IL DESTROYS
that impecunious aristocrats who cannot
make a living in Germany should emigrate
to German Southwest Africa and become
members of that German colony.
Mrs. Matte Spelling Robinson Collins of
Des Moines has been aided by only eight
husbands in her experiments to demon.
strate whether or not marriage is a failure.
But Mrs. Collins is only. Al years old.
Brake J. Orr, a lawyer Of Bay City, who
has the reputation OF being the whites.
Rfter-dinner speaker in Michigan, after
serving three terms as prosecuting attorney
Of Bay county. twice under emphatic pro.
test, has removed to Detroit to practice
law and escape a fourth election as county
prosecutor.
The home OF the late Edward Everett
Hale, in Roxbury, Mass, having beer
placed on the market, a movement hai
been started to purchase 1t by public sub
scription and preserve II as a memoria
to the great clergyman. The Boston Herald
says that 1t ought not to be difficult L
devise q way by which It can be still KEEP
as a center of fraternity and good will"
Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-07
The Wide Omen Primary.

Nebraska will shortly have its first
experience with the wide-open primary
which was saddled upon our people by
the late democratic legislature.
If we are not mistaken expressions
Of dissatisfaction with this vicious pri-
mary ballot already being heard will
be man times multiplied after the
initial trial. The wide-open primary
with It's cumbersome ballot not only
makes the cost OF direct nominations
fuse the voter unnecessarily, to dis
franchise many eve fairly intelligent,
and invites frauds that otherwise could
be easily prevented.
The wide-open primary permits the
voters, irrespective of party affilia-
tions, to have a voice in the nomina-
ton of candidates for any party. II
permits democrats to nominate repub-
lican candidates for the purpose OF
beating them later at the election, and
vice versa. 1t puts a premium on mis-.
representation and hypocrisy and com
pletely destroys integrity of political
parties.
Party government always has beer
recognized as an essential factor in
maintaining our free institutions. The
wide-open primary goes on the theory
from start to finish. hat political par
ties are bad and ought to be destroyed
The responsibility for the wide-oper
primary in Nebraska rests wholly upo1
the democrats. The primary which tn,
republicans had given in response t
the popular demand was free from
these vicious defects, and the repub
lican minority in the Legislature Wig
orously opposed the introduction O
the wide-open feature.
On that record let the wide-open pri
mary be judged.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-07
O for Rnsinhss.

For months the captains Of the
financial, business and industrial
world have proclaimed that nothing
stood in the way of a great business
revival except the uncertainty about
crops and the agitation over the tariff.
The crops are now assured and, with
the exception Of cotton. are bumper
size, and even cotton is not discourage
ing. Congress has disposed of the
tariff bill and It's enactment removes
an element OF uncertainty from many
business ventures There is no appar-
ent reason now why any industry or
business should halt. The railroads
are assured Of a heavy tonnage, the
farmers of good prices for their pro-
duce and the manufactures Of a home
market for his wares. There is ample
money in sight to carry on the ma
tons business and a disposition
among its holders to finance any prom
Using project.
Business in all lines has made a
good start toward recovery from the
check of 1907 and the west, particu-
larly, has struck its industrial pace.
That the east may be counted on to
keep step is shown by the large sums
being put into extensions Of estab-
lished manufacturing plants and the
erection Of new ones, the textile and
steel industries being notable exam
pies. Prices of industrial and railroad
stocks also reflect the confidence of
investors.
The west as the pioneer In trade re-
vival, reasonably expects to get its
full share and possibly a little bit
more-in fact has a large consignment
Of prosperity already put away.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-07
Railroads and Their Critics.

Railroads and railroad men are
better than their critics n have al
ways been So" asserts President F. d.
Underwood Of the Erie road. 1t de-
ponds entirely what Mr.. Underwood
means by railroad critics whether his
statement can be accepted.
No reasonable man ever believed
the railroads and railroad men were
all bad or even incurably incorrigible.
A wild range pony has little real
worth and may do considerable dam
age, but when the average cowboy
takes him in hand the pony soon be-
comes a valuable asset. No better proof
of the business of many past complaints
against the railroad can be offered
than the present attitude of most of
the great railroad men in the country.
They would not return to the old con-
ditions of indiscriminate rebating and
rate cutting II they could, neither
would they favor a general resumption
of many other practices which robbed
railroads of their evenu and built
up n Individual or business at the
expense of another.
The master railroad minds of Amer
lea are today agreed that regulation
by properly constituted public bodies
is the only salvation Of the railroads
and that they need protection from
each other and protection from unrea-
sonable demands Of the people fully
as much as the people need protection
from the railroads. The old order OF
things has passed away and develop
ment along existing lines is a GER
tainty. Mr., U~nderwood's own road is
a fine example OF the benefits which
would have accrued to the company
itself had the restrictions to capital.
ization under which it's last issue OF
bonds were ioated obtained earlier in
the roads career,
Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-07
THE SECTIONAL CRY.
Governor Johnson's Assertions Pro-
woke n Rebukc.
-sva -.

NOAG u
Cleveland Leader. D.
In a speech at Seattle, Governor John
son of Minnesota, urged the extensive and
somewhat self-conscious region between
the Mississippi and the Pacific to insist
upon a larger share In shaping the poll
cies of the nation and running national
affairs. He declared that the west did not
make full use of it's own vast strength.
in asserting itself as a section.
This is poor stuff for the governor OF
any state to preach, but 1t lie especially alb
surd coming from a man speaking for
Minnesota. That fine commonwealth has
long been treated with all due considera-
ton in congress-. II has been given gen
erous governmental care and favor for
its ore and timber and flour. Its harbors
have been we'll developed by federal aid.
Minnesota had no reason whatever to
complain of lack of influence at Washing
ton or of regard for its local interests on
the part of the national government.
Al for the bigness and vast possibilities
of the newer west, the census next sum
mer will surely give many persons in that
section q painful surprise. 1t will show,
for instance, that the growth Of New York
in population, in the last ten years, has
been more than equal to the total gains
of all the states in the entire region from
the summit Of the Rock mountains to the
ocean. The older parts OF this country are
making much the larger contributions tC
the numbers Of it's people, its wealth and
it's prosperity. The newer west is blint
when it invites any sectional division IL
national Legislation or n the public bushes,
of the nation.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-07
The Transmississippi Congress,

The coming session OF the Trans
mississippi congress in Denver can
give an impetus to many movements
OF value to the west If It will. The
trouble with that body has generally
been that it gives precedence 10 men
with impractical hobbies or extremists
whose e~xtravagant demands neutralize
good ideas. A body made up of rep
resentative men from all over the
western country, concentrating behind
some few measures would be a power
full instrument 10 further the cause.
The congress too frequently meets
without any well-dehned plan Of
action, discusses dozens of things,
passes a long string Of resolutions and
Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-07
The New House Committees.

There is no occasion for anyone to
nouncements Of Speaker Cannon,
though undoubtedly many are disap-
pointed. 1t had been generally under
stood for some time that the speaker
was not inclined to favor the so-called
insurgents and it is doubtful II they
expected any different treatment from
that received.
There are some appointments, how
ever, which are significant, one of the
most important being that Of Mr..
Weeks of Massachusetts, to head the
committee on postofices and post
roads. Mr.. Weeks is a pronounced
opponent Of postal savings banks and
his power as chairman of the commit
tee may make 1t more difficult to get
such a bill through the lower house,
particularly If the speaker himself is
in opposition. The appointment, there
fore, is not likely to be well received
by those who believe popular senti-
ment favors a postal savings bank bill.
The d~isplacing of Mr.. Fowler from
the head of banking and currency is
not subject to sc much criticism.
While doubtless done for personal rea-
sons. congress has always opposed the
Fowler ideas of currency legislation
and leaned to those of Mr.. Vreeland,
who succeeds Mr.. Fowler in the COM
mittee Craftsmanship.
The west would have been pleased
to receive the Craftsmanship of the
rivers and harbors committee, al
though It was hardly to be expected.
Several old members on the committee
outrank the western men and Mr..
Alexander of New York was the log
zeal successor for Mt. Burton. The
west gets representation on the COM
mittee, however, and Speaker Cannon
himself may be counted on to forward
the waterway legislation which he APP
proves and nothing more could be ex-
pected from any committee.
In removing Mr.. Norris Of Nebraska
from the public buildings and grounds
committee our state loses a leverage
for securing recognition of It's de-
mands, and in %conceding Mr.. Latta
a place on Indian affairs our Third
district democrat has secured a lever,
age for reelection. Personally, the
place on merchant marine, lost by Mr.
Hinshaw, is unpleasant for the con.
gresham, but lei little to the
state.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-07
INCORPORATED.
Harper's Weekly.

Harper's weekly.
She said on Monday she'd be mine
Forever and for aye.
On Tuesday with a smile divine
She said the same TO Jay.
On Wednesday eve this maiden fair
Our hearts were set upon
Gave quite a bunch Of golden hair
To pledge her troth TO John.
On Thursday Reginald came by,
And late on Thursday night
With softly whispered loving sigh
Made all his future bright,
On FTiday James appeared, and she,
Just as TO us before,
With beaming eyes declared she'd be
His W for eveTmore.
On Saturday twas Wilbraham
Who won her much-sought hand,
Although she'd dubbed the lad a clam
With not an ounce OF sand,
And Sunday evening after church,
Beneath the lunar glim,
She promised rich old Billie Birch
That she'd be true to him.
And that is why We seven met
Down by the summer sea,
There I'm the damp and sodden wet
To form a company;
To form a PNndence syndicate,
And float a million shares,
A market for them TO create
Amongst the millionaires,
Our assets, one small bit Of fluff
With mighty taking ways;
With hand that seems quite big enough
For sixty fiances-
Step up all ye who wish to win
A heart that's strong and true,
And buy a block u common" in
] "AmalEamated Pruel'
Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-07
AdJustabIe political solos.
Kansas City journal.

Kansas City journal.
When Senator Gore says II put my coun-
try above my party" he is not necessarily
putting his country very high. In a speech.
delivered at Dallas in 1896 Mr.. Gore said:
The trouble with the democratic party is
it is a party OF statesmen without states
manship, patriots without patriotism,
heroes without heroism. Their policy be-
gets farmers without farming, laborers
without labor, freemen without freedom"
At that time Gore was a p%opulist, but after
expressing his opinion Of the democratic
party in this frank and forcefuI fashion nc
turned about and Joined L..
Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-07

the other dial. Thus It was possible to
announce the result OF any ballot, however
close, as soon as the last tally flashed into
position at the speakers elbow.
1 managed to interest a capitalist in the
venture and together we journeyed to
Washington to exhibit the machine to
congress. After the usual delay we se-
cured the privilege of a private exhibition
before the usual committee. The machine
worked to perfection and / was building
ell sorts Of castles in the air when the
chairman turned to me with a smile and
said, Young man, you have a splendid
thing here. 1t works all right-but that's
the trouble. 1t works too we'll for u.s."
/ stared at him in bewilderment.
Don't you know" he continued, pleas
antly, that the only recourse which the
minority now has is to delay the vote Of
an important issue? 1 presume you have
heard Of the deadlock Well. your little
machine would make the deadlock i'm
possible. Neither political party would
want It, because the one which is in power
this year might fall to second place next
year. DO you catch the pont?"
l. did. Likewise 1 learned a lesson. In
future l never attempted an invention
without first assuring myself that there
was a ready market for it when 1t was
completed.
AS l have here reached my majority and
has come OF voting age, the chronicle OF
the boy properly ceases. Those days were
forty-one years ago, and would like to
add, for the benefit of men in general, that
| am working as hard now as 1 did then.
Work is action, life. 1 am glad that l can
work, that 1 love work. 1 owe all that
l am to hard work. 1t is a thought good
to dwell upon.-Thomas A. Edison, in
Circle Magazine.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-07

So long as the farmers are getting
the highest RECORD prices for all of
their products 1t will be hard for any
democratic Pathfinder to convince
them that a protective tariff that
builds up the home market n thus
makes this possible is not to the inter
est of the farmer.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-07

The railroad men in session in Chi
cage are trying to evolve a simplihed
form Of railroad ticket. The old style
ticket is so complicated hat a man
cannot tell from it whether he is going
on a vacation or coming home.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-07

The shah of Persia has been handed
an ultimatum to return the royal jew
elry or he will get no pension. AS the
pension Is a better meal ticket stimu-
lator than the gems he will probably
take the pension.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-07

A bright congressman proposes that
the nation buy the railroads n hire
Mr., Hartman TO run them on a salary
OF $1,000, 600 a year Just why Mr.,
Hartman should accept a cut in his
present stipend is not explained.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-07

And now It has been discovered that
there is a joker in the new Lincoln
pennies because the designer put in his
signature in minute characters. This
Joker business is becoming contagious.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-07

Bank robbers should be careful how
they become tangled up with Mime
sofa posses, which have a habit of
loading the robbers down with buck
shot. The record was made many
years ago and the state is keeping it
up,
Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-07
Ripe for Final Test.

OnafIestOn NEWS and COuTIeT.
The government physicians have dlscov-
cred a method for rendering soldiers i'm
mune to typhoid fever. Three soldiers have
reached the stage where they can drink any
old kind of water without harm. We do
not know that 1t is true, but reports say
that one of the men has wired a proposal
to Typhoid Mary.