davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-11

~ ANDY shop keepers and pickle
vendors who have been doing a
fleurishing business with the schoo,
children in the neighborhood OF Mott
and Spring streets. New York, are ex-
periencing a decided depression in their
noontin1e trade. due to the popularity
of the 3 cent luncheon which has re-
Gently been introduced in public school
No. 81.
The clang of the bell announcing the
end of the morning session is a signal
for the cent lunchers to assemble in
the large ground floor playroom of the
Mott street school. Each girl and boy
who is going to patronize this unique
lunch counter buys little brass check
before school begins in the morning. so
that whoever has charge of the school
kitchen knows exactly how many to
provide for. 1t would be tragedy for
the pupils if the cook ran short of
viands, and the. disappointed patron
might never come again. The children
pay cents for the check, and they
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-11
GEORGINA L. sCHLUETER,
2s Laidley street. San Francisco

~ nee upon time there lived in
\ fairyland three beautiful sisters.
Their parents had died when they
We're infants. but they had left their
children a little cottage and a large
amount of money. The two elder Sis
ters. Lairda and Mirda. were naughty
and vain, but the youngest, Selma, was
gentle, kind and good.
One day. as the sisters were sitting
by their cottage door an old. feeble
woman was seen coming up the road.
leaning heavily on cane When Selma
saw her, her heart was filled with pity
for the old woman. so she assisted the
woman to the house.
Selma then said to her sisters. PRAY.
take this good woman into our house.
dear sisters. and give her something
to eat, as / am sure that she is tired
and hungry Then the sisters replied.
haughtily Bring this witch into the
house, sister: Neverl For shame.
Selma, for shame With that they ran
quickly into the house.
Selma was grieved at the way her
sisters had acted, but as she turned to-
ward the old woman the latter suddenly
disappeared. A bright light appeared
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-11

Very interesting Indeed. think We
ought to be as proud of the vireos as
the people east are of the oriole.
The study of birds will help TO put
proper estimates on their value and
will lead to higher appreciation or
the use they are TO mankind.
Wherever this has- been done birds
have received protection A notable in
stance is Evanston. ILL., A few years
ago yolney Foster set a good example
by placing in the trees over all the
town boxes with seeds for the birds in
winter and advocating the protection OF
birds at all seasons of the year. That
was Is years ago or more and now
Evanston is known everywhere as the
place where the birds and the squirrels
are protected by public sentiment and
there is no place where bird life is so
abundant as in that city.
The bay region about San Francisco
has wealth and variety of bird life
and organized effort ought to be
brought about to preserve It,
1 hope the readers OF the Junior Call
will feel that they are on the side OF
the birds and will labor to preserve the
birds. which the flowers afford our
rarest pleasures.
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-11
The Introduction Of eeCen L,cheons Into the Public Schools

refuse can The children form In line.
as they finish eating. march up 10 the
bucket and drop their spoons into the
hot water. put their bowls In the TIN
lined box after emptying any remnants
OF the soup into the refuse can. and
pile their trays in a heap on table
IL takes each one less than half min
ute to do this part of the WORK ana
then all the dishes are ready to be
wheeled into the Kitchen for cleansing
The lurcheons are composed of
third OF the daily nutrition necessary
TO keep child strong and in good
health. Some days the menu includes
macaroni and bean SOUP with bread
and cookie: the next day il may be
split pea soup, with bread and sweet
biscuit. This may be followed by hot
gingerbread and milk. and then the
cook may arrange to give on the next
day another variety Of thick Italian
soup. There are never any meats. but
the soups served are chosen for their
nutriment and for their popularity
with the nationality of the children in
the school.
Miss Kittredge who is president and
superintendent of the Association OF
Practical House Keeping Centers OF
New York, has been instrumental in
introducing the 3 cent luRcheon into
the public schools. The idea of carry
ing out the scheme was hers. and she
has studied the work and its require
ments for some time. going to restau-
rants which have central kitchens ana
looking into the. luncheon problem as
II has been worked cut in Boston pub
lie schools.
Speaking of the benefits derived from
the cent luncheons, Miss Kiftredge
explained:
.At first the children came merely
out of curiosity. they thought they
were going to have a party. but now
we have to give them food that they
like and that seer1s better to them
than what they can get elsewhere in
order to attract them Mothers who
can not be at home at noon either let
their children take a cold lunch. give
them few pennies TO buy food or
let them go home and cook for them
selves 1t is this class of children We
hope 10 attract by the wholesome and
nourishing cent fare Children are
odd little creatures. III there happens
TO be too much salt in the soup for
their taste the first day they viii not
come again. because they think the
soup will always be too salty
Another time we may not have mac
aroni-in the soup and their disappoL0f-
ment will keep them from trying US
again. NV part of the work. now that
the running OF the luncheon has been
established. will be to look around ana
find outlwhy some children. Who could.
do not come and also learn what kind
of iuncheons they are getting at home
or in the shops.
Eventually I hope to have enc or
more central kitchens, where all the
food can be cooked and distributed 10
the schools by wagons This plan would
reduce the expenses of the cooking and
would be more satisfactory in everX
way. 1t is the one adopted by those
restaurants which have branches num-
bering half hundred or more in the
city. and they have found 1t adVan-
tageous and econepaical- Such foods
as can be would be cooked and pre-
pared in the central kitchen. thps de-
icreasing the number of cooks and help
ers needed to maintain several kiteh-
ems
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-11

gray upper parts, under parts gray
merging to white on middle of the
breast; belly washed with light gray
ish brown. His range is in southeast
ern California, amid the deserts of that
region.
His nest is almost exactly like the
nest of his brother of the coast region.
He feeds on the jumpers and nut pines.
He twitters, but in delicate note.
All of the tit families are great de-
stroyers of injurious insects. They go
An focks and feed throughout the win
ter in the woods. They are very hardy
and endure very cold weather. being as
full of life in the winter as in the
summer.
We will surely love these little bird
citizens of our state and will thank
them for their unique little house, and
when the spring comes again we shall
be on the lookout for them.
For my information concerning the
lead colored bushtit i am indebted to
Mrs. Irene g. Wheelock's book. Birds
OF California;" and for some facts con-
cerning TIE bushtit to Prof. Charles
Keeler of Berkeley
THE wARBLrNG vIREO
This is a very attractive bird Of the
woods of California. His olive green
plumage and his habit of perching high
1t difhcult to see him. He belongs to a
family of birds peculiarly American.
In size and shape he very much resem-
bles our old friend, the bluebird of the
eastern and middle states.
If we can not have the oriole. whose
figure so pleased us and whose song de-
lighted us before we came west of the
mountains, I'VE have one equally at
tractive in appearance and almost equal
to him in song.
The picture of the bird and nest is of
the red eyed virep, but the warbling
vjreo looks just like him and builds his
nest the same way The nest is swung
from the fork of a tree and about is or
20 feet from the ground. The eggs arc
pure white. three or four in number.
They are persistent singers. All through
the day and until after sundown we
could hear his cheerful warble during
the summer. His nest was in a clunp
Of willows close to our house, and we
became we'll acquainted with him. II
we answered his notes he would twit
back 4 note in reply, and continue as
long as we chose to talk to him.
He Is genuine warbler. We could
scarcely ever see him, but from the
branches above would fioat down his
chekry melody
After the breeding season the birds
became very friendly and spent good
deal OF time with the brood, but few
weeks out OF the nest, among the elders
In our d0oryard, eating the ripe berries.
This Is called the western warbling
vireo, because it is found in California
along the coast There is but slight.
difference between him and the warbler
of the territory east Of the mountains
There are % vireos IN the United
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-11
Sunset

Open the lattice, for the sun is setting
Mid clouds OF glory in the crimson
West
And thus some quiet eve. life's cares
forgetting.
In sunsets glow /. too, would sink
to rest.
Open the lattice wide. and let the
breezes
Come heAther-scent from the dis
tant moor
Let the warm sunshine wander az it
In corners dim or on my chamber
floor.
Twilight falls slowly and the day ID
Soon will the stars shine out Ger
vale and hill,
The boughs sway idly to the night
wind signing:
The streamlet rnurnfurs on its jour-
ney STILL
Still shall the world, so full OF life and
beauty,
Roll on it's way, nor spare one thought
for me.
Yet / perchance have striv'n to do my
duty.
To pluck some fow'rs for kindly
eyes to see.
II 1 have cheered some pathway dark
and dreary
And shed a ray of sunshine DER the
gloom,
II have brought a smile to features
weary
And dropped a rose leaf on some
humble tomb,
Though 1 may leave no glorious name
behind me,
No triumph strew my path, nor gold
en- rain,
Yet may 1 feel some kindly mem'ries
bind me.
Yet can ] say. Il have not lived in
vain! ELLIS Merstcn
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-11
Full of Mischief

] was sitting on my east porch, my
feet resting on the banisters. paper in
nay lap. resting after my days work.
Nobody else in sight. everything still
and quiet. Our cat was asleep on the
front steps. some 10 feet away. on the
second step from the ground. with her
tail hanging over the edge OF the step.
The crow was out on the lawn, un-
der the trees, some 80 feet away, >mov-
ing restlessly around, nunIing bugs
and mischief. IT caught sight of the
cat and the pendant tail, and by a
series of long. quick hops reached the
cat and vigorously seized the tail in
its mouth. The cat jumped some three
feet straight up in the air lit on her
feet. and then gazed around with af
astonished- dazed expression 10 see
how the trouble came about.
She soon located the crow, standing
with its solemn. corrine expression
just by. and then turned. and in slow
trot started down the walk toward the
gate. The crow started after her, in
q succession OF slow hops; soon caught
up. and as fast as he could do so
snapped at the tail of the retreating
cat, Keeping IL up till the accelerated
motion of the cat carried her out of
reach. Then the crow quietly resumed
his bug and mischief hunting.
When school commenced. a month
zfterward. that same crow soon missed
the children. After some DAYS he To-
Gated them at the school building half
a mile away BY following them. He
spent most of his time Gas he could fly
well by them over at the schoolhouse.
He would perch on the lowered upper
sash OF the window; would frequently
Become noisy. when he would be driven
away by order OF the teacher. One
day he caught sight OF some coIored
crayons lying on the teachers desk,
well back in the scbooIroom, and made
= sudden dash from his perch on the
window. seized a crayon and few out
in frli<mph--The Independent
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-11
By ELSA GRAEBElt
o3 Mission Street. San Francisco

nee upon a time, oh. so many
wears ago, when fairies and giants
~ were in existence, there lived a
tremendous giant called Fire
People both young and old feared
him and fed in terror when they saw
him approaching.
This giant lived in the kingdom Of
Firetown. which had been named after
him, for he had so wrecked what had
once been a beautiful place.
Here in summer the heat was SO in
tense that many people died, while
those that were left were either caught
by Fire or had escaped
Summer was Fires happiest time, for
ne slept throughout the winter
IT was now a lonesome place, for the
rest of the people had fed away 10 the
kingdom of Sunshine
Now in the kingdom of Sunshine
reigned King Joy and his beautiful
daughter, Princess Dolores Here they
lived in a ma gnificent palace, surround
ed by many faithful servants
The gardens surrounding the palace
were beautiful producing every flower
that could be named There were also
hothouses, orchards. their trees laden
with fruit fountains filled With gold
IEl HILU IUhll1 dr-NAttS PAdt-c-
The country itself was really like a
grand flower garden. where the birds
sang day and night while the wind
rnstled gently through the trees and
flowers, sending forth their fragrance.
To many il was q paradise.
Everybody that knew Dolores loved
her. She was an angel to the sick and
DOOR, and always kind and considerate
10 Those about her.
Kings and princes from far and wide
"a me as suitors.
Among them was a young king who
loved her better than anything else.
Dolores had only seen him once or
twice and when he offered his hand
in marriage King Joy refused, as he
had refused others. for he could not
part with his only daughter.
King George after this refusal went
hack 10 his own Kingdom
After a long winter of snow and ice
spring came and Went and then came
the terrible summer.
Fire awoke from his long sleep and.
being hungry, started out for some
thing to eat, but not a thing could
he find.
He then wondered where all the pee
pie had gone in winter, and after
thinking awhile he suddenly remem-
beped the kingdom of Sunshine, and
sflls1 ne asad heard the people say they
were going there.
At this. .he became angry and decided
10 have revenge. He knew that King
Joy loved his daughter peter THAN any
thing else. SO he thought he would
separate then- With revenge in his
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-11


then we saw them only as bushtits as
big as the parent birds.
They are the smallest birds except
the l1umming birds, and are very cum
ming builders
When the little birds were ready to
leave the home, instead of climbing to
the door at the top of the house. q door
was made In the side OF the basket
near the bottom From this door the
little birds made their entrance to the
bird world when they were about Is
drys old
The bushtit is about 4 inches long
and its body IL well adapted to quick
motion. The top of the head is light
brown. upper parts ashy gray. under
parts brownfsh gray.
Their color is protective. They are
hard to see in the bushes. They are
quicker in their action that the wrens
and are shier. though we were able to
cultivate close Acquaintance with them.
There Is another, the lead colored
bushtit, in California. He is little
larger than the bushtit and has blush
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-11
THE GIANTS REVENGE

heart he left FiretowN and hasten ed to
Sunshine
Thus il happened on the same day
that King joy and Dolores were invited
by their neighbor. King David, to join
a large hunting party. Dolores would
not consent to go. for she knew it
would break her heart to see the deer
shot, and after much persuasion the
king finally consented to leave her be-
hind.
Dolores did many things to pass away
the hours until her fathers return. AT
evening she retired early.
Meanwhile King George and Rosa
mond, his fairy godmorifer. were on
their way to King Joys palace to per-
suade him to give Dolores up.
II was about midnight when Fire
reached the palace to find that the
princess and the servants had retired.
Slowly he crept through the house,
destroying and killing everything in
his way His one thought was TO get
the princess
Dolores room was at the top of the
palace. It was a. sort of attic, the only
room that suited her tastes.
Fire wanted 30 be sure that she
could not escape. SO he spread all over
the lower part of the palace.
Dolores was awakened by the
screams OF the servants, who tried to
get 10 neT. DuL fndHy WttS hIifcd HAL
way up the staircase. Here she was
penned in by Fire. with no way of
escape, except to jump from the win
dow
On opening it she saw King George
and Rosamond who had just arrived.
Now Fire was the fairy's enemy. She
knew why he was there
King George at once volunteered to
scale the wall - the princess. The
walls We're already on fire, but with
the fafry-s wish for his safety, he
quickly threw a rope TO Dolores, who
tied it TO the window sill.
He never worked so fast in all his
life. but there was no time TO spare.
When he reached the window he
found that Dolores had tainted, being
overcome by the heat.
Gathering her in his arms he slid
down the rope, not a moment too soon,
for he had no sooner reached the
ground than the great palace crumbied
and fell in ruins.
Fire was so angry at tlfe escape of
Dolores that he destroyed the whole
kingdom. In vain did he try to catch
the fairy, but she only laughed at
him.
The people who were left went to
King David's kingdom.
When King Joy heard of Dolores
escape and King Georges heroic deed,
he Immediately gave him his daughter.
They then went to King Georges
kingdom. for theirs was now a barren
plain. Here they reigned happily un-
til death.
Fire was never allowed to enter this
Kingdom, for the fairy was always on
guard
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-11

ter piled high with white bowls, small
black tin trays, a hamper of sliced
bread and a pan of spoons There are
four or five helpers to assist Louis.
school boys and girls they are. who
give their services in exchange for a
free luncheon. A little lame lad stands
at one end of the long wooden counter
holding a box. into which each child
drops brass check before picking up a
tray and passing on in front of the
counter. where bowl of soup is placed
on her tray. Next tiny helper lays
spoon by the side Of the bowl, another
adds two generous slices of bread and
maybe ginger cookie is slipped on.
too. as a special treat BY paying an
extra penny they can have two bananas
for dessert
Thessmaller children stand at wooden
lunch counters to eat, while the older
ones sit at small or long tables in the
locker room. Here they have their own
little luncheon cliques and here several
Of the teachers can be seen each day
taking their 3 cent meal, with per-
haps few additional viands TO suit
a grownup appetite.
Even if the children do eat rapidly
it is not really harmful. because soup
or the other main feature of these
luncheons is easily digested. Louis
sees to it that the soup is served so
hot that it demands fairly leisurely
consumption. however. Two hundred
children can be served in about 10 min
utes' by this plan, and at the end OF
the half hour given to the meal the
last remnants have disappeared tables
have been taken down and the chill
dren are ready to romp in the big.
clean playground outdoors.
The clearing away part is managed
so that it runs like clockwork- At one
side stands a large tin bucket half
filled with hot water. Beside it is
long. low. tin lined packing box on
wheels, and, between the two stands a
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-11

- HE poem Is true of almost any
birds nest, but Is especially true
OF the nest OF the California BUSH
tits.
The camera has given us here good
illustratIon OF the wonderful home of
this little favorite among California
birds. It was nay good fortune to be-
come acquafnted with the bright little
native this summer. They built = nest
IN the elder trees in my dooryard just
like the one pictured here and reared
brood OF young tits.
The f1rst nest was built in April and
was very busy center for the father
and mother tits until cat climbed into
the trees and tore 1t down from Its
hiding place. l found 1T on the ground
beneath the trees with seven OF the
smallest pure white eggs I have ever
seen. They were not so large as the
eggs of the humming bird. I feared
the destruction or the wonderful little
home would discourage the builders,
but the next day they were at work
on another nest. They chose limb
densely covered with leaves and hung
it amid the thick clusters so skillfully
that it was almost impossible to find
chose.
The door was at the top. only about
two inches from where the nest was
attached, to the twIg.
The nest was made OF strings. lichens,
moss. leaves, feathers and pieces OF
cloth, ell loosely woven together. and
the walls made thick enough to sup
port itself and the little basket at the
bottom. This basket was very cum
ming piece of work indeed. Seeds with
down were woven into it to make 1t
thicker and heavier than the other
parts Of the walls. and it was lined with
scftest feathers and down. 1t was fit
to be the natal bed OF princes.
The nest when completed. measured
> inches from top to bottom and 2x31l
inches across.
The mother bird sits on the eggs Il
or II days. did not see all of the
little birds, but one managed to get
out of the nest when the birds were
or days old and had good OPP
portunitysto examine@it
We saw the young birds hopping
about in the trees Tor few days and
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-11
They tia,e Thsi. Own Litde LUNCHEON C5ques

never know just what the MONDAY meal
is going to be, for there are no printed
menus, and as yet the luncheons lack
that boarding house regularity which
soon teaches you what to expect each
day in the food line. Sometimes word
is passed along, perhaps by the help
ers, that 1t is hot gingerbread and milk
day, and then the number of brass
checks suddenly increases at the last
minute, or maybe the odor of savory
Italian soup is waited through the cor
ridors. tempting a few more girls and
boys to spend their candy money more
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-11

wisely than they had planned.
AS the double column of departing
pupils marches past the simmering and
appetizing smelling soup pot more than
onep pair of eyes cast a longing look at
the girls and boys who do not have to
go home to their luncheon. 1t is such
a lark to eat with your playmates. and
even your teacher, or perhaps the prin-s
cipal, who is not above taking a bowl
of the nourishing soup and sitting in
the room with the older pupils while it
is enjoyed. The plan is not intended to
serve teachers with cheap meals, yet
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-11

there is no reason why they should not
help the venture to succeed by adding
their patronage. Besides they prob
ably would not fare as well In the
neighboring restaurants, for Louis is
very good chef, and being Italian he
knows how to prepare inexpensive food
in most appetizing and wholesome
way.
The cooking is done on two gas
ranges in an inside room. Just before
the gong sounds the huge soup tank is
carried into the playroom. where there
is temporarily arranged lunch ceun-
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-11
By WILLIAM F. FILE

birds nest. Mark it we'll, within
without.
No tool had he that wrought, no knife
to cut,
No nail to fix. no bedkin to insert,
No glue to join. His little beak was
all.
And yet how heatly finished!
What nice hand. with every means and
implement of art
And twenty years OF apprenticeship to
boot,
Could make me such another?
The San Francisco call., 1909-09-11

-r~HE poem Is true of almost any
birds nest. but Is especially true
OF the nest OF the California BUSH