davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01

British kingdom in the ruins of Stone
henge, believed to have been one of
their temples.
The Druids had many pantheistic
ideas. They were worshipers of ma
ture. Their religious rites included
dition tells of how the springtide
was ever welcomed by marches of
gayly dressed maidens, rich in flowers
and ornaments
Rome and Greece both have similar
professionals in honor of the worship,
for instance, OF Venus, and the vestals
took part in professionals that might
well serve for the origin of the pres
ent day customs.
Along the Rhine, the worship or
Freia, Goddess of Youth. in heatnen
days involved dancing and singing on
the part of the beautiful young girls of
the kingdom. and in many other coun-
tries can be traced ceremonia1s of a
similar nature
In the United States the custom is
curiously mixed up with the memory
of a great Indian chieftain, whose
name is borne by one of the most
new world. Tammany, the ruling
power in the politics of New York
city
IL is somewhat curious thought
to connect the chieftain OF the Len
napes, stern. intelligent Indian, with
the frivols of a May day celebration,
yet it is a fact we'll demonstrated that
the early festivals on the May day in
this country those in Pennsylvania
and New York, long before the indie
pendence of the nation had been won.
were in honor of Tamenend. or. as he
is more popularity known, Tammany.
great
Lennape Indians when William Penn
came to the new world His signature,
curious snakelike circle. appears
on treaties siSned at that Tina
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01
A HOME FOR THE POOR
AND HOMELESS
MARY HANORA FORD,
1926 Sacramento Street. san Francisco.
Richmond school. A Fifth Grade.
Age Ii Years

IL John Rockefeller gave me 81 O0O. :
900 1 would know what TO do with IFS
I think I would first 90 around the
world and see all the beautiful sights
and the way each nationality dresses 4
When I came back I would know a,
great many things which I would have
never known otherwise.
/ would build a home for all thei
old men and women that are poor andl
are too old TO work. 7 think this woulC'
be a good plan, because in that wsyC
/ could help so many poor and home Y
less people. I would love to do Somel
good in the world and r hope 7 will
see the day when am building a homS
for the poor and homeless
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01
WHEN I'm "A MAN
SIM ARMSTRONG.

$50 Connecticut street. -LincoIn Even
Ing School, 3 seventh Grade. Age rs
When I'm a man I would like to be
a singer My father thinks + have
something of voice and il i take good
care of il il might turn out all right.
/ am now 10 years old. When i was IA
my voice broke and il changed to barry
tone. II will remain barytone till I
am 10. and then / lxpect it to change
to tenor. In a few months I will Join
choir or go to a teacher and get my
voice trained. When il has developed
/ will try all ] can to improve IL.
will not think of going TO Italy or any
other country at present but il nv
voice turns out anything extra good /
might go. I would like TO turn out a
tenor. such as Richard Jose or CarusO
or the many others like them.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01
AND EXPLORER
HORATIo III. BOLTER.
keystone, Cal. Green Spring school.
Seventh Grade. Age IA Years

What l would do with $1,000. 900
if | We're given il by Mr.. Rockefeller.
II / were given S1,000.000 by Mr..
Rockefeller. the richest man in the
world. L would spend it on travel, as
l have a great desire to travel.
would start to travel in my own state
first, to see the valleys and caves. the
wonders of nature. the wonderful Colo
RADIO canyon. After finishing here
would go TO Europe. country very
different from ours, TO travel through
Paris. the most beautiful city in the
world. The people there have such
different ways of living. and my great
est delight would be to travel on the
ocean. the rolling of the waves. the
dashfng against the ship. their dash
ing TO and fro would please me.
| would finish my travels in South
President Roosevelt is doing, TO see
the natives in their different ways and
customs, and on my return home
would enjoy telling OF my wanderings
and travel.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01

Visitors found much to admire in
the white robed girls, ornamented
with daisies, greens and other field
flowers. They enjoyed the singing and
the dancing and the merry sport that
marked the revels. May day had be-
come an event in the college, and
with each year its Importance in
preparation put on it grew in proper
ton.
Now May day is a great festival in
all those places of higher education
where women train for their life call
ings, and every girl longs to be the
May day queen.
The smaller schools followed the
train Of their leaders. and the little
children leaped eagerly at the idea
Of taking part in professions and ex-
ercises that satisfied every childish
longing for the brilliant. beautiful, pic
turesque and perfumed.
Sunday schools and public schools
have in many cases picked out the
May day as a time for celebrations.
The action is welcomed by many
religious persons who have felt that
Il was a mistake to blend the secular
features TO welcome TO spring with
the Eastertide
With a new holiday added to the
list. one that comes early in the
spring. it Will be the more readily
possible to divest Easter OF anything
but its, strictly religious celebration,
and confine the diversion and merri-
ment Of the coming of the vernsl tri-
umph Of the vernal season to the his
toric May day.
England has had its May day so
long that none knows when it really
started.
The generally accented idea is thu
it sprsng from the open air cedemo-
mails of the Drnids. that curious and
awesome people who left the perma
aent Impression of residence in the
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01
REAL ESTATE BUYER
URSULA HILL,
126 GeFmania Avenue. San Francisco.
Hearsf Grammar School. Fifth
Grade. Age IL Years

What ! would do If I had $1,000. 600
If John D. Rockefeller left me
81 100000 | would buy about six nice
lots, including a corner. in a nice
residence part of San Francisco
want to be only a few blocks from
the streetcars
On the corner I would build a
pretty residence to live in. AS l am
very fond of flowers 1 would have a
pretty lawn and flowers around my
home. On the other lots 1 would
build pretty modern flats for rent.
Having plenty of money I would take
lessons from a first class teacher, so
as to learn music and singing. / also
would like TO learn to paint on china
and to try landscape painting.
would like to travel all through the
United States, where 1 could do so
by rail. / would not visit foreign
countries, as / am afraid to travel on
water. Knowing now that 1 had all
/ wished, 1 would place a large sum of
my $1,000 900 to be used for orphan
children. as it always makes me feel
so bad when J. pass an orphan asylum.
1 always wish ] could do something
to help these poor children. If 1
could do all this L would be very
happy.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01

The new letter contest is success
The letters that have been coming into
The Office OF The Junior Call ever
since il was announced prove that. All
sorts OF letters have been received; let
tiers that show that boys and girls are
pretty much alike in heart after ali.
Every one OF the JUNIORS wants 10
help somebody else. Out Of the let
tiers received not one has failed 10
mention thar good share OF the mill
lion would so either TO orphan chill
dren. or to. poor little sick babies. or
10 the founding OF hospital Or 20
help people whom the writer might
know. Some Of the juniors want to
give stray cats home. One junior
thinks that II he had million dol
lars he might like 10 sell morning
papers.
There isn't a single dull or unin-
teresting answer among all those that
have come in and il is both pleasant
and instructive 10 read Of ali the dif-
ferent things that the juniors would do
with their million dollars. Sometimes
the editor Of the Junior wonders what
he would DO with it,
The contest viii be continued next
week as there seems 10 be plenty or
ideas on the subject Remember the
question is. III John d. Rockefeller
should leave you a million dollars,
what would you do with it," Do not
write more than 200 words; place your
name, address, school and age at the
beginning of your letter and send il
IN early Letters received after We'd
nesdsy afternoon can not be entered in
The contest
six watches viii he awarded-three
10 boys and three TO girls, and after
YOU have read the letters from two
delighted Junior watch winners on
This page sou viii want watch
100. Address the letters 10 the con-
test editor OF The Junior Call and be
sure they arc sent in early.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01
IF MONEY WAS LEFT TO ME
EDITH HEYNENANN,
cisco. AEassix school, A Fifth
Grade. Age 10 Years

II Mr.. Rockefeller left me 1000. 900
/ would not spend IL on fine clothes
as other people would do. would try
to do all L could for the poor and Z
would help the sick and do all I could
for them- I would go about twice =
week to visit the children's hospital
and take 20 them things that I think
would please them. 4 would go To
visit the deef and dumb asylum across
the bay. / would go TO places were
L could help 10 make people happy
I would visit the insane asyluns in
Stockton and Napa. and would visit the
orphan asylum and try to make those
children happy. too. There are
many different places where you can
make people happy that it would take
more space than we are entitled to to
tell of them. But I do not think Mr..
Rockefeller would leave me any OF his
money
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01
ONE MILLION DOLLARS
ELSIE JOHANNS.
West Berkeley P0stOmcc. Frnnkifa
School sixth Grade. Age
IL Years

1 have often thought the best thing
for me to do is TO become a trained
nurse. i like to take care OF the sick.
When my father hurts himseif 7 wash
and bandage the wound. My father
says I know how to bandaEe a wound.
Well, now. If i were to receive 81
100000 from j. ID. Rockefeller I would
put il in the bank. When 7 was Is
years old / would draw out 81 600
and take a trip to Germany with my
mother. When i returned I would
go TO a. private sanitarium and take
a course in 1ursing. I would then
draw the rest OF my money out and
have a $4,000 sanitarium built. and
home for my parents and myself.
I would always be ready 20 help the
poor. In case OF war 4 would take
good care of the wounded and dying
soldiers.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01

4 A Az days poetry has made the
Nm journey across three thousand
Nv tmiIes Of ocean. and now come
to be almost as much observed
IN the new world as it has from time
immemorial in the old.
This year will see May day taking
its place as one Of the great national
holidays.
II has been steadily progressing to
that point for long while Little
by little people with love of the
beautiful. with an affection for things
Of the outdoor world. have learned to
see the beauty Of The yearly festival
shat comes at a time when the flow
ers have reached the ultimate of their
brillancy. and the smiling skies. the
sunshine and the soft breezes Of
-p~ing sound q call TO mankind 10
get out into the open.
Perhaps the FIRST OF those who rose
- the possibilities Of revival. or
rather the establishment in this coun-
try Of the May day customs were the
women's schools and colleges.
ksSSar, Wellesley BfNn MaWr and
some others Of similar rating started
on a modest scale OF professions TO the
Nav pole. and dances around its rib
bon bedecked environment
The first thought Of those who in
stalled these festivities was for the
Immediate pleasure of those who took
part in them The idea or ma king them
spectacles of such beauty that audi
ences woGld be drawn had not then
been aiken into the calculations. but
eventually 4 was found that for cv-
cry MAY day enterprise there was ever
= crowd.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01

visit the large cities and places Of in
terest and see the New York iier, that
fast railroad train which we do not
see IN Peta luna.
From there i would cross the Allan
tic ocean to the British isles and see
the great colleges of England and |
Ireland. then to Paris and get the new
styles. On through Switzerland and
Italy to see the ruins of the earth
quake, through the strait of GibrRltar.
down the Mediterranean sea and visit
the holy land. From there along the
Red sea TO the Indian ocean, passing
through the islands of Sumatra and
Borneo, which now brings me to the
Pacific ocean and home.
Now, / would visit all the children
who were less fortunate than / and
would buy them toys, flowers and
clothes or anything to make them
happy.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01
IF l HAD $1,000 900
BESSIE BRYANT.
1902 High ST., Fruitvale, school Fruit
vale No. 8. Grade 9TH b. Age
13 Years

I have seen Mr.. Rockefeller and
don't think he will ever leave me a
million, but If he should I would build
houses on beach and in the country
for the poor children in the city.
i should choose some quiet beach
with a little harbor and build these
houses where the poor children who are
kept in the cities all their lives should
be able TO get a breath of fresh air.
The rest of the money should be
spent for the houses in the country.
The children could run to their hearts
content, and they could also learn to
ride, milk and all the other things
that the country children can do.
The farm will have a brook running
through it and j should try to select
a place where there were hills, so that
when the children look out of the
windows as they go to bed they will
see the trees and hills made by ma
ture instead of the smoke and tall
buildings of the city.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01
AWARDED A WATCH
A CAT REFUGE
RAY HINES.
FruitNaIe. Cal. II. r. ID. No. l. w.
r. Prick school. Fifth Grade.
Box $50. Age IA Years
RAY HINES.

Fruit.aIe. Cal. n. r. ID. No. 1. w.
r. Frick school Fifth Grade.
Box 230. Age IA Years
II John D. Rockefeller or any one
else left ne 81 .000, 600 l would make
+ big home for homeless cats.
would have a large house ali full Of
little hooks and places for them 10
enjoy themselves in. ] would have
bath and every cat I could find that
was not treated right. I would take
IT 10 this home and give it a good
bath: put some flea powder on him
and feed him UP until 7 found a home
or if ] never found home for him
] would keep him there. 1 know lots
OF cats ,hat are not treated right.
The kids lug them around by the
rail and all They get TO eat are the
birds, rats. etc. they catch, and when
The rats, mice and such things are
su gone. they go hungry
would feed them well cooked meat
once q week and the rest Of the time
bread and milk, with pie once in a
while. We have three cats home;
that is. a mother cat and two kit
tens, and they are all white. We
made big forest OF sunfowers for
them 10 play in and they have lots
of fun in them. Our mother cats
name is Molly and she likes pie bet
ter and can eat more OF IL than any
cat around here. We found Molly
about two years ago under culvert
and we took her home. She was only
six months old when we found her
and she was as dirty as the inside
OF a stove pipe, but now there is no
cleaner cat around here. and 1 tell
YOU. any cat would have 10 hustle
some to beat her catching rats. mice
OF any old thing
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01
COUNTRY HOMES FOR POOR
CHILDREN
MUHIEI LEARSH,
1924 santa Glars Ave.. Alameda. n sixth
Grade. HafGht school. Age
SsSra

Rockefeller should give me $1,000
geo I would do a great many things, a
few OF which I Will mention here.
The first thing ] would do would be
to establish in The country homes for
the poor children, where they could go
for a few months each year and spend
their vacation as other children do, in
stead of staying in the dark and
crowded tenement houses
This taking only a small portion of
the million. / would do another thing.
j would establish shelters for all the
stray dogs and cats that I could get
hold OF and feed and keep them until
could ind them good homes, where
/ do not think L would travel. as I
am not SO very fond of travelling, but
1 would stay at home ready to help
all the poor people who oamo to me.
These are two OF the things I would
rather do than anything else. and IL
/ ever have enough money / will carry
out my plans.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01
THE NEEDY ONES
PEARL QUINN,
Benicia Fifth Grade. Age II Years

Should Mr.. Rockefeller present me
with a million dollars | should try
to help some who were not so lucky
as I. / think l would do it in this
way: There are many poor little chill
dren in great cities who have no one
to care for them; they must either
steal or starve. For them / would
build a home in some pretty spot,
where they could have good care, that
they might become strong and well
and they could have nice lady to
teach them every day.
million dollars would not last me
such a very long time. but | should
try to help these unfortunate ones.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01
AUTO COSTS TOO MUCH
MARCELLA MURPHY.
Box Las, Benicia. Fifth Grade. Ag,
10 YenrH

$4,000 I would first clear mamma
home, then would take her to good
doctor and have her cured, as she has
been quite sick. l would like an auto,
but it costs too much. I go to the
convent, SO would give them $1,000.
as they teach free; then would give to
the Catholic, Hebrew and Protestant
orphan asylums and Little Jim hospital
each $1,000 and 1000 to the Salvation
Army, as mamma says they have helped
great many poor people, SO that only
leaves me $4,000 to clear mamma s
home and have her cured, but mamma
says 1T is better to give than receive.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01
MY GOLDEN DREAM
STELLA la BERGE.
81 Cook street. San Francisco. Rich
moud Grammar school. Age


If John ID. Rockefeller should ever
leave ME s1,000,000 I would immedi
ately prepare for a trip to Europe
to study art. l would first like to
visit the east and compare the works
of the artists there with those Of
our golden state After spending
some time in the east l would re-
sumo my journey
On boarding the vessel my first de-
sire would be to see the icebergs of
the st. Lawrence. I have heard SO
many lovely stories about them that
1 think they must be wonderful.
After seeing the icebergs | would
like to be left alone on the deck of
the vessel to watch the great waves
rise and fall and the seagulls gayly
Swimming over them.
On arriving in England 1 would
set out and visit the art galleries snd
Likewise study the art in that country
f,r one year. Then L would journey
to the continent. where Rome would
get my first attention. / would like
to spend at least three years in
Europe and then return to America
with a full knowledge Of art.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01
THIS IS WHAT | WILL DO
FRED f. TUNZI.
stony Point. SOnoma COunty. Cal Dua-
bSss Grammar school. Eighth Grade.
Age "a Years

] VIII never say anEthing bad about
John d. Rockefeller. and viii keep
good memory on his behalf. I will get
myself a good education and use the
said amount OF money TO the best OF
my ability. Time. school and expert
ence will tell me what to do. I know
and everybody does that 81 900 900 is =
lot Of money IL properly used Well.
Dear San Francisco Call, tell Mr.. Rock
efeller to leave me the million I will
act honest and economical 1t Mould
not be any trouble Tor me. Later [
will be able 70 do the same as he
did to me 10 some Of my poor friends
and I will never forget him: never.
never
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01
IF / BECAME A MILLION
ARE
MARY BLAKE.
2S40 Mission street, san Francisco.
Horace Mann school A SeVeath

MARY BLAKE.

If John d. Rockefeller should happen
10 give me $1,000. e0a, the FIRST thing I
would do would be 10 erect a free
library for school children. / would
have it named in honor of myself for
having donated it, IL would contain
all kinds OF histories and biographies.
which would help the children in every
way. The cost Of this would be about
S50.00O.
1 would then buy a beautiful home
surrounded by a beautiful garden. My
folks and 1 would dwell in this hand
some home
/ would have some of the MONEY re-
served to put me through the lniver-
sity. ISwoltld save the rest OF the
money until I graduated 4 -om the uni
versity- When 1 finished the univer-
sfty / would know better what TO do
with the remainder of the money.
I wish this dream would only COM
true and / would be a very happy girl
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01
WHAT | WOULD DO WITH
$1,000,O00
WESLEY CONNOLLY.
20J4 PeraIta Avenue. Fruitvale, Cal
Age IL Years

If John .. Rockefeller would leave
me a million dollars / would first Of
all take our family out every night
for a couple of weeks in an automobile
and to the theater and have a fine
time.
Then l would give a lot of money
cation came / would take them to
Europe for a few months.
When [ came back L would put $780,
600 in the bank and l would divide the
rest UP into equal amounts OF money
TO all the states and territories in the
United States of America, which would
be about $4,000 to each state and
territory, and then would have a hos
pital built in each and present it to
the state and territory that the diff
ferent hospitals were in.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01
WHAT | WOULD Do WITH
$1,000,000
FANNY TURNER.
1885 Grand street. Alameda. Ag'
lG Years

If John D. Rockefeller should leave
me 100000 | would t&ke some of it
and go to some charity home and give
all the children a treat First l would
ia Ike them alDto some place of amuse
ment then / would buy them all some
toys With some OF it / would buy q
little country home and have a nice
little garden, as I love flowers dearly.
I would always keep flowers in every
room and would spend lots OF money
and time fixing the garden. / also
would like to share my wealth with
some poor people that have not much.
SO with my wealth 1 would like to be
kind hearted and generous and still
keep a little.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-05-01
AWARDED A WATCH
WANTS A STORE
HANS ALBRECH,
HANS ALbRECHT.
227 Brannan street, San Franchises, Cal.
Age &c Years

If Mr.. John d. Rockefeller would
give ME S1,oe0,00o / would be very
happy. But / would make other people
happy too. l would put $4,000 in the
bank. 1 am working and get $50 q
month. That is enough to live. j
would save the interest and start a
store Of my own very soon. The other
money ] would give TO a hospital. The
hospital would have TO take every poor
or penniless person up and doctors
would have to go round and visit poor.
sick people free of charge. ] am sure
that nobody could keep me from
doing so. If that would not be enough,
however, / would not hesitate a minute
10 give all the money. / would not be
sorry. for it is q good thing to have
money, but il is better to do a good
deed. 7 hope that / will have store
of my own when l am a big man. I
sta rted to save my money when I was
Il years of age and have now $40 in
the bank earned by myself.