davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28
Origin of the British Square

The greatest of all Scottish anniver-
saries is that of Bannockburn, fought
one midsummer day in the year 1914.
Apart from its bearing on the inde-
pendence of Scotland the battle will
always have an exceptional interest
from the military point of view, as
Bannockburn may be said to have been
the birthplace of the British square.
Proud Edwards army mainly con-
sisted of cavalry, while that of the
Scots, on the other hand. was almost
exclusively composed of footfolk,
armed with the spear. and these Bruce
threw into "schiltroms.'' or oblong
squares-a formation borrowed by
Wallace from the Flemings, who had
employed 1t with success at Courtray-
to resist the charge Of the English
cavalry.
Hitherto the mounted, mail clad
knight had carried everything before
him, but Courtray and Bannockburn
reselute. spear armed infantry drawn up
and these two battles revolutionized
the tactics of the continent and of our
own island. Profting by the lesson
that had been taught them at Ban
,nockhurn, the English applied the tac-
tics of the Scots with brilliant success
at Crecy and still more at Agfncourt.
As 1t was the Seofs who may be said
to- have originated the British square
at BanHockburn, so It was they. again
who. at Ba alalSlavs were the first to dis
card it with their thin red line" and
now. owing to our changed conditions
of warfare, tits discarded altogether.
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28
The Green Linnet

Beneath these fruit tree bOughs, that
shed
Their snow white blossoms on my head.
With brightest sunshine round me
spread.
OF springs unclOuded weather:
In this sequester'd nook, how sweet
To sit upon my orchard seat;
And flowers and birds once more to
greet.
My last years friends together.
One have I marked. the happiest guest
In all this corner OF the blest.
Hail to thee. far above the rest
In joy of voice and pinion-
Thou linnet, in thy green array.
Presiding spirit here today.
DOst lead the revels Of the May,
And this is thy dominion.
While thus before my eyes he gleamss
brother of the leaves he seems.
When in moment forth he teens
His little song, in gushes
As If it pleased him TO disdain
And mock the form. which he did feign
While he was dancing with the train
OF leaves among the bushes.
William Wordsworth.
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28
The Sociable M. Toad

\ WAS sitting upon low garden seat
when he made his first call, hopping
to within FIVE feet of me. then stop
ping to look at me with beady, ques-
tioning eyes, as. if trying to ascertain
what his welcome would be.
I began humming a low song, but did
not make a move. 1t happened that
was just the right thing to do, for
toads are fond of low music. Nearer
and nearer came Mr.. Toad, until L
could easily have reached out my hand
and touched him. but 1 did not stir.
Then he stopped and industriously be-
gan catching the flies which had set
tied on a pile of hulls that / had just
taken from the strawberries. Those
flies disappeared as by magic, SO
quickly did his long, slender tongue
move.
Every morning. at the same hour,
visited the spot, often sprinkling sugar
on the ground to lure the flies and in
sects to their DOOM and sociable Mr..
Toad never failed TO meet me. Before
a month had passed he had learned to
come at my signal-one long whistle
and two short ones. At the end of the
second month he would crawl into my
ontstretched hand and permit me to
carry him to the carriage shed and
hold him while he caught flies from
the windows. As 1 said, he enjoyed
music, if not too loud. and his beady
eyes would sparkle whenever I struck
into one of his favorite tunes He did
not want any doIefuI ones, and would
show his diEpieasure by hopping away
ffaI began a slow. serious melody.
Often after eating a good meal, he
would climb into my lap, If 1 was
od ha a,~J
for nap. like a well fed kitten. AL
though so very tame and even affec-
Gonate with me, he- was timid when
strangers came near, and would then
hide in my sleeve, in the folds of my
dress, anywhere to get out of sight
He grew fat and plump and-yes-
aristocratic- he recognized his priv
ileges and defended them. If another
toad ventured in sight, he would in
stantly chase 1t away, then return and
cuddle down near me in a funny tri-
umphant way. Like his human broth
ers. he wanted all the cream, and was
not even willing TO give away the
skim milk
1 have had many pet toads since, but
never one that showed the intelligence
and affection that he did, although they
all knew mores than people commonly
credit them with knowing There are
no better tenants for garden than
these same despised toads. for they pay
their rent cheerfully as they go along,
destroying insects that it would be
hard to keep rid of without their aid I
have 'coloniZed" them there, by turn
ing a small box over a soft spot in a
shady place, first cutting a hole An one
side for a door. If a partly tanned
toad is placed near such a box, with
plenty of sugar sprinkled around to
call insects, he will seldom fail to ap-
preciate and appropriate IT. / never
had warts or suffered the slightest dis
comfort from associating with my
friend, Mr.. Toad.-Suburban Life
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28
The Hunt Is Up
The hunt is up, the hunt is up,
And 1T Is well nigh daY:

The hunt is up. the hunt is up,
And it is well nigh day;
And Harry, our King, is gone hunting
To bring his deer to bay.
The east is bright with morning light,
And darkness it is fed;
And the merry horn wakes up the morn
To leave his idle bed.
Behold the skies with golden dyes
Are glowing all around;
The grass is green, and so are the treen,
All laughing at the sound.
The horses snort to be at sport,
The dogs are running free.
The woods rejoice at the merry noise
If Hey tantara tee reel
The sun is glad to see us clad
All in our slusty green,
And smiles in the sky as he riseth high
TO see and to be seen.
Awake all men, I say again,
Be merry as you may;
For Harry, our King, is gone hunting.
To bring his deer to bay.
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28
The Squirrel

The squirrel is happy. the squirrel is
gay
Little Henry exclaimed to his brother:
He has nothing to do or to think of
but play,
And to jump from one bough to an
ther.
But William was older and wiser and
knew
That all play and no work would
not answer.
So he asked what the squirrel in win
ter must do.
If he spent all the summer dancer.
The squirrel, dear Harry. is merry and
wise,
For true wisdom and mirth go to-
gether:
He lays up in summer his winter sup
plies.
And then he don't mind the cold
weather.
Bernard Barton.
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28
A Wish

Mine be cot beside a hill:
, A beehives hum shall soothe my ear;
A willowy brook that turns a mill
With many a fall shall linger near.
The swallow oft beneath my thatch
Shall twitter, from her clay built
nest;
Oft shall the pilgrim lift the latch
And share my meal, a welcome guest.
Around my ivied porch shall spring
Each fragrant flower that drinks the
dew;
And Lucy. at her wheel, shall sing
In russet gown and apron blue
The village church among the trees.
Where first our marriage vows were
given,
With merry peals shall swell the breeze
And point with taper spire to heaven.
Samuel Rogers.
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28

and they only acted with the intention
of giving their parents a pleasant sur
prise. But they forgot that it is pos
sible TO do much harm through heed
lessness and ignorant haste as well as
willfully.
But how happy they were. THE
old lady, now she's got some pink in
her cheeks, and wears such a lovely
sky blue gown, is almost as nice as
mother when she's going to a party"
said Ella, admiringly, but / am not
pleased with the gentleman yet. Can't
we make him smarter. Syd?"
Let's cut button hole in the picture
and stick a nice carnation in his coat.
Be quick, Ella
There could be no doubt about the
surprise. Never were parents more
taken aback than Elias and Syd's when
they saw the wonderful transformat ton
made in their ancestors. Mother gasped
some inarticulate words, but father
remained speechless and aghast, for
several of the valuable old pictures
We're badly damaged and the children's
needless behavior meant a serious loss
TO him.
Surprises are not pleasant things at
all" sobbed Ella, shortly afterward, in
bed.
That's a beastly game" growled Syd.
hiding his face~in. the pillow, ashamed
of the tears he could not restrain II
knew nothing nice would come of it.
It's just like Millie to lWus get into a
scFape.F,
Perhaps. he was unjust. but MilHe
was not particularly happy either It
was tiresome to have to look after wild
children and much more amusing to
read; but now the story book was
locked away and mother did not seem
to think that Millie had even PLAYED
AT being good. So that this pleas
ant surprise" had only one good result.
and thatwas not the one which was
expected-sSAll three children learned
that itS-xss, much better to be good
than simply to play at 1t.
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28
Cause and Cure

When Billy yearns for exercise.
Instead of swinging dumb bells
Until the rafters ring again
And ceiling plaster crumbles,
He practices a better plan,
Now Sol is fiercely glowing:
Just takes his little jacket off.
And tries his hand at moving.
That's healthy exercise." you say;
Where tangled grass is twining,
To swing with measured stroke and
slow, sps 81
A scythe, all bright and shining.
Not Billy, Just to shave the lawn
He spends mis- best endeavor;
Perspiring, makes the mower whir,
And clips tile turf, quite clever.
And then, ere pale his torrid cheeks,
With air of an exnorter,
He says. Say, dad. / moved the lawn
] guess it's worth a quarter
you should have made your bargain
first
Laughs dad; but here's the money;
1 hope you'll put 1T in your bank,
Or use 1t wisely, sonny
From getting not to getting cool,
How easy, with a quarter.
Now all of Billy's wealth goes up
And down-in soda water.
Grace Stone Field.
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28

aNH, dear. I do wish mother and
father were back again It is
horrid to be without them"
exclaimed Sydney.
Just horzidt7 echoed Ella.
They viii be so pleased with YOU
when they do come" observed Millie,
their elderly sister, sarcastieally.
'Oh, said sgd. cheerfully. they
know we can't be like dolls IN a shop
window. And we really have been good
these days. haven't we. Ella?'
Rather agreed she. emphatically.
You were pulling each others hair
half an hour ago" went on Millie. and,
longing to finish her story in peace,
she rose. frOwning. and left the room.
saying: 'The incest game TO play would
be that of being quiet, good children,
instead Of troublesome little monkeys.
I wonder you never try IL"
The two. left alone, looked at each
other, and burst into a merry laugh.
What a funny game." exclaimed sgd
ney- shall we try it2'
4 don't know how to-. answered
Ella, gravely.
IT did present some dificulty. almost
rs much. indeed, as being really good,
and the children silently reflected for
some moments.
We must sit perfectly still with
folded hands. looking as stiff as polk
ers," said sgd at last
But sometimes good children can do
nice things" observed Ella, gravely.
i wonder whst2' said sgd. doubt
fully
~WelI.-weIl. sometimes. for in
stance, they give pleasant surprises"
Ella. you're a brick" exclaimed her
brother, admiringly. That's a splendid
idea. Now let's think what surprise
we can prepare for father and mother
when they arrive this evening"
Let's tidy the nursery" proposed
Ella.
Too great surprise" Mile would
have observed. had she been there to
hear. Too stupid" exclaimed Sydney
instead. Anybody can do that"
Let's learn a bit Of poetry 10 recite
when they come
What nonsense.
Let's pretend to be other peoples
children, and when father and mother
are sorry, let's tell them its not true.
This was a great stretch Of imagina-
ti0n for Ella but sgd shook his head.
They would never believe it," said he.
Then there was silence for a moment,
and light came.
I've got il, I've got it," shouted
sgd, starting up excitedly. Let's
brighten up those old pictures in the
gallery for them. We have time TO
paint at least two of them before dark
Dingy old things, One of them is
older than our great-great greats grand
mother. and she's never been touched,
] believe. It's q shame TO neglect old
people like that. Hurry up. Ella. Get
out the paints: the oil ones"
The girl eagerly obeyed, and soon
the two little mischief makers were
busy at work on the old family pic
lures. They could not understand the
value or the beauty of the mellow
browns and dark cOlors of the portraits
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28
A Lost Opportunity

Small boys are not always as SYM
pathetic as their relatives wish. but
on the other hand. they are seldom as
heartless as they sometimes appear.
why are you crying so, Tommy p
inquired one OF. the boys aunts. who
found her small nephew seated on the
doorstep. lifting up his voice in loud
walls.
.'rhe b-baby fell d-down-s -stairsr'
blubbered Tommy.
'Oh, that's too badi' said the aunt.
stepping over to- him and opening the
door. II do hope the little dear wasn't
much hurt!''
"S-she's only hurt a little!" walled
Tommy. But Dorothy s-saw her fall.
while I'd gone to the g-grocery, /
n-never s-see nythingl-Youth's s
Companion.
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28
How He Ate the Fir

The head gardener OF the Jardfn dss
Plantes in Paris gave one OF MS help
ers-a very dull and stupid man-in-
structiOns to carry to the great nat
uralist, Button, two fine fgs-the first
Of the season, which he had been
promised for a long time. On the road
the messenger ate one OF the figs. Buff
fon. astonished to receive only one fig.
asked in anger what had become OF
the other one. The messenger faIter-
ingly confessed to have eaten il. How
could you have done it?" asked Buf-
fon- Like this" said the man. and he
swallowed the second fig.
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28
Attach Whistles to Pigeons

In China it is not uncommon to hear
a melody OF soft sounds. and on look
ing upward to locate them and dis
cover than they are made by flying
pigeons Pigeon whistles are much
favored in China. especially in Peking
They are made of bamboo tubes or OF
gourds and attached to the tail feath-
ers OF the birds. the sounds being
made by the rush OF air through them
while the pigeons are in fight.
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28
Castiron Lighthouses

Along the coast of the gulf of Mexico
the, government is building several
lighthouses of cast iron plates, riveted
together and filled with concrete.
The, substructure is built entirely OF
cast iron plating, the plates being
hanged inwardly and bolted together,
a slight shoulder on the extreme edge
of each 1ange forming a space into
which suitable material may be calked.
The interior is filled with concrete
This substructure is AZ feet in height
and 40 feet in diameter.
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28
Spectacle Holders

When very young children squint. or
for other reason require glasses. doc
tors are often at loss to know how
10 arrange them SO that they will be
held in their proper position without
putting undue pressure on the delicate
bridge of the nose. An English spe-
cialist. says Optical Journal, solves the
problem by fastening a piece of tape.
which may or may not be elastic.
around the back of the head This
tape passes through eyes formed at
the ends of the straight temples of the
glasses
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28
Nelson

Deep graved in every British heart,
o. never'let his name depart,
Say to your sons-LO. here his grave.
Who victor died on Gadite wave;
To him, as to the burning levin.
Short. bright, resiStless course was
given;
Where'er his eOuntry's foes were
found
Was heard the fatal thunder's sound.
Till burst the bolt on yonder shore,
Rolled, blazed, destroyed-and was no
more. Sir Walter Scott.
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28
Just Like Fathers

The other day I took my young
nephew to the barber for the first time.
I hated to see the soft little curls cut
off, but his mother decided they must
go. AS the barber tied the towel under
his baby chin he remarked, How do
you want your hair cut, young man?'
WIFI a little round hole in the top, like
my favers"
The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28
WHEN THE CHILDREN PLAYED BEING GOOD

HOH. dear, I do wish mother and
father were back again. It is
horrid TO be without them"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-09
WESTON WILL RIDE
ON TRIP TO EAST

CHICAGO, Aug. 9.-EdwaTd Payson
Weston. needing the advice OF his
friends in New York, has decided 10
abandon his walk from San Francisco
20 New York.
The veteran walker was much chag-
rined over his failure 10 complete the
immense task Of walking from New York
10 San Francisco in 100 days. and, while
he only missed his goal by a small mar
gin, he was dissatisfied because he did
not accomplished precisely what he had
started out 10 do. He views his great
feat IN the light Of a failure
The seVenty-One-y ears-yOung athlete
had his mind made up even before he
reached San Francisco that he would
start right back to New York in an
effort 10 accomplish the double trans
continental trip IN 200 days. he feeling
certain that he could make up the 1eW
DAVIS overtime on his Western trip on
his Journey eastward His friends
throughout the country regarded lis
recent walk in a far different light
than Weston did himself. and every
one Of them advised against the re
peat jaunt-
He has decided TO ride home, but in
no wise has he given up the idea Of
walking across the continent IN 100 days,
He will leave San Francisco on Satur-
dav. He win lecture in Angola, Ind
Svracu n. Y, and other places, and
viii be IN New York early next week.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-09
TELLS PROPER WAY
TO RUN THE BASES
Clark Griffith Gives Some
Interesting Tips on CircIing
the Diamond.

Manaher Clark Griffith, Of the Cincin-
natl team. the other day was looking at
a baseball record book and his eagle eye
caught two photographs of baserunners
rounding the third bag for theg dash
home. One Of the players was touching
the bag with his right foot, his left
swinging IN for the turn horneward.
The other player touched the bag with
his other foot. the right going over the
bag in so much wasted energy.
There's a lesson in that" said Grif
"a ball player to make a good turn In
a game and become an expert base run
ner must learn TO set his stride so he
never loses an ounce OF energy or a
fraction Of a second Of time. A player
who does not learn the stride that will
carry him over the paths with the least
loss OF time will lose ont as a base
runner.
He viii have to switch his stride as
be nears third or he will lose a fraction
Of a second in overstepplng the bag, and
a fraction of q second counts for a
whole lot in baseball
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-09
SWATHMORE MAN
WINS SPEEDY RACE

NEW YORK, Aug. 9.-Although Mel
vim Sheppard is out OF the running for
the summer the American Athle-
tics Club appears to have acquired a
man In l. Bradford, OF Swarthmore
College, who will be able TO hold his
own with any Of the middle-distance
stars in the metropolitan district Yes
terday at the County CAvan Mems
games In Celtic Park he ran a very i'm
presslve 600 yards, which he won from
a good field in minute II 80 seconds.
He had an allowance of twenty-five
yards. but he ran easily and was first
by a margin o. five yards over H.
schaaf. OF the Iti,h-American Athletic
club. who started from the l2-yard
mark
1t was on Sheppards advice that
Bradford was asl.ed TO join the club,
for the Olympic champion said that the
collegian had given him one Of the hard
est races Of his career out In PennsyI-
vania He is thought so well Of at the
Irish-American Club that they feel he
IS going 10 be a contender for champion
ship honors before long.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-09
WAGNER IS READY
TO PLAY AGAIN
Pirate Shows Old-Time Speed in
Practice Before q Double
header.

PITTSBURG. Pa, Aug. 9. A we'll
known sporting man Of this city said
today OF Honus pyagne1s reported Sc
rious injury: 1T has been going the
rounds that the injury TO his side a
couple Of weeks ago would compel him
to quit the game, If not for good. at
least for a long time. That IS all bosh.
I would not be surprised TO see Wagner
on the diamond in a couple OF days
swatting them over the fence"
Since his injury the big shortstop has
been in Pittsburg except for a visit
that he made - Youngstown. Ohio. FOR
the purpose of being examined by a
hone setter. who pronounced the injury
a strain, and apart from advising Wag-
ner TO remain inactive for few days,
told him that he was in perfect con-
ditiou-
The fact that Honus practiced al
Forbes Field before the double header
with Boston. during which time he was
very active, bears out the diagnosis
Wagner has been anxious 20 play for
some DAYS. but Fred Clarke wanted tc
save him for a particularly hard game
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-09
JIMMY MORAN HURT
WHEN TIRE BURSTS

NEW YORK. Aug. s.-Jimmy Moran,
the cycllst, had his collarbcne broken
yesterday afternoon at the Clifton track
in Jersey. Moran was competing IN a
special ten-mile m0t0T-paced race with
Elmer Collins and I'm the second heat
one of the tires on MCran's bicycle
exploded and the cyclist was hurled to
the track with considerable force. Upon
examination his collarbore was discov-
cred broken, and he was taken i'm an
automobile TO the Paterson Hospital to
have the bone set
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-09
AFRAID OF SVANBERG.

NEW YORK, Aug. e.-John svanberg
the great Swedish long distance runner,
accompanied by his manager, Ernie
Hertberg. arrived IN town recently from
Toronto. Canada. where the fy1ng
swede made a snow OF Tom Longboat
The feet Onondaga Indian, In q hfteen-
nile match SVanberg as usual. wore
51ss ra~ing smile, but there was NOTHING
iFlre that on the countenanCe Of Hert-
berg. The old war-horse, as the ath-
fefes are wont 20 call him, was all
worked up over the refusal OF Alfred
Shrubb 70 run Svanberg a hfteen-nile
~.st~b after the Swede had tied Long
boat into knots
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-09
. - - REMOVES

employed
sofening and cleansing
which continually day
also off with the natural evaporation
infames the
natural pimples bons puu itching rash
troubles
euzng the acids removing the humOrs from the blood
builds
thickness mup its nutritious red ou and nrches it
exudng nourbhed soothed and sofsd cooling
surely Acne Tetter Salt Rheu
advice tFss THE SWIFT SPECIFIC CO., ATLANTA GA