davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-28
A Practical Reader

Dear Aunt Laurie:
Do you believe in fairies?
have read good many fairy stories
which are interesting and exciting, but
I do not think thing in them could be
true.
The stories like "The Three Golden
Apples" 'sThe Winged Horse and THE
Gorgeous Heads" are good stories, but
a good many things in them could not
be true
For instance, in ''The Winged Horse"
there was never such a thing as a horse
with wings. In 1.-THE Three Golden APP
pies" there was never a giant Atlas
who held the sky on his head, and in
THE Gorgeous Heads there was no
Medusa with snakes growing on her
head instead of hair.
You probably have read stories about
fairies, gnomes and giants which you
liked, even if they were not true.
I don't think you ever saw a fairy
or anything they did, and neither did
I, and this is the reason do not be-
lieve in fairies.
MARY HAMLIN.
Tenth Street school, 6 grade.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-28

brother carried the flag and 1 beat the
drum.
Everybody thought it was fine.
Mamma laughed until she had a head
ache at the way my little brother came
in and spoke his part in the play. He
is just Z years old and is in the b.
One lady said he will be a fine orator
some day.. 1 viii now tell you about
myself. I am years old and in the
B4. We both go to Marengo Heights
school. 1t is on the corner of Griffin
and COrnwell avenues. l will close for
this time, wishing you would visit our
school some day.
FRANK WALTER.
Marengo Heights school, B4 grade.
1349 Norfolk street.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-28
Good Fairies Are Near

Dear Aunt Laurie:
I do not think it is very nice for
big children to believe in fairies, but
1 do think it gives little folks a great
deal of pleasure.
Well. one day when I was about
8 years old. was very naughty. The
lady that was living with US said:
1.-THE bad fairies are very near you"
"Fairies?" I said in a very startled
tone.
Eyes. If the good fairies come near
you you will be a very good little girl;
and then you can call on the fairies
at any minute. And they will be very
glad to call on you. You can go to
phone and ask for Fairyland. Then
you can say, Please let it rain in my
dining room any kind of candy you
lilke?'' "Oh, is that the way the fairies
do?'''
"Wel, you will see how good 1 can
be-"
And the next day she called up
Fairyland, and sure enough, just the
best kind of candies came pouring in
her room.
"We1, WELL" she said. eff this is the
way the fairies do I will call for Fairy
land every day I am good"
MILDRED HITCHCOCK.
Temple street school. Age 9. Glass IA.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-28
Fairies for Little Folk

Dear Aunt Larie:
I thought / would try and write
something on this subject this week.
l certainly do not believe in fairies.
/ think they are just little myths that
were put into our minds when we were
little children. l do think they are
nice to draw on the smaller children'a
imaginatiOns and will help them to be
interested in reading. They will listen
to fairy story when they will not lis
ten to any other, and it viii teach them
to build air castles and also expand
their minds.
The fairy story gives great excite
ment to little children and sometimes it
does to larger people 1 think that if
the very. very little fairies inside the
flowers and seashells did not live and
work we would not have much enjoy
ment out of those things.
Mothers very often tell babies and
small children fairy stories when they
are going to bed.
The story of Cinderella is a fairy
story, Of course.
Well, Aunt Laurie, am going to try
on the limerick contest, too. 1 will
close with love and best wishes.
HAZEL FOUST.
IA years old. Orange avenue school,
eighth grade, Monrovia, Cal.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-28

"Grim's Fairy Tales so I think I can
thank that dear old book for the pleas
ant dreams l have. The book is torn
and some of the leaves are gone, but
many a time have sat down and read
several stories over and over again.
Some people think it is wrong to let
think they ever did me any harm, ex-
cept to wish 1 could be a beautiful
princess with golden hair, or a tiny
fairy queen, with little fairies to wait
upon me. MARGUERITE WARE.
Vermont avenue school, AT grade;
age Is. 1854 West Adams street.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-28
Wants to Be Fairy Princess

Dear Aunt Laurie:
I do not believe in fairies as much as
I used to, but still feel kind of shaky
when 1 am in the house alone and a
door slams or a board creaks. Some
times I think it is a burglar, and then
1 imagine it is a fairy, SO 1 will have
something pleasant to think about. In
few minutes l can see fairies all
around me, and 1 talk to them, and an
swer for them, until I get so tired that
I fall asleep; but the fairies do not
leave me.
1 dream about them, and then they
talk for themselves. 1 visit their houses
and meet their queen, and many other
nice things that you can only do in
Dreamland.
And oh, it is So hard to get up in the
morning! 1 just want to close my eyes
and go on dreaming.
When l was 6 wears old was given
Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-28
FAIRIES TO ADMIRE
AND SOME TO AVOID
(HonorabIe Mention)


Dear Aunt Larie:
no 1 believe in fairies? Yes, I do
No, not human fairies, or the kind
- you read about in books There is
that dear little fairy, Smiles, who every
one likes to see, and Truth and Homes
ty, who are more welc me than any
other fairy, it seems to me; and Pleas
ure, who is very nice, but is sometimes
used in the wrong way; and there is
another very wicked one that everyone
should avoid, and that is Envy. There
is another one that is just as wicked
and that is Temper, but I am afraid
that this is the fairy that l patronize
a little bit too much.
There are other fairies that people
should beware Of, among them Jeal-
ousy, Liar, Frowns, Disobedience,
Boaster, >Braggart and Anger and Mis-
chief.
There are just as many fairies that
people should patronize, among them
Calmness, Cleanliness, Modesty, Bra
very, Politeness, Love, Gentleness,
Manliness, and above all Truth and
Honesty.
There are ever and ever so many
more, and 1 cannot begin to name them
all. GLADYS GERVAIS,
Anaheim school, grade z; age 10; Ana
helm, Cal.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-28
Writes Fairy Story

Dear Aunt Laurie:
I thought 1 would write you a letter
too. | don't believe in fairies, but 1
love to read all kinds of fairy stories.
1 read every one can find. was read
ing one today about a bad little fairy
who said that the birds with long claws
always wanted to fight; but then she
found out that all of the birds with
long claws did not want to fight.
Most children like to read fairy sto-
ries. 1 like to make up stories about
fairies and things. Well, 1 will close.
ORA RAY.
LawndaIe school, No. 5.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-28
Holiday Delightfully."- Celebrated

Dear Aunt Laurie:
I am going to write to you about our
lovely program on Lincoln's anniver-
sary. 1t was simply grand. 1 wish you
could have been there. Mamma was
there and enjoyed it very much. We
had quite few visitors, in spite of the
rainy weather.
We had a number Of rotations A
sketch on Lincoln's life was read by a
little boy, then a lot of famous sayings
Of Lincoln; then last but not least we
had a little play, in which my little
Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-28
Enjoys Fairy Tales

Dear Aunt Laurie:
am too old to believe in fairies, but
I think that the children that do be-
heve in them get a great deal of pleas
ure out of it. remember when I was
small I liked to hear about fairies and
enjoyed stories about them very much.
and I think it is nice for small children
to believe in fairies and Santa Claus.
I think fairies are made out of the
same material as dreams. Some people
are nearly as good as the so-called
CONTINUED en- Page Sevenl
Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-28
Wishing FooIish Wishe:

Dear Aunt Laurie:
Do you believe in fairies?
I do not believe in fairies. 1 think it
Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-28

Lawndale school, No. 5.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-28
BELIEVES IN EVERY
DAY FAIRY VISITS
Honorable Mention)

Dear Aunt Laurie:
BELIEVE in the Easter bunny
fairies, because they always bring
me something every Easter. Some
times I put something out for them to
eat. / believe in the sun fairies and
the rain fairies, too. I think the rain
fairies have been pretty busy this
month. Our teacher reads to us almost
every day about fairies, and like them
very much. / think when l am in bed
of the fairies. / close my eyes and
can see the fairies dancing around me.
Sometimes / think that fairy-cones
and touches me and makes me a Queen,
and I have a crown of stars. 1 can
have anything / want. believe in the
spring fairies, that bring the pretty
flowers. l think the peoples are fairies.
I would like to be fairy, sitting on
little girls thumb. I think / could tell
her a great many tales. l wish there
was a fairy sitting on my thumb now.
so / could write you a nice letter.
HELEN MARIE BURGE.
Ocean Park, Washington school,
grade B3, age s.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-08
BARRIE ASTONISHES
HIS MANY ADMIRERS
AUTHORS SUIT FOR DIVORCE
CAUSES COMMENT
Friends Supposed PIaywright's Domes-
tic Life Most Pleasant and That
Wife Inspired His Writings
to Large Extent
Especial to The Herald, J

NEW YORK, Oct. THE announce
ment from London that James NJ. Bar
rie, the playwright, had petitioned the
English courts for a separation from
his wife, who was Miss Mary Ansell,
an actress, has created much comment
here, where Mr.. Barrie and his plays
are well known and the idea of di-
Vorce in connection with the author of
when a Mans Single" seemed incon-
gruous,
The wonderful grasp Of feminine
character which Mr.. Barrie has shown
in his books and plays always has
been supposed to have been inspired
in some degree by his perfect agree
ment with his wife.
Such plays of his as what Every
Woman Knows" indicated to the crit
ics he had a most remarkable grasp
and understanding of the character of
woman.
Charles Frohman, the manager who
produced most, of Mr.. Barrie's plays,
declares Barrie's success with charac-
ters for women was due to the fact
he knew that when a woman trusted
her instinct and Stunned her reason
and logic, she was apt to be right.
Mr., Frohman recalled an incident
during a rehearsal of What Every
Woman Knows" when Mrs. Barrie
suddenly appeared and held a hurried
whispered conversation with the au-
thor. When she had gone, Mr. Barrie
dryly remarked to the manager:
'You know the humiliating thing
about women is that they are generally
right"
Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-08
CURTISS MAKES
THREE VOYAGES
AVIATOR SAILS IN AIRSHIP AT
ST. LOUIS
ENGINE FAILS AND RUBBER GUY
Is BROKEN
Man Who Won Honors at Rheims
Again Scars In BipIane-Knab-
enshue Goes Up in
Balloon
[By Associated Press.J

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 7.-Glenn H. Curtiss,
who won international honors in avia-
tion at Rheims, France, made three
aeroplane flights here today. One was
more than a quarter Of a mile and the
shortest of the three was about 220
yards.
Curtlss' last performance of the day
was cut short by his engine failing
when he was about twenty-five feet
from the ground. The machine glided
to an irregular landing place and a
rubber guy snapped. The aviator said
the machine would be ready for SER
vice tomorrow.
Curtiss used a biplane with twen-
ty-fiVe-horse power motor.
George Francois Osmont, who is
here with the Farman biplane, which
won the endurance prize at Rheims,
attempted three times at dusk to salts
fly the crowd that he could fly.
He circled the field several times, but
not fast enough to enable him to leave
the ground.
Roy Knabenshue, Lincoln Beachey
and Thomas Baldwin made flights In
dirigibles. Baldwin had started for an
extended flight when motor trouble
overcame him and he was forced to
land in the crowd.
His second flight, after repairs had
been made, was successful.
Knabenshue and Beachey thrilled
the spectators by mounting simultan-
eously and flying about two miles side
by side.
Knabenshue left Beachey's airship in
the rear when the latter's motor be-
came overheated. Knabenshue then
swept out over the park in great
circle.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-08
NAVAL RECRUITS
PROVE SUCCESS
OFFICERS ARE ENCOURAGED
BY PERSONNEL
INTERESTING STATISTICS GIVEN
OUT AT CAPITAL
Percentage of NatlVe-Born Men Is
Increased to 1874 Since 1909.
EnIistments More
Plentiful
[By Associated Press. J

WASHINGTON, Oct NAVAL Off
GERS are very much encouraged over
their success in securing a fine class of
recruits and over the generally salts
factory condition of the enlisted per-
sonnel.
Tables on this subject have been COM
piled by Commander w. r. Shoemaker,
in charge of the enlistment branch of
the bureau of navigation.
From these it appears that there are
now 44,149 enlisted men in the navy, as
against 33,027 in 1907, and that the per-
93.1 per cent in 1907 to 95.7 per cent in
1909
The percentage of native born men
in the navy has also increased from 50
per cent in 1907 to SS.4 per cent in 1903.
Steady increase is shown in enlist
ments. In 1907 the total was 14,929,
while in 1909 the total enlistments num-
bered 1878
The result of the strict requirements
for enlistment is shown by the fact that
out of $4,000 applicants this year for
admission to the navy, all but 1928
were rejected for physical or other
causes.
Another cause for congratulation is
the large and steady decrease in the
number of desertions from the service
and the large percentage-65 per cent
of e-enlistments.
In 1907 the desertions averaged 904
per cent, while in 1909 the percentage
fell to So per cent. In the total enlist
ed strength of 44129 are included AL
Filipinos, who are in the insular force.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-08
RHODE ISLANDERS
DENOUNCE TARIFF
DEMOCRATS IN CONVENTION
NOMINATE TICKET
Platform Adopted Opposing Aldrich
Measure, Urging Direct Election
of Senators and Income
Tax Laws

PROVIDENCE, R. L, Oct. THE
Rhode Island Democratic state con-
vention met today and nominated the
following ticket:
Governor-Olney Arnold, Providence,
Lieutenant governor-Thomas A.
Carroll Providence.
Secretary of state-Frank 2. Fitz-
simmons. Lincoln.
The platform condemns the Aldrich
tariff law as 1.-The most outrageous and
unfair tariff ever enacted by an Amer
ican congress-"
1t demands the election of United
States senators by direct vote OF the
people, a system under which, the res
olution declares, Nelson w. Aldrich
would not be returned to the senate
from this state"
The vote of every Democratic mem
ber of the incoming general assembly
is pledged in support of the income tax
amendment to the national constitu-
tion.
The larger portion of the platform
is devoted to the alleged domination
of state affairs through the Republican
organization, reputed to be controlled
by Gen. Charles r. Brayton.
$50 absolute and acknowledged is
this boss-ship of the state" the plat
form asserts, "that Rhode Island has
been held up to scorn and ridicule and
it's citizenship derided throughout our
whole country"
Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-08
CUSTOMS OFFICIALS HOLD
BACK ANCIENT PAINTINGS
Government Officers Said to Paw Mo
Attention to New Provision
of Tariff Law

NEW YORK, Oct. 7.-Old p96ntings
worth about $1,OOO.OO0 have been held
up recently by the customs} officials
here it was learned today, Jlespite the
fact the new tariff law provides for the
free entry of works of ART more than
twenty years old
Fifth avenue art dealers saw al
though these paintings hre well over
the age limit they have been unable for
this very reason to an4wer completely
the customs officers Hearching oues-
tlons regarding the exact origin and
date N
A committee of dealers tonight is
sued this statement: "The law has
been practically made imperative as il
stands at present. The government
demands not only the name. or the
artist and the subjects, but places
where the pictures were painted, the
cate of production and the month even,
which is simply ridiculous.
1T Is impossible to give the month
and in many cases even the year when
Sir Joshua Reynolds, for instance,
painted his pictures"
Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-08
SUGGESTS GENEVA SOCIETY
AS BOARD OF ARBITRATION

COPENHAGEN, Oct. Capt. C. E.
Borchgrevink, the Anarctic explorer
who wintered in the southern polar
region in 1900, and is about to under
take another expedition there, has eX-
pressed his opposition to the proposed
submission of DR.. Cook records to the
University of Copenhagen and to the
committee of the American Geographic
cal society.
Capt Borchgrevink declared in an in
terview that this procedure would not
prove satisfactory because he considers
that both bodies are prepossessed in
favor of DR.. Cook.
Capt. Borchgrevink suggests that the
Geographical society of Geneva, as an
unprejudiced body, should be asked to
settle the matter.
A Greenland clergyman named Lud-
wigs, who Is a member of the Cape
York mission and is acquainted with
both DR.. Cook and Commander Peary
has opened a campaign against the lat
ter, reiterating some old allegations as
to his i'll treatment of the Eskimos.
Among other charges, he alleges that
Commander Peary once deserted a band
Of women and children on the ice with
out food. because they hindered the
rapid advance of his expedition.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-08
KINGS MOUNTAIN DAYS IS
OBSERVED IN THE SOUTH

CHARLOTTE, N. c., Oct. 7.-King's S
Mountain day. the anniversary of the
battle of Kings Mountain, S. c.. in
which 800 brave mountain men won a
victory over the British forces, num-
bering 1900, on October Z, 1880, was
commemorated today in South Caro-
lima and Tennessee.
On the battlefield a monument,
which has been erected by the United
States government at cost of $50, 900,
was dedicated.
At Fort Watauga, near Johnson
City Tenn, the point from where the
men under Campbell, Shelby and
Sewer started for Kings Mountain,
the Daughters OF the American Revo-
luton dedicated another monument.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-08
SAN FRANCISCO HONORED
BY TRAFFIC MEN
Street Railroads Association Elects
Officers and Man from Bay City
Is Elected Vice President

DENVER, Colo, Oct THE adop-
ton Of rules for traction systems by
the American Transportation and
Traffic association today and the
election of officers were the important
features of the closing session of the
American Street and lnterurban Rail
way association. The engineers and
transportation departments also COM
pleted its business today.
officers of the railway association
are: President, James F. Shaw, Bos-
ton; first vice president, Arthur w.
Brady, Anderson, KY; second vice
president, Thomas M. McCarter, New
ark; third vice president, George H.
Harrison Washington; fourth vice
president, Charles N. Black, San Fran
cisco.
The selection of the meeting place
for the next convention was left to the
executive committee. This committee
will also name a successor to Secretary
b. V. SWenSon.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-08
CRIME REVEALS
PATHETIC PAST
GIRL MURDERED BY INDIAN
SOUGHT EDUCATION
LOVE OF LEARNING RESULTS IN
FEARFUL DEATH
Schoolmaid FiendIshy MutlIated Near
Woodland Was Housekeeper for
Crippled Mother-SIayer
Admits Act
LRv Associated Press.1

WOODLAND, Cal, Oct. Popular
feeling against Wilbur Benjamin, the
young Indian who has confessed to
having murdered Violet Gilmer, a 10
year-old girl, on a mountain trail near
Rumsey, Yolo county, is very strong
but danger of mob violence, which at
first was feared, has passed.
A post mortem examination of the
body of the victim was made today by
Drs. Beebe and Blevins of Woodland.
They determined that death finally was
caused by strangulation.
The body is frightfully mutilated, and
everything indicates the girl made a
brave fight against her assailant.
The Indian is a thick set man, with
heavy jaw and features, and shifty
eyes. He speaks good English, but is
guarded in his statements. He says he
met the girl on the trail, and that she
was sitting down when he approached
her He says she fought savagely when
he addressed her and made the assault.
Life Hard One
The life of Violet Gilmer, so terribly
ended, was a hard one for a child. Her
parents are poor mountain ranchers,
The mother is cripple, and the child
has been the housekeeper for the fam
lily.
She aspired to an education, and went
to the school at Rumsey, two miles
from her heme, each day, after attend
ing to her household duties
Her ambition for advancement indi-
rectly contributed to her death, for it
became known that she Travelled over
the lonely trail at a late hour every
day on her way home.
District Attorney Anderson, Consta-
BILE Parker and Under Sheriff Brown
again visited the scene of the tragedy
today for the purpose of gathering If
possible additional evidence in regard
to the crime.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-08
AVIATION CONTESTS WILL
INCLUDE FORTY MACHINES
Paris Will Witness Some of the Most
Peculiar Aeroplanes Used In
Navigation of Air

PARIS, Oct. 7.-The Grande Quin-
zaine Aviation de Paris (grand avia-
tion fortnight) opened today under
favorable auspices at Port Aviation,
near JuVissy. 1t is of the same model
as aviation week recently held al
Rheims.
Several kinds of aeroplanes are to
take part in the races. They include
Bleriot monoplanes Voisin biplanes, a
Wright biplane and a Breguet double
mcnoplane.
The entrants include Leo de la
Grange, Henry Fournier, Voisin, Count
de Lambert, Jacquelin, Louis Breguet
Paulhan and Hubert Latham. 1t is be-
lieYed that about forty different ma
chimes will participate.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-08
NEW YORK TAKES HAND
IN SPOKANE RATE CASE
Will Intervene on Ground That Pro-
posed Action Would Aid West
at Cost of East

NEW YORK, Oct. 1.-THE New York
chamber of commerce today instructed
its officers to intervene in the pro-
oeedings before the interstate COM
merce commission, now considering the
so-called Spokane case, affecting rates
of transportation throughout the
country.
The proposed readjustment would
tend to deprive the Atlantic seaports
of their natural advantages, draw from
the Atlantic seaboard the origin OF
manufacturing and distributing OF
merchandise and concentrate such
business In cities of the Mississippi
valley and amounts to a discrimination
against the east in favor of the west
in the opinion of the chamber of COM
merce.
Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-08
STATE FEDERATION
OF LABOR ELECTS
CONVENTION AT SAN RAFAEL
NAMES OFFICERS
California Organization Adopts Reso.
lutions Urging Postal Savings
Banks and Compulsory Edu-
cation of Children

SAN RAFAEL, Oct. THE following
officers were elected at today's session
of the State Federation of Labor:
President-Daniel D. Sullivan.
Vice Presidents-First district, Chris
Ploeger; Second, T. C. Seawood; Third,
M. L. Murray; Fourth, R. Wand
Fifth, Thomas Wright; Sixth, Harry
Menke, D. J. Murray and T. K.
Thompson.
Secretary y-treasurer-Paul Scharren-
berg.
Miss Frances Lane was granted Gre
dentials as honorary delegate to the
convention of the American Fedora
ton of Labor to be held next year in
Toronto.
The convention today adopted the
following resolutions:
mo. 20-To give postal employees
thirty days vacation, instead of fifteen.
mo. 21-Urging congress to 'estab-
lish postal savings banks for working
men.
mo. 2S-Favoring an amendment to
the child labor law, to compel minors
between the ages of IA and Is to at
tend school,"
A resolution allowing woman bar
bers to have union cards was un-
favorably reported by the committee,
and re-refeTred.
Afternoon Session
Virtually the entire afternoon session
of the federation was taken up with
addresses by delegates from the Farm
ers' Educational and Cooperative
union and from the Working Women's
league. Among the latter were Miss
Maud Younger of the Mattresses union
of San Francisco and Mrs. Francisco
Pierce of the California State Woman's
Suffrage league.
r. Christensen, w. I. Tibbs and Otto
Gresham addressed the convention OH
behalf of the Farmers Educational
and Cooperative union.
Tonight banquet was given the Wis
iting delegates by the local labor coun-
Gil, at which Superior Judge Lennon
District Attorney Thomas P. Boyd and
other county officers spoke.
The convention will adjourn tomor-
row,