davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-30

"And after this" she said, you shall
have the flowers he sends" But he
did not send any more. He must have
discovered the deception we practiceh
upon him.
The Ericksons didn't go out to after
theater suppers because they knew they
needed all the rest and sleep they
could get and more time than they
had TO study They just lived a quiet,
plain. domestic life, and no two people
1 ever knew were so happy in each
others love as they were until their
trouble came.
1t was a terrible night when Erick-
son was brought home from the the
ater after the accidental stabbing. The
papers were all full of it and l guess a
good many of you old theatergoers
remember it still, for he was popular
actor and young man Of more than
usual promise. Mrs Erickson was so
cool and collected through it all one
would have thought it was of no conse-
quence to her that he was on his
deathbed, acting her part so well as to
deceive us all at first The weeks and
weeks he lay there slowly dying we all
had roles to play. Jacks first thought
was always for his wife and hers, OF
course, was for him, while everybody
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-30

was keeping up for everybody else.
deceiving no one but himself. With
Ericksop's salary stopped, Mrs Erick-
son was the sole breadwinner. so she
had to go on spending half her time
at the theater. This was the hardest
thing that could have come TO either of
them. He wanted her beside him
every minute and when he was out Of
his head he wouldn't take anything
from anybody else q This kept her
almost frantic, knowing that he would
not take his medicine when she was
not there to give it to him. Still
she kept UP cool and collected as you
please, doing her Juvenile leads" as
their theatrical friends called it, and
getting her showers of applause, and
flowers, and fattering notes right
along as If nothing had happened.
The strain began to tell at last how
ever, and she couldn't fight off the
reaction. Her work began to suffer
then and L saw the end coming. At
last she came home one day and said
to me in a dull, heavy voice as if she
hadn't quite taken it in herself yet,
"Norah, I am advised by the manager
to take a rest" | didn't understand
at first what she meant. I couldn't be-
heve she could ever lose her place
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-30

TOOK a little vacation after having
worked steadily for six years. I
felt my nerves needed it. Then,
since I had had so much OF the
tragedy and comedy in real life in my
last places I thought I might as well
accept the offer OF a place with the
theatrical family which needed a maid
Of all work I had 10 make an eXcep-
tion to my rule Of living only in the
homes Of the rich, but the idea Of
knowing something Of the inside Of
stage life attracted me. Trained dogs
and trapeze flyers were about the only
branch Of the profession that could
have any novelty for me now, after
having been through so much of the
real thing on the great stage of life,
but footlights and costumes and make
ups had never come in my line before
and here was a chance.
Miss Nellie Erickson had asked me
TO call at the theater for my inter
view while she waited for a rehearsal.
But ] was detained on my way, so
instead Of being at her dressing room
at the time she appointed 1 was late
and had 10 wait until after the per-
Torrance. This was at the old Alca-
zar during the Osborne and Stockweu
days. and the management was strictly
business. with no Interruptions while a
rehearsal was going on. was mo-
toned into a corner and told something
in an undertone that didn't under
stand. but took it TO mean that 1 was
10 keep out of the way and wait until
I was asked TO explain my business
rom where I sat I could not see
the stage and caught only occasional
eliapses Of The actor people waiting to
go Oh. BIT when I heard singing I
eot bold and moved nay seat so I could
Iear he-ter. And since that moment 1
poclca't. If I wanted to, doubt the
exis-eree oe fairies. There was a real
live orc sailing. through the air. for all
tie world as If her gauzy wings were
doing the work. even at my close range
! couldn't see the wires. All spangles
ana glitter she went making pink
circles in and out among the flowers.
light as a breeze and as reckless.
was standing in the doorway, block
ing the exit. my mouth wide open in
wonder. when the fairy futters up to
me and says: Are you the maid who
applied for a position?"
Huh ] said. had forgotten all
about what had brought me there. Then
quick as a fash I remembered and said
I am waiting TO see Miss Erickson"
Il am Miss Erickson" said the fairy
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-30

with the company No" she ex-
planned with short little laugh. 'it's
not that bad. The manager has merely
told me he had an understudy ready
TO take my place until 1 get my nerves
back 1t all meant one and the same
thing, however, as we both knew. She
was temporarily dropped from the COM
pany because she could not put the old
life and spirit into her work with her
heart breaking for fear she might find
her husband dead any time she went
home
But what are you going to live on?"
1 couldn't help asking. She had al
ways been so frank about money mat
ters with me and they were both so
generous I knew they hadn't much
saved up Il don't know" she said.
but I'm not going to leave Jack an
other moment as long as he is spared
to me-"
The only thing left to her to do was
to take in sewing. They had both been
popular with the company, so Mrs.
Erickson got all the work she could do.
This was the time we did the real act
ing. When L think about it now don't
see how we ever lived through it.
Mr. Erickson. of course, could not be
told his wife had lost her place and was
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-30

note, while dealing, to whom they fell.
After the exposure of the fraud there
was at Whites club a vulgar out
slider" whom De Ros had snubbed on
one or two occasions. He remarked TO
one of De Ros' friends, in a very In
sulting tone, that he felt sorry for poor
old De Ros and would certainly leave
his card on him, but he was AFRAID
that De Ros would mark 1t.
Il think you can safely take the
risk" said his lordships friend, l
am certain that he would not think
your card a high enough honor"
This bon mot is usually attributed
to Lord Alvanley.
A decided bridge innovation is the
announcement by well known maya
zine, devoted to women's interests, that
they are ready to reply to inquiries
concerning the etiquette of the game In
their department of behavior An
idle, trivial and rather slangy gentle
man in New York was so delighted that
he sat down and wrote In d1nerent
handwriting the following queries to
the etiquette editor:
ID Is 1T ever good form for gentle
man to change his suit at the bridge
table-in the presence of ladies'!
ESTELLE
(2) write for advice. Have I been
insulted? / called on my lady friend
last night and she asked me to play
bridge. I had never played before
Twice during the game she called me
dummy and once cross rough One
hand she said she was afraid to play a
heart because somebody held major
tennis over her. What kind of an IN
strument or weapon is this? The last
hand of the game I had the ace, king,
queen and jack of clubs. led the jack
and my partner-my lady friend
mother-trumped it. After the hand
my partner was hopping mad and whfs-
pered to her daughter, How was TO
know that he had a quartz Now, as
matter of fact, 1 had only pint, and
that was at least an hour before call
ing. M. A. d.
We need hardly say that these bril-
liant CD sallies of wit have remained to
this day unnoticed by the overworked
ard presumably indignant etiquette
editor.
A remarkable case of bridge under
high pressure was that of Mrs. James
Thompson of Fourth avenue, Detroit.
This little incident found its way into
the Detroit papers and was widely
copied In all the press of America, and
we are glad to quote 1T, as 1t shows
trying circumstances, a truly admirable
philosophical spirit as well as a lively
interest in bridge
Mrs. Thompson had gone one winter
evening to dine with some neighbors
and play friendly rubber or two The
match was a close one, and she was
struggling valiantly to pull out the
game with a very Indifferent no trump
er, when some friends rushed in and,
in a state of almost frenetical excite
ment, announced to Mrs. Thompson that
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-30
ANECDOTES OF BRIDGE WHIST AND BRIDGE WHISPERS

her house was on fire and would soon
be beyond all hope of saving. The guest
flew to the windows and saw that the
house was already a pillar of flame.
Mrs. Thompson seemed a trifle sad
dened by the catastrophe which was
Detailing her, but quite as much vexed
by the untimely interruption TO the
game. She soon sat down again at the
table and remarked, as though nettled
by the intrusion of the newcomers:
Come on; let's finish"
At this point a reporter from a local
paper was admitted and asked Mrs.
Thompson what she had to say about
the conflagration.
Il don't know anything about it,"
she said, testify. The house is on
fire, as you can plainly see, but we
are luckily on the outside and that is
all there is to it."
With this she trimuphantly played
the queen of diamonds and was soon
completely under the spell of the
game again.
Although this is an extreme instance
of women's devotion to bridge, we must
admit that we have of late been Ssur-
prised to see what firm hold the game
has taken on them, both on this side
of the water and in England
Sometimes we almost regret that
women play bridge so much. It de-
in men-trying little eccentricities and
peculiarities of character. Let us con-
slider a very few examples. To begin
with there is
% The lady who plays with such
a professional air that we feel quite
helpless and hopeless from the very
start of the game. (The rapidity and
precision with which she gathers and
stacks her tricks is truly appalling)
(2) The belle who only plays for
amusement so you needn't expect me
to take the game seriously-for
sha'n't"
(S) The great card holder (The
Christian fathers used to say that If
one thought murder one had in sober
truth committed it. Merciful heavensl
How many of these women have we
played against-and killedD
(D The postmortem lady.
(5) The creature who says: But how
was l to know that you held" etc.
Co The fidget.
(71 The matron who remarks: We'll,
Elwen says
(s) The chatterbox.
co. The young lady who. after leav-
ing it and getting the inevitable spade.
pounces on all the cards, paws and
pores over them-in order to see what
would have happened at hearts, or no
trumps or whatever other make she
may originally have had In her mind
10) The prosperous woman whose
fingers literally swarm with rings and
whose nails are so red and so polished
and so shiny that they always make
me think Of the line in Macbeth:
This my hand will rather the mani
curious nails incarnadine. etc.
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-30

why. my dear, I never saw you this
way before. What can be the matter
with you?"
Where have you been? Answer me-"
I've been to Mrs. Duquesne's, play
ing bridge, my dear
"Oh. You have, have you? Well! Mrs.
Duquesne plays for money, as I happen
to know, and so do all her friends, don't
they?"
They certainly do. my love"
? And did you play for money. too?"
YES, my dear; 1 must confess that 1
did"
What stakes? Pennies?"
Well no. To be perfectly truthful,
Henry, played for cent points
~You know that 1 have absolutely
forbidden it. This is a deucedly serious
thing. How dare you disobey me? You
must be mad! What possible justiflca
tion have you got for doing it? Answer
me"'
We'll, Henry, dear, the only justifsa-
tion that I have is that 1 won SEA"
You won how much?"
Twenty dollars"
Let me see it.
At this point Mrs. NJ. began to feel
herself mistress of the situation. She
took the crisp bills out of her purse
and showed them to her lord and mas
ter with sense of mingled pride and
her hands, stuffed 1t into his pocket,
showed her to her chair in the dining
room and said, as she sat ruefully
down at the table:
Helen, you have hit upon the one
and only possible justification for
such shocking disobedience-so please
be laundering careful never to ad-
vance any other"
Here is a famous anecdote of Lord
de Ros. who some years ago, in the
days of straight whist, was a re-
doubted player in England. Notwith-
standing his skill, he simply could not
play fair and had distressing habit
of slipping an ace on the bottom of the
pack-after the cut. In this way he
was always sure of the ace of trumps
when it was his turn to deal. He was
finally detected in the fraud and left
London precipitately for the continent.
where after a few years, he died, A
as a suitable epitaph for the unfortu-
nate nobleman. the following lines:
Here lies Lord de Ros,
In confident expectation
OF the last trump.
At the time of the De Ros scandal.
Lord Hertford was asked what he
would do If he saw man cheating at
cards.
Bet on him. of course" was his lord
ships reply.
Lord de Ros' system was only avail
able once in four deals-when he dealti
AT such crisis he would palm an ace
and slip it on the bottom of the pack
He somehow marked all the other aces
with his fingernails so that he could
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-30

THERE is very broad minded
Episcopal bishop who is an inveter-
ate bridger. and has even been ac-
cused. on occasions, Of neglecting, for
the game. the spiritual needs Of his
flock
A Mrs ". who was herself a great
lover Of the game, had gone down to
the bishops country place TO spend
the weekend The bishop had also in
vited married couple who were adept
bridgers.
on Sunday at afternoon tea time the
bishop, having finished his evening
service, the party were gathered around
the open fire, chatting cozily over the
buttered mullins. Mrs. X. who was
aching for a rubber and could no longer
bear the idea Of the unbridged chasm"
before dinner, asked the bishop point
blank If he could not, just for once.
overcome the clerical prejudice against
Sunday bridge. The bishop was
widower. and his two children were
busily engaged on the hearth rug in
reconstructing a most complicated Jig
saw puzzle, while French maid was
deftly taking away the tea things. The
bishop seemed much shocked by Mrs.
Ms horrifying suggestion.
MY dear Mrs. N" he said, IF
had to consider myself alone in a mat
ter Of this sort I should perhaps feel
justified, merely in order TO give you
pleasure, in yielding to what I am
well aware is an insidious and growing
evil, but you must remember that
there are others whose moral welfare
is perhaps at stake, and whose spirit
ual paths I have always, however
imperfectiy, endeavored TO direct
The children are with US and Felise,
my parlor maid What would they
think of me2 How could I Justify
the imperiling OF their moral strong
hold?"
In a few minutes. when the maid
had vanished with the tea tray and
when the children had been cordially
embraced by their father and quite
as cordially sent to bed the worthy
bishop went on with his ennobling
train Of thoughts.
"Yes, Mrs. N, we must try in crises
Of this nature to think Of others
However, as the children are beyond
the power of disturbing US, and as
Felise is doubtless in the dining room
setting the dinner table, I will, If you
viii accept me as a partner, chal-
lenge our friends here to two rub
bers. I must, however. urge you to
lock this experience in your breast,
and I also beg you not to find fault
with me IL I make II very light, and.
above all, / implore you to curb your
wicked propensity to revoke. particu-
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-30

larly at points in the game where
there can be no earthly advantage
in it."
The bishop then proceeded to shuttle
the 50 allies of Satan and to rifle the
cards for the cut
A lady from Chicago went into a
dry goods shop and was vainly trying
TO secure the attention of two glorious
beings in black princesse costumes,
surmounted by gigantic and plenti-
fully marceled pompadours. Their
heads were as close together as their
pompadours would permit, and their
conversation was evidently fervid and
engrossing.
After the lady had waited patiently
between them to cease, so that she
might modestly inquire as TO the price
of Copenhagen blue Amazon plumes,
she was surprised to overhear the fol-
lowing poignant remark:
mo, dearie. positively you are
wrong. from king, jack, ten, you al
ways want to lead the jack"
This dictum, although 1t surprised
the lady greatly, gave her a cue
which she was not slow to take up
Excuse me-" she said. but I think
you are wrong. If you viii read Ell
wells new book you will find that the
ten is the correct lead from such a
combination of honors. am glad to
see that you ladies like bridge; I am
myself passionately fond of IT. OH
I wonder II you would show me, with
out at all troubling yourselves. that
beautiful feather in the case beyond
your"
The blonde goddesses were at once
propitiated and an entente cordiale was
soon established.
Mr. NJ. is married. He is the meanest
man in the entire Inhabited globe. His
wife is in her own right an extremely
poor woman, as well as an extremely
poor bridge player. She adores playin 6
for money. but her husband, with an
eye to the probable expense of such
wickedness on her part. has sternly
forbidden Notwithstanding his
large fortune-to play for any financial
stake whatsoever.
Poor Mrs. NJ one day found herself
among some ladies who were playing
for 5 cent points. She longed to plunge
in, but her wholesome fear of her hus-
band at first restrained her, Finally,
however, her poor, weak, moral nature
crumbled into bits and she announced
that she wanted to play for the table
stakes of cents. After this cold plunge
she sat down at the table in deadly
earnest and fairly wallowed in the con-
sciousness of her moral enormity. At
the end Of the seance. which had lasted
until past her dinner hour, she found
herself S24 TO the good"
Snatching up her gains she hurried to
her house, where she found Mr.. NJ in a
fine rage at having to wait 15 minutes
for his dinner
Where have you been?" he shouted
to her
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-30
That Bunion
CAN BE
CURED

Let US prove il TO you FREE on your own bun
Ion send US your name and PC stamp and
VIII mail You a trial treatment Of our ANTI
BuN1oN PLASTERS FREE. This will prove
In the unmistakable language OF results that
what we say is
So called shields, pads. etc. will never cure
you They tend 70 make the bunion bigger anil
more tender. thereby increasing instead Of de-
creaslng the defOrmity Our ANTLBUNION
PLASTER works a different principle. II does
not merely protect the buniOn-it does not mere
IL afford temporary rehef-it completely re-
moves the buniOn. and that for good. our Anti
Bunlon Plaster first and almost instantly takes
away all the pain and soreness. Then To dis
solves the enlarged growth. and the hnal reSGir
Is a natural shaped normal foot. such aS Won
were intended by nature TO have. All this is
done painlessly. harmlessly and without the
slightest Inconvenience You do not have 90 wear
shoes two three sizes too large while using
the plaster 1t takes up room. being thin
as paper, and you can wear your tightest shoes
with perfect comfort
Let us prove all this 70 you free. send now
for the FREE trial treatment FOOT REMEDY
COMPANY, 3517 WEST 26TH ST. CHICAGO.
The San Francisco call., 1910-01-30

the very best she could. She gave up
her fiat and the sewing and went back
TO the stage for she still had Jack
Ericksons baby to support. 1t was all
flowers and fOotlights and applause
again. and 1 even saw her playing her
fairy role the next season, prettier and
more attractive than ever. After she
went TO New York I lost track of her.
she must have left the stage or mar
ried or died, for I have not seen her
name in theatrical notes for a long
time. God rest her soul wherever she
is. for in all my life OF service never
saw so much grit. and while I was in
the Erickson fat was in the happiest.
holiest home in this city.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-12-07
CHOICE OF EXILE OR GANG
Columbus Liquor Seller Can Quit
Georgia for Two Years or
Go to the Pen.

Extraordinary conditions were i'm
posed by Judge Price Gilbert in
Muscogee superior court in modify
ing the sentence of Frank A. Stock
ton, who, on a plea of guilty of
violating the prohibition law, was
sentenced to pay fine of $500 or
serve ten months on the changing,
and also to go to Jail for two
months without the alternative of
fine.
Stockton pleaded for a remission
of the Jail sentence. Judge Gilbert
withdrew it, but increased the fine
to $3.50 or twelve months on the
gang, and suspended six months OF
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-12-07
A PLANT IS DISCOVERED WHICH
KILLS THE COTTON BOIL MOTH

vestigations and experiments says
he is prepared to guarantee ms
method will do all he claims Tor II.
The important part OF Hugns
method is the introduction into the
field Of cotton and corn of mon
reproducing plant which he has DIS
covered, and which will put the moth
out of business. BY growing these
plants among cotton and corn the
moth will be attracted to the plant
instead of to the corn and cotton
blooms. The honey will destroy the
moth and thus prevent the laying
of eggs and avert rayages OF the
corn ear and cotton boil worms
which. he says, are produced by the
moth.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-12-07
WIDOWS KISS WORTH $500.
Louisiana Widow Sued Oil City
Postmaster for Kissing Her.

In the district court at Shreve-
port, LaSJudge A. J. Murff held
that the kiss of a young widow was
worth $500. The decision was rem
dered in the case of Mrs. Grace Hun
ter against J. X. Norman, the de-
PENDANT being postmaster at Oil
City, that Parish, when the alleged
offense was committed. Mrs. Hun
ter alleged that Norman kissed her
at the Oil City postofice. She sued
for two thousand dollars and was
awarded one-fourth the amount.
Judge Murff in passing judgment adj
monished Norman that he looked
old enough to know better.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-12-07
ADKINS OUT AGAIN.

Editor B. w. Adkins has sold his
interest in the Doerun Advertiser to
Mr.. G.. C. Holiday. Mr.. Adkins will
take up the practice of law in Doe
run and engage in the real estate
and insurance business. In hes
withdrawal notice he hints that he
is out of the newspaper business
for good. He gave Doerun a good
paper.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-12-07

the sentence on condition that
Stockton leave the state Of Georgia
January list, next, and stay away
two years, and that he not engage
in the near beer business in the ad-
joining Alabama counties of Lee and
Russell
If the conditions are violated the
chaingange sentence is to become
automatically operative.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-12-07
An Oklahoman Is Confident 1haU nc
Has Found Means to Avert
Corn and Cotton Damage.

GUTHRIE, ok.-If the method
NJ. H. Hughs of McComb, PottaWa-
tonne county, for the destructlonl. o.
the moth which produces the COTTON
boil worm and corn ear worm proves
successful it will also prove a greaO
boon to the farmers of the entire
south, for it will mean the saving
OF hundreds Of thousands OF dollars
worth of cotton annually, to say
nothing Of the corn.
Hughs, who is a southern man
and who has devoted years to in
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-12-07
A RICH WOMAN'S QUEER FAD


So Much Per Hour for Her
Services and Machine
A Chicago society woman of
wealth who owns a palatial home
and several automobiles has taken
up the business of driving persons
for hire. She does the driving and
charges 81 per hour for the service
of the machine and herself. She
sometimes makes as. much as IS or
Sc a day, which sf# says is profit
abla She doesn't need the money,
but explains that money is never a
bore, and that she gets a great deal
Of pleasure from serving others, and
at the same time making them pay
the cost
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-12-07

Do something for Dawson.