davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03
T1HE Bon Marehe.

E1E Dun N1dfChe9
From child Helen had heard
of it as the great shop of Paris.
1t was at the Bon Marehe that the
heroines of all the French novels she
had ever read had bought their
gowns
1t was from the Bon Marche that
Uncle Mart bought Aunt Ellen that
long gray cloak Helen was a very
little girl then, but she remembered
every bit of braid and every button
on that wonderful wrap.
When Aunt Ellen used to come to
spend the day Helen would steal I'D
to the spare room to look with awe
at the paris wrap" spread out on
the bed. The gray silk cord and tas-
sci, the big pearl buttons, and most
wonderful OF all. the gilt lettered
label, the Bon Marchet"
For the five or six years that Aunt
Ellen wore that coat it gave her a
certain social prestige. Even after
IL was made over it was still the coat
that Uncle Mart brought from Paris .
And Helen never saw 1t that she
did not picture that far away Partisan
store--the Bon Marche. Somehow,
she always thought of IL as a great
building with marble steps and stone
lions, with open victorias and pranc-
ing horses before the entrance, and
ladies with trailing gowns and men
with high silk hats lafter the manner
of old prints) walking by.
Now that Helen herself stood before
the Bon Marche, her feelings were
complex. There were no marble steps,
no stone lions, no open victorias, but
instead building that looked much
hue rlra at xxy{f 80
stalls of cheap goods along the side
walk outside.
Her first impulse was to go straight
to the cloak department to see first
OF all just where Aunt Ellens wrap
had been bought SO many years ago.
Without stepping to view the confus-
ing quantity and variety of goods dis
played on the first floor. she took a
moving stairway to the third gallery.
A large hanging sign, 4Mantles, was
just ahead,
So this was the very department.
Helen looked around almost expecting
to see duplicate of Aunt Ellen's gray
cloak on one of the many wax figures
But these clinging models of satin
and lace were very different from the
generous full folds of that quaint old
cloak.
On a black and green satin opera
wrap thrown careiessly over chain
Helen caught glimpse of gold let
tered label. With thrill OF familiar
ity she saw 1t was the same label, the
same lettering, even the same scroll
line from the "E" back under the
name.
DETERMINED TO BUY
Helen was determined to buy some
thing here to take something home
with a Bon Marche' label, IL only as
a fulfilment Of her girlish dreams.
She looked lenglngly at an evening
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03
By BEATRICE FAIRFAX


II am young man Of 10. writes
X. Y r.. rand in love with girl Of
III. who has signed an old maid pledge
about which she seems to be serious.
I have been paying her attention for
the last six months. and would like
to knew whether to continue
Following is the pledge of spin
sterhaod which this wise old dame Of
II has signed:
I'VE. the undersigned. vow in all
good faith that we shall for the
convenience of ourselves and the
good of the world, live as old maids.
I'VE, the said undersigned, do
agree that we will work honestly and
faithfully until, IL our iiyesSare spared
we have accumulated sum requisite
for purchasing and maintaining a
small house In the suburbs, where the
said undersigned shall resi6e.
I'VE shall have freedom to visit.
entertain. etc, such Of our friends as
we desire. There Is to be no restric-
ton. except that we shall deport our
selves In all manner, and under all
circumstances, as ladies.
sTt is also agreed by the under
signed that when we feach the age
of 40, with consent of the majority
we shall each adopt child from the
asylum.
IF any of this charmed and secret
circle should commit the grievous
error OF marrying, the penalty Will
be expulsion from the afofesaio
circle, and she MUST HAND HEX
FIANCE THIS PLEDGE BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE TO BE TORN UP
BY THE SAID FIANCE."
NO SENSE OF HuM0R
The young have no sense of humor,
1t requires adversity, humiliation,
disappointment and grief to make one
philosophical, and philosophy is the
parent of wit. II the young had
sense of humor. X. r. q. would carry
this pledge about with him that he
may have something to smile about
when things go wrong, and the girl
who has signed 1t would laugh her
self to death
What does it amount to? Less than
the paper 1t is written on!
Imagine. IL you can, lot of kit
tens agreeing what they will do and
be when they are old tabby catsi
Conceive, if you can, of the kind
OF a girl who will deny herself the
frivolities of youth. the pretty rib
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03

tCepFright. 1913. international News Service }
To me classical dancing means
three things. The sanctifcation of
the body, the elevation of the mind,
the joyous appreciation of living.
And out of these three primary pur-
poses of classical dancing grows ma
tuFally the bodily grace that the
world seeks first from the art of the
dance.
I have always thought it a very
sad thing that children should be
taught to be ashamed of the bodies
that God gave to them. The body
tempie-and every child should be
! taught to regard 1t In this way To
keep 1t clean and pure and healthy
is not enough--it should be rev.
erenced as something that was given
! by God and must be returned to Him
undefiled. Through this reverence
| false shame, that Is really immodesty,
viii be done away with. Then the
next step is 10 have in the mind
thoughts worthy of its own high
purpose and Of the finest ideals of
bodily beauty. So through the
beautiful moments of spontaneous
joy that go to make up the classical
dance we perform a splendid service
for both body and mind.
The modern costume that half
reveals and half conceals'' is the OBJ
Jeet of much criticism. some of ii
adverse, and some Of it on the lines
of argument that ito the pure all
things are pure" To me clothing
is immodest whenever 1t IS sug-
gestiye in shamefaeed way that
seems to hint here Is little
glimpse of ankle or rounded arm
just a hint, for more would be i'm
proper. New, on the other hand,
consider the Greek tunic, soft
drapery of elinging material, that
clothes the body In little cloud of
mystery. but yet is all revealing and
sh makes beauty an absolute essen
tial.
Our bodies today are defective be-
cause we know how easy 1t is to hide
defects. The ancients, on the other
hand. had to overcome defects and
make for beauty so great that 1t could
be nselfcepsciously revealed.
This is the whole secret of immod-
esty, to have the mind dwelling on
the body in an apologetsc way. Now
let US enter upon the study of how TO
make the body so beautiful In line
and contour that we may account il
as simply as we do a beautiful lily or
rose.
After a pretty exhaustive study of
/ the subject, | am practically con-
1 viHeed that nothing so surely gives
4 bodily beauty combined with purity
! of mind as do the ideal movements OF
! the revival of classic dancing.
/ Today wish to illustrate my theory
with three exercises, poses or move
| ments of the dance that make a good
/ beginning for the study of how to
beautify the human figure through
/ dancing
In the first figure the figure is
| poised firmly on the forward foot
while the other leg is raised to a
position parallel with the floor, and
| stretched back as far as possible, the
| arms, too. are stretched to the ut
most, while life and motion extend
/ to the very finger tips. The tension
| In the stretched muscles will keep the
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03
DUTY. MY DEAR
DEAR Mss FAIRFAX:

DEAR MISS FAIRFAX:
I have been engaged to young
man two years. The man is ss years
old.s We love each other very
much, owing to our aged mothers,
we think its impossible TO get mar
ried. as he is the only support of
his mother and I am the only child
left at home TO take care OF my
mother, who is SIS. Between love
and duty which will we do? M. s.
Your mothers are so old that your
time of waiting Will be very short.
I am sure If either of You failed
In Your duty you would live to re-
gret it. Unless you can marry and
take your mothers with you. which
Is not advisable. postpone your mar
Iiage tils you can enter it feeling
that your happiness is not purchased
with another's wee.
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03

NM IgTER and Missus Riley was up
W to our house last mite and thay
ASA had thare littel son Tommie
with them. He was the freshest kid
that / ever seen, and II l dident
know so much moar about boxing
than he knows I wud have took him
out In the yard & handed him few
hot wallops & beesides, felt kind Of
sorry for him beekaus his Pa & Ma
kind of spoiled him. All that his ma
sed to him wen he spoak out of his
turn was Now, Tommie, that isent
nice.
/ doant think we will move back
to the city till skool beegins aggenn,
sed Pa to the Rileys- We like IT out
here In the country & beesides, want
Bobbie to stay here as long as possi-
bel A boy Is always better on In the
country than he is In the city.
Oh, mercy, sed Missus Riley, how
can you say that7 Why. just think
Of the advantages that a boy has Wen
he is getting city bringing up.
HE LEARNS THINGS
My husband doesn't think 80, sed
Ma. You see, he was born & brought
up in a small town, g. he says that a
boy born q brought up In small
town has more all around training.
He can learn to swim & skate & hunt
& fish & row a boat & hitch up a
horse & a lot of other things that
maiks q man out of him wen he
grows up.
But boy in the city can get such
perfect manners, sed Missus Riley.
Tommie has learned all he knows
about manners by associating with
nice little boys in the city that lern
thare manners from thare private
teachers, the little deers. You are al
ways careful about yure manners,
aint you. Tommie sed Missus Riley.
/ shud worry about manners, sed
Tommie What do care about man.
ners. People in Hoboken have all the
manners, sed Tommie.
Now, Tommie, that isent nice, sed
Missus Riley. See what quiet little
chap Bobbie is.
That is beehaus he is bonehead g.
can't think of anything to say, sed
Tommie Riley. He belongs rite up
here In the minor league WHARF he is,
that kid.
/ got pritty mad but | knew nuff
to keep still. My Ma always told me
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03
CANDID

One afternoon little Willie went
running UP to his mother during !
Walk through the park with his face
full OF smiles and his hands fun Of
candy.
Oh, mamma" he joyousiy ex-
claimed, exhibiting the treasure. ethat
lady over there gave me all this
candy"
That was certainly nice Of her., re-
sponded mamma, glancing toward the
woman In question. II trust that vo,
were very polite about it,"
oh. yes" was the reassuring an
swer of little Willie Il was quite
polite"
4 am very glad to hear it" said
mamma What did you say to her7''
II said to her. was the startIing
rejoinder OF Willie. that I wished pa
had met her before he got acquainted
with you"
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03

Tins is the season of tho year
when the country feels more than
= all else the need OF one in author
| ity who shall say what constitutes
the proper length OF kin visit, the
number Of miles the kin travelled, the
number of children brought along,
etc., to be taken into consideration.
Lysander John Appleton, kin COM
missioner general of the United
States, feeling the nations immediate
need of his decisions on the Kin ques-
tion. called himself to order and sat
in session extraordinary.
1T is q pity" he unused while
chewing a point to his pencil, that
human beings are not like chickens.
As soon as chicken can scratch for
himself he forgets that he has lot
of kin"
Then he handed down the following
decisions:
-.The member of the family depu-
tized to write the letters telling the
kin their visits will not be acceptable
is hereby designated as the war COR
respondent.
1T is his traditional duty to write
welcome letters to all of mothers kin
who say they are coming, and to re-
fuse to let fathers kin aIight by ig-
noring their letters.
"A man may lightly dodge respon-
slbllity on the ground that he Is not
his brothers keeper. but would have
every man know that he must deal
more seriously with his wife's rela-
tiyes.
When mothers kin are guests, two
kinds Of dessert at every meal Is the
rule. No dessert when they are kin
to father.
When a woman's kin come very
fast she owes no apology to her hus-
band. She must accept 1t as her right
and say nothing.
If possible to enforce this decision,
none OF fathers kin should be al
lowed In the house. except as they
appear in the back part OF the family
album.
1T is not a mark of poor breeding
to dislike ones kin. and when ornery
kin come to town the rustic in get
ting out Of the way is pardonable IL
II browns every other noise.
when man lends money to his
kin he must take It for granted that
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03
By MABEL. HERBERT URNER

wrap of white crepe de chine with
long knotted fringe and a price tag
of 275 francs (s55). But Helens need
of an evening gown was much more
Imperative than of a wrap, and she
felt she could not afford to get both.
Warren had already made some
business aeauaintances here, with
whom they were invited to dine next
Thursday. And as Helen, in antici-
patton of her Paris shopping, had
brought almost no clothes with her,
she must have a gown for that dinner.
In the next department were the
robes" Here on roped In platforms
stood groups of smiling wax figures.
But the price tags of from $50 to
1000 francs on these beaming ladies
were most discencerting. Helen was
more than ever convinced that she
could buy gowns just as attractive
and just as cheap in New York.
Besides the wax figures, there was
case after case of evening gowns.
which could be seen behind glass
doors. Helen made a general sur
vey OF them all and then sat down
to await an English speaking clerk.
On the chair beside her were thrown
half dozen gowns. left there after
they had been shown to some custo-
mer. Helen glanced over them casu-
ally and then with sudden interest
drew from beneath the others a white
chiffon with a pale blue girdle.
Compared to the bizarre effects of
many of the others this was charm
ingly simple and girlish. with its fine
accordion pleated skirt and soft wide
girdle. Helen glanced at the price
and was delighted to find that ON the
ff0f~ ~cf Ctaft, ,r{< u
inkand the original 900 francs was
marked down to 210,
There are many English speaking
clerks In the Bon Marche, and in a
few moments a saleswoman was
bringing from the cases gown after
gown and displaying them on chairs
before Helen. Then she led the way
to a mirrored fitting room where
Helen tried on several and decided on
the white chiffon.
VERY OBLIGING
Now, can you have this altered by
Thursday noon?'
This is Saturday" mused the clerk.
"Iil make It special, madame. and
you'll have 1t Thursday morning. I'll
Just call the filter
She returned with an older French
woman who could not speak English.
but who saw at glance what altera-
a.tions were needed. and her deft
fingers were soon pinning UP the
skirt and raising the waist line.
How much will the alterations
be?" asked Helen.
Five francs. madame" the clerk
informed her.
Five franes-only one dollar.
Helen looked her surprise at the
cheapness Of this. Surely there must
be some mistake, for the dress was
much too large and would practically
have to be Temade.
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03
Jokes
SO EARLY

Upon the natal day when Willie
jerks arrived at the age of s, he re-
oeived from his uncle as a birthday
present a red wagon.
He started out to play with 1T and
met little Aggie Memmon, a neigh
boris child of about the same Juye-
nile age.
Hello. Willie" said Aggie. in
gratiatingly. "Where'd you get your
little red wagon" ?"
'smy birfday present" replied
Willie.
"D'ye want a ride? Well, det in,
and away they went down the
street.
ABOUT five blocks down Willie sud-
denly turned up an alleyway, stopped
the wagon and said:
'Aggie, is you doin' to dib me a
fiss7H
NO, / isn't" she replied.
We'll, he said arrogantly, IDOL
dern You, det out an walk den"
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03
Daysey Mayme and Her Folks
by FRANCES L. GARsIDE


his wife will know all about 1t before
he has made the loan
I'm Dragging about visiting kin,
don't brag hard. 1t Is quite probable
that when the visiting kin has stayed
as long as ten days you will fnd
yourself saying, If he amounted to
much at home he wouldn't be staying
here so long
II father has to sleep on the couch
When there Is company. enough time
should be asked between vfsitations
TO let him unite the knots in his legs.
The only way in which man can
make his wife agree with him that
her sister has stayed too long il 10
make love to the sister. However
sometimes this results in compIica-
tions.
AS q general rule it is better TO
them
Here his pencil broke.
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03
REVERSE ENGLISH

AS the temperance lecturer finished
good old Deacon Miles arose and said
1mpressively:
Every time ! see a young man
coming out of saloon ! want to
20 right up to that young man and
say: Turn right around, young
man; you're geing the wrong way.
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03
THE D,FFERENcH ImMATERIAL

DEAR MISS FAIRFAX:
II / am in love with a girl four
wears nv senior, which difference
in our ages seems to stand be-
tween US. I have tried in every
wav possible to convince her OF
my love, but so far have not sue
ever be happy without her T.
VOU do not state your own age, II
! you are old enough to marry her
four years seniority should be no bar
] am convinced she refuses you be-
cause she does not love you. BE
persistent in your devotion, and il
that does not melt her heart, try
giving your attention TO some other
girl
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03

body educated TO the point of absolute
muscular control.
Figure shows lightness of poise.
1t Will help arch the instep and fiex
the wrist into graceful lightness. FL
nally. figure combines lightness Of
poise with ease OF motion. Notice the
graceful sway Of the body. the fex-
ible wrist and the simple readiness of
the whole body to leap from this
position of life and light into the next
movement of the dance
IF these exercises are faithfully
practieed the limbs will soon come to
have a fiexibility and lightness that
are the first essentials of grace. That
unpleasant consciousness known as
the sensation of being all arms and
legs is trained into ways of muscu-
lar control and lightness. But what
is easy for the very young Is task
In later years Little children should
be taught to adjust themselves read
lily to motions of grace. In later life
patience Will work wonders. and the
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03
LET THE NATTER END

DEAk MISS FAIRFAA
I had the pleasure of meeting a
young man at public dance. He
asked TO see me home and I con-
sented. He made an appointment
with me that we both kept. When
8 he left me he failed to set definite
fine for a next meeting, saying he
would try TO visit q place where !
freauented Now, do you think that
i Should have anything to do with
HIM IN the form OF writing, etc, or
drop him. as l am positive that he
never viii visit this place?
ANXIOUS.
You. are very sure he will not keep
eny. appointments he makes, so why
the acquaintance drop before it is
more serious.
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03
Advice to the
.LOvelorn
You wERE RIGHT
BY Beatrice Fairfax

nEAR MISS FAIRFAX:
~ am IS and have been keep
. ing company with a young man
about three months. He has been
sick and he telephoned and aske9
: me to come and see him. told
him it was improper for a girl 70
go to a mans house, and he got
angry. Was I right? r. M
n0NTs worry. my dear. you did just
~ right. I do not admire him be-
cause of his request or his reception
of your refusal. Never go to see a
man under any circumstances unless
your mother goes with you
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03
ON THIS PAGE
!" THEIR MARRIED

THEIR MARRIED
LIFE" BY Mabel Herbert
Urner. is the narrative Of the
adventures Of a poung Ameri-
can married couple. Warren
and Helen, IN Paris. There
they see the sights Of the capital
of,fashion and fripolity. mingle
nth the art students, pisit the
shops and hare their little pleas
ures and troubles. all Of phich
is told BY the pritcr pleasantly
and cntertainngly. This series
Dill be a feature Of The Calls
magazine section.
DOROTHY DIX. most
cheerful pTifcf OF the l-nll0So-
ply Of Common Sense, ! mill
Be regular contributor 10 The
Call. Dorothy Dix is a favor
lie nth the American mems
paper and magazine reading
public because she Is always
bright. alpaps cheerful. alDays
10 the point. San Francisco
mill Delcome her coming into
The Call. for Il means bright
ness and cheer for The Call
readers.
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03
COULD SYMPATHIZE

Can you imagine" asked Sir Ernest
Shackleton, ''the enormous extent of
those vast snow fleids?r
Yes" replied the Irish member. II
had the same sensation the first tina
appeared in public wearing a dress
shirt''
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03

TT the invitation is from his mother,
would have you accept by al
means. It will mean great deal 70
your future happiness to be on geod
terms with them. and the visit may
give YOU an enlightening view Of your
lover. hope It will prove favorable.
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03
CERTAINLY

TEAR MISS FAIRFAX:
III am is and am keeping COM
panv with a young man for the
Fast vesr. Now, this young mans
folks live out of town and IN,
vi4ed me to their home. Should
I accent their Invitation?
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03
APPEAL TO THE POLICE

DEAR MISS FAIRFAX;
i kept company with a young man
for three years and expected TO be
faarried in spring. Ny parents OBJ
Jeeted to him He was very jealous
and never took me out or gave me
anything. Last summer became
acquainted with a man eight years
my senior. He takes me out and
says he loves me. My folks like
him and / love him very dearly. He
wants to marry me. My first lover
threatens me when he hears I am
going to get married. He writes
letters and when I don't answer he
hangs around my house.
PERPLEXED.
A jealous man like that is dan
gerous person to know. You must
marry the second man, for he is the
once you love. and you must put an
end to all obnoxious attentions from
the first man. If your father can
rot help you, appeal to the authori-
ties.
ARE YOUR SURE.
DEAR MISS FAIRFAX:
am a young lady. II years of age
end come in contact with a young
man two years my senior.
know this man loves me. and
his love is reciproeated. When we
meet we always act indifferently.
Now in what way can we get to-
gether to keep company, as I know
; our parents would not object and
Our friends are aware of the facts
ANTONETTE.
It takes something more than the
approval of parents and the knowi-
edge of mutual friends that they do
approve to make a young man love
q girl.
want you to have love; it is my
fcndest hope for you; but I don't be-
Iieve this man loves you. You say
ne always acts indiffeFently toward
you. Ii he loved you. he wouldn't t
do that, and you would not have to
look for way to win him.
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03

The simple practice of dancing as
they danced in those Elysian days
when all the world was young is
indeed the secret of renewing youth
today.
The San Francisco call., 1913-09-03

Figure /. Teaching the body
muscular control.
Figure 2, To acquire light
ness Of poise.
This will build up the arch of
the foot and make the wrist
light and graceful.
Figure 8. Swaying the body
into this graceful movement OF
the dance will train it to combine
lightness of poise and case Of
motion.