davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-07

The time required for sound to travel
certain distance may be accurately ascer-
tanned by counting the seconds elapsing be-
tween the stroke of an ak or hammer as
seen at known distance and the arrival of
the sound of the blow. 1t has been figured
that one-fifth the number Of seconds elapsing
between flash of lightning and the accom-
panying thunder is approximately the num-
Der of miles between the observer and the
locality of the electrical discharge.
EVEN as light is reflected from polished
- surface, such as a mirror or a bright
piece of tin, SO is sound reflected from hard
surfaces. Echoes are merely such reflections
of sound, and not the fairy, yclept Echo who
was supposed to hurl back words to the
speaker who dared shout in his domain. It
is the reflection of sound from the roof and
walls of a public hall that make it difficult
for speaker to be understood, and easy for
the parlor humorist to spring that ancient
joke about the acoustics being bad" Such
echoes can be destroyed by breaking up the
walls with angles or by hanging heavy
draperies.
A ri1eshot echoing from hill to hill until
it dies away in the distance is merely sound
reflected from hilltop to hilltop. Clouds,
assisted by layers of atmosphere at different
the fact that bells, signals, guns, and whis-
ties can be heard farther some days than
others.
When sound waves reach the ear at irregu-
lar intervals we call it noise; when they
arrive in regular order, it is known as "mu-
SIC" The human ear recognizes as a sound
any number of vibrations from sixteen to
twenty up to thirty-eight thousand second.
Less than sixteen vibrations a second we
cannot hear; but other animals have keener
ears and can detect as low as six and eight
vibrations second. BY this same rule, all
sounds exceeding thirty-eight thousand vi
brations second we cannot hear at ALL In
other words there are sounds of such magni-
tude that we cannot hear them. High A Of
the tenor voice gives four hundred and
twenty-seven vibrations minute.
The intensity, or loudness, of a sound de-
ponds upon the violence with which waves
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
EIGHT PERISH IN
INCEND|ARY FIRE

NEW YORK, Dec. 3t.-Eight per-
sons. FIVE men and three women, were
killed in tenement house fire at 50
Monroe street. in the crowded East
Side district today Fifteen persons
were injured, four seriously, by
jumping from fire escapes.
The fire started on the ground floor,
cutting off escape by the stairway.
An hour before dawn the tenants
IA the house were aroused by the
cries Of persons in the street. Find
ing escape by way of stairway shut
of, they crowded on the fire escape
platform. Many jumped; the calmer
waited for the firemen to raise lad
ders. A few made their escape over
the roofs of adjoining tenement
houses.
All Indications were that the fire
~aa started bv an incendiary and an
investigation was begun.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
TWO SAVED
FROM BAY
WATERS
ReScuerS Reach Storm Vic
tins Just in Time to Pre-
vent Drowning

The storm racked waters of the
bay were today twice baked of their
prey Just as their victims were on
the point of sinking into them TO
death. c. Hertgel. a sailor on the
British steamer Buenaventura, and H.
Brown of Oakland are alive. but for
hours they were face to face with
death in the water, though they were
miles apart at the time.
For l. hours Brown chung to the
bottom of an overturned duck boat
off Point Orient.
For four hours Hertgel chung to
the slippery piles of the Lombard
street wharf
Each was rescued just in time.
Zach was completely exhausted when
willing hands reached down to draw
him from the chilly waters of the
bay. but both are now recovered from
their experiences.
Browns boat was capsized in San
Pablo bay by the gale and the heavy
sea that was running. All night he
managed to hang on to the craft
while the waves dashed over his head
and the wind buffeted him. Finally
the Standard Oil steamer Despatch,
commanded by Captain Barry, passed
and the exhausted man sighted and
taken aboard. He was revived at
Point Orient and returned to his home
this ,noruing
Hertgel slipped on the rain poll
ished gangway OF the stearGr and
fell into the water. The wind and
waves drowned the sound of his cries
FOR help. The slippery piles to which
he chung desperately were impossible
to climb. and it was not until four
hours later that iull in the gale
permitted two workmen to hear Hert-
gels cries for help. He was drawn
up on to the wharf and sent to the
emergency hospital. where he was
revived.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Every Walk of Life Has Its
Comment to Make on
Judge DUNES Views
We who believe In polka and crfno-
line,
Ye who believe In styles that are ugly
md ancient,
List to tails tale of detection
Now sung by the wnIIfiowers and prfm
danes;
List to this panning Of slit skirt and
tango
In San Francisco,
Home of the turkey trot:
Home of the turkey trot.

n HALL the tango tango on? Shall
the slit skirt keep its slit? Solo
mon Dunno got peevish and he
told them both to git" Seven women.
honest voters, gave the Judge a LASH
ing He came back with some re-
form talk. You're liar unabash-
ing. XIII the tango. sew the slit
skirts and your names will be re-
nowned3 Then the women, guilty.
mostly, swished their skirts and madly
frowned
is the law offended at a show of
pretty calf? Methinks / see the genus
male turn half aside and laugh. And
is the tango knocked because its hard
on brittle bones. and Dunno sits on
the side lines while his dancing mate
he loans?
Staid business men and women
sharp. who know a thing or two are
on the bit because the styles have
raised hullaba1oo. Some nick the
judge. some say he's fine: some speak
your thoughts and some speak mine.
We think 1t all comes under news
SO here you see the interviews:
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
"GuiIty" Mrs. Crane

Mrs. Douglas Crane--Im guilty on
both counts. ! wear slit skirt and
j love the tango. / can't see any
thing wrong in either. As mat
ter of fact all of this storm raised
about the tango is due to ignorance;
any dance that has not been seen
here before. whether 1t comes from
the Barbary coast or the Y. w. C..
A., is called tango. There is no
harm in the slit skirt; the evil is
in the mind OF the wearer or Oh
server. Neither is the evil in the
slit skirt display of leg--or limb
as some call it here, though in nv
country We are not ashamed of the
word leg-unless ii is made with
evil intention or seen with evil
thought. One should look at
woman's face and not what she is
wearing or dancing to tell what
kind of woman she Is.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
QUICK DIVORCE
FOR MRS. BIB

Judge Trout today holds a record
litigants desiring divorces may be ac-
commodated. The court granted an
interlocutory decree of divorce to Mrs.
Clara Bibb from cambridge Hunt Bibb,
former state senator and wealthy
lumber man, without the usual for
mality of having the case calendared
He gave a similar decree to Mrs. Cath
crime A Workman from Charles II.
Workman. president of the Workman
Packing company. within few hours
after her complaint had been filed
The testimony of Mrs. Bibb was to
the effect that her husband deserted
her June /. 1911.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
OPINIONS OF JUDGES MOT EN- BANG
Court Divided in Unofficial Talk
WHAT JUDGE dunno SAID:
you do good don't go and this tang
dancing and UP the slit skrt?"
HERE ARE. DISSENTING OPINIONS

Superior Judge e. p. Mogan-I
am practicing the tango, but have
not enough proficiency to be in a
position to judge whether it is
d2nce that can be .nisconstrued.
Therefore l can not express an
opinion, but will keep up my prac-
tice daily. With regard to the
slit skirt, I think that Is a ques-
ton that had better be left to
jury of women.
Superior Judge John j. Van Nos
trand-It's all a personal equa-
ton. this tango and this slitted
skirt. / don't dance the tango my
self on account % increasing
weight. When the tango is danced
by respectable people it shows
nothing immodest to my mind. The
dance. ipso facto, contains moth
ing wrong, but it can be made
dissolvent of morals. / never had
a damage suit in my court result
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
BULLET HOLE
CLEN To
Al D
Hunt Fatal Joy Ride Car
Bearing Ball From Police
mans Gun

A long, black seven passenger auto
mobile with bullet in it is beina
sought today by the police, who want
to apprehend its driver as the man
who last night ran over and seriously
injured George Buttle. the 9 year old
son of State Railroad Policeman
George Buttle.
good description of the car was
obtained by Patrolman Johnson who
saw the machine strike the boy and
then rush away, leaving him lying
bleeding in the road Johnson drew
his revolver and fred three shots at
the automobile. and he is confident
that one shot struck 1t.
ELMER Moore, chauffeur for M. J.
Costello, president of O'Connor, Moi
fatt & Co., today was bound over to
the superior court by Police Judge
Sullivan. charged with driving away
In his machine after striking Il year
old Audrey Plitsch. 144s Divisadero
street, last Friday. Moore's bonds
were fixtd at $4,000
The police courts yesterday estab-
lished a record that undoubtedly il
being taken by the joy riders as a
warning of what they may expect If
they are caught violating the law
Seven automobilists were convicted of
violating the traffic ordinances and,
for once, not one of them was dis
missed. Five were fined from SIS to
$50, the two other cases being con-
tinued
Harry F. Hansen, 1921 Laguna
street, was fined SIS for driving his
car on the left side of streetcar at
Polk and Geary streets.
Fred B. Weise, 331 Park street,
paid $40 for speeding his machine at
Geary and Polk streets.
Walter Grossman, 702 Seventh
street, was fined $40 for driving on this
left side of streetcar.
DENTIST is CONVICTED
DR.. Fred Berkalaw. dentist. was
convicted of driving his machine on
the wrong side of Grant avenue. Sem
tence was postponed.
Thomas Piercy was convicted of
driving at the rate of IS miles an
hour in Market street Sentence was
postponed to permit OF his record be-
ing looked up.
Ray Splivalo paid a fine of IS for
violating the traffic ordinance.
Paul Pagan of the Belvedere hotel
was fined $50 for driving 90 miles an
hour at Geary and Polk streets Sun
day night.
BOYS RUN DOWN
Two small boys were painfully in
jured today in automobile accidents
in the downtown district.
S. Stohlman. Is years old, $50 Cas-
ELI avenue. was run down at Market
and Montgomery streets by an auto
driven by c. III. Holdsworth, ASS Do
1ores street. The lad incurred
sprain of the right leg and bruises on
the arm.
Daniel Lynch, 10 years old. 4509
Eighteenth street, was hit at Post
and Stockton streets. Young Lynch
was treated for scalp wound. j. B.
Dodson, 1746 Geary street, who drove
the machine, was charged with bat
terry, as was Holdsworth in the Stohl-
man accident.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Tango BeautifuI-Rabbi Levy

Rabbi NJ. $. LEVY think our women
dress very sensibly. Much better
than in any other part of the world
( a few women go to extremes in
the matter of dress ] do not think
the majority should be condemned
on account of 1t.
As for the tango. / think it a
beautiful dance when properly
done. There is nothing whatever
Objectionable or harmful as / have
seen 1t danced.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Skirts Destroy Illusions

Rabbi j. Nieto-The slit skirt? Well
to be frank, I think the women de-
stroy our illusions by exhibiting
their limbs when we would rather
not see them.
AS for the tango. ! think it is a
very beautiful and graceful dance,
and can not see the slightest objec-
tion to it when it is properly
danced. Any dance, however. may
be made Objectionable, it depends
on who dances ii.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Mayor RoIph Passes It Up

Mayor Rolph-As my time is occupied
only with such small matters as
the Hetch Hetchy affair. the build
Ing of municipal railways and the
condemnation of Spring Valley, L
would respectfully refer this mo-
mentous problem of the slit skirt
and the tango to those who have
had more experience-Supervi
Payot and Murdoch of the public
welfare committee. would suggest
that they make a full and ex-
haustive investigation and favor
the community with written re-
port on their findings. I would be
most happy to read this report.
which would be more than inter-
eSting.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
"Not vuIgar"-MrS. Brown

Mrs. Herbert Hamilton Brown of
Pfedmonf--The tango as have
seen IL danced is not in the least
Objectionable. to my mind. OF
course, L have seen only the best
dancers, and know nothing of the
vulgar phases of it, if there be any.
I think that the women of this
country should. If they have time
from their duties to their husbands
and their children. interest them
selves in public affairs. but never
to the extent that they neglect their
homes. In my mind. however. there
are many women devoting several
afternoons a week to bridge or
dancing who could better employ
their time looking into the big
political reforms so necessary to
the welfare of the country.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
QUACKs ROUTED
IN COURT FIGHT

The state board of medical exami-
ners won a signal victory today when
Superior Judge George II. Cabaniss
denied a writ of habeas corpus en-
tered by Homer c. Edwards and w. s..
Cards quack specialists charged with
attempting to bride A. j. Mcdonald, a
special agent in the employ of the
examiners.
Edwards and Card are accused of
attempting TO bride Mcdonald with
s25 with the understanding that they
were not to be prosecuted in the cam
paign waged recently by The Call
Post.
The denial of the writ means that
Edwards and Card will be forced to
face jury on McDonald's accusations
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Mot In Iurist's Line

w. I. Brobeck-It seems to me that
such things as the tango and the
slit skirt are matters outside OF
the jurisdiction of any jurist. In
my opinion dress lis largely mat
ter of taste. ] would leave 1T to
the good sense Of the women or
course the propriety or some styles
and fancies are always questioned,
but / for one would not want to
mark a line and say to women, be-
yond this you can not go and re-
tain the respect of the community.
Standards change so rapidly the
new often is a shock.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
TANGO Diqnified, Says Pastor

Rev. Bradford Leavitt-I hardly think
Judge DUNES statement should be
taken too seriously But at the
same time his advice is very sound.
The ladies should take up the
matter of the slit skirt and make a
fight to do away with IL.
The men seem to be the principal
DIRECTORS to the slit skirt; the
women appear to accept it as
matter of course, no matter how
daring.
AS for the tango. | think it is a
dignifed and fascinating dance as
l have seen it, 1t. like any other
dance, can be exaggerated and made
Objectionable
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Sits Unnecessary She Says

Mrs. Eleanor notwithstanding to
strict usage slit skirts should not
be. There is no necessity for them
and they are not even pretty. AS
for the tango, ! am not fair. Judge.
/ have seen it danced beautifully
and think ii remarkably graceful.
Ny preference is for the old forms.
but | have never seen any real
harm in the newer dances. They
are only passing amusements in
any case and are more healthful
than many other forms of enter
tainment
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Can't Stop Tango

Charles Cooke. manager Fairmont
hotel-The city is dance mad and
tango mad and you might as well
try to stop runaway engine with
feather. as to try to stop it. Our
most gentlemanIy and womanly
citizens indulge in it and I think
1t reflection on their characters
to say the tango is improper. If
1t were 1T would not find a place in
our drawing rooms and in our ball
rooms.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
square Dance Best"

of Schools Roncovicri.
] regret to see the decline of the
old dances, the quadrille, polka.
sehottische and the lancers. These
promoted grace, and purity of mind
and body. 1t is a tendency of all
people to assimilate the worst Gus
toms and expressions from foreign
nations Certainly the tango was
not part of my. education, and
know very little about it, but I re-
peat that the square dance had bet
ter influence. AS for the slit skirt.
fortunately the styles change fire.
quently, and IL is not a serious or
permanent problem. T should say
that the question rests entirely upon
the length of the slit. and I am not
Judge.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Graceful and Captivating

hester Kelly, manager Manx hotel
No one can deny that the tango
has entangled the hearts of the
dancing population and that ii is q
graceful. captivating pastime. There
is not the slightest reason why it
should be abolished. You find the
best type of Americans dancing it
in every city and this would not be
the case il it were immoral or sug-
gestive. The slit skirt is all right
if it is not too slit" and even then
1T is rather attractive.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Veteran Explorer to
Make Antarctic Dash

LONDON, Dec. 81 Louis de Rouge
mont. the veteran explorer who is
now in London. has become infected
with the pole fever and announces
that he is organizing an expedition
which will leave next fall to explore
the antarctic regions. De Rougemont
said Sir Richard Lucas Tooth. the Aus
traliap millionaire. had guaranteed to
furnish him $250.000
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Vienna Bids Fair to
Be TangoIeSs City
By Associated Press.

VIENNA, Dec 31-A war office
edict forbids uniformed officers TO
dance the tango at public balls. AS
a majority of the male dancers at the
important balls are army officers. the
prohibition is practically universal.
chs hurEomaster also has prohibited
40 dancing Of the tango at the city
ball. one of the most elaborate festi-
walls Of the carnival season.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31

Superior Judge Thomas F. Graz
ham-Tangoing is good for the
young, the middle aged and the
old. ! have been trying out a few
steps in the ballroom at my home,
and / find that it is exhilarating
and healthful and that it requires
weeks of practice to become pro-
ficient. There are other dances
that might become suggestive, but
the tango is graceful and intricate.
We do not need a crusade against
the tango, but might against the
slit skirt.
Superior Judge Franklin A. Grif-
fin do not believe in restricting
the liberty of any woman to dance
any dance or wear any kind of
skirt. l certainly can intrust them
with the discretion to wear what
is becoming and at the same time
eminently proper for any pair of
masculine eyes.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Chinese Federals
Rout Rebel Troops
By Associated Press.

BY Ass0clated Press.
SHANGHAI. Dec. 31.-Five thousand
loyal troops have entered Talifu, in
the province of Yunnan which recent<
~ was recaptured by the government
from mutinous regiments under Gem
eral Yeng Hu-Pin. The reinforce
ments marched from Yunnan-Fu and
fought three enga gements on the way.
Although order has been restored at
Talifu, executions are occurring daily.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Steamer Tasman Being
lowed to Island Port

SYDNEY, Aus. Dec. 31.-The steam
err Tasman, with her passengers
aboard, is being towed from Brambla
bay in the gulf of Papua, where shs
went aground Sunday. to Thursday
island. The cause of the accident is
given as the strong sea set toward
Bramble may produced by the steady
monsoon. There is no light on the
bay, but it is expected that the Aus.
tralian government will now erect
one.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Too Much Lid Even Now

H. Markoe Of N. w Halsey & Co.
Any persons wasting their time
agitating against anything as harm
less as the tango and the slit skirt
ought to devote their attention to
something they understand. There
is too much lid here now, without
placing ban on innocent fads.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Cabaret Dancers Woo
Senator and Preacher

CANTON, O., Dec. S1.-Two cabaret
dancers in short skirts caused a stir
at a banquet of the Business Mems
association here last night One tan
COED down the aisle between the
tables, playfully slapping Senator
Pomerene on the head and tried to
kiss Rev. L. Wallis Gross behind the
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Difficult, but Beautiful

Supervisor j. Emmett Hayden-In the
street dancing recently inaugurated
the tango does not appear to be pop
ular 1t is too difficult a dance for
the ordinary dancer to properly exc
cute, but, from my observance of it,
/ think that it is one of the most
beautiful and graceful maneuvers
ever essayed by the disciples of
Terpsichore. The slit skirt depends
entirely on the way you look at it.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
No Need of Reform

Mrs. Alice Best do not think Judge
Dunno meant to be taken seriously.
Both slit skirts and tango dancing
are passing fancies and what evil
there is will work out itself. /
personally see no great need of
reform in San Francisco as far as
either is concerned.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Thing of Beauty and 10y"

William A. Lange-Both the tango
and the slit skirt may be classified
under the generic heading, "a
thing of beauty and a joy forever
The tango is the medium of many
little family party that keeps the
boys and girls at home and all the
arguments are for the slit skirt.
1t sharpens visions and keeps Pc
destrians occupied in leisure min
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Need Not Look, Saws Judue

Judge Clayton Herrington-I have
never seen the tango. I am too old
and 'sot" in my ways TO pass
judgment. AS for the slit skirt, 1
say 1t is a feminine privilege. He
that hath eyes TO see. can keep them
above the waist line should his
gaze be offended below.
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Does Not See Any Harm

Mrs. CuyIer Lee-My own viewpoint
of these things is necessarily linn
tied. probably do not see the ex-
tremes that Judge Dunno sees. but
from what ] know of San Fran
cisco, l see no exaggeration and
consequently no harm in either
Personally | am much in favor of
the tango. As for the slit skirts,
1t depends upon who wears them,
and how
The San Francisco call and post. [volume] (San Francisco, Calif.) 1913-1929, 1913-12-31
Shouted Warning When
Booth Shot Lincoln
By Associated Press.

ST. PAUL Mimi, Dec. 31.-Colonel
Henry T. Bevans. civil war veteran
and member of the secret service de-
tail guarding President Lincoln the
night Of his assassination. died at his
home here yesterday. Colonel Bevans
saw John Wilkes Booth enter the
presidents box, ard shouted a warn
Ing just as the assassin opened IRE.