davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

Somehow I hated to give him I'm 7
wrote MIN long letters and tried to insnira
MN with accounts of what | was doing
with beautiful thoughts He did not re-.
spond to them in his answers In his last
letter he wrote that he was quite bannv
because he had discovered room not more
than ten miles from the car line. and
restaurant where they charged only 40
cents for a sandwich
Il decided then that he needed brutal
frankness, blow straight from the shout
der And told him the truth about him.
self"
What did he do?" inquired. mali
ciously
He did not even answer. He did NOT
even resent it. What good is the heart Of
a man without "A soul? This is a hard
world for an earnest girl. find it very
prosaic. Even you do not underestimate
glanced down at the lunch boxes
Media must have nibbled steadily. for sba
had consumed her own food and most Of
mine.
admit that did not feel sympatbstic
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

floor swept every day and we'll scrubbed. so
that the dampness, filtering through his
sleeping mat, should penetrate his bones;
those walls, upon which not a speck of dust
was allowed to settle. Even the compan-
lonship of filth was denied him Absolute
solitude. If rats should have entered he
would have had the consolation of sharing
his scant meal with them and of speaking
to them like good companions; if he had dis
covered spider in one of the corners he
would have amused himself by domestica,
ting it.
In that tomb they wished no other life
than his. One day-how well Rafael recalled
lt'-a sparrow appeared at the grating
like some mischevous child. The bohemian
of light and air chirped as if to express
the establishment it felt at seeing him down
there-that poor yellow, weak creature,
trembling with cold at the very height of
summer with several kerchiefs knotted
around his temples and ragged blanket
about his hips. The bird must have been
intimidated by that peaked pale face. as
white as crushed paper. The prisoners
strange clothes inspired it with fear and it
fled, fluttering its wings as if to shake off
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

Il finished the account Of my War Work
business, New York. and Offices was what
call it. | should have gone on with
the next chapter, but l have too much
temperament. 1t wearics me from my
heart when re-live these experiences"
"Wil you have another devilled egg and
sandwich ?" asked
How can you talk of such prosaic
things, such sordid realities?" said Media.
sniff the fragrant air, gaze at the creamy
clouds and let us be poetical | want to
tell you of my next chapter. I shall call it
Further Sacrifices 1t is about mani"
"Of counsel" She did not hear this in
terrupton.
HE was a cynlc, cold. practical, hard
man. 1t was written all over him, in the
way he gripped his cigar between his
teeth, and in the way he looked at
woman. No one but myself would have
tried to reform him.
II met him, for the frat time, at dance
which our club gave to some Navy men.
lie was the most conspicuous man in the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
Tears,
Anxious Tears

men, reckoning to me, he laid
aand On my shoulder.
You are Just at that age, my boy,
"hen life seems to be nothing but
smiles and caresses. But a day will
10me' though, when you will see how
nara 1t 49, Life is so cruel and unjust
sometimes! l only hope you will not
nave to face such experiences under
soaols'ons that are too trying for you.
isks the advice Of one who knows, my
~ys Courage and honesty will give
''a strength to overcome everything!"
Z" would be impossible to describe
sas sincerity and kindness that shone
- the Old mans face as he said all
sAs A's voice went straight to nv
asart. could not gaze into his tear
.aso eyes without being profoundly
moved.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

to them. The narrow walls of home
held no charms for him beside wan
derlng career of adventure.
His faithful Friday in all his itinerant
enterprises was fellow named Huguet,
a former postmaster. Understood.
bandy-legged and thoroughly unkempt.
this Huguet soon became the object of
my uncle's varying whim, passing as
servant, partner and even as employer
the moment danger doomed up.
AT my uncle's instigation Huguet had
at one time entered the wine business.
But alas! No sooner had he made him
self we'll at home in this new field than
ne was caught in the act Of cheating
the city customs. "Six months in jail,
5000 francs in fnes"-such was the
sentence imposed by the courts.
after all, might have done worse"
commented Huguet afterward.
10 man of principle like Uncle
Hyaclnth, however, this cynical att-
tude was anything but pleasing. After
the two cronies had had glass together,
my uncle was wont to instruct his lieu
tenant in the. rules of duty and the
authority of the law
Follow the strait and narrow path"
he would say, "but if you stray from it
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

who would prefer to have you burn your
finger than to give him a portion of burned
cereat
CAS- he took me home that night | sowed
the first seeds which were to give him
soul. spoke of poetry, and of the beauty
OF forgetting yourself in higher pursuits,
in abstract things"
Did he know you were trying to do him
good?' | wondered if she had told him.
An unconscious influence is the strong
est" she answered. "Of course, I didn't
want him to know how he was being helped
until the results were evident All that he
said was that he had given up good law
practice for clerical job at s2l week.
and that he had surely forgotten himself
then. He did sound hopeless. but know
that | might have done something for him
if he had not been transferred to Wash
ngton For cynic and woman Halter though
he was, | knew he trusted me, and that is
the first step in winning n mans affection
But removed from my help, and subjected
to the Influences Of n material CITY. the few
Weeds that had sown could hardly grow
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

Vhe well AIMED shot and the finishing touch
with the butt end of the musket. so that the
victim would stop his screaming and bis
kicking about
IN sum mems affairs! And as
result prison, where he resumed oil
friendships; the trial, in which all vino
formerly feared him avenged themselves for
.neir previous fears by testifying against
MIN; the. terrible sentence and those four
teen months waiting for death to arrive
IRON Madrid-a death which, from the slow
ness OF its coming, was surely travelling bv
cart.
He did not lack courage. lie called 70
mind Juan Portoia and fair Francisco
hsteban and all those other valiant patadins
whose deeds, related by poets, he had always
listened to with enthusiasm. lie felt that
nc could be rs brave as any Of these when
confronted with the last moment.
Yet some nights he jumped from his mat
as II impclled by hidden spring. making
his chain rattle with sad sound uo
screamed like child and in the selfsame
moment repented, trying in vain to choke
back his cries. It was another self that
screamed within him another self which
which
could feel fear and he whimpered unoblo ia
compose himself until he drank a half
dozen cups of that stoamng beverage, made
OF carob beans and figs, which in prison il
called coffee
of tho old Rafael who longed for death
to put a speedy end to everything there ro-
manned only the husk. The new one. formed
within this tomb, recalled with terror that
already fourteen months had gone by and
mat the end must be near He would will
lhg'y consent to passing fourteen months
more in the same misery.
lie was apprehcnsvc he had promoni
ton that the catastrophe was approaching.
ne could see 1T everywhere in the inouisi.
tive faces that peercd in through the neon
hole Of his door, in the prison CHAPLAIN who
now came to him every day as if this cell
were the best Of places for having a chat
with a man and smoking cigarette, Times
looked bad Bad
The questions that the chaplain asked him
could hardly be of more disquieting nat
ure. Was he a good Christian? Yes
father lie respected the priests and never
had failed them. As to his family, it was
needless to inquire. All of his people had
gone to the mountains to fight for the
Legitimate king, since the village parson had
counselled them to do so. And the better
to prove his standing as a Christian he drew
from the tatters in which his chest was
wrapped a filthy collection of medals and
scapulares.
After this the chaplain spoke to him
about Jesus who, although the son of God,
had been in similar plight, and the COM
parison filled the poor devil with delight.
Such honor! Yet, although hattered
by the comparison, he desired the complete
fulfilment of the similarity to be delayed
as long as possible
Then came the day on which the terrible
news burst over his head like a clap Of
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
B0naparfisfs
To the Core!

He had tricked every person under
heaven, had Huguet, but toward my
uncle, strange as it might seem, he proved
himself the most loyal, generous and
noble of friends. He even abandoned
his career as a Royalist agtator and
turned Bonapartist out of devotion to
his beloved chief
In keeping with his warlike career
Uncle Hyacinth carried his Bonapartisu
sympathies to the point of personal at
tire. He went about in a long coat but
toned up to the chin, carried a cane that
to all appearances was a club, and was
seldom seen without tiny bunch of VIC
lets in his buttonhole. When he saun-
tered along the Boulevard de Gaud, sur
rounded by few comrades in arms and
followed in turn by Huguet, who tagged
at his heels like a water-spaniel. he was
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

ballroom that evening. noticed him at
once He was standing in corner with
his arms folded over his chest. like
William Farnum in his strongest moments
He was not so big as William Farnum
however. When he was introduced 10 me
| knew from his first words that had
struck the keynote of his character. For
he said:
"It is frightfully warm here"
"But l can't sect began
Media was triumphant. "Of course ycu
don't. You are not soulful, either. But
saw at once that he was II man who thought
only of his material comfort and rave no
time to the cultivation OF his higher needs
His actions during the evening brought ont
this tendency even more strongly. He
wanted to dance with me--T knew it bv the
way he hummod waltz. but he refraincd
on account of the heat, and during supper
he ate three ices.
"Yes"- Nodda nibbled a slice of marsh
mallow cake rehcctivcly-"hc cared too
much for food He was the sort of man
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
, (on''A ''S* $.1 rns s CONDEMNED :?:
BY Vicente BIasco Ibanez

the odor of the tomb and filthy wool that
was exhaled through the bars
The only signs of life came from his fol-
low prisoners in the yard They, at
least, could see the sky above their heads
and were not forced to breathe through d
loophole; their legs were unfettered and
they had some one to talk with. Even within
the prison misfortune had its hierarchy
Eternal human discomfort was plumbed nv
Rafael. He envied those of the ward CON
sidering their position as one Of the most
cnviable; the yard prisoners envied those
outside who enjoyed full liberty. and thew
who at this hour were walking through the
streets felt, perhaps, dissatisfaction with
their lot, cherishing who knows how MANY
ambitions! And liberty 80 sweet! Thcy
deserved to be imprisoned
Rafael was ut the very bottom of mis-
fortunes scale. In moment Of desperation
he had attempted to escape through a tunnel
burrowed in the earth, and now he was
guarded incessantly and vindctivoly. If he
sang they imposed silence. He tried to find
distraction by repeating in monotonous
chant the prayers his mother had taught him
and which he could recall only in snatchcs
but they made him keep silence. Was he
trying to feign madness? They wished to
preserve him sane sound in mind and body,
so That the executioner should not perform
his duty upon damaged flesh.
Mad He didn't want to become that;
but this intcrment, the restricted motion,
and that wretched narrow place were all
leading to such result. He had halluclna-
TONS Some nights when he shut his eyes
that were panied by tho regulation light, to
which in fourteen months he had not been
able to accustom himself he was tormented
by the extravagant notion that, as he slept,
his enemies-those unknown persons who de-
sired his lfehad turned his stomach in
side out. And they torturing him
with cruel stabs.
BY day he always thought OF his past but
with such wild, confused memory that it
seemed he reviewing the life history of
another.
He recalled his return to his native viii
lage after his first imprisonment for Ger
tain offences, his renown throughout all the
district, the enthusiastic admiration of the
gathering at the tavern on the square
"What terror Rafael isl" The finest girl
in the village decided to become his wife
more through intimidation and awe than af-
lection. The local government officials
eourted his favor, giving him the musket of
the rural guard and exploiting his brutality
at election times; his rule was undisputed
throughout the district he held the others
those of the defeated faction-in the hollow
of his palm. At last, however, growing
tired Of this state of affairs, the opposition
procured certain husky chap, who had him
self just left prison, and they matched him
against Rafael.
By Christ! Rafael's professional honor was
at stake He'd have to teach lesson to
this fellow who was taking away his bread
and butter. And, an inevitable conse-
quence, there came the attack from ambush
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
Living on Reputation
And Wine

But as the finest deeds sometimes
produce the direst results, Uncle
Hyacinth had no sooner carved out a
reputation as hero than he considered
himself absolved from all the obliga-
tons to which the common herd sub
NIT perforce. In a single day his vir-
tue went bankrupt. Whether or not he
had hand in the battle Of Waterloo
was matter of doubt, and to the end
of his life this point was never cleared
up. He had already begun to show
weakness for alehouses, and as time
went on he seemed to grow fonder Of
recounting his exploits than of adding
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

place over the Tuileries, my uncle
thought to put his head out.
For some reason known only to him
self he wished to reach the corner of
the Place de la Bastile and the Faubourg
Saint-Antoine. But as he was living in
the vicinity of the Arc de FEtoile, a
sparsely settled and almost rural part
of Paris at that time, he had to go
through many out-of- the-way streets
and pass more than thirty barbados
before he could set foot on this desired
spot.
Yet it was not like my uncle to stop
at such an obstacle with his resource
for ingenious tricks and evasions. Go
ing to neighbor who was the manager
Of an eating house, he had no trouble
IN obtaining some rabbits blood. 1t was
a simple matter then for him to borrow
a cloth, smear this with blood and wrap
the whole CORY affair about his head
This done, Uncle Hyacinth had his
friend, the publican, and the latter's an
prentice carry him to the first barricade.
close to the Faubourg du Roule.
The expected happened. No sooner
had the Revolutionists who were guard
ing the barricade caught sight of the
figure with the bandaged head than they
stook him for wounded comrade. Fer
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

The communication produced in the prison
Z pandemonac tumult as if each of the
prisoners had received his freedom.
Rejoice. my good woman said the cnsp-
lain to the wife of the criminal to waom
clcmency had been shown. they'll not put
your husband to death; you'll not be
widow
The young woman was silent for time
as if struggling with ideas that developed
in her mind with stupid slowness
Good she said at last, calmly, "and
when will he come out ~
Come outl Arc you crazy =?
Never! You ought to be satisfied that his
life is saved. He will 20 TO Africa. and as
ho IS young and strong, he may live twenty
years more
For the first time the woman wopt with
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

black sheep of the family He had en-
listed under Napoleon in 1918, and dur
IN the French campaign of the follow
ing year had risen to the grade of ad-
Jutant On the night before Craonne
ne had even had a personal word with
the Emperor himself.
Sire" exclaimed my uncle, 1--WE
shall pour out our blood to the last drop
tor you. We are proud to march under
the eagles of a man who is the embodi-
ment OF country and libertyl'
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

living reproach to England for the cap
tivity Of Napoleon. 1t was a common
habit of his, too, after emerging from an
alehouse, to turn dramatically to the
northwest, raise his finger in threatening
gesture and utter a scathing denuncia-
ton of pertidious Albion.
The feeling of my parents toward
Uncle Hyacinth was so wholly one of
adherence that they had forbidden him
the house. My father never even men
toned his name and it was only at rare
intervals that my mother spoke of him.
Yet have heard her tell the following
story quite frequently, and in my mind
this anecdote stands as a perfect illus
tration Of the peculiarly reckless and ir
responsible nature of the man:
When the revolution of 1880 broke
out Uncle Hyacinth was past thirty, but
he had lost none Of his native shrewd
ness and energy. Chatting inwardly. he
had kept steadfastly to his lodgings dur
ing the Hateful Three Days. The monot-
ony of one place becomes unbearable to
any man after time, however. and
especially to man of such a volatile
nature as Uncle Hyacinth's. On the
Both of July, when the firing had ceased
and the tricolor had again taken it's
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

all her soul butshis was not the plain. os
sadness, it the cry of despair, of rage.
Come, come, my good woman" reprovcd
the chaplain. now irritated, this is tempt.
ing God They've saved his life. Do you
understand? He is not condemned to die.
And you are ungrateful enough to
complain ?"
The woman abruptly ceased weeping.
Her eyes shonc with expression of
hatred.
VERY WELL let them not kill him.
am happy. He is saved. But I
what Of mc7'
And after long pause she added. be-
tween sobs that shook her tawny flesh,
heated and exuding vile odor, "lm tho
condemned one hcre!"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
translated by Ralph Townsend
From La Rev7te de Pari

From La Rene de Paris
HAVE never forgotten the surprise
of that day I wandered into the
salon and found my mother talk
ing with an elderly gentleman
whom / had never laid eyes on before.
tie was a benevolent looking old fellow.
with smile that lowered about his
Nps' blue eyes, clear complexion, and
d pinklsh-colored head that was entirely
0ald' except for one encircling wreath
OF white hair. In the buttonhole of
MS long coat was stuck a tiny bunch
Of violets.
$50 this is your little man, Antoi-
nstte?" he exclaimed the minute he
caught sight of me. "Well, Well! He
looks like girl, he's so gentle and
tmid."
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

boxes.
""hew' it's hot!" said "What DOS
sessed US to choose such scorcher of a
day for a picnic?"
HOW can you talk of the heat" drawled
Nedda when that beautiful sky arches
itself over you, and that bird is precnine
itself IN the tall oak and ali Nature calls
to. YOU"
"Well~I'm tired" protested
ired :! she repeated vaguely. "How,
then, would one describe how I feel, I
labored for three dours, this morning.
over my book, The Adventures 90 ssv.n
teen Years you know"
Really" | planned an escape il sbe
should try TO read it TO me. Az sbc
evidently had no manuscript with her +
yenturcd d polite response.
What part Of your career did you got
tot"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
authorized Translation From the
Spanish
By Isaac GOLDBERG

HOR fourteen months Rafael had been
n confined in his narrow cell. His whole
world was bounded by those four
walls of sad bone white color
whose every crack and DETACHMENT he knew
by heart; his sun was the high opening.
grated by bars that cut across the blue strip
of sky. OF the eight PAGES of floor scarcely
half was his, owing to- the cursed, scraping
chain, whose ring, cutting into his ankle, had
almost become part of his flesh
He had been condemned to death, and while
at Madrid they were going through the
documents of his case for the last time. he
was spending months and months buried
alive, rotting away like living CORPSE. in
that coffin of cement, and desiring, as an in
Simultaneous evil that would put an end to
other greater ones, the arrival of that hour
in which they would strangle him and finish
everything once and for all
What tormented him most was the scru-
puous cleanliness surrounding him: the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
Uncle Hyacinth Had
An0Wn Napoleon!

:, siest was my surprise to learn
= ss'iy after the strange gentleman had
~ssn his leave that this old gallant was
). .,s'e other than my Uncle Hyacinth -
~ oncie Hyacinth whose very name
bugbear in our family, an OBJ
~ o. disapproval and synonyme for
s@Amity.
Vpcis Hyacsnth WAS, In a word, the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

vent calculations were uttered in praise
of his bravery, glass Of wine was held
to his lips, litter obtained, and two of
the Revolutionists were delegated to
carry the hero forward. In no particular
did the patriots spare any effort to re-
heve their charge of his imagined
agonies.
AS the strange cortege began to adj
vance crowd collected, forming a pro-
cession which increased in numbers at
every few feet. Brandishing a naked
sword, student Of the Ecole Polytech-
nique appointed himself leader of the
whole affair, while on either side of my
uncle marched bare-armed democrats
with green twigs stuck in their gun
barrels.
"Hurrah for the wounded hero, The
hero! The hero. Hurrah."
The air rang with huzzas.
Printers with paper caps, bakers in
white aprons, students wearing the epau-
lettes of the Royal Guard, little child
wearing a shake so big for its head that
it touched its shoulders, all followed,
shouting:
Long live the wounded hero, The
hero Hurrah."
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06

find it again as quick as ever you cam"
Innocence or repentance in
few words was the motto of chivalrous
Uncle Hyacinth. Huguet never lis
tened to beautiful sentiments like these
without dropping deluge of remorse-
full tears into his wine glass.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
A Tipsy
Arrival

Women threw flowers, and here and
there some even knelt as Uncle Hyacinth
passed. His litter was strewn with
quantities of tricolored ribbons and
laurel branches
Revolutionary guards cleared the street
all along the way. Squads on guard be-
hind the barbados presented arms to
the rolling of drums and the blaring of
trumpets. Cries of Long live the de-
fender of the people," Long live the
defender of the Charter" rang in an
atmosphere which quivered with light
and heat.
On the tables in front of the cabarets
bottles appeared as if by magic and
glasses actually flew to the lips of Uncle
Hyacnth as he went by on his bed Of
glory.
Smoking like censers, my uncle's bear
ers were soon completely under the sway
OF wine and enthusiasm. And in the
midst of all the pomp and ceremony
their charge was at last landed in the
shop of Madame Constance, washer
woman, on the corner of the Place dc Ia
bastile and the Faubourg Saint Antoi,.e.
Uncle Hyacinth had won his goal,
(ANATOLE FRANCE,
La Reoue dc Paris, FranceJ
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-04-06
By E. P. schu,mann

u EDDA and l dropped YEARLY
~ upon the grassy bank of the
! y brook and opened our lunch
boxes