davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1919-08-31

O mans umbrella knocked my lunch
out of my hand and scattered sand
wiches. cake and fruit all over the
Avenue. was so humiliated that
vowed l would never swing another
paper bag. But. after all. that Is the
cheapest kind Of good lunch. The
only cafe. in this museum trio, does
not cater to the appetite of $1.240 girls
who want SIS suits. Some girls at my
table told me how three or four Of
them had bought food in bulk at the
market and saved that way while we
were discussing our financial troubles.
Their plan sounded well. like more to
eat for the small sum I limited to
than anything else knew. So we
tried It. I enjoyed nosing around the
counters. asking very importantly. in
the tone Of a housewives: "For how
much will you sell three slices Of
ham," or How many bananas for
dime?" or Are your cakes fresh?"
And we really saved.
We never bought more than we
could eat at one time. for we were
not allowed to keep food over night
In the museum. But for. from 40 to
IS cents day. we had loaf Of bread
sliced. cottage cheese. cakes and fruit.
One nice man always let us have
three apples for a dime. You see,
that was lunch for three at the price
paid by one at cafe. and split up. 1t
meant a suit for Polly, a trip home
for one Of the other girls and a per-
fectly wonderful anniversary present
for the mother of the other. I have
reduced the II. c. OF L.---that express
sion always reminds me Of hydro
Evening star., 1919-08-31

in dull tones-a Franz Halls face leer-
ing from the shadows. or Murillo
angel covered with cobwebs. At the
end a white haired old guard Il mean
family attendant) always arose with
a stately bow and bade us good
night as he opened the door. We were
then comparatively safe-only the
shining expanse of the lobby to cross.
And the game was over as we became
a part of the thousands pouring onto
b street.
Another reason hate to leave 10
hecause of tho market. Since I have
learned to shop in 1t, have SUCH
friendly feeling toward 1t. the kind l
have for our old tamale man VINO
does not look at all presentable. out
does sell the best tamales II It wern'
for my spring suit. might never nave
aiscovered the thrills OF marketing
After YOU sent me the cape l did not
want TO ask you to pay q suit DILL
too. 10 1 thought would earn the
roney for 1t. had saved $lS IN
rsbruary. and figured that by an
elimination of everything except B.
and r. (board and room) could save
$50 out of my March salary ana get
a sutt that I would not be ashamed TO
wear home when I decided to go.
The next day at work was pus-
,,,nr over the lunch problem--how to
reduce Il. You see stopped bringing
INV lunch long ago. not only because
I could sleep twenty minutes later IT
7 aid not have to prepare 1t. but also
because I was tired Of belonging to
the paper-bag brigade. One day when
Evening star., 1919-08-31

native quarter. The child has dis
appeared and we must find him, that
is all"
"Yes, Venerable Father" answered
the detective thoughtfully, "that Is
all. as you say. but 1t is a very puz-
zling and complicated 'all.' We do
not seem to have even the shadow
of clew. and there is nothing for us
to do but to wait as the English say.
until something or somebody turns
up. BY the way. you know that our
old friend. the oss-eyed priest at the
Temple of the Moon Goddess, is up to
another money making scheme?
what! Old 'Cross-sights' at it
again? What Is 1t now? A miracle
of some kind. I warrant. Jewels
falling from heaven or something of that
kind?"
well, you hit it very nearly: 1t
isn't Jewels from heaven this time.
but it's the next thing to it. The
sacred foam from the mouth of the
heavenly creature is being sold for
medicine under the old name Of
dragon bubbles. He's keeping it
very quiet and only selling it to the
inner circle now-for fear the local
Mandarin will want heavy COM
mission--but he Is making good
thing out OF 1t, as accidentally
learned from the hotel boy. who I
believe acts rs his local agent for the
devotees In the colony. am going
across the Bay to the temple tomor-
row to make personal investigation
and see whether it is serious enough
to report to the Tao-Tai. 1 will re-
port to you in the evening"
1T is well. 1t is well that you go,
and may the blessings of all the
Buddhas be with you" was the fare
well benediction of the old visitor
as Wang Foo bowed him out to his
waiting sedan chair.
The following morning Old Chang
accompanied his master as far as the
Central wharf, where he took the
steam ferry for the opposite side OF
the bay, and having solely landed at
Kow Loon, engaged sampan with
a sail to take him to the second inlet
beyond. where a well-worn road of
stone led up to the Temple of the
Moon Goddess. Disguised as wan
dering old peddler of books, he at
tracted no notice from the temple at
taches nor did his presence at the in
ner shrine-into which he had grad
ually forced his way--arouse the least
suspicion on the part of old Cross
Evening star., 1919-08-31

tendants and holding them back at
the point of his revolver. Wang Foo
retreated down the stone roadway to
the water and, finding a sampan wait
ing. he deposited his tired burden on
the mats and ordered the coolie to
row for all his life to Kow Loon.
In less than an hour Mrs. Goodwin
was clasping her lost Bennie to her
heart and all the colony of Hong
Kong was rejoicing with the happy
parents.
In the statement which Wang Foo
made to the inspector and his deputy
that evening he explained the disap-
pearance and the mysterious finding
in the temple across the bay. 1t
seemed that Bennie. playing with
some other children in the park. left
them and wandered Off by himself
alone to the driveway. Just as he
appeared there two old coolies. carry
ing large empty box on a bamboo.
stopped to rest and smoke. AS often
happens, they were SO tired that. be-
fore they knew it, they had fallen
The child. seeing the empty box and
thinking to play hide and seek with
his fellows. had climbed into it and
pulled the cover over on himself. and
while hiding there the coolies had
picked him up and carried him along.
Noticing the difference in the weight.
they had put the box down at the cor
ner of the street and. uncovering 1t.
had discovered Bennie within. Their
first thought was to lift him out and
summon assistance. but-and here is
the strange part of it all--seeing the
English policeman approaching and
hearing him calling them to move ON.
they became thoroughly frightened
and. covering the box over again.
picked up the bamboo and hurried
away with all speed to the water.
Fearing further trouble here. they
jumped into a sampan with their bur-
den and started across the bay.
Let US take him to the Temple Of
the Moon and put him under the pro-
lection of the goddess" they said. and
so to the temple they went and pre-
sented the child to the priest, who
swore them to secrecy and sent them
back with the empty box.
But what made old cross-eyes
think he was bringing the dragon
bubble" asked the inspector.
why" answered Wang with o sig
nificant smile, "Bennie was carrying
a glass bali in his hand which his
amah had given him to play with"
Copyright 1912
Evening star., 1919-08-31

sights who was there in person ar
ranging little pyramids of glass balls
in front of the gilded wood N figure
Of the goddess.
Venerable father" he said with
a carefully assumed air ard tone Of
rural and unsophisticated innocence.
what may these treasures be that
you are boarding SO carefully?'
"These are none othes than the
foaming bubbles from the mouth of
the dragon king. The xrandest and
most potential medicine that evnr
came to mortal man. Stir but one OF
them in a basin of boiling water 1t
will dissolve into a thousand frag-
ments and he who drinky of the
precious fluid that remains will be
blessed with all the virtues tsn and
protected from every i'll that mortal
flesh Is heir to. These little globes
are the children Of the great parent
globe that hangs Wonder above the
goddess head--the crystallized bubble
Of the sacred foam. See! 1t has
thousand" Fe stopped abruptly in
a cry that seemed to come from the
inner room behind the shrine. He
dropped the last globe that he held
in his hand. shivering 1t into pieces
on the temple floor. and with a wild
shrek drew aside the sacred curtain
and rushed into the dark space be-
yond. Wang Foo followed close be-
hind him and. drawing bunch Of
matches from his pocket case, sud-
denly struck them and before the ex-
cited priest could stop him. he flooded
the room with torchlike glare.
Why did he start back? What was the
sight that met his eyes? What was 1t
lying there upon the mating? A child.
A European child. Pushing the priest
roughly aside. he seized the little fig
ure in his arms and dashed backward
with it into the daylight. Yes. One
of the greatest surprises. but one Of
life, there, soiled and dirty, hungry
and thirsty, but absolutely unharmed,
was the lost child for whom the whole
island of Hong Kong was searching.
"Who brought him here?" he asked
in excited tones Of the now thorough
ly frightened priest. Tell me. you
cross-eyed villain; tell me quick"
"They brought him. they brought
him in the bow" he stammered out.
HE carried me the sacerd crystal in
his hands--the dragon bubble, the
dragon bubbIe! He was the messenger
Of the goddess"
Terrifying the priest and his at
Evening star., 1919-08-31

headache or the wrinkles. He looked
up after moment and answered:
"Mr. Wallace. have no solution
whatever-that is. as yet. 1 never
have at first. you remember. Like
the sign In Weston's drug store
around the corner. / may say, Il take
time and care In preparing all my
soiutions'. i expect to begin some of
these chemical brain processes to.
night. however. and you may hear
from mo in a day or two. In the
meantime shall be grateful to YOU
FOR copy of the case as you have
drawn 1t up. II you can spare it."
This Is the only one I haye--take a
1t and return 1t promptly, rlease."
You shall have 1t back safe and
sound before the Office opens in the
morning. sir" replied the Prince of
Detectives. as he accepted a roll of
documents. gratefully. from the in.
spector. And. remember. II any
thing turns up during the night and
you need my help. just send for me
without a moments hesitation. Your
head chair-coolie knows my house
very we'll. and I will see that Old
Chang the gatekeeper. sleeps with
one ear open to listen for possible
midnight knocks"
THANK you. Mr.. Wang. and re-
member I shall look eagerly for that
solution Of yours tomorrow or next
day. am very anxious to know how
It will at In with mine."
with yours? BY the way. what is
yours In a word? Was the report in
the evening paper correct?"
Quite SO. sir; 1t seems to be a clear
case OF KIDNAPPING and very care
fully planned and carried out, as most
of them are. The Williams evidently
knew all about the daily life of the
family and the exact time when the
amah would bring the child to the
park. and while she was chatting and
gossiping with the other amahs, as
they always do. they evidently en-
ticed the child out to the road for an
instant and tossed him into waiting
sedan chair and rushedhim of. II
must have been q sedan because Won
see that is closed. while a jin-rik -sha
Is all open and they would surely
have been seen. We shall probably
get some anonymous letters tomor-
row demanding a fabulous ransom
and threatening to mutilate the poor
child In some way II we don't pay
up. It's awful to think of. but
bandits is bandits as MOrehouse says,
Evening star., 1919-08-31

chloric acid. and they are very much
alieke- eating holes in things, pocket.
books and all-in a few other ways.
! abstained from peanut bars. which
used to buy every recess to keep me
from getting faint. l shut my eyes
to the cry of the newsboys and my
eyes to the lure of the magazine
stands. Bonnie always buys paper,
though. She has very motherly at
titude to all the little fellows: to her
they are city life in concentrated
form. Her pet extravaganza is pay
ing nickel for newspaper aid then
asking the newsboy if he has warm
place to sleep.
Oh. well. l get paid today, ard so
am going down after my suit. Sc
lected 1t and paid the fifteen Oh 1t to
have it put away for Inc. 1t is just
what l want l would have lived on
bread crus.s. almost, to get IL. l may
live on them, yet. because after | pay
for it, l shall not have mucn to live
on, or read on, until l get my neN.
check
The last reason 1 do not want to
leave is because there will not be
anything to do over there at noon ex-
cept eat. These museums-the old
one, the new one and the Smithsonian
Institution--are like a three-ring cir
Gus, with plenty of little side shows.
In the lunch Infringing days we used to
go over and wander around, looking
at Chinese pagodas, Mesdames Presi-
dents costumes and Benjamin Frank
Inns printing press to the tune Of a
ham sandwich and a piece Of pie. 1t
was my favorite ombinatlon. because
it made me forget what l was eating.
Then there were the agricultural
buildings. took Priscilla. my New
York state chum. over to introduce
her to q native OF my state, Mr.. Cac-
tus, and l found some varieties there
which had never met myself. Recent
ly they had an amaryllis show. and we.
along with the wives of the cabinet
and other distinguished women. saw
the gorgeous display of South Ameri-
can color. Nearer home there were
always some recruits out under the
trees training under the tuteiage of
several officers. We watched them
stab frewood Germans and do sema-
phore signs until we almost learned
the alphabet in arm language. II
nothing more exciting was on hand.
we strolled over the grass. throwing
nuts to the squirrels and ietting the
good old sunshine make our disposi-
tions sunny.
THREE DAYS LATER
Daddy. guess what happened to your
letter. I was interrupted when the
supervisor came around with our
checks. After that we were dismissed
Evening star., 1919-08-31

""S'her tuey 10 Ill ltaly or emma. How
ever. We hope for the best. Good might,
Mr.. Wang"
Good might. sir. and many thanks
for the solution. which will be help
full to me in compounding mine"
1t was late in the evening when the
Old abbot from the Temple =af the
Queen Of Heaven arrived at Wang
Foo's residence and passed at once
into the upper chamber where the
Man of Mystery was waiting to re-
ceive him. Old Chang brought up
the tea and pipes and after the pre-
iiminary warming they proceeded
at once to the subject before them.
Are there any new DEVELOPMENTS
since the morning." asked the master of
the temple.
None that 1 know Of" replied the
host. "See. here Is the inspectors 8
report. containing everything as far
as they have gone. 1 will read 1t over
to you. translating as co." suiting
the action to the word. Now. what
40 you think OF tt?
We'll. 1t Is the natural conclusion
of the western mind. The INSPECTOR
feels that is the way 1t would have
been done in Europe and consequent
ly the way 1t has been done In China
but that does not follow at all, as
you very we'll know. can recall but
one case Of KIDNAPPING Of a foreign
child In all the long years that I
have lived in Hongkong. and that
was done by gang of drunken Port
uguese sailors who were ashore on a
spree and who carried the child away
to the ship more for a lark than for
anything else. No. no. 1t requires too
much care and trouble and expensive
preparation-for they always require
well-paid confederates-and the risk
of exposure and detection is far too
great for the ordinary gang Of
thieves and Williams to undertake it,
OF course. there have been stealings
of native children. but that is a very
different proposition. do not be-
lieve this is case of kidnapping at
ali--that is simply theory and
nothing more-there is not a grain of
evidence to prove 1t or even suggest
it. Had there been. you may be sure
that the amount of the reward would
have already tempted some one of the
party to turn states evidence. for the
walls are covered with the posters
and thousands of handbills have been
printed and distributed through the
Evening star., 1919-08-31

and without thinking. I showed your
letter into some of my folders. snap
ped rubber band around it and put
it away to be delivered to the new
building. 1t took an hours searching
to find it today. so / shall finish 1t
while am waiting for sOmething to
do.
We are not settled exactly yet,
though we have been trying to get
into shape for three days. The spot
idea did not work. 1t would have IL
people were like pieces of furniture
would stay where they are put. But
no one liked his number. and some Of
the heads did not like the spots. Con-
siderable confusion resulted from get
ting every one near the proper amount
of light. away from the noise Of the
typewriter or near friends, but now it
looks as If most of us are satisfied and
willing to work. All of us means about
10000. Daddy. 1t has taken several
weeks of hauling to get everything
in. The big Treasury trucks have been
loading up all over the city and dump
ing their contents at the 18th and
Vermont.
Perhaps l shall like 1t after all. II
museum exhibits. I shall. The build
ing is separated from the White
House grounds by Lafayette Square
and diagonally across from 1t is Dolly
Madison's house. while Andrew jack
sons is only a square up. on 18th
street. 1t is funny old place. resem-
bling our adobe houses. I do not think
that shall miss the market after all.
There are SO many little inns near
and dozens more springing up. We
are going to one today for lunch. I
can not imagine how 1t will feel to
sit down and eat like respectable
person at noon time.
yesterday. She could have stayed un-
til the 9Th. but she had everything
ready and her resignation went into
effect on the 31st. We felt SO sad over
her leaving. AS a sort Of farewell
party Bonnie and I took her out to
dinner and then to see "Slnbad." II was
good show for that purpose. be-
cause 1t will be a long time before
Nan will ever see another such. To-
ward the last she began to realize
that. after Terre Haute. she was go
Ing even farther away from things:
she was almost sorry that she had
given up the six months of good city
times she might have had. When she
gets out to Arizona she Will look back
on Washington as a sort of big Jack
Horner's pie. And whenever Nan stuck
in her thumb she pulled out a pretty
fair sample Of a plum, good friends,
Continued on Nipth pageD
Evening star., 1919-08-31
ISTEN. Daddy:
GoOd-by market! Goodby
smell!
Good-by Greeks and the
fruit you selli

1OOu-Oy 1IcChS anu tuC
fruit you sell!
That's what the girl next to me Is
humming. because we move today.
It's almost too good to be true.
None of us are busy. and I am taking
this time to write to you. borrowing
a piece Of stationery with the Treas
ury's coat-of-arms in the corner.
have always thought that moving
was strenuous business. but not the
way the government does it. Wo
girls do not have thing to do This
morning when we came down we
we're issued labels, having on them
room number, a spot number and
our number. These we pasted on our
chairs. waste bask kets and pie cases.
>Those last things sound out of place
In q museum. don't they. but they
are only form letter holders that have
had that nickname SO long that no
one knows what else to call them. The
idea Of the label is for the men to
know where to deliver the goods. and
for us to know where to report to-
morrow morning. We must 60 to
room No. 344. hunt spot No. Is and
put ourselves on our own number in
that spot Very simple. Is 1t not?
Everybody Is happy over leaving
here but me. l thought I was, too,
yesterday. Today 1 have been think
ing over what a funny fascinating
place this museum is. I'll never work
In another like 1t. and the fact that
our days in 1t are numbered Is the
surest sign Of peace that we war
riskers have. Such things as wander
Ing around the rotunda and looking
down at the workers below. seeing.
above the wall projections, the bones
OF our prehistoric ancestors. facing
unexpectedly through an opening q
beautifully lighted picture-al such
things do take the drudgery out OF
work. For q month cases OF Indian
relics have circied the round corridor.
Whenever went to telephone l
sauntered along between samples OF
1ndian squaws' fancy work, and while
J waited for the operator to listen for
f"y nickel enlightened myself on
early American art as displayed In
reed baskets and clay bowls. Also.
Dad. we have found secret passage.
way to the lobby. We turned working
into game Of living in French
castle surrounded by Germans. We
made our escape every afternoon by
going down, at closing time, slippery
steei stairs, racing down a dimly
lighted corridor. then turning the
corner into a hall the walls Of which
were lined with faded old canvasses
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-07-25
BURRUSS TO SPEAK
ON VIADUCTS AT
THE CIVITAN CLUB
Weekly Luncheon Today of Civilians
at Southern Club-Many Attrac-
tive Features on Programme

Commissioner Burruss will be the
principal speaker at the weekly lunch
con of the Civitan club to be held to-
day at the southern club at 1 o'clock
He will speak on "Viaducts." Other
attractive features are on the pro-
gramme. The following notice has
been sent out by Secretary Akers:
yellow Civilian: Here's another
treat in store. AS builders of good
citizenship" all Civilians are vitality In
terested in any enterprise that has for
it's object the betterment of their
city.
"Our president. Cooperation Shrop-
shire. has invited that able, energetic
booster, Henry Page Burruss, commits
sioner of public improvements, to be
our guest at Fridays luncheon and 10
tell us about Viaducts'
There are three kinds of viaducts
of special interest to Birmingham.
past present and future. We are
chiefly interested in the latter class,
and Commissioner Burruss will tell us
how the viaducts of the future can be
put across 1t takes viaducts to put
across good many things, and you
can't afford to miss Fridays meeting.
Bring at least one guest with you.
for everybody is interested in the Civ
itans and their dongs these days.
Southern club, Friday, l p. m
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-07-25
JULIUS GRANT is
GEORGE WILLIAMS,
SAYS TOP SERGEANT

''The worst part of war amt the fight
in" runs a popular song, and "Amen!"
echoes one of Uncle Sans black SOL
diers. In the spring of 1917 there was
accepted for the service here in Birm-
ingham a colored man named julius
Grant; julius says that he has brothers
and sisters and uncles and aunts who
can be brought forward if necessary
to prove that he is julius Grant.
Wednesday morning this ex- soldier
walked into the local army recruiting
station and asked to be re-enlisted. Up
on presenting his discharge certificates
they were found to be labeled George
williams and not julius Grant. Julius
explained the apparent mistake about
as follows
you see sargent When we went
cross de watah to France my papers
done got los on de way. De top sargent
aint knowed who ] was and done tole
me I was Gawge Williams. I tole him
7 want, / was julius Grant. He said TO
me to shut up, cause I sho was Gawge
williams. Well. l reckons / was him all
right To- I done been 'cused o bein' A..
w. o. L. mon once cause I wouldn an
swer to de name oh Williams. When we
come home, stead O. dischargin' me
somers neah heah dey took me all de
way to camp Bowie. way out yonder
in Arizony and den give me travel pay
to Galveston; said dat was whah l come
from.
my papers dere says Use cook and
dat Use married. Sargent amt no cook
Use a damon expert | is. Use coal
miner pure an simple IN l amt nevah
cooked so much as biskit in my born
days. An dey says Use married too. l
amt nevah so much as thot about gittin
married. l cant read nor write none, but
I sho knows / is julius Grant an amt
Gawge Williams. an / had ought to got
my travel pay to dis town and not to dat
place in Texas.
The sergeant informed George Will
iliams nee. julius Grant that as far as the
case of mi staken identity was concerned
that could be readily Strengthened out,
but that Uncle Sam will not take men
who cannot read and write So George,
or julius. as you prefer, wandered off
with his strange discharge in his
pocket.