The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 15, 1896, Page 24

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 1896. have told me so correctly at is meant by the term *‘Red r Day’ that this week Iam going to a: ou to write a little or description of a “Red Let- | h you have some time en- | ou ter Day” wh joyed. Please don't forget about writing on only one side of your paper. And, by the way, did any of you ever hear, or see written the words, “‘Oh, day to be marked with a white stone?” e, tell us about it. introduced myself to you to-day, vou will know to whom to address your letters. | The boys and girls of San Francisco have } If you | trimmed with -the same kind of satiny not quite happy. | Her hat was very, very pretty, but An- nie’s was a little bit prettier, and 1'm sorry to say that this was the reason why she was not quite happy. The hats were of the same creamy white, ribbon, with bunches of pink roses and buds of exactly the same size at the left sides, but all around the edge of Annie’s hat hung a lovely fringe of straw and crystal beads, which rattled and sparkled whenever she shook her head. This fascinating fringe was the cause of all the trouble. Annie was the older of the two girls, so, of course, it was right that her hat should have a little more trimming on it than Mary’s, but that little girl did not think so. BUBBLES. jolly time isthe earnest wish of the editor of “*‘Childhood’s Realm.” . A Little Child. | There is nothing more pure in heavel | And nothi More fu { Than t The siniess lips, half parted v th as sweet as the air, I fcel that the gates of heaven Are nearer than I knew, the light and the hope of that sweeter world, e the dawn, are breaking through. —New York News Letter. The Ruined Hat. A TRUE STORY. Dear grandmother got out of the lumber- ing old stagecoach at the door, her arms filled with boxes and bumdles. She had been a city, and now that she was safe at home again every one was happy, especially the children, for she had brought to them beautiful presents. To her two little granddaughters, Annie and Marv, lovely spring hats, all trimmed with green rib- bons and pink roses, and to her little | derfui fringe kept twinkling and rattling | ; ! ay on a visit to the big She pouted and fretted over it all morning | and was_altogether so unhappy that she could neither enjoy her picture books nor piay. When lunch ime came that won- | Before her so that she could scarcely eat a | bite. Her grandmother and mother felt very much worried when they saw the little girl 80 quiet, for usually she was such a bright, joyous child, and they feared she wasill. She told them she was not ill, but was too much ashamed of herself to let them know the real cause of her inhappiness, In the afternoon, when grandma was | taking her usunal nap and her mother and | sister had gone to call on a neighbor, and Mary and her little brother were left to amuse themselves, a naughty thought popped into her head. No sooner had it popped in than her busy brain went to worfl to pop it out again, at her finger-tips. Climbing on a chair, she took her sis- ter’s hatbox from its shelf, and catching her little brother by the hand, slipped with him in behind the great Kkitchen door, which stood wide open all day long. It was an immense door, for when it was closed it formed one end of the kitchen wall, so you see there was lots of room behind it for Mary, her brother, and the hatbox. The vain little girl then took the hat from the box, and putting it on, called upon her little brother to admire her, look- ing coquettishiy at him with her brown eyes, and making sweet music with the grandson, Jock, a fine’ suit of clothes and a wonderful humming-top. 1 81id every one was happy. So they jingling erystals as she shook her curly head. “Don’t you think it’s a shame that my = =, g ,“,vw ” THE VAIN LITTLE GIRL PUT THE HAT UPON HER HEAD, [Sketched by a “ Call™ artist.] | were, with the exception of Mary, who was | hat hasn’t any fringe,” she inquireds after he had satisfied her with his looks and words of admiration. *‘Des I does,” said the child. “Let’s pull the beads all off] then, and her hat won’t be any prettier than mine.” “All wight,” answered Jock, always lrea;ljy to follow where his sister chose to ead. . So busy fingers went to work and found it by no means an easy task, but they kept diligently at it. After a while grandma awakened from her nap and came into the kitchen to look for the little ones. Calling them by name and receiving no answer, for the culprits behind the door kept as still as mice, she supposed they were out under the trees having a good time and went back to her room. Then the little fingers faster flew. They must get through before mamma_returns. They must put the box back in_its place. Then when she sees the hat again she will think Mary’s good fairies have done the work and never find out how it really happened. Thusthe little gir! reasoned. My. how dark it was growing behind the door! What a quiet, far-away world it was! Then—tired fingers—sleepy eyes— nodding heads. ‘What was that! Mamma’s voice calling “‘M-a-ry, John-nie,” in frightened tones. “Waiere are you—where are you?”’ Great rushing around and slamming of doors. * “The babies are lost! No one can find them !” was heard on every side. Finally some one thought of looking be- hind the great door. There, rubbing their eyes and gaping as they awoke from a sound_ slumber, were the two little ones with the ruins of the beautiful fringe scat- tered all about them. Mamma gave an exclamation of joy when she saw her loved ones were safe, but when she heard poor Annie sob and cry at the discovery of her new hat, deco- rated with a fringe of tattered straw and: | threads and all the beautiful beads gone. | her face wore an expression both sad and stern. Something happened to Mary, then; I need not tell you what. You know the punishment she deserved for being so jeal- it run a little ways from him, and then he Frould spring at it and draw it back with s paw. Once qe let the morsel get so far away that Donald feared his pet was Foing to lose his dinner, so up the little fellow jumped and before mamma could speak had caught the mouse and held it strug- thg in his hana. Master Gray did not 1ke this at all and showed his displeasure by inflicting a sharp bite on one of the lad’s chubby fingers. . With a frightened cry Donald dropped it to Paul, who was so anxious to regain his prize that in his eagerness he gave the little boy’s other hand a terrible scratch. mma was very fearful lest the bite of the mouse, wild with fright, might prove Ppoisonous, so after drawing all the blood from the wound she bathed it in turpen- tine and covered it with a piece of soft linen, while *‘Paul Pry’’ munched the bones of the poor little animal with a great tli_eal of satisfaction after such an exciting ime. Donald nursed his wounds and said he was ’stonished to think a little mouse could bite so hara and that he would leave all the mice-catching to *‘Paul Pry’’ and the mouse-trap after this day’s sperience. Blowing Bubbles. Blowing bubbles—blowing bubbles— ’Tis the joliiest of Sport. Blowing bubbles clear and turbld, Blowing bubbles long and short: Puffdd-out cheeks and tangled tresses, Dancing eyes and pursed-up lips, All in motion—all concentered Where the dangling bubble drips, Blowling bubbles—blowing bubbles— Twain of merry maidens, they, Blowing bubbl s light'and fragile, Blowing bubbles pright and gay. Quaint Lucile and roguish Olive— Mark the dainty fingertips, Gently toying with the pipestem As ihe dangling bubble drips. Blowing bubbles—blowing bubbles— See, the puckered ruby lips Blow a gale that snaps the moorings Of this flimsiest of ships; And across the airy billows Does the fairy vessel sail Till it lies a shapeless ruin Wrecked upon a counter gale. Blowing bubbles—blowing bubbles— Ah! but grown-up children, we Blowing bubbles to our likin, Blowing bubbles fair to see: And the pearly, iridescent Nothings cost a world of strife— And their sum makes up the substance Of the bubble we call life. S.Q. Lap1us in Chicago Inter Ocean, The Schoolboy’s Drum. How much heroism there is in everyday life no one knows until it is almost thrust upon the observation. The most recent instance concerns an Omaha schoolboy, Offie Downs, who, by his presence of mind, prevented a panic and a terrible calamity among 500 chil- dren. At this school there was an exercise | known as the “fire drill,”’ and twice a day, every pupil, from the vrimary class up, marched out to the tap of the drum. Every boy and girl knew just where to stand, and so accurately and thoroughly were they trained that the principal often boasted that the big building could be emptied in two minutes without con- fusion. Offie Downs, aged 14, was the drummer- boy of the school. 1t was his duty to stand at the foot of the stairs and march DONALD’S GREETING TO SPRI | safe, and then he came down the front d ag .rigbf lirle rain Dear fitrfe birds Rqe.cc,f@[ spring 15 nigh, are chedping == [The illustrations are by H. Cory, aged 15, pupil of the John Swelt Grammar School.] are peeping [eside green, Through dewy mounfain deils. rops are creeping From the blue vauled-sky. til the principal told him everybody was steps, still rattling the drum. The crowd cheered, the teachers hugged | him, and that night the ‘entire city sang his praises. - Can any one doubt that this boy was a hero?—J. H. S.,in Golden Days. A Butterfly Hole. Little Dick’'s mamma had found some tiny holes in a skirt which she called moth-holes. A few days afterward little Dick appeared wita a very large hole in his kilt. “Why, Dick,” said mamma, “what have you been doing to tear your skirt s0?”? “Mamma,” said Dick, soberly, put- ting three little fat fingers through the hole and regarding it dubiously, “I think * A Youthful Gardener. this must be a butterfly hole,”—Youth’s Companion. ‘Wild Flowers of California. When first my eves beheld the sight, My senses fairly reeled; Intoxicated with delight My smitten lips were sealed. I managed to gasp out at last “<This must be Fairyland, The days of witchery are past,” ‘Then stretched my eager hand [From a photograph.] ous and naughty, and for leading her baby brother into mischief, but I assure you she received just what she deserved. Although years and years have passed since then, she can shut her eyes now and see in the flickering light of the lofi]burn- ing in the great fireplace a little boy and irl sitting on the floor 1n ‘the corner of a og kitchen; before them a lady standing, with a grieved face, and a liftle golden- haired girl holding in her handsa hat with a ragged brim, while tears of sorrow stream over her troubled face. The littie boy is now a busy man of the world, who may to-day see this story of the “long ago” and read it to his own dear little ones. The precious sister has long since joinea the angel band, while o’er the heart of the woman, Mary, there stealsa wave of regret that ever tear dropped from the eyes of that beloved sister through fault of hers. DONALD SERIES—NO. XX, FOR TINY BOYS. One day as Donald and his mamma were sitting in the shade of the leafy fig trees “Paul Pry,” carrying a little gray mouse, came and crouched at their feet, looking up in their faces and beseeching with his eyes for words of praise, which were freely given. Batisfied that he had been a good pussy to catch such a plump member of the "Gn{" family, he thought he would have a little fun before his meal. enced to tease it by lef So he comum¢ out the boys and girls twice a day to the rat-tat-tat of his drum. The other day the principal had an ofi- portunity to practically test his fire-drill. A teacher came dashing into his room, crying that the building was on fire. The principal ran to the gong, and there was a rush of excited children and cries of alarm from the teachers. A panic and a stampede was imminent, and in all the school only the drummer- boy kept his head. He saw smoke coming through the register, and he did not think it necessary to ask permission to leave the room. Ravidly passing along the aisle, down two flights of stairs by way of the banis- ters, and into the principal's room, he pulled the drum from its hook on the wall, slung the strap over his shoulder and plunged into the hall. The smoke was now so. dense he could hardly see his'way, and on the floor above he could hear the teachers shouting to the children to remain in order. % _A fire engine rattled up outsids, but, like a true soldier, the boy stood at his post and beat the long roll on his drum. The first tap acted like magic. The gnnmpnl called to the children, ‘“Listen to lhe drum!” and they remembered the lesson. To the music of the drum, rank after rank they calmly marched down the stairs, as they had done a hundred times before, In one minute and thirty seconds from the first tap of the drum there was not a child in the building. But Offie stood still, cool and defiant, at bis post,with the smoke blinding him, un- To grasp before they vanished A handful of the flowers, Belleving that some fairy sprite Held o'er me mystic powers. For surely flowers never grew So gorgeously arraved, In rich protusion, red and blue, Yellow and every shade. And there a sylvan mossy seat, ('erhung with fragrant rose, ‘When drowsy with the noonday heat A princess might repose. ‘Where was & lovelier fairy grote Conceived by heart of man? 1n unison with songbird’s note The crystal streamlet ran. ©O’erhead a sky of deepest blue Smiled down upon the scene: A rephyr, soft caressing, 00, Sighed, stirred the leaves of green. The hand of Nature lavishly Decked thee in regal state, That all who look will Iove thee, Love thee, and call thee “Great.” E. J. C. (a little boy) Cracking Literary Nuts. Cracking “literary nuts’’ can be made a most agreeable entertainment for an even- ing party. Literary nuts are easily made. Have English walnuts and remove-the meats. Then writeé out an odd little conun- drum or pun on the name or on some pe- culiar characteristic of each guest who is to be present. Put the question in one hali- nut and the answerin another. Then glue the halves together, gild and tie them with baby ribbons of delicate colors. Fill a dish with the nuts and pass them around. When they are opened by the guests those holding conundrums or other odd questions read them, and those who have the answers give them, thus making much amusement. In case of an incor- rect answer a forfeit may be exacted. Conundrums may also be written on the names or on the works of noted authors, gx_‘ the names of Presidents or great sol- iers. Trees Ten Inches High. The midget of the whole tree family is | the Greenland birch. It is a perfect tree in | every sense of that term and livesits allotted number of years from 75to 130 just as other species of the great birch family do, although its height under the most favorable conditions seldom ex- ceeds ten inches. Whole blufis of the east and southeast coast of Greenland are cov- ered with “thickets” of this diminutive species of woody plart, and in many places where the soil 'is uicommonly poor and frozen from eight to ten months a year, a “‘forest” of these trees will flourish for half | a century without growing to a height ex- ceeding four inches.—St. Louis Republic. A little boy was taken by his father into acafe for dinner. As they were eating their dessert the father handed the waiter a bill, which that worthy carried to the cashier’s desk, returning presently with a little Pile of change on a silver plate. Robby's eyes grew bright. “‘Oh, papa,” he said, *‘T’d'like a plate of that, too!’ Little Ruth spilled some milk in the cellar. Her grandmamma asked her how much she spilled. ‘Oh, about a dozen,” she answered. Mr. Chamberlain, the British statesman, once remarked to a member of the House of Commons, notoriously lazy and vacil- lating: ‘“My dear boy, observe the post- age stamp; its usefulness and value de- pend upon its ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.’” Correct Answers for March 8. ° DROPPED VOWELS. Life is real, life is earnest, And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, ‘Was not spoken of the soul. LONGFELLOW. A rolling stone gathers no moss. 1. Dandelion. 2. Marigold. 3. Sweet peas. 4. Johnny-jump-up. 5. Coxcomb. 6. Tiger lily. 7. Ragged robin. 8. Smilax. 9. Thistle- down. 10. Sorrel. 11. Foxglove, 12. Larkspur A Red-letter Day” so celled because holi days or saints’ days were indicated by red letters in the old calendar. EN1GMA. T am composed of ten letters, and am the name of & beautiful, rich valley of the West. My 11s in sweep, but not in clean. My 2 is in leap, is may be seen. My 3 in earnest you'll always find. My 4 in joker not far behin MYy b in astonishment exisis. My 8 in speaking now insists. My 7 is a letter In queer old queen. My & in you with stately mien. My 9 in line is found, my friend. My 10 of course is in'the end. The Editor’s Letter-Box. Letters containing answers to the ques- tions in “Childhood’s Realm’” of last Sun- day’s CALL have been received from the following children: Grace Anderson, Alice Bell, Augusta Williams, Katie Hillebrand, Edna M. Shattuck, Joseph W. Bowen, Aline Brooks and Aunie A. F. We are so glad to find new names among the list of our correspondents and regret very much that we could not publish your letters to-day on account of lack of space. A VB, \ o [T\ N LN ! I e =07, g 59 W) ‘. . “PAUL PRY” LOOKS WISTFULLY AT THE MOCUSE. Be. patient with us, for we really try to please you, and perhaps next time we can do more than publish your name.’ SAN FRANCISCO, March 10, 1896. To the Editor of the Call—DEAR Sir: My ‘mother takes THE CALL and Iam very much interested in the children’s page. When mamma gets the paper Sunday morning there are seven of us sitting by the fireside reading about the children’s page. Iremember two weeks ago there Was a very pretty story in the paper. - Mamma keeps THE SUNDAY CALL and sends it back to the old country, and they say that the children’s page is very interesting. There are only eight of us children—six girls and two boys. Pléase print this in the Sunday paper. 1remain yours truly, . - EpITH AusTIN, g 26)4 Zoe street. Iam the second oldest. SoutH SAN FraNcisco, March, 1596. Dear Mr. Editor: 1 thought I would write (o you and teil you that I am much pleased with ihe children’s page. My mamma takes tand 111K to read i every Sunday morning Ihope this letter will be putin next Sun- day’s CALL, If there is roow. enough for it. Your ittle iriend, = MARY CARRERE, age 11. . 8 —1 widt there wers' two .ages of the “Children’s'Realm" instead of cae pvge.n e Came Too Late. Three letters containing answers to ques- | tions of March 1 arrived tco late for publi- cation in last Sunday’s paper, S0 we print them in full to-day REDWOOD CITY, March 4, 1896. To the Daily C These are the proverbs that were in THE SUNDAY CALL with the vowels dropped. I nope they are right, and also the address: 1. As mad as a March hare. 2. March comes In likea lion and goesout likea lamb. 3. John Underwocd, Mass. Viora HANSON, 10 years. SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., March 4, 1896. Editor Children’s Page— R SIR: My an- swers to Sunday’s questions are as follows: 1. As mad as a March hare. 2. March comes in like a lion and goes out like & lamb. 3. Yon sigh for a cipher, But 1 sigh for thee. Oh! sigh for no cipher, But oh! sigh for me. 4. Wood, iil—‘ John, Mags. John Underwood, Andover, Mass. | — LILLIE PEARL MITCHELL, 12 years old. March 7, 1896. 6 Elliott Park. HEALDSBURG, Cal Editor Children’s Page—DEARSIR: 1Tead the Wednesday’s CALL every week, and [ think I have got the proper answers to your March sayings: 1. As mad as a March hare. 2. March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. 1 hope my answers will be right, as this is my first letter to you. Sincerely yours, JESSIE i1 years old. Capturing a Live Wolf. One of the favorite sports of a Polish conntry gentleman is to capture a wolf alive; and as his mode of doing it is prob- ably new to many Englishmen, I will briefly describe it. A wolf being driven into the open, the well-mounted horseman pursues it, armed only with a long whip and some rope. The wolf aiter a time tries to take rest, but the rider forces it on with his whip, till, after repeated attempts at rest, it sinks exhausted. The rider then springs from his horse, jumps astride the wolf, and holding it by the ears secures it with the rope. Most men require the assistance of a mounted companion, who ties the wolf while the other holds its ears with both hands, and in this way the capture is com- paratively easy, but to do it single-handed is a difficuit feat. Nasty bites and even dangerous wounds result, should the hunter have miscalculated the strength of the animal. No one, however, is consid- ered a perfect sportsman till he has done this, vet many never succeed. Of the large party assembled, only our host, two of his stalwart brothers, and one other man had obtained this blue ribbon of Polish sport. A museum, nearly completed, at Ley- den. will be the largest in the world next to the British Museum. Within its walls ipace will be provided for 80,000 Ptuifed irds. NEW TO-DAY. [li TZPARIS URTAINS 150 pairs of IRISH POINT CURTAINS, in danty and $7.50 latest designs, at........ “ies: PerPair 100 pairs of LOUIS XVI HAND-MADE LACE CUR- $7 50 TAINS (just arrived from . Paris) at the popular price. Per Pair HANDSOME HAND . MADE BATTENBURG LACE CURTAINS at $10, $12.50, $13.50 Per Pair and upward. 3000 pairs of NOTTINGHAM CURTAINS, a!l new pat- terns and the pest values ever offered in the city, ranging in price from 85c, $1.00, $1.50 And upward. A BARGAIN. CHENILLE PORTIERES, full sizes, fringed top and bot- 53.00 Per Pair tom, handsome dado and fringe, at. 3 $3.75 DERBY SATIN PORTIERES, in all the new colorings, with reversible throw at the top, at... SE HABLA ESPANOL. G. VERDIER & CO, SE. Cor. Geary and Grant Ave. £1 |VILLE DE PARIS. BRANCH HOUSE, LOS ANGELES. Per Pair . 27 3 -t