The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 14, 1897, Page 26

26 BER 14, 1897. AN M\ \v @ , ?@7\%5\7\*}@»’ A7 777 ;’:DITE D\F))’ e G . ol \WALKER]; 5577 A > A TRUE STORY OF THE By Nira M. T thereabouts the coun- oo rush—just the res in dry au- MASINL EN gears azo or ly poy < one redwood forest best of pl tumn. It intend to write. When I was some three or four years old my mother aunt, who lived Gual Co forest too twelve miles from Mendocino in mid r journey. That evening, when T was put to bed in | rude little bedroom, I was very restless mbed upon a chair to look out of on to a strange, red glare in . She almost fainted as at I did not kncw was the sign ofa e Sol all was excitement. Backfires | were to the west of the buildings in nope t enough of the brush which grew down to the garden fence would be burned to save the homestead, and wh rning came it was thought that all was Late that afternoon the winds ed and came roar ily laden with smoke and heat. : was npow lost; there was no chance ty here. e few family posses- were hurr and the family prepared to start. There was much excitement. Men hur- ried to and fro with shouts and with in- structions. The atmosphere became hot- ter and sparks w waftea through the | air in great glistening showers that eddied here and there =nd helped to carry for- ward the work of vroadcast ruin. In the confusion I had watched and found. The fire was Safety lay only in flight across the river, and very sorrowfully, as you may well sup- pose, they were forced to desert the home- stead and me. Meanwhile, T, not been now fast approaching. frightened almost for home and papa, whom I expected to soon find: for, always observant, I clearly remembered the road over which we had lately traveled. As night came on my terror 1increased. I left the road com- pletely exhausted and crept into a thicket close by, putting my fingers in my ears to keep out the dull roar of the distant fire. In spite of my fear I fell asleep. I do not know how long 1 slept, but I remember peing suddenly awakened by the distant | baying of a dog. I was so frightensd I could not stir. “It is surely some terrible beast,” I thought. The air was suffocating with smoke. | Nearer and barking. I ing of the brus nearer came that dreadiul thing I remember is that I was Iying in a strange room with anxious ones bending over me. How was I saved? Well it is a short story. 1hadas a pet a very large Saint Bernara dog, which was very fond of me. | tender- | hearted choreboy, who finding him ex- | ‘We left him in the care of a tremely disagreeable, since he howled continually, unfastened his chain and set him free. He must have started immedi- ately on our trail. It was he who had arrived in the nick of time and snatched me from a horrible death. How he knew where to carry me is still a mystery, but he took me straight to the house where my distracted rela- tives were. Four long weeks I suffered from the effects of my iright, and never for a moment during that time could my faithful pet be driven from me. He died of old age a few years ago, and although 1 was then a big girl I wept when they buried him. THE JUDGES SELECT THE BEST FIVE STORIES.| about just such a fire that I | _me on a visit to my | afternoon | ved at the | I immediately called my’| she | from the north, | All | odly loaded on a wagon to death, had started on a verilous journey | | the only uld plainly hear the break- | h asthe hugeanimal rushed | burriedly along toward me. The next| |JUAN PORTOLA ; OR WOODS THE HIDDEN CHEST By EvesE P.'CONWAY. HAT curious structures these dobies are. These very walls must have stood hers for a century, and when them many a beau- tiful tale of olden California, with its lovely enoritas and courteous cab- alleros Oh, would itnot be grand if these old piles could only speak I’ These wers Jack as he leaned against a victur- esque adobe on the outskirts of San Francisco. He was a studious lad, | never happier in all having a great love for history, | MV life than when and especially for that which per- | my father stepped tained to California. As his eye wandered | forward with uprais- over the interior of the room he noticed a | ed band and in a small knob projecting from the wall. He | Voice ringing with walked over and touched it, a cry of surpris for suddenly an appeared, disclos- Aing a square hote When he recov- ered from his as- tonishment he secured the chest and hurried home in a state of great excitement. After some diffiiculty he succeeded in opening the | chest. Inside were a number of old Span- was nowhere to be | ish coins, a Mexican lariat and a roll of parchment vellow with age. The writing on the parchment was in Spanish and was barely legible. Trans lated this is how it : RS e ey I Juan Portola, was born in Spain, 1754. My darling mother died when 1 was but a babe. I reminded my father, Gaspar Portola, much of her, and as I w; one he had left in the world he bestowea all his love upon me. In 1768, when I was fourteen years of age, my father de- cided to go to Mexico and take command ofan ex- pedition to Cali- | fornia, leaving me rid. My little heart was broken. I begged to be al- lowed to go, but my father gently forbade it. Deter- mined not to be separated from him, I secreted myself on board the ship the night before it sailed. After arriving at Mexico we set out for San Diego. Here we founded the first mission, and proceeded northward till we came in sight of Point Reyes and the Farallones. Knowing from descriptions that \ my father, at the !\ head of # detach- ment, set out to reach it. Daring their ab- '/, |sence some of the soldiers dec:d d to go out hunting, and, as I was a great favorite, I shouldered my lit- tle musket and went with them. Since leaving Spain I had grown tall and strong. On this afternoon I was in extra good FAKIHH KK KKKk Rk kKRR Rk ARk Rk R Rk Rk kk KOk in order of merit, of the best five : of Suisun, California. Conway, Los Angeles. ley, California. P A 4R e A e ek ek gk ek e ok o ok ke e sk e ok ok ek ok ok e e e R e e R eSS RS RS R TR Y Editor of Children’s Page, Sunday Call—DEAR SIR: ' A careful perusal of the stories submitted to our inspection suggests the following rank, L ““A True Story of the California Woods,”, by Nita M. Tomasini 2. ** Juan Portola, or the Story of the Hidden Chest,” by Eugene P. 3. “ A Dayin the Land of Flowers,” by R. Maud Mallory of Reed- 4. “In Search for California,” by Vera Chisholm, San Francisco. 5. ““ A Dream of Long Ago,” by Wilma F. Bruhn, San Francisco. We regret that we cannot extend the list. The stories reflect credit upon the young composers, whose imagina- tion, pleasing description and narration, and patriotism for our “Golden State” yield the promise that their future works will grace the literary annals of our people. Respectfully yours, e TARARN NN NN NN YRR AN N N NNNK K YR AN NN SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 9, 1897. Carroll’s thoughts | reauy returned, but | sprang back with | let openingin the wall |at school in Mad- | it was the old port | of San Francisco, | spirits, and ran hither and thither, gener- | ally far in advance of the solaiers. It was i in this way [ came to the foot of a hill. Filled with the spirit of adventure, I | clambered to the top, and thers I saw a | sight which I will always remember. For far below me lay a beautiful bay, whose blue waters sparkled in the last lingering | | wheat. Now, can you do as well as that | I wasenraptured, and my ringing, joy- | in Towa?"’ ! they crumble away they will bear with | rays of the sun. | ous suout socn brought the soldiers to the | spot. | scene they graspec | and, setting me on their shoulders, car- {ried me back to | where we had left the | others, | My father had al- not | having been able to | passthe Golden Gate. | The soldiers toid the | story, and I was | pride said: “Scldiers of Spain, us give three | chieers for young | Juan Portola, the | discoverer of San Francisco Bay.” Here this highly interesting docu- ment closed. As Jack Carroll read it through carefully his mind was filled with the romance of the d otoid. He saw {sawin imagination the padres and the anish soldiey. Around him was beau- tiful California. None of its legends more interested bim than that oi Juan Portola, — |A DAY IN THE | LAND OF FLOWERS ne little vine-covered cottage into the | sweet flower garden, clasped her hands in | silent admiration of the beautiful picture before her. It was early, and the rising sun iinted in every | bue the snow- capped Sierrasand fleecy clouds and kissed the grass and flowers in the valley below, fresh in their dewy, morning sweet- ness. The song of the meadow-lark could be heard—now distant, now near at hand, and the breeze gently siirred the cool, rustling poplar trees that shaded the house. To the west, be- low the house, Kings River glided on in silent beau- ty, while on its banks the great oak trees bent over it asif to see their /] own huge shadows reflected in its i crystal waters. Indeed it was a typical California dawn. Merle wasa lover of nature and never tired of these lovely sunrises. The Bancroft family had come [to California three years before and had built up this pretty little home, and now two of Merle’s | cousins, Manpel {and Anna Stan- ton, had come to visit them. “The girls must | get up and see this §i | lovely scene be- fore it fades intof common day,” said Merle to her- self as she went to call her cousins, To-day Merie was to take them to see the “Silver Star Fruit Farm,” it being one of the prettiest rlaces in that vicinity. They got an early start and were soon riding off among fields of young grain that stretch- ed away to the blue distant hills like a great, green, surging ocean. It was not [far, and they soon reached the long avenue of fig trees leading }to the big white gate. Then they passed through the sec- ond drive, lined on both sides with drooping pepper trees, alternating with many-colored o'eanders, which led up a A Scene Taken From th By R. MAUD MALLORY. T WAS a lovely spring morning, and Merle Bancroft, as she stepped ‘rom | hill, where stood the large white residence surrounded by the park, containing foun- tains, flowers and ornamental trees and shrubs, “There,” said Merle proudly as they emerged from the last drive and came full in view of the fine grounds. ‘It has been only seven years since this was a field oi “No, indeed, we cannot,” replied Anna. When they finished gazing at the | Iowa was her native State. me up with ncueerl Upon alighting from the carriage the = general manager came out and kindly of- fered to snow the girls around. Among the other things the two great reservoirs which were used to irrigate the knoll were objects cf wonder. ‘When dinner-time came the girls spread | their lunch in a bower of jacqueminot | roses. “Well. Merle,”” said Mabel, a little later, *‘this does indeed seem like fairyland. When we read your letters of brilliant description of California we thouzht yvou surely must be under an illusion, but now we can see for ourselves, and find you did not tell half the wonders and possibilities of the great 8an Joaquin.” “Yes,” replied Merle, “I think Cali- fornia must be the fairest State in the Union.” After dinner the girls walked out and looked at the great orange and olive or- chards, and on their return started home with & load of flowers which, by the man- ager’s permission, they had gathered. The ride back was delightful,'and Mabel and Aunna, when they returned home a couple of weeks later, agreed that Cali- fornia was indeed a land of sunshine and flowers. THE SEARCH FOR CALIFORNIA BY Vera CHisHOLM. T WAS just after sunset, when the fairieg were preparing for a midnight search, with their golden torches, their plue nightcaps and their sparkling red eyes, all sitting in a row over the shining fairy lake on a cluster of lotus flowers. But worst of all they had to wait for the broad-winged owl to carry them across the sea. ““Where shall we go ?” suggested one lit- tle red-eyed fairy, sitting in the middle of the large lotus leaf. “To a land called Alaska,” ‘replied the other., “Oh, no,” said the third little fairy. “I have heard it said there are banks of melted wax there that are so cold we'd all freeze.” ““Then let us go to Europe,”’ said other. “Oh, no; we are going to a great land called California.” “O dear, dear, we don’t know where it i, and soon the violet queen will be seen in the east sailing west across our pretty lake in ner gotden ship, and we can’t go to-night.” “Then let us call'the owl,” said a wise little fairy with gold specks on hisdull, brown little nose. So away they whistled and screamed Like a swarm of buzzing bees around a hive. Just then they saw in the distance com- ing toward them in a great hurry the old owl, with his large wings flapping to and fro. ‘When he was near enough he spread out e Story Related by Nita Jomisini. fairies hopped gayly upon them. o saw the goiden ship of the violet quecn coming toward them. The old owl flew fast to tne gates of Fairy Land 1n fear they would be closed. The next thing was to get back befere the violet king would te seen in the east in his pretty silver ship on their pretty blue lake. Then the old owi lowered his flight and the little fairies soon came to the borders of our glorious State. *'Oh, what a stranze land this is!” they all cried out {ogether. “Let us form our trademarks,” said the wise little fairy in the gold specs. *'Oh, yes!” cried the others, and one of the little fairies took from tne little bag he had carried with him some beautiful paintings which he had.gathered with the aid of the violet queen’s searchlight, which was shining across the beautiful fairyland. Tnen he tore from his little jacket a piece of fairy silk and painted part of it the beautiful color of an orange and the rest of a rare green. *‘Oh, let me do the rest,” said the ambi« tious little fellow with the gold specs. “No, vou shan’t,”” returned the red- eyed little fairy, ana then he went on with his work. He then took a pair of scissors and formed his little trademark, which wa s the beautiful shape of the poppy. When this was all done the little fairies hopyped on the wings of the old owl again and sailed round over the strange land they had found, scattering seeds where- ever they went. Then the old owl went his upward way with all the noisy little fairies, all happy because they had formed the beautiful emblem of our glorivus State. - A DREAM O OLDEN DAYS By Werma Frances BRunN. ND this is how it all happened, when all my little friends and I were only . raindrovs in the sky. Many, many years ago the moonbeams stretched in the same silvery rays of light from moon to earth as in the present time. Butin the long ago great bands of fairies were used to float upon them, as that was their mode of visiting the earth. Now, these visits were for the purpose of locating a new home on a new planet. The great moon was growing toocold, 8o shivering bands of the bright- robed throng floated hither and thither in their diligent search. One night they rode ona moonbeam, which brought them 10 a large forest. “This is surely the place where we must bring our Queen,” said one. And just then the thunderous roar of an African lion struck terror to each little elfin heart and they jumped on the first moonbean and were borne off into the night. The next time they ventured out they hovered about a part of the earth which sparkling as their own was white and bright robes. ““Ah, this would certainly be our home if we can but meit the—"" The sudden appearance of a buge polar bear cut short the sentence and the visit of the fairies. But, not despairing, an- other night saw them fluttering among the thickly enlaced interlaced vines of a tropical country. The night air was neavy with the perfume of many flowers. “It is extremely warm, but beautiful,’ said a fairy princess as she swayed on the | petals of a sweet-scented flower. When, lo! What was that gigantic writhing thing dragging its repulsive body along in the un- dergrowth? The frightencd little people stayed not 1o investigate so horrible a creat- ure. They report- ed their third and last failure to tbeir queen in the morn- ing, saying: “Tnere seems no place on that planet, your majesty, that is not fraught with great danger to so sensitive a people as we.”’ But the Queen bade them depart once more. 5o, a hopeless, litile, timid band they were that at last settled slowly down on a shim- mering stretch of {7 white sand, which was met by long, dark rolls of wa- ter, which broke into a snow-white foam and leaped over a rock and played so in the moon- light that the fairies clavped their hands and laughed loudly at sight of it. Noth- ing came to frighten them, and they boldly left their moonbeam and wandered inland over hill and dale till they came to a forest of trees, so large the like of which they haa never seen. “The leaves rus- tled and whis- pered, and the fairies under- stood. Theleaves : said: “This is a bit of Eden; the garden spot of all the earth. Look no fartner, little people. Bring your Queen to dwell here in this part of the country, where a wealth of summer glad- ness forever fiils the air. So they brought their Queen and she touched every - thing with her magic wand and a golden hue spread overall. Andsoit is to-day our own beautiful Califor- aial Although the fairies have van- ished, the touch of magic, the eternal summer and the golden hue remain, and golden poppies spring up ch year to mark the place of each fairy gradual ascent to the summit of a small | his large wings and all tbe noisy littie | footfall of hundreds of years ago. , what a time they made when they ! THE JUDGES LIKED THIS STORY NCE upon a time, in a newly settled district of our own polden State, lived a little girl, whom we shall call Goldie. Her father was a miner, and had come to California in search of the golden wealth which was fabled to be found in the valieys of the mighty Sierras. Goldie often accompanied her father to his claim, from which she often wandered far into the forest. Her father and mother were never wor- ried about her, for they knew there was not & creature in the forest that would harm her. Doubtless she had many adventures, and one of these I am going to relate. Once when she had wandered far into the forest she chanced to find the rem- nants of a fairy feast. The tables were of mushrooms, the dishes were leaves, shimmering with dew- drops, which resembled honey. This was nectar. The ambrosia was sugar, with a few petals of a tiny flower, which im- parted a fine flavor to it. There were also many other dishes. Goldie thought per- haps the fairies would return again to their feast, so she patiently waited until night. When night ecame a group of fairies appeared, dressed most splendidly, and with them cams a lovely fairy, who wa their Queen. Many fireflies had formed themselves into the wurds “The Fairy Queen of the Golden State’” about her head, and when- ever she moved they moved also, so she was continually surrounded by a circle of light. ‘When she perceived Goldie she called to one of her attenaants to bring forth the mortal, that she (the Queen) might view ber to her heart’s content. Goldie came forth verv modestly into the royal presence, and the Queen ad- dressed her thus: “Thou must know, O mortal, that not every miner’s daughter seeth the Queen of the Golden State; and as no eye may see the feast of the fairies, I command my attendant to tell thee a story, whicn will induce sleep, and thou shal, awake in thine own nome.” This is the story told to Goldie: Once upon a time, when fairies [| walked abroad up- |/ on the earth, in- [\ stead of h.ding, as they do now, there lived a young Piince. Now it happened that in a cave near the palace in which the Prince lived there was the most beautiful large ruby ever seen. The Prince wanted the ruby for this reason. rare and beautiful gems, and, alas, he was always boasting of them to visitors at the court, and I am sorry to say that many of the cour- tiers became en- vious of the jew- els and would have risked their lives to have ob- tained genis like those in the pos- session of the King. The Prince was ona of these. But as the cave was the largest in the world and the goblin who guarded it allowed no one inside the Prince could not get the ruby without fairy help. So whenever fairies visited his father's court he showed them every courtesy, for the Prince hoped they might help him get the ruby. So one day a fairy told the Prince she would help him find the ruby. Accordingly they set off for the cave alone, for the Prince disliked attendants, When they arrived a horrible ‘green dragon, with a purple tail, met them. From his mouth came flames which would have scorched the Prince had not the fairy provided him with a magic suit of armor. Soon they went, for the Prince had con- quered the dragon on and on through caverns hung with stalactites, until [ff they came to the(f) innermost ber of all, where the ruby was hid- den. Now came the great task—to find the ruby. They searched through the cavern, but could not find the gem. Then the fairy tapped the wall with her wand and said: Open, open! For so0 I've spoken! The wall imme- diately opened in- to a much smaller cavern, where the great ruby was lying. It was so bright that it filled the place with radi- ance and dazzled the eves of all about. The Prince and the fairy took it up at once, for if the demon who owned the ruby should awake it would cost them their lives, They escaped into the openair and thence to the palace,where the gem was shown to all, from the King to the scullion. It was admired by all, and next day the headlines cf the royal paper read: “The Ruby is Found !’ There was great rejoicing among all the friends of the young Prince, but the muserly King turned green with envy and soon died. This is the end of the story told by the Queen’s attendant to Goldie. Then Goldie MR. KAHLER REPORTS examined the man “The Young Auth San Francisco. A vk AR R Rk ok kokok ok ok ok | relative to the stories. J. His father had many | ART DEPARTMENT OF THE CALL, } - . SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 9, 1897. Editor of the Boys’ and Girls' Page of Ths Cali: 1 have carefully y designs submitted to me for use as a heading on 0 ithors’ Page.” Several have much merit. governed, in deciding which of the many should be awarded the coveted honor, to some extent by the leading consideration of availability and adaptability to the particular occasion, | have concluded, and so report, that the design submitted by Eugene P. Conway of Los Angeles must be declarec! to be t{le most meritorjous of any, all things considered. At the same time I wish to commend the design submitted by A. Heschln of T Many of the drawings are ingenious, and many bear evidence of labor and ability, Yours respectfully, : 4 e e FHANNNN NN AN NN KA AN X R N XN N I KRN found herself setting on herown doorsiep sleep.ly rubbing her eyes. Etivor B. MERRILL. B S TETTETTTTTT SITTTTTTTT) ‘! THE SHORTEST STORY. 5 E BY SABINA MURPHY. California has the most valu- able gold mines in the world. It has extensive wheat ficlds, for- ests, orchards, vineyards and sheep ranches, which give em- ployment and wealth to the farm- ers, fruit-growers and stock-rais- Its fruit is shipped all over = the world. ers. 20200022222222202298 CJUUU! 2022928 mufi.mxmfi YOUNG AUTHORS AND ARTISTS. CHEERY good morning, parents, sisters, cousins, and aunts, compan- ions and friends and the great public, The young wrilers and artists of the Pa- cific Coast greet you tnis morning with an appeal to your critical judgment ar}d friendly sympathy, and hope that you will enjoy the week of their brains and bands. With the stories and the heading of the page, all the woik of our bright young people, you will see the portraits of ma: who have taken part in the competition instituted by Tue CArL. Some competi- tors have failed to send in their pictures. The wreath of triumph is on the page. It represents the band of writers and artists of tender years whose contri- butions are found to be of sufficient merit to entitle them to a publication. There are good stories that are not on the page this morning. There are likewise excel- lent drawings that must wait; but all the writers and artists who are named to-day will soon see their work on this page. The judgments rendered by Superin- tendent Webster and Deputy Superin- tendent Stone of the San Francisco Schoo! Department need no explanation Kahier, the head of the art department of THE CALL, also submits his report concerning the de- signs suppiled by our young artists for the heading of the young authors’ and artists’ page. Congratulations are extended that such competent judges were inclined i0 donate their hours of rest to the service of our young friends. Once more thanks are offered to the judges in behalf of the young people. Stories, articles and pictures furnished by the following named will be used or appear on the page to-day: ‘WILMA FRANCES BRUHN, aged 10, residence 508 Franklin street, San Fran- cisco. ELINOR B. MERRILL, age 10, dence Berkeley. BLANCHE ASHFORD, Chetco, Or. NITA M. TOMASINI, Suisun. FLOYD SMITH, 21 Bartlett street, San Francisco. EUGENE P. CONWAY, 124}4 Second street, Los Angeles. SABINA MURPHY, aged 13, 3359 Twenty-sixth street, San Francisco. A. HESCHIN, 519 Eighth street, San Francisco. VERA CHISHOLM, aged 12, 444 Falcon avenue, San Francisco. MARIE CHESWORTH, street, San Franci:co, age 13. CHESTER J. WHIPPLE, age 11, San Bernardino. LILLIE NELSON, San Francisco. A. LAWRENCE LEE, 8an Francisco. CLARA KENNEDY, Goodyears Bar, Sierra County, Cal., age 16. ELLA M. AIGELTiNGER, age 11, Pese cadero. KATHRYN LEE CULVER, 1164 West street, Oakland. A. MARGUERITE WEEKS, age 11, Pes- cadero. M. EVA NAVONE, age 15, Calistoga. ALDA JAMES, San Francisco. SADIE FREEMAN, Morro, San Luis Obispo County. The young author whose name heads the list, 1n the report of the judges, de- scribes herself as a country girl. She is Nita M. Tomasiii of Suisun. In the let- ter that accompanied Nita's story were the following sentences, and they may serve as an introduction to the girl who carries off the chief honor as a writer: Inclosed you will find my story for the young authors’ contest. It is original and I have had no one correct it. I also send you my photograph. Is there any chance of my being one of the five successful ones? I am a country girl and ride five miles to school every morning. Eugene P. Conway of Los Angeles is doubly fortunate in having his design ac- cepted for the Young Authors’ Page, as the result of the judgment of Mr. Kahler, and in veing second on the list of young authors. Kugene is 15 yearsold. He1s a pupil in the eignth grade of the Spring- street School in Los Angeles. Very likely the seniors will note the very tender vears of those who entertain them this morning. They will also note the prediction which Messrs. Webster and Stone make. The work justifies expecta- tion. Warning was given the city children that the young authors in the country were making a fine showing. This will be developed more fully as the other stories to be published, numbering sixteen, ap; pear. Careful judgment was necessary. One of the stories will be illustrated next week and several will be published next Sunday morning. _— OUR SERIAL STORY. “The Cruise of the California’ gives way to-day to the stories by the young authors. Next week it will be resumed. The Bump- kins and sea lions are also only tempo- rarily i..terrupted. UPON THE DRAWINGS. Tesi- 1806 Filbert v * * § * * % * * * * * * * * x ¥ * * * »* * * * * * * » * * * x * * * x I have been NN NN KN AN ¥