The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 20, 1898, Page 23

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, MARCH 20, 1898. 23 FELL IN' LOVE vin HIS WIFE OLTON, Cal, March 18.—John . who lives on a beau- near Cucamonga, in has come from EI Paso, Texas, with a matrimonial prize certainly well worth the irteen long years that he has waited nd courted. the world loves a lover. The of the variety of this new bride- 1 is so extraordinary that the of all who read these simple an- £ courtship must beat in joy with The lovers in poetry and romance a1l phenomenal in a thousand and - charming characteristics, but in world of reality of to-day there can be none more istent, nbi- John Wilson, a ore-in San Diego, mother’s a On the request, he to me of his old friend and mpanion, Deuchler, at sco, Texas. of this story, ro 2 old, a d prom- ed with his 1 years. He - Deuchler pleasant 1 his sit was so and LITTLE EMMA DEUCHLER. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN 15 YEARS AGO, WHEN WILSON FIRST SAW HER. that he was urged to prolong it a week or two. Among the several children in the Deuchler household was Emma, a lit- tle, black-eyed, jolly child, who had just passed her sixth year. She was by long odds the beauty of the family. She took the visitor by the hand and led him about the yard. She triumphantly showed him her pet dog, her cats, kit- tens and rabbits; recited ‘‘Mother Goose” rhymes by the dozen and climbed upon his back in play. The young man was attracted to the child from the first, and as the days passed and he saw her perennial good nature, her cunning, affectionate ways and looked into her big black e his soul was struggling with his reason ere he knew it. Little Emma had graduated from the kindergarten at that time. John helped her in her lessons for school. He taught her the intricacies of such mathematical problems as add- ing two and five. He guided her through the mazes of spelling words of two syllables. Nothing like this ex perience had ever come into his life before. The rest of the Deuchler family gave no more than passing heed to their young-man visitor’s liking for the lisp- ing child’s company. They attributed it to a general fondness of the for any vivacious child. “The said Mr. Wilson, the other day speaking of that. first visit to the Deuchler home, “I fell in love with Emma at sight, baby though she was. I did not dare to let any one know that a young man, who had reached his ma- jority, could have the more affection than I did for a child in short dresses and not able to speak plainly common Wwords. Nevertheless, 1 secretly .re- solved then and there to win the love of Emma when she had grown to young womanhood.” In a fortnight young Wilson’s visit came to an end. Before he had turned his face toward his Southern Califor- nia home he got a promise from little Emma to print him a few words of a letter at least once in every two weeks. He in turn agreed to write her a pleas- ant message once a week and to send her remembrances from California. The Deuchler parents thought it very good of the son of their old-time friends, the San Diego Wilsons, to take such an in- terest in their little child, and Mrs. Deuchler was especially pleased at the epistolary interest John took in seven- year-old Emma. From that time until a month ago a correspondence was continued be- tween John Wilson and his sweet lit- tle brunette inamorita. What an in- teresting story of love the several great boxes of letters back and forth might i i simple, clum- sily printed n.essages from the tod- dling Emma to her big young man friend, and they concerned the doings in dolldom, information about the household dog and cats and the plays EMMA DEUCHLER WHEN @ BRIDE. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN LAST WEEK. and rompings of a happy, innocent lit- tle girl. Then there are longer let- ters in all developments of a childish chirography, telling of story books that have come into the writer's life, her new dresses and all about her lessons at school, and her opinions of her brothers, sisters and playmates. There are hundreds of letters in that collection from Emma Deuchler as a girl in her teens, who at that time thought it great fun to Wwrite to a young man, and more especially to get letters from him. There are also bunches of letters (tied with ribbons and jealously guarded) in this uncom- mon collection from the young woman, Emma, who then realized that there is a heart in California, which has been beating for longer than a decade for her, and for whom she had more genuine feeling than for any of the young men, her long companions at school and in her home, who had waked to the charm of Emma Deuchler, then out of school and just entering so- ciety. A smaller bunch, which none other than Mr. Wilson and his bride will ever see, were written in the past year, and are as earnest as Were ever com- posed in ardent and shorter courtship. Since the end of that first visit in the Deuchler home at Waco, Tex., fourteen years ago last December there have been many vicissitudes in the lives and fortunes of John Wilson and the child- ish Emma. But Wilson never for an hour faltered in his love and devotion to the little girl. No Argonaut ever hunted the Golden Fleece with more restless zeal. No fabled story of an- cient lovers tells a more fervent waging of a suit than this has been. For four years Wilson was a clerk in a San Diego store, then a traveling salesman for a wholesale dry goods house in St. Louls. He went to England one year to straighten his father's estate. He was in Honolulu when the Queen was deposed, and he was a real estate agent in_the boom in Seattle in 1889. But notwithstanding where he has been, no matter what the attractions for him and the demands upon his time, he has always written to his girl love at least once in ten days—more often twice a week. His parents left him an agreeably large estate four years ago. Two years ago he bought ranch property in San Bernardino County, and he has made it very at- tractive and fruitful. For six years this rarely devoted lover kept his love for little Emma Deuchler in his heart. As the years passed his ambition to make her his bride grew firmer. His parentsand rela- tives could not understand him, and he was set down by all who knew him weil as a confirmed bachelor and an irreconcilable, constitutional woman- hater at 26. They knew he wrote often to a prattling tot in Texas, and sent her pretty presents with marked regu- larity, but that was ascribed to a fond- ness for a jolly, cute child and a lik- ing for his father’'s old Texas friends. JOHN E. WILSON, Young Wilson visited his friends, the flDeuchlers, two or three times a year at rst. 2 In one of his visits ther along about 1890, he could not longer keep his burn- ing, enthralling love secret. He sat up late one night with Mr. and Mrs. Deuchler and told into their astonished ears the story of his consuming passion and his ambition to some day make the little Emma (then fast asleep in child- ish dreams with her sisters upstairs) his wife. When at length the mother recovered her speech and reason she laughed at the idea of such a strange infatuation. In vain she argued the wide disparity in the ages of ner little girl and the young man lover. Both father and mother pitied the honest, faithful lover as they tried to show how very possible it would be for the girl; as she grew to womanhood, to have no reciprocation of ais sentiment for her and how unsuited she might be to him at a marriageable age. The pa- rents and the visitor talked in this.vein till early morning. The lover remained as persistent as ever. Several years ago Mr. Deuchler failed in business in Waco and he and his family moved to El Paso. Wilson vis- ited the family more frequently. He was pledged, however, never to speak of his love to the girlish Emma until after she had reached her eighteenth birthday. He kept the pledge sacredly, althoug! as he admits, it required more determination than anything he ever experienced. uhen OHE WAS A BABY ang THEN WAITED 14 YEARS 1o HER WHO WAITED FOURTEEN YEARS FOR HIS SWEETHEART TO COME OF AGE.—FROM A PHOTOGRAPH. Two years ago last July, he, for the first time after his unique courtship of barely twelve years, revealed his heart to the young woman. How far she was. prepared for information-+no one will ever know. Then there was a year of waiting for the young woman to come to a decis- ion. Meanwhile her devoted and vigi- lant suitor was more active than ever. ‘When a decision had been reached Mrs. Deuchler suddenly died, and Miss Emma could not leave her father's lonely home for another year. The date of the marriage was finally settled upon. Mr. Wilson at once employed a force of carpenters, decorators and fur- nishers to make his ranch home ready for the coming of his bride, and he went about as one in a daze of bliss at the approach of the goal of his long ambition. All was ready by the 23d of last month. Meanwhile Mr. Wilson went to EI Paso. There, three days later, the first chapter in an extraordinarily real love story closed. After fourteen years of ceaseless devotion to gain a human heart, fourteen years of consuming love, formed for a mere child at play among her dolls and unfalteringly con- tinued ®hrough childhood, youth and into young womanhood, was beauti- fully crowned. The couple went upon a wedding tour to St. Louis, thence to San Francisco, thence to Coronado, and thence to their home in this locality. READ THIS AND SEE IF YOU ARE INFLU- ENCED BY THE SOLAR SYSTEM. OES the time of year that a per- | hands still or sit quietly for any length | son is born make a difference in | the characteristics, mental and | physical, of that person it a fad or a fancy or vivid ation, or is there a foun- | in this idea? Are the | th birthdays in | r more practical, | ¥ g of t of stronger able reasoning power, those of the corresponding fall months are more sensitive and rely more upon intuition? about among your own imme- circle of friends, and see if any delineations fit them. Here | ne of “the signs” furnished by s of solar Try them. Are the persc te of birth -s between Ma April 19, sign of Aries in the Zodiac, partic- fond of philosophy, reason and rly c thought, must do everything eir own way, get confused if i to follow others’ plans, love or- | T gance and beauty, fond of mu- | and dancing, more liable to brain es than others, excitement liable | bring on he From the 19th of April to the 20th of . in the sign of Taurus, are they -necked,” unyielding, natural con- s and determined tc have their t all hazards, zealous and liable to extremes, good v, but liable to be influ- | s around them, and important decisions should make all when alone? | From the 20th of May to the 21st of June, they belong to the sign of Gemini, ctive, restless andanx- sfied, cannot keep their | 1d are alwa fous, never s | variety of inclination of time, liable to nervous disturbances, vivacious, but liable to great extremes, | lovers of knowledge, and usually fluent speakers. From June 21 to July 22, the sign of Cancer, which makes great lovers of home ard family, kind and loving in all the home relations, will labor indefati- gably to care for family, but extremely ensitive to the mental and physical conditions of those around them. From July 22 to August the sign of Leo, or the heart, and gives a great .y are easily led, but lack natural policy, and con- sequently get into many difficultie From Augus until September 2 the sign of Virgo, gives a fine and dis- criminating mind, but makes them pe- culiar and notional about their keen and discriminating, xcellent proof-readers, fond of will affect their ap- s making harmony, discord petite, cannot b rallying power and also have a strong tendency toward selfishness. From September 23 to October 23 is | the sign of Libra, which gives great foresight, susceptibility of psychic con- trol, are affectionate and demonstra- tive, subject to fits of the blues, always ready te study any new thing that long and have great mechani- . From October 23 to November 22 the sign of Scorpio gives strong appetites, strong passions, often a quick temper and a great deal of jealousy; them conventional and proud and apt to think of self fi and as husband or wife, as the case may be, they ex- pect to rule. Gives rong will and psychological power over others. From November 22 to December 21 is the sign of Sagittarius, the natural executive, bold, fearless and combative, food, | have great | makes | too quick to act and speak; persons of one thought and one idea at a time, de- voted to a cause they require to be kept active or they lose interest. Gives | physical strength. | December 21 to January 20 is the head of the business world; gives the reasoners and philosophers in business schemes, makes them proud and inde- pendent and it is difficult for them to economize; are natural organizers and | not very domestic. January 20 to February 18, the sign of Aquarius, gives to its progeny a use- ful bent, often in a mercantile way; are successful dealing with people, so are frequently found as politician lare clear reasoners and materfalist fond of the opera, fairs, theaters and places of popular resort, and are of an active, nervous temperament. February 19 to March 21 is the sign of Pisces, gives a love of knowledge of all kinds, makes them anxious about money matters and provision for the future, for they cannot bear to be de- pendent, but gives a lack of self-con- fidence. They fear th&t they have ob- stacles to overcome, which makes them persistent and faithful in their duties. They make accurate and careful ac- countants and clerks in any position requiring responsibility. Are the planets responsible for the character of human beings, and have they any the tides, and are they guides to the Yankee farmer to tell him when to plant potatoes? Is the day coming when instead of | quickly punishing a child for some | transgression you consult its horoscope |and first ascertain whether or not he is responsible for his quick, ungovern- able temper or his tendency to fib as indicated by his zodiacal signs? And | when one woman says something sar- | castic about another will the listener influence over the seasons, | hunt up the speaker's birthday and conclude, “Why, she was born in No- | vember; she can’t help making such | biting remarks.” Is the day coming when our birth signs in the zodiac will save us from our judges? A FISH THAT WALKS. HE Zoological Gardens in London have acquired no less than seven walking fish or mud skippers. The mud skipper is a large fish, | which walks on lané frequently. - It also climbs trees and does other things equally curious. A well-grown speci- men weighs from forty to fifty pounds. | It has a head something like that of a | mastiff, the resemblance being very | striking about the lower jaw. The | scientific name of the mud skipper is| Periopthalmus. The mud skipper walks principally | by means of its pectoral fins and its tail. It gets along exceedingly well. Itl is fairly common along the shores of the Indo-Pacific Ocean—that is to say, in Southeastern Asia. In Siam plenty | of mud skippers are to be found. | The most remarkable accomplish- | ment of the mud skipper is to climb | trees. With its pectoral fins it catches | hold of a tree trunk as firmly as if it | had hands. It goes up into the tree in | sfar(‘h of insects, sunshine and fresh air. The mud skipper has a loud, hoarse voice. —_— e When Handel once undertook, in a.‘ crowded church, to play the dismissal on a fine organ, the congregation were so entranced that they did not stir, till | at length the regular organist impa- | tiently waved Handel out of his seat, saying: See how soon I can disperse them.” | | entailed upon the city, whereas the reg- | ular expenses of an organized depart- | ment are the same whether fires be | truck men, $1500 for captains and $1450 o | frequent or infrequent, and the alarms | for engineers. You cannot dismiss a congregation. | themselves cost just what extra out- COSTS OUR 'CITY "$25 EVERY BIAE THE FIRE ALARM BELL RINGS. EW YORK claims that every alarm of fire, of which there is an average of eighteen daily, false and actual, costs $545. This . sum is just $345 in excess of | what London pays for the same | inestimably valuable modern conveni- ence of learning where fires are, and having them extinguished. i In Greater New York, with its five boroughs, there was during the past | fiscal year 6463 alarms, and the entire cost of maintaining the fire department was $3,510,000. The fire department of Boston spent during the same time | $1,138,000, that of Philadelphia $913,190 32 | and that of San Francisco only $626,- 000. While London, with an average of ten fires each twenty-four hours, allows her fire department only $750,000 for twelve months’ expenses. In arriving at the cost, as stated, for each fire alarm, the New York method | of procedure is simply to divide the en- | tire expense of the department by the | number of alarms sent in during the| given time. This way of presenting the matter is, however, decidedly un- fair and is certain to give an additional | terror to the sounds of the fire bells | and whistles as they clang and shriek into the taxpayers’ ears. The absurdity of such reckoning is self-evident, since the conclusion at which a mathematical mindsmust ar- rive is that the greater the number of fires the less is the expense which is fires when fires occur and repair dam- aged apparatus. Computing the cost according to the New York method, San Francisco, whose allowance for her firemen is far less than that of any of the other large cities, with the exception of London, where the firemen are very poorly paid and poorly cared for, paid $654 for each of her fire alarms last year. This fact, | however, is a cause for self-congratu- lation on the part of her citizens, since it shows that there were only 957 alarms during that entire peried. The actua! average cost of each of these alarms, that is the additional ex- pense to which-they put the depart- ment, was just $24 90, so no San Fran- ciscan need shudder when bells and whistles sound, save at the thought of the danger, if the alarm be a genuine one, into which brave men rush, with- out thought of anything but their duty, at that call. The entire force employed by the London fire department comprises only 1000 men, whose wages are about hal the average paid to regular fire-fighters in our large cities. New York has 1700 paid men on her roll, Boston 800 and San Francisco 564, this list including both uniformed and ununiformed men. The Boston department, the special pride of that city, has a drill school where new members serve thirty days | and go through all that a fireman has | to go through, with the exception of | actual fire and smoke. Fire fighting is| a life profession with Boston firemen after they pass the severe ordeal of the | drill school and serve six months on probation. The salaries paid are good, | being $1000, $1100 and $1200 for hose and | Philadelphia pays $100 yearly more to her hose and truck men, lay is required to answer them, fight $60 less to her captains and $70 less to her engineers, while San Francisco pays her engineers more money and her other men a little less. Bosten has forty-five engine compa- nies, including two double compznies, two fire boats, seventeen ladder compa- nies, twelve chemical engines, two wa- ter towers, one independent hose com- pany, two combination wagons and two combinaticn ladder companies, and San Francisco’s equipment consists of thir- ty-four engine companies, six chemical engines, seven truck companies, one water tower and twq monitor batteries. Compared with other cities, our pro- portion ¢f the $112,500,000 yearly lost by fire in the United States is very small, and we have the lowest death rate among our firemen. Had we a fully paid fire department, instead of de- pending, as we do, for a great part of | the actual work done at fires upon ‘“ex- tra” men, who, receiving only $35 monthly, are allowed to employ them- selves cther ways provided they obey fire-calls with all possible alacrity, it would be of great advantage to our residents and property owners. The extra expense would be more than com- pensated for by the greater efficiency of well-drilled and always “ready” men. As matters are now arranged, we have only 155 uniformed men who make* a business of giving their entire time and attention tc the regular fireman’s duties, but we have nearly 400 men, “members at call,” scattered about the city eking out their ‘‘extraman’s pay” by various employments. £ —_————————— “Billinger is going to lecture on the Klondike."” “Fudge! he has never been there.” “Well, neither have the people who will hear him lecture,” A TURKISH GIANT WHO HAS COME TO THIS COUNTRY TO WRESTLE ALL COMERS honors has no knotty muscles standing out like the every day ‘strong man,” but is smoothly developed, no one set of muscles having been enlarged at the . expense of the others. He says quite confidently that he can throw Sandow out of any window the latter may se- lect. The only proviso he makes is that the window shall be large enough for Sandow's body to be squeezed through. Graeco-Roman wrestler, has re- cently arrived in New York in search of-a match. He has de- pusited $500 and declares he s ready to meet all comers. He stands six feet two inches high and weighs 220 pounds. The new aspirant for champlonship YOUSOUF ISMAIL, the Turkish “REVERSE BODY" IN HIS STREET DRESS. YOUSOUF AND HIS TRAINING PARTNER IN THE “CROSS-ARM" POSiTIOX. YOUSOUF ISMAIL HOLD WITH THE “TERRIBLE" GREEK IN JEOPARDY. END OF “REVERSE BODY" HOLD AND THE BOUT..