The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 4, 1904, Page 23

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY. DECEMBER 4, 1904. WRITTEN FOR THE CALL BY F. P. DUI Copyright, 1904, by McClure, Phillips & Co. p ""—-—\—-—‘i‘ ] boots on explodin’ bombs dhropped in be | HIM poor la-ads rble Hennessy. time,” “Ye niver can tell,” said | Iv coorse it looks as though two whin Port Ar- e or is laid u;)Y in th’ pa-apers that | " London Fudge, a obsarver or liar sta- | arned fr'm a Chiny- ived fr'm Pekin on | something | Says he: e de- day s is describe. Port Arth ba gination. definders in Port | Arthur must be havin’ said Mr. | survive i to skeletons. The:; cook th th’ Japanese. vitch shot an’ kilt Gin’ral Bejeeski in a quarrel over a bar iv soap which th’ for- | mer was atin’ fr lunch. Gin'ral Stoessel has lost both arms, a leg an’ the right ear, but he is still cheerful an’ las’ night had his | fur overcoat cooked an’ sarved at a dinner to th’ officers iv th’ Probijienky reg'mint. He proposed a toast to th’ impiror in kero- | Th' toast was subsiquintly devoured sene. be th’ famished garrison. None iv th’ gar- | rison sleep at night much on account iv th’ heejous roar iv th’ Jap’mese shells, which | | are dhropped into th’ town at th’ rate iv ! wan millyon a day. Me informant tells me, | an’ he’s a man whose wurrud I wud accipt | as soon as me own, that th’ ships in th’ harbor have been convarted into junk, | which must not be confused with th’ Chi- nese boats iv th’ As fast as | they ar-re destroyed they ar-re eaten be th’ crew. It is no uncommon sight to see a starvin’ Russian sailor divin’ in th’ harbor f'r a castiron bolt or some such toothsome morsel. Th’ intilligent Chinyman who brought me th’ news escaped just as th’ cook f'r Gin'ral Stoessel was about to put him in th’ oven. Th’ Chinese are great same name. sticklers f'r preservin’ their identity afther | death, an’ this man nachrally didn’t like to | | gine his ancesthors in "th’ shape iv chop- sooey. Altogether th’ condition iv Port Arthur is worse thin ye'er readers cud im- | agine an’ almost as bad as they cud hope. in th’ last issue about delinquent subscrib- ers. It is headed ‘Meanin’ You,’ an’ goes on to say that th’ iditor an’ his wife mus’ live, that they have jus’ moved into a new dugout an’ that if th’ cash is not forth- comin’ he will be obliged to mintion names.’ “An’ that's what I can’t understand, Hin- | nissy. How is it, d’ye suppose, that if Port Arthur is so bad off, they can have a daily paper? Th’ man that runs it must be a gr-reat journalist. I wudden’t like to give up me paper. It's all I have in life. But if | I was as thin as an empty hen-cocp an’ had | just devoured me las’ collar, an’ if I knew | that T wudden't make aven 3 dacint muss if ! a Jap'nese shell hit me, but wud look like Las’ week Gin'ral Blinko- | Th’ Port Arthur Daily Melojéen, th’ on'y | | paper now published there, has a long kick | SOrME OF MR. DOOLEY’S OBSERVATIONS. ORT ARTHUR ain’t sufferin’ nearly as bid as I am about it. It wud prob’bly be th’ place to spind th’ winther if ye didn’t mind livin’ in a fallen city.”’ i “I’ve wept me last weep over 1h’ sufferin’ iv th’ be- sieged. 1’ll sav> me tears about Port Arthur till all | th’ rayturns are in.”’ LI o “4 man iv me ade loses more frinds in a year an’ is in more danger thin a definder iv Port Arthur at twinty-wan.”’ “Bustin’ shellsis on’y wan iv th’ chances iv life like pnoomony an’ ardyin’ with a polisman.”’ “A hungry man won’t fisht excipt for food an’ he’d follow a beefsteak twice as far as he wud th’ flag | i anny Impror or Czar.”’ i & a pile iv loose laths an’ shavin’s struck be a cyclone, d'ye suppose in thim | stances I wud be polite to a man who come ar-round an’ offered me an onyx clock an’ a hatful iv thradin’ stamps to sub- | scribe to his pa-aper? An’ think iv th’ idi- tor. What a job! He has aten a pair iv | rubber boots an’ washed it down with a pint | iv ink an’ he has to go out an’ collect th’ i news on his hands an’ knees. Thin he has to write it up: ‘Society Jottings: Oursilves an’ wife attinded a mos’ jovyal gathering at Gin'ral Punspinski’s palatchal quarthers in Bomproof A las’ night. Th’ jaynial gin'ral had provided a bountiful repast—a beauti- fully cooked war map, which he had pro- cured at great expinse. Th' Jap'nese ad- vanced positions fell to our lot an’ we put it aw: with gr'reat ‘gusto, although if annything there was too much red ink on it. | Our host was at his best. and th’ mornin’ was far advanced befure we reeled home. Ivrybody agrees an injyable time was had. There is no war news as th’ London pa- apers ar-re onavoidably late an’ our corry- spondint is at th’ front. Th’ nex’ time we sind a corryspondint out with a Rooshan army we'll sind him to th’ rear, where he can get some news.’ “An’-while he's gettin’ th’ pa-aper ready a Jap shell is lible to come through th’ roof iv his office an’ pi both him an’ th’ form so bad that nayther wan iv thim can be set up again. “No, sir, if I ain’t far out iv th’ way, Port Arthur ain’t sufferin’ nearly as bad as T am about it. It wud prob’bly be th’ place to spind th’ winther if ye didn’t mind livin’ in a fallen city—a quiet life, conjaynial peo- ple, comfortable an’ safe homes, little wurritk an’ some fightin’. It’s always th’ same way. I've wept me last weep over th’ sufferin’ iv circum- N THE SIEGE OF PORT ARTHUR = NE. th’ besieged. I shed manny tears on ac- count iv th’ poor Spanyards in Sandago, but whin th’ American sojers got info th’ town they were almost suffycated be th’ smell iv garlic cookin’ with omelettes. I raymimber how pained I was over th' dis- perate plight iv th’ sojers an’ diplomats at Peking. I rushed an army over there. They kilt Chinymen be th’ thousands an’ in th’ face iv incredible misstatements fought their way to th’ dures iv th’ palace where their starvin’ brothers were imprisoned. What did they find? They found th’ diplo- mats in their shirt sleeves fillin’ packin’ cases with th’ undherwear iv th’ Chinese impror an’ th’ spoons iv th’ Chinese im- press. Th’ air was filled with cries iv ‘Hin- nery, won't ye set on this thrunk? I can’t get th’ lid down since ye put in that hate- ful idol” Th' English ambassadure was thryin’ on a goold brocaded vest four thou- sand years old, th’ French ambassadure was cratin’ up th’ impror’s libry an’ the German embassy an’ gallant officers iv th’ Kaiser were in th' obsarvatory pryin’ off th’ brass fittings iv th’ tillyscopes. “So I'll save me tears abaut Port Arthur till all th’ rayturns are in. I’d like to get hold iv a copy iv th’ Port Arthur Melojeen. I'wondher where I cud subscribe to it. I'd bet ye'd find it cheerful. ‘Yisterdah was un- ivintful. Th’ Japs threw a few shells be- fure breakfast an’ thin retired. This thing has got to stop. Fridah we had a dog lamed, an’ if this occurs again we will ap- peal to th’ authorities. Th’ Eschemojensky band give a concert on th’ public square an’ manny iv th’ townspeople turned out to hear it. John Smithinski was up befure Judge Hoganenski on th’ familyar charge. He was sentenced to twinty knouts or fifty days. Main street is torn up again. How long will this condition last befure th’ peo- ple iv our fair city rise in their might against th’ corruptionists at th’ City Hall? Closin’ quotations on th’ Port Arthur board iv thrade: Caviar, sixteen asked, fourteen bid; candles quiet an’ unchanged, with a fair demand f'r light upland tallow: “‘Answers to Correspondints—Mayski: Tal:e half a pound iv tar,’a quart iv cookin’ sherry, two pints jv vinegar an’ a pound iv potash an’ apply to_th’ face with a paint brush befure retirin’. — “‘Arthurski Lumleyvitch: No, Arthur, it is not considered in good form whin walkin’ with a lady to run whin a bomb dhrops in ye’er neighborhood. Seize ye'er fair com- panyon be th’ elbows an’ place her in front iv ye. TN rule iv all plite circles is: “La- dies first.” “ ‘Timothyvich K: Jeffreys in th’ sicond round. “‘Anxious: We don’t know.’ “Sure, Hinnissy, it’s always th’ same way. Wan iv th’ strangest things about life is that it will go on in onfav'rable circum- stances an’ go out whin ivrything is aisy. A man can live an’ have a good time no matther what happens to him that don’t kill him. I lived here durin’ th’ cholery. I didn’t like it, but they was on’y wan other thing to do an’ I didn’t care f'r that. If ye're livin’ in a town that’s bein’ bombarded ye don’t like it at first, but afther awhile ye begin to accomydate ye'ersilf to it, an’ by an’ by whin a shell dhrops near ye while ye're argyin’ about th’ tariff ye step aside an’ if ye're still there afther th’ smoke is cleared away ye raysume th’ argymint. Ye have to make new frinds, but so ye do in Chicago. A man iv me age loses more frinds in a year an’ is in more danger thin a definder iv Port Arthur at twenty-wan. Bustin’ shells is on'y wan iv th’ chances iv life, like pnoomony an’ with a polisman. “Besides, I bet ye no garrison iver rey- fused to surrinder whin it was starvin’ on- less it was afraid th' inimy wud shoot th’ man with th' white flag. A garrison be- gins to think iv surrindherin’ whin it can't get pie at ivry meal. Cut out wan iv its meals an’ it begins to wondher what's th’ use iv fightin’ a lot iv nice fellows. Ray- jooce it more an’ some iv th’ sojers will say to th” gin'ral: ‘If ye haven't got a sheet or a pillowslip handy f'r a flag, ye can use our shirts” Ye may change th’ dite to horse meat, but horse meat rayminds a Europeen sojer iv what his mother used to call beef. But he’s got to have enough. A hungry man won't fight excipt fr food, an’ he'd follow a beefsteak twice as far as he wud th' flag iv anny impror or czar.” “Why don’t that Gin'ral Stoessel rindher, annyhow?” asked Mr. Henness “No wan has told him to. He's a Ger- man,” said Mr. Dooley. argyin’ sur- 2 .2 Santa Claus and the Christmas Flngel & 2 BY THE REV. J. FUENDELING, Pastor St. Mark’s German IL.utheran Church. | LRSS e | HO does not like to walk among the brilliantly lighted stores when Christ- mas is approach- ing? Still better, I'like to take a stroll when the stores are closed and most people have gone to their homes. Solemnly the light of the stars is shining down on both palaces and huts. All seems to be quiet, but let us listen with_the most inner emo- tions of our hdart and we will hear sweet sounds. Even it seems as if we can hear accelerating steps. Is it possible the Christmas angel, fol- lowed by Santa Claus, is on his round? Soon they will pass me. Santa | Claus, however, is not surrounded by | a glorious | heavenly light, as is the Christmas angel. But his face beams with a kindness most benignant to the heart. My whole soul was filled with the desire to make a nearer acquaintance with these heavenly messengers. Such wishes are indeed fascinating, but they must not contain any com- mon inclinations. It is a pity most of markind are ignorant of this fact | and therefore extinguish the flames of their enthusiasm that would be able to melt the gates of heaven. Santa Claus and his companion walked quietly along. At last I took courage and touched old Santa Claus —r on the arm. ' ORGANIZATION s the supreme iency in Cali- free eers more clearly it the Legdslature was ablish and provide for system of common ined in every dis- of 1879 further rec- ized the paramaunt beral educational ng that the Universi Il constitute a pu trw be perpetuzlly continucd in the form prescribed through the or- ganic act of its creation. ' In other ways of « ticle concerning | ths in every year. | | | | | \ in the overwhelming value of education, broad, deep, rich. The natural results of such ardent interest have followed and the school system of the State has-been strongly and admirably organized. A State Board of Education, a State superin- | tendent, a eounty Board of Education and a county superintendent in every county, and a board of district trustees in every district supervise and control every item of annual expenditure of millions of dollars and provide for the development of every feature of school life, But little prior to the time of the adopticn of the first california con- stitution in 1849, another educational in- fluence of this age, one destined to ex- pand into importance second only to | the public school, was slowly being created. This was the free public li- brary. It was in March, 1848, that the 100 numerous to mention the people of | Legislature of Massachusetts passed California have manifested their reiief | the act authorizing the leave unnoticed the ! been requested to write “What is it?” he said, turning his face toward me. “Please pardon me, Mr. Santa Claus,” 1 whispered, taking off my hat, “would you not have the kindness of aHowing me to follow you?” The Christmas angel halted and looked at me. I believe he had over- heard my question. He bowed his head. “Your wish is granted,” said Santa Claus. By following them I improved the opportunity of closely ' examining their “features. I noticed the calm- ness that they expressed and did not humor lurking about the mouth of Santa Claus. Sud- denly this old gentleman addressed me, asking, “What are you?” For a moment I was perplexed, and answered after a while, “I have something for The San Francisco Call.” Santa Claus looked at me sarcas- tically and said: “Oh, you must feel entirely unable to meet such a request. That is the reason you have hunted us up. You will make a good reporter, no doubt.” The Christmas angel by this time had reached one of our largest toy stores, whose doors were carefully bolted. “What asked. are you looking for?” I "«:—come to inspect the toys.” “But every door is bolted.” Then Santa Claus burst into loud laughter. “You are indeed a poor sort of re- porter.” i The Christmas angel stepped in front of the boited doors and before I could guess what was going on he already had entered. Santa Claus was about to follow him. “But,” exclaimed I, “how can I go with you? I am no spirit. I cannot go through the bolted doors.” “Please, silence, my son,” said San- ta Claus, “we will fix that all right. Give me your hand.” And he took my right hand. Then it seemed to me as if my spirit left my body. Plainly I noticed my body collapsing and falling to the ground. Already I was entering the store- room in company with Santa Claus. A splendid light pervaded. This light ascended from the Christmas angel. There on high shelves, on broad counters and even scattered on the floor, were stored innumerable toys of all descriptions, such as soldiers, drums, guns, large ténts, houses, most expensive doll houses, dolls dressed in silks and velvets who could walk, open and close their -eyes and cry “Mamma.” And, besides, engines and machinery of all proportions—who can enumerate all these treasures? Slowly the Christmas angel stepped from shelf to shelf, from counter to counter. The farther he went the graver and sadder became the expres- sion of his face. His forehead was covered with clouds and he glanced down with sorrowful eyes on all these treasures. Suddenly he stepped for- ward to a small table, whereon a life- sized doll was seated in a beautiful chair and beside it lay a most beauti- ful trousseau. She stared with her glassy eyes into vacant space. All around her lay large-sized cardboard boxes containing laces, ribbons, dresses, perfumery and even under- wear, night caps, silk hose, kid gloves, jewels, watches and other ornaments. Two large tears were rolling down the cheeks of the Christmas angel and the face of Santa Claus assumed a very angwy look. Up to this time the Christmas angel had remained silent. Now, however, he began to speak in a very mild tone. His voice sounded sweeter than the voige of the most loving of mothers expressing her love to her child. And thus he spoke: “They are destroying the souls of my beloved children. Already the very smallest of them are brought in con- tact with temptation and are filled with malice, jealousy and envy toward one another. Instead of the children receiving the benefit and pleasure of dressing their dolls themselves. they find them fully provided for by strange hands. Oh, you foolish pa- rents, destroying the most beautiful inclinations and ideals of vour chil- dren! God has bestowed these upon our dear little ones, and you, instead FOR FREE LIBRARY of the Boston public library. Moder- ately gaining recognition for a quarter of a century, this new factor of edu- cational power 1in the last thirty years by leaps and bounds has come into its kingdom. It is the one insti- tution which promotes free public ed- ucation during the entire span of life. Granting these premises of useful- uess and strength, it is fair to ask some questions concerning the organ- ized method for the development of these libraries which may have been adopted by the State of California. First, is there a State board charged with the duty of supervising to any ex- tent or assisting in any manner the creation or the operation of free public libraries? No. Second, is there a State superintendent, or any other of- ficer, whose visits to libraries may bring encouragement, whose knowl- edge and experience may insure success and who might help in l\htfill of libraries in A A P e vided with them? None whatever. Have any county boards been intrusted with the privilege of helping the peo- ple organize and sustain libraries whose open doors shali continually in- vite them to mental recreation and in- struction? Such a possibility appears never to have been broached or even dreamed. Has the State, with breadth of vision and liberality of purpose equal to those of the New England States, provided State aid of $100 or $200 to each local library applying for help in the beginning, contingent, be it said, upon due local support? Again a neg- ative reply must be made. What then has been done by the State in its sovereign capacity to buil¢ up and strengthen this great instru- ment for the improvement of one, young or old, who seeks enlight- enment and mental power? The State libraries in cities after they have been established by municipal authority. It also authorizes the support of li- braries by general taxation. The at- tude of the State has been purely permissive. Any incorporated city wishing to have a library is empow- ered to create one. If a city chooses to be without a library it is, appar-| ently, no concern of the State. By no legislation has it defined it to be the duty of any official to carry on the general organization and promo- tion of such educational work. And yet both State constitutions have pro- vided that “a general diffusion of knowiedge and intelligence being es- sential to the p ation of 1) rights and liberties of the people, the of bringing them into view, are hiding and destroying them. Oh, ye fools!” Santa Claus all this while had been listening intently to the words of the Christmas angel, but now he feels as if he must speak himself. “Look at all these dolls,” he began. “Do they not resemble the monkey instead of beautiful woman, as they are intended to, covered with all their useless finery? See also those kitch- ens, all ready for use. thus leaving no room for amusing and play. In for- mer times’the bread for the dolls was made by the hands of the little ones, but now even meat of all kinds is had for the asking.” And while speaking thus it sounded as if he was using very harsh words. At this the Christmas angel turned and reproached him. 5 “Pardon me, can I be blamed for speaking so, when allstheir faith in me has gone?” The Christmas angel bowed and answered: “In every child playing with a toy, however small it may be, we can notice the drift to originality in place of the worn-out imitations which we see daily. Children grow tired of seeing these artificial toys, no matter how beautiful they may be, and after a while they cast them aside.” In the meantime Santa Claus, hav- ing been attracted by the toy rail- roads, fire engines and electrical cars. which were displayed on another counter, roared out with a loud voice: “Nothing “but machines; even our smallest boys are brought up to — adore these things as if they were idols. If this state of affairs con- tinues I will be forced to resign my high position and beg my friend, St. Peter, to give me the position of as- sistant doorkeeper of heaven.” Finally they saw a display of sim- gle toys, such as plainly dressed dolls, uilding blocks, wagohs, horses, ete. With loving and admiring eves the glanced at these, and, uplifting bori his hands, the Christmas angel with bowed head pronounced this benedic- tion: “Blessed are you who are the chil- dren of the less wealthy. To you is given the opportunity of enjoying and improving the divine inclinations of your happy nature. Yours is the kingdom of heaven.” With these words the angel left in the same which he had entered. All at once the whole building be- came clothed in darkness, and thus left alone, filled with fear and terror, I shrieked: “Heaven help me. Shall I be left devoid of my body and all power?>” Then from without I heard the harsh voice of Santa Claus pro- nouncing these words: “Thus have you been punished for your cu- riosity.” ell, however, it afforded me a great deal of pleasure to make your acquaintance and receive so much in- formation.” How glad I was on awakening the next morning I will not here de- scribe. i Christmas manner in | diffuse intelligence of library move- ments and to awaken a stronger pub- lic Interest in library extemsion. To further these purposes library confer- ences are being held from time to time in different cities. At one of these meetings, held at Sacramento on No- | vember 19, a paper of special worth and timeliness was presented. It was entitled “The Value and Work of a State Library Organizer,” and was pre- pared by Inspector W. R. Eastman of the New York State Library at the re- qauest of Joy Lichtenstein, the president of the library association. This paper made clear the exceeding value of a library organizer's work. Ever optimistic in his pursuit, he must have breadth of vision, keenness ang a genuine love for children—they are the coming patrons of the library. It seems as though such an official should be the possessor of all the graces and virtues, the embodiment of manly and i N DEVELOPMENT bounded only by his State lines. Cor- respondence covering every detail of li- brary progress, from the first step in agitating the founding of a library to counsel given in planning a modern li- brary building, comes to his office. Numberless questions are sent consid- ering the administration of a library &nd the purchase of books. Most im- portant of all duties is the visitation of places throughout the State where no libraries exist and also of the weak li- braries which are struggling to live. In the destitute cities the conviction eventually takes root from such re- peated visits that without a library they are behind the times. The strug- gling library is encouraged to greater exertions. Constantly visiting his ter- ritory as the representative of the State's interest in advancing the edu- cation of the people, a masterful or- ganizer acquires their respect, confi- dence and hearty support. Six or more