The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 14, 1895, Page 6

CHARLES M. SHORTRIDGE, Editor and Proprietor. = SUBSCRIPTION RATES: DALY CALL46 per year by mail; by carrler, 15¢ per week. .50 per year. .30 per year. s of the SAN FRANCISCO CALL (Daily and Weekly), Pacific States Adver- tising Bureau, Rhinelander bullding, Rose and Duane New York, THURSPAY MARCH 14, 1895 The people win. Progress has the pull. A word to the Governor—sign, The day of the cinch has gone, Monopoly has lost its cunning, The push of the people is beginning to be felt. There seems to be a new era just now in Probe the scandal to the bottom; turn the rascals out. When honest men fall into line thieves will get their due. We shall have the road and the road #hall have the terminus, Somebody has got hold of the hot end of the poker at Sacramento. The ball that Biggy has started rolling anay turn out to be an avalanche, The competing road will improve not only the mud flats but the whole State. It appears there was something worse than the useless attache in the woodpile. There till a chance for our Legisla- e to make the Indiana racketlook small. Now then, what kind of thing would a legislative investigating committee have been? Some orators talk through their hats, but Big talked through the cap of the limax. Colonel Mazuma must have had a feline *heart well as a cat-like tread, for he came ba T ne the charge of bribery must not be dropped in the waste-basket nor lost in the shutlle. The storm center at Sacramento is al- most fierce enough to make the golden eagle scream. There is nothing on the inside of a silu- rian worth having, but it might pay to skin him for his hide. There are black spots in some places, but fortunately they are mainly around the eyes of the monopoly. Send the WeekrLy CALL to your Eastern fr nd give them a comprehensive 1f the competing road will help your business and improve your property, why don’t you subscribe to it? If you can do nothing else toward street improvement, you can at least talk for it and help formulate the demand. There is so much harmonyin the State now that all the Counties can sing in con- cert instead of doing the choir act. Improving the streets will not only be a step in the right direction, but it will make it easier for every other step that is taken. Tt is now evident we can invite the next Republican National Convention to come to San Francisco and see a progressive city. The Legislature will not adjourn in a blaze of glory, but there will be blaze enough to roast a good many members of it. Get the WEEKLY CALL that appears this morning and take a general review of the events of the last seven days all over the world. Boom enterprises in the past were in the habit of lying around, but the business enterprises of the present spring up and go ahead. Turning dreary mud flats into a solid foundation for industry and trade, will be a good symbol of the work which enter- prise and progress are about to perform all over the State. ‘When you are denouncing the iniquity of the Legislature don’t forget to do justice to those honest and fearless members who fought for the interests of the people and maintained the cause of justice. The property-owner who, despite the act that he will derive large profits from the competing road, refuses to subscribe to its stock, is a kind of sneak thief who en- riches himself by picking the pockets of other men’s enterp: The Madera Mercury is doing good work in rousing the people of that county toa comprehension of the importance of assist- ing the railroad enterprise and very justly says they cannot afford to lag while the rest of the valley is moving. The Los Angeles IHerald says: *The San Francisco CaLL ‘expects Los Lngeles to standin with us on the competing road.’ ‘What! to Bakersfield?”” Why, certainly. It is better to stand in than to sit down even at Bakersfield. ILet Los Angeles meet us there and have a combination fiesta. Senators Aram, Arms, Dunn, Hart, Hen- derson, Hoyt, Linder, Mahoney, McGowan, Mitchell, Orr, Seawell, Seymour, Shine, Simpson and Toner voted against the peo- ple in the interests of the monopoly on the San Jozquin terminal bill, agnd their con- stituents will either find out why they did it or indulge in a huge surmise, The Del Norte Record calls attention to a curious eddy in the current of trade ex- hibjted by the fact that *‘pickle roll butter which was shipped below last fall by some of the dairymen is now being shipped back again, as it can be sold here for more than it can be in.San Francisco, after paying the cost of transportation both ways.” Reid of Trinity asserted in the Assembly on Tuesday that he had never talked at that time with any representative of. the Southern Pacific in regard to the terminal bill. C. W. Cross, attorney for the South- ern Pacific, is reported to have said the same evening at the Golden Eagle, that he talked with Reid on the subject that morn- ing. Here there i§ one of those contradic- tions in life that perplex ingenuity, and ‘we submit it as a mystery for clever people to explain. BEFORE THE GOVERNOR. Now that both branches of the Legisla- ture have passed the bill authorizing the Harbor Commission to lease fifty acres of the mud flats of San Francisco to the San Joa- quin Valley Railroad for terminal uses, the Governor’s approval is all that remains to make the bill effective. While it is hardly conceivable ghat he will fail to approve the bill, it is well to consider the two objec- tions which were raised in the recent dis- cussions over it. The first of these was that by reason of its general character either the valley road might secure a lease in the interest of the Southern Pacific Company or that any other railroad company (which means the Southern Pacific) might lease similar lands under its provisions. It would be difficult to imagine any proposition more farcical than that an enterprise started by capitalists for the sole purpose of breaking the chains which the South- ern Pacific has fastened upon them should begin by assisting that monopoly in increasing its bondage over them. Itis equdlly absurd to imagine that the Souths ern Pacific, which already owns many times the number of mud-flat acres re- quired by the San Joaquin Valley road, should desire to lease more from the State at a heavy annual rental—especially in view of these facts: First, that its own lands are more convenient to its purposes; second, that these lands can be improved at far less expense than the State’s; third, that improvements placed upon its own lands will belong to it for all time, whereas under this act of the Legislature they would have to be surrendered with the land at the end of fifty years. Thisassumed danger is not worthy of any serious con- sideration. The other objection is that the act is un- constitutional. All other considerations laid aside for the present, it is clear that the Supreme Court, particularly in this case, is the only proper tribunal for passing upon the constitutionality of the act. Itis altogether unlikely that the question will ever be raised in the courts, equally un- likely that the Supreme Court would de- clare the act unconstitutional if the ques- tion were brought before it, and certain that whoever would raise it must bear a most uncomfortable load of public odium. And it cannot be assumed thatthe men who have so much at stake in the matter, and who have declared that they are ready to proceed under the provisions of this act, have neglected any precautions in zecuring the best legal advice obtainable. If they are willing to take their chances on the €o! tutionality of the act, it would be ridiculous for any one else to make an objection. Standing infinitely above all other con- siderations is the fact that the Legislature has passed the bill. For this act it de- serves the most generous praise and the heartiest thanks. It cannot be doubted that the temptation to err was exceedingly strong; and while it is expected of every public officer that he will do his duty the history of California Legislatures has made it possible to be thankful for the perform- ance of a simple act of fidelity. The CarL heartily congratulates the people of the State on this their first great victory over a formidable power that hitherto has been deemed invincible. It congratulatesthem on having as the champions of their lib- erty and the guardians of their prosperity men who have the courage to attempt and the ability to achieve so tremendous an undertaking. This victory means notalonethat a com- peting local railroad can have terminal facilities at San Francisco; not alone that the vast fertile plains of the San Joaquin may become densely populated with a happy and prosperous people who may keep for themselves a fair share of their earnings; not alone that thousands of un- employed men may have an opportunity to work for a living, and not alone that San Francisco may becggne what its natural advantages long ago might have made it—one of the greatest cities in the United States. Above and beyond all these things the victory means that the sleeping giant has been roused at last and is stretch- ing his great limbs in the zonsciousness of apower that long ago might have been em- ployed to burst asunder the flimsy walls of ais prison. THE BIRTH OF FELLOWSHIP The Los Angeles Erpress cheerfully agrees with the sentiment expressed by the CALL that “the interests of all parts of California are the interests of San Fran- cisco.” And, while it charges, perhaps with a sufficient foundation of truth to entitle its assertion at least to respectiul attention, that “‘there is too much of the idea prevailing in San Francisco that it is the only place on this Coast,” and “that she should no more be expected to inter- est herself in the rest of the State than a grown man would be expected to go out and play marbles on the street corner with acrowd of boys,” it generously refrains from singing the old song of Southern Cal- ifornia’s superiority over the rest of the State, and expresses a desire for the pros- perity of all parts of California. It is true that a wise consideration of her own interests might years ago have made San Francisco more alert to the importance of lending her sympathy, enterprise and capital to all parts of the State. For her shortcomings in this regard she has sui- fered abundantly and justly, and in addi- tion to this she has received due punish- ment and disgrace from neglect of her in- ternal affairs. But all this is past and gone. The first departure from the old order came when the Merchants’ Association began to clean the streets and take pride in the appear- ance of the City, and then, feeling at last the great heart of the whole State pulsa- ting in harmony with her own, she has stretched forth her arms and taken to her bosom that splendid garden through which the San Joaquin wends its shining way to the sea. Into these smiling plains will she now pour her hoarded millions, and be the benefactor that one is who makes a flower grow where none had grown before. Is not this a splendid evidence that San Fran- cisco has awakened from a dreamless sleep and. will nourish and fraternize with her sisters and children wherever they may be? AN ELOQUENT QUARREL. The suddenness with which the Senate yesterday disposed of the San Joaquin Valley terminal matter may or may not have been inspired by the scandalous dis- closures of bribery which have been made in that dignified body. Still another chapter of the story was the exciting episode at the Golden Eagle Hotel Tues- day evening. That episode is valuable as showing unmistakably the source of all the opposition which has been brought to bear on the bill. In that affair C. W. Cross, an_attorney and lobbyist for the Southern Pacific Company, permitted his zeal to overcome his discretion so far as to denounce the bill as a ‘*‘steal.” The effectual manner in which he was taken in hand and disposed of by Colonel Preston was fully set out in yesterday’'s CarL. If this incident is not sufficient to explain the earnestness which hasbeen exhibited lately in efforts to show that the bill was ‘‘un- constitutional” or “in the interest of the THE FRANCISCO CALL, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1895 { Southern Pacific Company,”’ we are far at sea in our knowledge of that sort of human nature which has the knack of disclosing itself at Sacramento. If the bill should be further assailed 1t is not permitted to us to exercise any -extraordinary mental facul- ties in identifying the assailant. THE “WEEKLY CALL. The WeEkLY CaLyL is keeping pace with the Daily and many improvements have recently been made both in matter and make-up. It is a valuable publication to send to friends in the East, as it contains not only the most important items which appear in the daily, but also a summary of Pacific Coast events prepared especially for it. This week’s issue is a reflex of events at the State and National capital, as well as of happenings the world around. Under the head of Agriculture and Hor- ticulture will be found articles of practical value relating to these industries. News from the gold mines of California, and, in fact, the entire Pacific Coast, will be found upon the page devoted to that in- terest. The news of the coast will be found con- densed under the head of Coast Review. Every county, every town and every in- dustry receives attention as opportunity offers. The fraternal world is photographed for the benefit of our readers, and the Query Column is an encyclopedia of information. The household department contains recipes, fashion notes and information of value to the housewife. A resume of the markets is given, which is reliable and up to date. A feature just introduced is a collection of birth, marriage and death notices from all over the State. The subscription price of the weekly is $1 50 per annum LAW NOT ANARCHY. In commenting upon our opposition to the income tax, the Willows Journal says: That usually well-balanced and conservative paper, the CALL, has recently become thor- oughly anarchist and outlaw in some respects. It is engaged in inciting opposition to the law and the powers that be; and if that is not anarchy—aye, worse, treason—we do not know the meaning of the words. Well, the Journal doesn’t understand the meaning of words. Opposition to law through the medium of the courts is not anarchy, but a resort to means provided Dy the constitution for the protection of the people against the encroachments of Congress. ‘What would have been the condition of this country had there never been any one to dispute Congressional and legislative enactments and bring them to the test of the courts? The liberties of the American people are largely due to those who at their private cost and risk fight the battles of the public and appeal from legislative injustice to the abiding principles of the constitution. If the income tax is con- stitutional we will obey it, but we propose to test it before we do. Although the Assembly has refused per- mission to San Franciscp to throw a bridge across East street at the foot of Market, by the time that the new ferry building is completed another Legislature will be in office, when the subject may be reopened, perhaps with better results. If there is no way to get the cobblestones off the streets we had better move the streets out of town. SPIRIT OF THE PRESS. One of the best acts of the State Legislature ‘was the making of an appropriation to estab- lish a forestry station on Mount Hamilton, in Mountain View Register. The publication of railroad time-tablesby the CALL 15 & good stroke of policy. Although it is published without price good returns will come from it by additional salesof the paper.—Berke- ley Gazette. A new hazing fraternity has been organizing at the State University. If the faculty would adopt the policy of publicly hazing the hazers this barbarous sport would soon be eliminated from college life.—San Jose Mercury. Mrs. Dominis has been found guilty, and she will probably be presented with a ticket for America. If she comes, we ask, after she has taken a good look at California, that she go straight to Cleveland. ta Cruz Sentinel. An item in yesterday’s CALL contains a whole lesson in itself. It isas follows: “When you help your neighbor’s business you put him in & position to help yours.” Every man in Galt should paste this item in his hat, study it over carefully and profit b Galt Gazette, San Franciscans desire to tax by high license the quiet innocent flower-sellers that ply their vocations on the corners. Who says that San Francisco does not possess statesmen? Kick the flower-girl into the bay, but let the octopus ride you to death.—Porterville Enterprise. The rumor that the proposed change in the time-table, so that the afternoon train will leave Sacramento half an hour later, is to en- able San Francisco members of the Legislature to reach home after night, when the Legisla- ture adjourns, lacks confirmation and is prob- ably untrue.—Woodland Democrat. Merced may get two roads out of the compet- ingSan Joaquin Valley proposition. Of course the line south from Stockton will touch Mer- ced, and many believe that if a branch line should be built through the Santa Clara Valley and Pacheco Pass into the San Joaquin Valley it would come direct to Merced from Pacheco Pass.—Merced Sun. Talk up your town. Don’t runitdown. If you do not like it leave it, but don’t stay here end abuse it. Aslong as you choose to reside here you are a component partof the place, and are very foolish to seek your own dispar- agement. Talk up your town, write and speak in its praise and show yourself worthy of your home and your friends.—Marysville Appeal. An editorial paragraph in the CALL contains & whole lesson in itself. It is as follows: “When you help your neighbor’s business you put him in a position to help yours.” The Telegraph says every one in Grass Valley should clip this out and place it in his hat, study and profit by it. Eve pbusiness man in Truckee would do well by doing iikewise.— Truckee Republican / AdventureSome young men who want to go on & polar expedition at small expense can strike out for the Western Kansas prairies and wrestle with the blizzards. True, they will not find the north pole, but polar expeditions never do that. They can getout of sightof human habitations, and freeze and starve, and thus have the same sort of fun they would en- joy in the Arctic regions.—Alameda Telegram, The present Legislature has been reckless with the taxpayers’ money, and the appropria- tions already provided for far exceed those of former years. Governor Budd has it in his power to give the people relief, as the law pro- vides he can n?mve or reject any, part of an appropriation bill, and it is ho; e may use his power discreetly when the appropriation bills come before him for eonnzienuon.-— Bakersfield Democrat. Manufacturers of pickles in California put foreign labels on the bottles “to make them sell.” They say the pickles would not find a ready market at home if they were sold for what they are. The manufacturers probably speek from experience, for they would not be likely to discredit their own wares without strong reasons. It is no wonder, therefore, that California pruues are sold at home as French, and the olives as 8panish, when the consnmers pay 200 per cent profit to those who fool them. If Californians would prefer Cali- fornia products they would save money and enable home producers to make money. The preference for foreign products offers a premium on dishonesty retards home progress.—Stockton Indepena‘elm. o TILLIE SALINGER TALES SHOP, When I look back st the first four years I spent on the stage they seem like a gorgeous, unreal dream. At that time, though, it seemed quite the natural thing to be singing for nizams and rajahs and all sorts of other serenities and highnesses. Imade my debut in Calcutta, 2nd after that my father’s company toured through India for two years, singing operas like the “Grand Duchess” and «Pinafore.” Among other dis- tinguished Europeans that we played before were the Duke and Duchess of Connaught. The most interesting part of our travels was when we strayed into pative states and principal- ities. The Nizam of Hyderabad was very kind to us, and when the Gaikwar of Baroda was married he sent for our company to the palace to assist in the wedding festivities, which lasted a week. What a gorgeous place that palace was! They had so crowded it with guests that late- comers had to live in tents. The word tent does not give any ides of the canvas pavilions ana palaces that the Gaikwar had caused to be erected for his guests. They were all padded and hung with magnificent tapestries. Our feetsank into the carpets and cushions that covered the ground, and every necessity and l‘x‘;“dry, even to beautiful baths, had been pro- vided. We were given six elephants to go about on to the races, bull-fights and other amusements that were provided for the guests, and a large sum of money was peid us for two performances in the hall of the palace, where the Gaakwar had & handsome stage set up. Our audiences wcre composed entirely of wedding guests, and the bride, s very young girl, whose face was heavily veiled, sat in a MISS TILLIE SALINGER. box near the stage when we sang *Pinafore” and the “Pirates of Penzance.” Although we attended the wedding we never saw the bride’s face. The ceremony took place in the palace and wes the sort of scene one would imagine in the “Arabian Nights.” Although it was daylight all the light that en- tered was colored, as if it had shone through a rainbow. The dresses and jewels of the dis- tinguished people present were dazzling, The rites were very imposing, though they were in Hindostani, of course, but there were per- formances by dancing-girls, as well as strange, weird music made by tom-toms and other na- tive instruments. After leaving India we went to Burmah, and were in time to see something of the war— indeed, we were only a few miles from Manda- lay when the King capitulated.. I have some very curious relics that were brought from the palace. One of them is an embroidered umbrella that the Princesses had used. Penang and Hongkong were our next desti- nations, but the strangest adventure we met with happened in Japan. A number of opera companies had privately advertised to play “The Mikado” there, but had always becn threatened with imprison- ment if they persisted in giving the perform- ance, 8o the work had never been played. Welll we advertised it as ‘‘Three Little Maids from School,” but of course the European and American colonies knew quite well what it was. The English Consul wanted to curry favor with the Emperor, so he represented that the opera was very disrespectiul to the Mikado, and kept sending us letters saying that he ‘would have us «ll arrested if we went on with it. The strangest thing was that the attorney who wrote the letters quietly told us to go ahead and play “The Mikado” in spite of the Consul. Right up till 3 o'clock of the day advertised for the performance the Consul kept sayiug that he would arrest us. That afternoon & number of officials came down from the palace with & long document asking whether there was anything offensive to the Mikado in the opera. Aswe had changed the word “Mikado” to “King” and had not used the word “Jap- anese” in the libretto, my father signed the document with a clear conscience, but all the same there were a number of officials present at the performance, who watched every word, to seeif it reflected on the Mikado. The next morning the papers contained pas- sages something like this: “If her Majesty’s Consul had gone about the city as & sandwich man he could not have given a better adver- tisement for the Salinger Opera Company.” And they must have been right, for we were able to double the prices all over the theater and pack the house for two nights, which is an unheard of thing in Tokio, where the white theater-going population is so small. S L. PERSONAL. H. R Bush of Suisun was at the Lick yester- day. F. D. Chandler of Elmira was at the Lick last night. W. G. Hickman of Georgetown isa guest at the Russ. P. A. Buell, a lumberman of Stockton, is at the Grana. J. B. Porter, a merchant of Salinas, is at the Occidental. H. Gunnsey, a cattleman of Nevada, is regis- tered at the Lick. k4 R. H. Willey, an attorny of Monterey, is reg- istered at the Grand. Dr. Elmer E. Stone of Marysville isat the California with his wife. J. H. Flickinger, the San Jose fruitman, is registered at the Palace. Thomas Dunican, a large cattle-owner of Em- pire, Nevada, is ap the Russ. z J. L. Goss of the printing press company bearing his name is at the Palace. Twelve Japanese students en route from Ger- many to their nativeland areat the Occidental. General Wesley Merritt, U. 8. A., is a guest at the Palace. His two daughters sccompany A George F. Swift and Ed Morris, two of Chi- ©ago’s most extensive meat-packers, are at the Palace. Isaac Phero, superintendent of repairs in the Western Union telegraph office at Decatur, 1., and wife are visiting the former’s father, Cap- tain J. H. Phero, of the Pacific Coast Steamship Company. FEOPLE TALKED ABOUT. The story is told of the late Professor Blackie that when he once put a card on the door of his lecture-room reading, “Professor Blackie will meet his classes P. M.,”” some waggish student obliterated th " in “classes.”” Hap- pening to pass that way the old professor saw the change. Stepping up to the door he oblit- erated the letter “I” and went grimly on his ‘way without a word. Juan Dias Faes died recently in the province of Asturias, Spain. He was aman of herculean build and strength; a giant who with his bare flsts was able to fight and subdue bears in the mountains, With one blow he once almost killed a famous English boxer, and his hunting adventures fbrmed the basis of novels and melodramas. Stephen B: Elkins, United States Senator- elect from West Virginia, is in the City of Mexico. He is accompanied by his family, and his trip has a commercial and perhaps political significance. On his way to Japan Colonel John A. Cock- erill broke one of his arms. AROUND THE CORRIDORS. Frank Butler, an ex-mail clerk, who spent many years in the postal service, but who now takes life easy on a little ranch which he owns in the southern part of the State, was at the Grand yesterday, and in discussing various phases of & mail clerk’s experiences incident- ally referred to a late order issued by the Post- master-General revoking sl railroad passes held by mail clerks except on the divisions on which they run while on duty. “Thisorder also provides that all mail clerks must live on the line of the road or division on which they run,” said Mr. Butler, “and this will do away with the system of deadheading from the place of residence to the towns between which the men run. Hitherto it has long been the cus- tom for mail clerks to live where it Best suited them. For instance, a mail clerk having & run from San Francisco into Nevada or to Ogden mightlive in Los Angeles, and his pass would have been good for a trip to hishome at any time. For some time past new men who have made application to take the civil service ex- amination have been obliged to make an agree- ment that they would live on the division of the road essigned to them asarun. Themat- ter was brought before Congress some weeks ago, and that body repudiated the order of the Postmaster-General, and a bill was passed which explicitly stated that the postal clerks should not be compelled to take up their resi- dence on the line of the road. In order to cir- cumvent thislaw the order first mentioned has been issued by the Postmaster-General.” The force of clerks, private watchmen and other attaches of the Palace are required to be constantly on the alert to foil the efforts made every day by'disreputable people who seek to gain access to the upper floors, loiter about the corridors or cbtain the location of certain rooms in the great hotel building. The long passageway leading from Market street through to the rear of the edifice is, through the courtesy of the hotel management, open to the public, and is used by many persons who have business in the branch postoffice located in the rear. This privilege gives the “trail- ers,” who seek the acquaintance of male guests. opportunities which the hotel detectives find it difficult at times to overcome. The hotel reg- ister is the object of solicitous attention from these social vampires. Frequently & well- dressed woman will accost a clerk with the in- quiry “Will you kindly inform me what room Mr. So and So has?”’ An inflexible rule of the house prohibits giving out the numbers of rooms of guests to strangers, and the invariable answer to such a question is a suggestion that the inquirer send up a card. The clerks of the hotel look with suspicion upon all letters ad- dressed to male guests in a feminine hand, and nine-tenths of the missives of this character are delivered to the guest over the counter in- stead of being sent to his room. R. H. Logan, a gentleman who is largely in- terested in mining propertiesboth in this State and Nevada, is at the Lick. He says that pros- pectors who are possessed of means are con- stantly looking for opportunities 10 undertake the development of any kind of mineral or vegetable deposit nowadays, and that gold and silver are not looked upon as the only promis- ing treasures concealed in the bosom of mother earth. “In Lyon County, Nev.,” said he, “‘there is a very extensive deposit of gypsum, which has been located and relocated time and again. Aside from aload or two taken out at inter- vals, however, it has never been worked until recently, but now several enterprising gentie- men have teken hold of the property and pro- pose to see if there is not money in it. They have within the past few weeks shipped a couple of carlonds of the gypsum to this city. Itisused for stucco-work, sidewalks, ete., and is said to be the finest material of the kind to be found anywhere.” General Wesley Merritt, who is at the Palace with his two daughters, is a noted character in military circles. He is a graduate of West Point, and in 1882 was placed in command of that institution, where he remained until 1887. During the war he was conspicuous in & num- ber of engagements. When General Stoneman made his celebrated raid toward Richmond in 1863 General Merritt, who was then a captain, bore a prominent part in the campaign. For gallant and meritorious services during the battle of Gettysburg he received promotion and in March, 1865, he was brevetted brigadier- general and major-general in the regular army for bravery at the battle of Five Forks and his services during the final Virginia campaign. SUPPOSED TO BE HUMOROUS. “Did you read about that man in Baltimore who swallowed his glass eye?” asked the youngest boarder. “I did,” replied the cheerful idiot. “And it does seem to me that he was carrying the mod- ern weakness for introspection a ftrifie too far.”—Indianapolis Journal. Mrs. Jones—Charles has an unconquerable spirit. . Mrs. Smith—Indeed! Mrs. Jones—Yes; he was two hours unlocking the front door early this morning.—Pick Me Up. A girl whose first name is Merei is visiting in town. We would like to know what her name 'was before she began fooling with it.—Atchison Globe. “My friend,” said the solemn gentleman, “‘are you aware that even the heathen red In- dian does not indulge in the pernicions prac- tice of profanity?”’ “I am,” answered the man who had been trying to raise the car-window, “and I have no doubt that that is the reason the red man, when he gets mad, goes out and kills some- body.”—Cincinnati Tribune. “I should have you know, sir, thatI am a Londoner, and was born in London.” “But I, sir, was born in Cork, andIam a Corker!”—Boston Globe. Compensation—He—That's Mrs. Grimshaw, who lectures on bimetallism. I've heard her. How exasperatingly clever she seems to be! She—Yes—buthow consolingly ugly!—Punch. In 1995—“You'll do just as I tell you,” said the husband of the advanced woman. “What?" shrieked his wife. “I mean it!” said the husband. “I’dhave you understand that I wear the skirts in this family.”—Chicago Record. “De great wisdom ob nature,” said Uncle Eben, “am shown in the fac’ datde cullud gemman doan’ hankah ahter teriapin, while de white gemman tuh’ns up he nose at pos- sum.”—Washington Star. BacoN Printing Company, 508 Clay street. * ——————— CRYSTALLIZED ginger, 25¢ 1b, Townsend’s. * e s CUR-IT-UP; heals wounds, burns and sores as if by magic; one nJ)phufion cures poison oak; it relieves pain and abates inflammation. * ————— THOSE WHO CONTEMPLATE BUILDING can do so Advmtlfieousl{mw themselves by entrusting their building improvements to Jas. E. Wolfe, architect, Flood building, Specialties in flats.’ ———— The great cable corporations and con- struction companies of the world own, all told, forty vessels, several of them over 4000 tons burden. THE tortufes of dyspepsiaand sick headache, and the sufferings of scrofula, the agonizing itch and pain of salt rheam, the disagreeable symptoms af catarrh, are removed by Hood's Sarsaparilla. et o “BROWN'S BRONCHIALTROCHES " are nnrivaled for relieving Coughs, Hoarseness and all Throat “Troubles. Sold only in boxes. —————— MoTHERS give Dr. Siegert’s Angostura Bitters to their children to stop colic and looseness of the bowels, Correspondence, Milan ,February 19. Let me try to describe what the theater of La Scala looked like last night at 8:45 when | the Maestro Mascagni, the composer of ““Caval- | leria Rusticana,” raised his baton to conduct the first performance of his new opera, “Will- iam Ratcliff.” Up, up so far away that the people seemed | dwarfed, and right down to the vast stage it- self, the eye wandered almost stupefied over | the aristocratic erowd, & mass of blue and crimson, pink and azure silks, ribbons, laces | and feathery embroideries, a stupendous color { MASCAGNL symphony, in fact, that made the six vast tiers of boxes look like flower beds in May, where the glitter of diamonds might have passed for morning dew. Perhaps we shall again see a theater as splendid as that of yesterday, but never one more splendid. After seeing the opera we are still asking ourselves, What is there in Scotland so mys- tertously romantic as to have given toliter- eture Heine's “William Ratcliff” and to music Mascagni’s triumphent notes? Mattei’s trans- lation of Heine's story is & masterpiece, though Ican only give you & summary of the libretto: Earl Douglas is betrothed to Mary McGregor and her father blesses the youthful couple, who kneel before him, while in a corner an old nurse, cataleptic and half crazy, sings: “Why is thy sword red with blood? Edward, Edward!” No one knows what the mysterious words mean, and Douglas does not heed them, being too much occupied in telling Mary how, in riding madly over valleys and mountains to reach her an hour earlier, he had been attacked by highwaymen, but rescued by an unknown Enight. On heering this Mary faints, and the old nurse helps her to her chamber. “Why,” exclaims Douglas, “does Mary tremble at a danger that is past?” Then McGregor nar- rates the following brief and terrible story: “A youth, William Ratcliff, whose father was | my friend, courted Mary, but as she wou have none of him-he departed. After seven moons she was about to marry Macdonald, but on the wedding day the bridegroom came not. We sought him and found his corpse in a pond at the foot of the Black Stone. In the night an intruder stole into Mary’s chamber and tore from her finger the wedding-ring—that in- truder was William Ratcliff. Again Mary was asked in marriege by the powerful Dun- can; -Iconsented and the wedding veil once more crowned my daughter’s blonde head— alas! the second bridegroom came not and his corpse was lying by the Black Stone. Once more the murdered groom’s ring was torn from Mary’s trembling fingers by William Ratcliff.” The lugubrious story ends and at thatmo- ment a messenger arrives to remind Douglas of an appointment at the Black Stone. He answers, “I will go.” The scene changes to where Ratcliff isina lurid tavern, surrounded by bandits. The inn- keeper’s child is trying to recite his paternos- ter, but he can never succeed in pronouncing the phrase: (“Non lasciarci tentar del male’””) “Let not evil tempt us”; and Ratcliff also tries in vain to say the words. Here begins the psychological treatment of Rateliff, which reflects the mind of the great German poet. The hero’s poor, passionate soul is chained to evil, because a fatal heredity keeps it from good. *‘Fatality!” is the word that colors it and the whole opera. The second act keeps up the psychological study of Rateliff, particularly where he nar- ratesto his friend Lesley the dark dreams of his youth: “I saw in the night two phantoms chained together, but never touching one an- other. Inonel could recognize myself, in the other McGregor’s daughter. How I loved her, but now the white phantom has cursed my life.” Then delirinin seizes Ratcliff’s brain and he exclaims: “Duncan! Macdonald! and to-night Douglas.” The third act takes place at the Black Stone. A terrible tempest is raging and amid the shrieking of the elements Douglas arrives and in the darkness distinguishes the voice of Ratcliffi—that of the generous unknown who had saved him from the bandits. “We are friends,” says Douglas. “No,” replies the other, “for my name is Ratcliff.” The two knights fight and the doughty bandit is van- quished, Douglas conceding him his life. Only the inspiration of Heine's own words could give you the fervor and the delirfum of Ratcliff’s monologue—alone in the tempest of the elements and of his own heart. He curses the world and every living thing, crying aloud that Mary must be sacrificed to his passion for revenge. The scene changes to where Mary, in her wedding-dress, is about to enter the chapel to be married. The old nurse tells her & piece of family history which explains the mean- ing of her weird song — Ratclif’s father, Edward, was murdered by McGregor in a fit of jealousy, because, years be- fore, he and Mary's mother had been en- L RUSIKIANS: Y €30a | be repeated. | heard in the distance, to celebrat The | ding of Mary and Douglas. | to the instructions of the Governor and gaged. At this moment Ratcliff enters, and Mary, touched with love for him, binds up his wounds with her wedding-veil. “Let us fly,” cries Ratcliff, but as old Margaret breaks again into her song of “Edward, Edward,” de- lirium seizes him, and, stabbing Mary to death, he shoots himseli. The drama is fin- ished, and the two phantoms, so long linked together by destiny, are at last united in the cold kiss of death. The curtain rises on the opera of “Rateliff”” without an overture, or rather the symphonic introduction sounds as the curtain rises—the mute and cold audience suddenly becoming electrified as Douglas narrates his meeting with the bandits. The sweet phrase in which the nurse comforts Mary when she falnts caused a call for the author. % In the second act the child’'s paternoster caused an outburst of well-deserved enthu- slasm, for the prayer is beautiful, powerful and original. Ratelif’s vigorous account of his dreams also earned calls for the composer. A marvelous effectiveness is added to his narra- tion by_ the far-off arpeggios ofa pastorale, min- gled with the sound of & church bell, ringing vespers. In the duel scene of the third act, the or- chestra hes a magnificent intermezzo between the snatches of Ratclif’s long monologue. In fact the orchestra replies to all the unfortunate hero's outbursts of passion and delirium. The Bcene was 5o persistently encored that it had to This act was the one thatn interested the public and that brought ) cagni the trinmph of apotheosis. (By the way, in the hour of triumpn the composer’s wiia was so overcome with emotion that she faintc| and had to be carried out of her box.) It was difficult to judge the fourth act ag Mme. Vidal, who was to have played the n was ill, and her part was taken at short not by Mme. Rogers, who had not had time to il the long and difficult role. It is s however, that the part is magnifie fourth act conquered—if one can u: pression for an audience already con universal favor, with the brilliant between Ratcliff and Ma g—it is music th the sweet anc ate concentration of the whole dram and death. To me it seemed that in the p Se cheto stai, 1, negli occhi ti bacio, One felt the violins render the music of th coveted kiss and the infinite delight that the touch of Mary’s adored lips shed in the sou! of the fierce and miserable Ratcliff. The act ended amid frantic applause and cal the author. Was Mascagni’s latest work & success? Yes, indubitably a grand success, although perhaps not so colossal as certain Milanese pap would have us believe. The eritics are unax mous in stating that “Ratchif” confirms Ms cagni’s title to be considered a great compose It is & step, & big step, forward—so say t critics—one of the brightest pages in contems poraneous musical history. Above all, Mas cagni is praised for his artistic taste in thi choice of a libretto. A poem written Wit rhymed sevenths and sliding verses woul have offered him essier musical triumphs but Mascagni, who is an artist in th true conception of the word, grasped al] the profound beauty of the tragedy and defying its difficulties, vanquished them. secret of the composer of ‘Ratcliff’s” success is to feel intensely the poets conception, the spirit of the characters and the grandeur of the situations. He shows his feeling in his musiq and makes the public feel with him. The music of “Ratcliff” is a picture anda drama in itseli—powerful in its strength its suggestiveness. Its success has also bee: great, although the splendid execution of &l the performers (it is sufficient to name D| Negri and Sthele) may have contributed to th triumph. Still weallcherish a high, & deserved homage for the maestro who has taken anothen step toward the luminous summit of musical art.—Translated from the Italian for the CALL, HOLMES REPLIES. The Chief Engineer of the Harbor Come mission Explains. To the Editor of the Call—Sir: The history of the description of the only available land in the China Basin is as follows: Sunday evening | while at dinner I received a dispatch: ‘“Come to Sacramento at 7 r. . Bring maps of water front and China Basin, Meet Governor in the morning.” ~ All of which I complied with. My description was at the request and according nator Gleaves. Ireceived no telegram from Mr. Reid and did not see his bill or its amendments. 1 met Mr. Reid for the first time in the Governor's office, and my description was filled inona blank with the headlines that pertain to State property. From the Governor's office I went irectly to the train. I have atno time been in the employ of the Southern Pacific Com- pany in any capacity. On the other hand some of the largest end most active subscribers of the valley road are personal friends and clients of mine, viz: J. B. Stetson, Thomes Magee, Robert Watt, Alired Borel and Captain Payson. I desire to call attention to the Sun- day CALUS article on the valley road looking for a foothold on the water front. Further- more, I merely acted as any surveyor or ene gineer would be compelled o do in g escription required by Governor Budd. HowaED C. H, Chief Engineer Harbor Commi: i el The Cadmus Election. The Cadmus Gold Mining Company at its ans nual meeting yesterday elected the following officers: Charles Stepp, president; J. M. Hare per, vice-president; A. Goetz, treasurer, and Adolph H. Weber and George Joos the addis tional directors. A.Rapp was clected secretary and Charles Kohl superintendent. 7 AUCTICN SALKS. AUCTION e hy VON RHEIN & CO,, THURSDAY, MARCH 14, At12 o'clock x. sharp, 513 California Street. Large Postst. Cor.Rent $200 87:6x87:6, SE. cor. Post and Buchanan. With two stores and two 10-room residences on Post and fats and dwellings on Buchanan. SECOND AVENUE. B 18 Ist-ave Lots ] = 1-2 Cash. £ < @ = 14 LOTS 5 3 4 LoTS : = 25x120 25x115 3 SUTEO E. B. FIEST AVE. Sacramento-St. Corner. 22x87:6; 1829 Sacramento st., SE. cer, Golden court, bet. Jones and Leavenworth sts.; Qourts bet ts.; 9 roomd Ridley-st. cor. Flats—Rents $71. 25x75; 114-11034 Ridley st., NW. cor. of Elgi Park; 3 new bay-window flats; rents $71; sold close an estate. Pine st., near Powell. 23x69: 737 Pine st., E. of Powell, through to Felia place; 2-story house; 10 rooms; good rent- 1ng locality; bank mortgage $3000. Green-st. Corner. 420 Green st.: 20x57:6; cor. of Lafayette, bet, Kearny and Dupont; 2-story and b 4 Teats 300, PO Y &l ascment house | Cor. Hayes and Webster—Rents 8100, 800_Hayes st.; 25:2x100; NW. cor. of Ha and Webster; new 8-story _bay-window hoi store and flats; rented low at $100. Filbert-st. Residence. 22x137:6; 1216 Filbert st., W.of Hyde; brick foundation; 6 rooms and bath. John st., off Mason—Rents $39. 22x61: 15 John st., oft Mason, bet. Pacific and Jackson: 8 flats; rents $39; tenants been in the bouse four years. Clay-st. cor. itesidence. 27:6x100: SE. cor.of Clay and Broderick sts.; modern residence; 6 rooms, bath, etc. Stanyan st., S. of Grattan. 2 lots; frontage 25 and 55, depth h lar, being lots 1 and 2 of Sutro Tract, as soid in 1893; coms Ppletely sheltered; climate like Los Angeles. Howard st., bet. 5th and 6th. 22:6x80; 920 Howard st., bet. 5th and 6th; front and rear house; rent nominal; $20. Geary-st. Cottage, Stable, etc. 25x120; 2815 Geary st., 160 feet W. of Masonio ave.; 6-room cottage, basement, stable. Van N ave., N. of Francisco. 25x123: W. line of Van Ness ave., 37:8 N. of Francisco; strect-grading completed. ackson-st. Residence. 25x68:9; 1012 Jackson st., above Mason; @ rooms and'bath; Tent greacly reduced; now $33. The Yo N