The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, July 28, 1895, Page 17

16 : THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, JULY 28, 1895. 3SSOSOOSOTOOTVSTTIVCTHOOSI Sociery WOMEN OF SAN FRANCISCO AS B0OK-BUYERS. BY KATHERINE DURHAM. SOOCOTSTVSOTTTOTOVCOSTOOO Times have changed ‘sincé the days of our forefathers and foremothers, when the sons went proudly marching off to college, and their sisters conned at home their primers of short and easy words, deemed not too difficult, nor too ‘injurious for the feminine mind. Those sampler days, when to work bright silks into a useless piece of canvas was thought the necessary adjunct to a girl's education; those spinning-wheel days, when life’s merry playtime of youth all went in the preparation of the abun- dance of snowy linen to carry to her hus- band’s house, all have passed away. And in place of the sampler and primer is the college for women and coeducational school where brother and sister vie for the same and equal honors. And though late in the start, with amazing rapidity has the young woman of the present decade come apace and routed the long-held ideas as to her intellectual inferiority to man, and so Tully has she proved her mental capacity that the contrary idea was ever held seems | Sir Walter Scott, his countryman, and to | whom Stevenson is often com ared. The | first price set on the set was §7a volume, | but it quickly rose to §10. It is to be re- | gretted that Stevenson never saw a COpy of this handsome edition in which his work is so fittingly set forth, dying a few days before the issue of the first volume. Ana thus Miss Hobart adds to her library week by week, and it will soon be that there will be no more valuable and inter- esting private library in the State. The beautifukdaughter of the late W. W. Stow is a lover of books and an intelligent reader. Her buying is on a par with the weightier matter of the scholar. Herndon’s *‘Lincoln,” Church’s ‘‘Life of Cromwell,”” McMaster’s ‘“United States” | the first issue of the Waverley Novelsof | | are typical of her selections, although no doubt the bright and fascinating tales hold a charm for her. nings of a public library to some town he had an interest in, he gave the selecting of the books into the hands of Miss Stow. She understood well the requirements and what would be the best selections— VI i3 \ Some time ago, when | her father was about to give the begin- | readers, that is, Mrs. C. A. Spreckels, Miss Mills, Miss Doyle, Miss McAllister, Mrs, Malcolm Thomas and Miss McKinstry—all grent reuders, all book collectors. They are the Trilby and the Manxman readers, the readers of the new and bright and gay, and_they read for amusement as wel profit. They see and know our typesin the city, on the farm and on the high seas, in France, Scotland or at home, as our_present novelists portray them for us. And like the majority of our women, .who leave to the men the study of socialism | and findnce and questions in politics, scarce scanning a page of Kidd or Coin’s Financial School,” they live in the land of imagination and beauty in their read- ings—beside the bonny briar bush, mount on the wings of Tcarus, see the artist life in the Latin quarters with little Billee and his comrades, hear the philosophy of Omar the ancient astronomer of India in words set round with Vedder’s graceful art; listen to the new singer, Maeterlink, and the sweet voices of our minor_poets; Crawford, Prue and I, and Our lage speak to them of the simplicity and beauty of life, and they laugh with Stockton as he sets up in housekeeping a young couple in an insecure houseboat or sends afloat upon the great Pacific Mrs. Lecks and Mrs. Aleshine, with black stockings as a safe- guard against sharks, bread and sausages in cans in their pockets, to arrive at an un- frequented island with a house and the memorable ginger ;ar, after much paddling over some of those great holes in the sea to the distress of Mrs. Lecks, and Hobbes and Hope tell them their tales of love and Weyman French history in romance, It was a pleasant day, one which marked a lull in the almost incessant summer winds of our sandy peninsula, when I hap- M Hfiy I Yo | ONE OF THE MOST ARTISTIC LIBRARIES OF SAN FRANCISCO. [From a photograph.] now but a fable or a legend. It were as | cyclopedias, ¥ eat a rarity in these days to meet the | begin with, a good history & young lady in society who does not know 5; her Shakespeare and her Browning, her | Carlyle and Emerson, as once it would | have been to have met one who could pro- of each country, he best novels and essays, books of poems nd tales of adventure, She put thought and time into the selecting, and the result was worthy of any connoisseur of books. | Mrs. William H. Crocker is a lover of nounce words of more than two syllables, | books and a great reader, but they are the or had ever read a movel or a book of | books of the poems. But there is one condition that remuins | for herself their worth and merit, and day—those talked of ana She would read and judge hav- | written about. as it was. The business world is still in |ing a mind of her own, her criticisms are the hands of men. The realm of politics | as original as good. All the American and_ finance women have not usurped. | maeazines, the best London and Paris And =0 while men are engrossed with these things, which in this last part of the nine- teenth century require all application and energy to keep abreast of the floodtide of this raging torrent of power-seeking and money-getting, -women have had ample leisure for the fostering of the arts and time for the study of literature. In this must be found the reason for the fact that women are the better book-buyers and the greater readers, aside from the daily news- paper and the reports of stocks and bonds. his is especially true in San Francisco, and her young women, heiresses of for- tunes, flowers of the drawing-rooms, belles of society, are among the best book-col- lectors and library-makers. But while the number of libraries belong- ing to young women is large, it is some few typical ones we will consider. And that I’)F Miss Ella Hobart should stand first, mainly because of its great intrinsic value, size and scope. Miss Ella Hobart is the second daughter ;:1 the late Walter S. Hobart of gold mine ame. She is a bright and vivacious young lady scarce out of her teens. Force and per- sistency and withal generosity, the inher- itance from her father, which made him the successful man that he was, make the daughter esteemed among her friends. In their elegant Lome on Van Ness avenue Miss Hobart lives with her brother and sister. With her she has as a_companion Miss Vassault, formerly a teacher in Miss ‘West’s school for girls, a very cultured woman, who has done much to direct and foster Miss Hobart’s natural literary bent of mind. Possessor of a large fortune, ample enough to supply even things of caprice and whim, in selecting her library she has denied herself no volume or set of books she has fancied or desired. And the book- vender’s shelves, well stocked as _they are, cannot always meet the demand, and the firm’s European agents hold ever lists of valuable, rare old books, original editions and those out of print, to be picked up as the opportunity offersin Paris and London bookstores and in sales of private libranes, It is interesting to note the evolution of the plan of Miss Hobart's library. It first began with the moderate desire to possess good sets of the standard works of litera- ture, and Hawthorne,George Eliot, Dumas, Thackeray and the like went to her shelves. The selecting of these brought her to see beautifully illustrated books, done in fine etching, steel-engraving and water colors. Large books are unwieldy and require much space in the library, so she turned her attention soon to the smaller illustrated volumes, though equally as fine and beau- tiful in workmanship, the series illustrat- ing the legend of the “Wandering Jew,” which possesses a remarkable grotesque- ness and power, and Balzac, Rabelais, Dante’s “Inferno,” all illustrated by Dore, the rare and inimitable Cruikshank books, “Daphnis and Chloe,” and Hamerton’s books. Reading led to a knowledge of other works, footnotes referred to histories and criticisms of special subjects and so the books reierred to took their places on the sbelves. Pictures and continual reference and uotation from ancient writers led her into the realm of Greek and Latin classical literature and on to the classics in all languages. Ope of the later orders of Miss Hoga.ns that went on to Europe was a long and exhaustive list of old and valu- able French works. American and English publishers are constantly adding to the fine editions of standard works. and each as it comes forth is received in Miss Hobart’s library. The Edinborough edition of Stevenson, when finished, will be there. But the first few volumes of this work have as yet been issued, and the subscription list is fulland no copies are obtainable now excegt at a remium. This work is edited by Charles Eaxtzr, a life-long friend of Stevenson, and every leaf bears in monogram a water- mark of Stevenson's and Baxter’s initials commingled. They are library size, but each volume of so light a weight as to be easily handled. The type is like that of | periodicals, are subscribed for by her. The world goes mad suddenly over a revived interest in the history of Napoleon. New memoirs are written., This author pro- pounds a tale of his relation to the fair sex; another gathers and edits his correspond- ence. Meneval’s reminiscences are re- rinted—the wit writes Mr. Bonaparte of orsica—and Mrs, Crocker has them all, Joan d’Arc’s spirit rises from the ashes of her martyrdom, and her simple faith and her great courage, after many years, again electrifies the world, and while all peoples read again of the heroine of France, so Mrs. Crocker seeks all knowledge of the same, The Yellow Book is put forth with the view and expectation of revolutionizing magazine lore and making, and Mrs. Crocker has the Yellow Book. She is also a fine French scholar, and is as ‘“‘well up” in French as English literature. And this is not to say that Mrs. Crocker has not the usual knowledge and appreciation of the classics, but she has a mind to the present, and thinks and talks with the world of to-day. Miss Kohl is another book-lover. Into the realm of history and science she goes with Prescott, Froude and Fiske. She travels over continents with Sala, and see nations at war_with one another—Lincoln holding in his hands the destiny of the United States, and hears the tales of the great plain man then in yvogue and recita- tions of his wit then going the rounds: she sees the funeral processions of the great musician or painter, the coronation of kings, the marriages of royalty, through Sala’s eves. Miss Kohl has made the trip to the Island Empire, on which the eyes of the world have been so lately turned in sur- yrise and admiration, and she goes over in mind those delightful scenes among this most fascinating people in “Unfamil- iar Japan,” “The Women and Children of Japan,’”’ “Madame Chrysantheme,” “The Mikado’s Empire,” “Jinrikisha Days’’ and the many otner books descrintive of this artistic people and their flowery island home. s She also_has the late illustrated books which are being so beautifully brought out in this day of discovery of fine methods of reproduction — Ruphael’s “Madonna,” ”GPibson'! Drawings”’ and ‘“Pennell’s Pen Drawings.” Miss Kate Dillon is a young woman, well educated, but lately come of age and into her inheritance of a large property. Miss Cosgrave has been Ler teacher, and being herself a lover of books, she has in- stilled into her pupil’s mind an apprecia- tion and desire for greater knowledge of the ““best thoughts of the best men.” Miss Dillon’s books are bought with the idea of use—to read and learn. She greatly values her present collection, though as yet comparatively limited, of rare ana unique books; but her largest purchases are what should always constitute the backbone of a library before branching out into special lines—the accepted classics and works of authors whose names are familiar household words. Miss Dillon has not a bookroom where all her books are collected together. Her illustrated books are left’ in her reception-rooms for the leasure of her guests, and near her sleep- ing-room she retains a room where the books she is at gresent reading and study- ing are upon the table and shelves, some- what in confusion, showing thisto be her workshop. And here, with her books, are some choice paintings by Keith, greatly prized by the young possessor. Miss Casserly is the friend of the young literary aspirant. No new voice is heard singing but it catches her ear. She waits not until the world, so_distrustful of the would-be poet, is forced into seeing his merits, too late umfll[ to bring compensa- tion to the heralder of new tidings, but the new volume she possesses herself of and accepts or rejects its worth in her own judgment. There are several names that might be grouped together, as their plan in the pur- chase of books and their aim in reading are much alike and also typify a large class of dictionaries and atlases to { pened down to the large and beautiful home on Pacific avenue of Mrs. G. D, Bliss. I found her with her two little nephews under a deeply shading and drooping willow tree in the yard, a veri- table fairy bower. She was reading the “Life and Letters” of Celia Thaxter and at once set about talking of that remark- able woman and her loved home on the Isle of 8hoals, and how she mourned for the sea, land-locked, in later years. Mrs, Bliss felt much with the authoress in her love for the great fathomless deep, its caprices, beauty and grandeur. Thou glorlous mirror, where the Almighty's form G lusses itself in tempest, in all time, Caim or convulsed, in breeze or gale, or storm, Icing the pole, or in the torrid clime, Durk heaving, boundless, endless and sublime, The {mage of Lternity, the throne of the Invis- ible. And she told me there were no stories she loved as those of the sea, and Clark Russell was one of her favorite story- writers. But fiction does not hold as keen inter- est for Mrs. Bliss as biographies, auto- biographies and journals. It is as though we get close to the heart of our heroes, end in their journals they speak their best thoughts and feelings hidden in life even from their most in- timate friends,’’ she said, Mrs. Bliss has a plan to convert two spa- cious rooms in her house into a library and %ather together her many and valuable ooks now occupying shelves and book- cases in different; rooms, and even stored away in closets, into the library. There are sets of George Eliot, Emerson and Haw- thorne beautifully bound, books of travel, history and essays. And her reference library is quite_complete in cyclopedias, dictionaries and atlases. She is a linguist, reading and speaking French, Italian an Spanish, and has many books in these dif- ferent langnages. When a younfi girl she had a desire to know Italian and set about studying it by herself. For fifteen months she kept to her task, with the aid of grammar and dictionary and an Italian story-book, until she had gained a good knowledge of that musical language. A friend eave her some timely assistance with the pro- nunciation, and thus she learned to speak. Mrs. Bliss is a student, and her books are bought for the purpose of reading them, and new books until read remain in her boudoir, and as oune by one they are gone through with they find their way to other shelves to make room for the later ones. Among them there were Stevenson’s “‘Amateur migrant,” the last two volumes of Green’s ‘“Short History of the English People,” Disraeli, Hazlitt and a Bpanish work. 5 But the choicest work in Mrs. Bliss’ col- lection, interesting because of association, is the seventh volume, original edition, of Mrs. Jameson’s *‘Sacred and Legendary Art, Legends of the Monastic Onfars and Legends of the Madonnas”; the identical volumes Mrs. Jameson presented to her mother and sisters, and inscribed to them on the flyleaf in her own handwriting. These volumes were picked up in London at a private sale. It will be remembered bf those familiar with the edition that blank pages have been bound in, on which can be pasted yictmes of one’sown collect- ing of works of art referred to in the text, for Mrs. Jameson says herself, in the pre- face, “to illustrate the book as.it ought to be illustrated would have involved an ex- pense which would bhave rendered it in- accessible to the general reader, and thus defeated its purpose. It would mot be difficult for those interested in the subject to collect a little portfolio of engravings after pictures referred to, which, placed in the same order, would be as a series most interesting and suggestive in itself, as well as illustrative of the pages which follow.” 'And so that which makes these volumes the more interesting and valuable and gives them a distinct person- ality closely connected with the talented or is the fact that she has done this same for these books, and ‘photographs, woodcuts and engravings of her own col- lecting have been pasted by herself on the blank P‘EI or placed in the books in their proper places. And there are notes on the marfhu of the books and titles written on the loose pictures in her own handwriting, and two autograph letters are attached to the flyleaves, which were received by Mrs. Jameson after the publication, the one from Walther von Goethe, the nephew of Germany’s great poet, and the other from Dr. Wellesley, master of New Hall Col- lege, speaking in highest terms of appreci- ation of the_author and her work. No doubt Mrs. Jameson prized these letters that she attached them to these volumes, and they may have been great encourage- ment to her in her work. And now for a time these prized volumes rest in the hanas of one who greatly values them on these far Pacific shores. As beautiful a bookroom as there is in the City—beautiful in its appointments and n%?umnances, is the library of Miss Mary Lake. The large, long room ends in a bow-window of stained glass on the west. Itis finished in redwood, and the walls are a soft gray. The shelves extend around three sides of the room, and are about six feet hifh, built from the floor up. Astronomical pictures hang on the wall above the shelves. There is a long library table, and easy-chairs that invite to their deep seats the reader with her book. A large fireplace gives cheer and warmth. Miss Lake, in her selection of books, has considered herself and the young ladies under her care. There are the novels of Dickens, Thackeray, Bul- wer Lytton, Howells and Hawthorne; histories, books of poems, & long line o French works—Rousseau, Moliere, Racine and Maupassant; many books of reference, and, dearer yet to the schoolgirl’s heart, the stories of Mrs. Austen, Louise Alcott and, still better, the ‘‘Water Babies," “Alice in Wonderland”’ and ‘‘Alice Through the Looking-glass.” For who has not loved to linger in fairylands and wonderful Aladdin scenes, and wander in realms of fancy? And Miss Lake thor- oughly believes in the cultivation of the imagination of children—not alone for pleasure, but for the development of the mind—and who would not, even though grown to womanhood, gladly yield to the sweet influence, the atmosphere, the rooms throw about one, and gather one’s self up 1nto a corner of the sofa in the firelight and quietly slip out into unexplored coun- tries to dance with the fairies in wonder- ful groves lit by fireflies or the pale moon’s rays, shudder at goblins or keep company with princes and princesses? These named constitute but a few of the large collection of books in Miss Lake’s library, but to mention more would be but to repeat the list of titles to be found in every well- selected collection of books, the books which have been the product of all the ages, the refined nuggets of thought from the crucible of time. “You, O books, are the golden urns in which manna is laid up; rocks flowing with honey, or rather, indeed, honey- combs; udders most copiously yielding the milk of life, storerooms ever tull; the four-streamed river of Paradise, where the human mind is fed and the arid intellect moistened and watered; fruitful olives, vines of Engaddi, fig trees knowing no sterility; burning lamps to be ever hela in the hand.” KATHERINE DURHAM. T0 ELEVATE THE LOWEST, A New Project of the Society for the Suppression of Vice. Disorderly Characters May Be Lo- cated In a Quarter on Tele~ graph Hill. The Society for the Suppression of Vice is considering the feasibility of removing the low characters who have their abodes on Morton, Berry and Dupont streets and other localities to some more secluded spot, where they will not be able to flaunt themselves in the faces of passers-by. In February last Secretary Kane of the so- ciety broached the subject to the board of directors and several consultations on the matter have been held. Bome of the directors were in favor of removing all disorderly houses within the City limits to one locality, while others thought that those that kap¥ under cover and gave the flPolic:e no trouble or passing pedestrians offense should be tolerated. Recently the society has come to the conclusion that Telegraph Hill is the proper place to locate the proposed new uarter and the nearear the top the better. '0 ascertain the feelings of the inhabitants of the hill Secretary Kane recently made a trip along its slopes and questioned a few peovle. %ome house-owners said that they would willingly sell their houses if paid a fair price, while others were ready to rent if the project was carried into effect. “I cannot say how soon the ball will be set rolling,”” said Secretary Kane yester- day, “but in_all probability the board of directors of this society will very soon ask the Board of Supervisors to take some ac- tion which will result in the removal of these objectionable geople to a locality by themselves where decent people will be safe from insult. The evils which are com- plained of have been spreading of late, and the society has received many com- plaints, which have led to investigations. It Yublic sentiment is with us, as we certainly hope it will be, no trouble will be :_xperienced in getting the proper legisla- lon. “Another meeting will be held shortly, when the Telegraph Hill Eroposilian will be fully discussed and further plans laid.” ——————— “DINK” WILSON ARRIVES, The Notorious Burglar Again Safely Be- hind the Bars. Richard Barnard, alias “Dink’” Wileon, is once more safely behind the bars, De- tective Ross Whittaker having arrived in the City with him from New York yester- day morning. “Dink” was the leading spirit in the big burfilary in Neuburger, Reiss & Co.’s dry- goods warehouse on Market street about two years ago. He was sentenced to six months for petty larceny, and while serv- ing his sentence was held to answer before the Superior Court on the charges of grand larceny and burglary. He was released on “straw’’ bonds and made his escape to New York with Agnes Smith, the book- keeper for James & Smith, wholesale butchers, whom he married in San Rafael. He was arrested in New York about two weeks ago and did not fight his extradi- tion, as he told Detective Whittaker that he was tired of dodging the police. His wife received money from her father to bring her home and she wanted to use the money to fight his extradition, but he would not permit her. i ‘Whittaker bought her ticket and sent her home. She met him and “Dink” at the ferry landing and accompanied them te the City Prison. ARRANGING FOR A BANQUET. Another Event in Honor of Victorious California Marksmen. . There is yet one more event which is to take place in honor of the marksmen who, by their performances, reflected such honor on their State and the S8an Francisco Schuetzen Verein. It will be in the sha; of a banquet, which will be given at the Seal Rock House resort of Henry Doscher, who is president of the San Francisco Schuetzen Verein. 5 A meeting of the committee of arrange- ments was held at Captain John F. Bolts’ rooms, 304 Kearny street, on Friday, and the preliminary arrangements were made. A committee was ap] ted to look after arrangements as_follows: Louis Haake, John F. Bolts, William Wreden, Charles Thierbach and Edward Aigeltinger. An Amazed Policeman Was he of whom a stranger asked the direction of the Lurline Ocean Water Baths, 8o well known to all City residents. * OLYMPIC CLUB POLITICS The Members Now Preparing for Action in the Com- ing Campaign. CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT. Forces Getting Ready for the Con- test Although but Few Names Are Mentioned. The political pot is beginning to simmer in the Olympic Club. There is very little definite information regarding the plans of the various factions, but the politicians of the club are beginning to loiter around the “Tired Boxer” in the lobby more than for- merly and to talk with more earnestness than they generally devote to club affairs. A circular is out calling a meeting of the members to select a nominating commit- tee, and between this time and August 5, when the meeting will be held, the various forces will form for action. So far for president there have been mentioned A. B. Spreckels, William Greer Harrison, Len D. Owens and Herman Oel- richs. Owens, who is a member of the present board, has announced that he will not accept the position. The friends of Oelrichs, although numerous, have not shown much organization, for it is not yet certain that Oelrichs will accept, and even should he do so it is a problem whether or not he will remain in the City long enough to properly attend to the duties of the office. As” for Mr. Harrison and Mr. Spreckels their candidacy is confined so far to the mere suggesting of their names. The Harrison sentiment in the club, however, willfiprove a strong influence in the coming fight, even should Harrison decline to run. His strength, in that case, would probably turn to Spreckels. H.B. Russ, it is reported, may decline to run again for the position of treasurer, an office which he has held for a number of years. Easton, one of the present direct- ors, is said to_be slated for the position, should Russ decline to run. Should Russ desire to remain, however, there is not much chance of any one opposing him. Matt Weed, who was defeated last year by a big majority, wants to run again, and if he gets on any of the tickets he will have the card-playing element behind him. Outside of those mentioned, candidates are not openly syoken of, but it is safe to assume that few if any of the present board will receive renomination, and fewer still would be elected even should they run. The present board has not found much favor in the club. The administration about to close is very severely criticized by the club mem- bers, and it is certain that there have been some mistakes made or the club is running a most erratic course. At the meeting at which the present officers were installed the treasurer’s statement declared the club to be in good financial condition. Within two months aftera meeting of the members was called and they were asked to reduce the initiation fee of the club from $25 to $10, the reason being that the elub must have more money. Under the present adminis- tration there have been more members ex- pelled for non-payment of dues than in any other. This is due in part to the fact that many men joined the clubunder the allure- ments of a §10 initiation fee and then never payed any dues; others hung on fora little while and then stopped paying. All of these members were expelled without mercy, but there were other and more valuable names upon the list. Every list contained some name well known among the active members—men who had won medals for themselves and honors for the club colors, names which have figured upon the club’s programmes on every ‘ladies’ night,” at entertainments, at tournaments and at field days and races, and the number of men thus lost in this way has caused much comment. he expulsions may have all been for good cause, but there is a sentiment that something must be wrong when enthus- iastic and useful members allow themselves to run behind and be expelled. Hereto- fore a man who had been a credit to the club was leniently dealt with when he ran behind, provided he had reasons for do- ing so. The salary muddle will also play an in- direct but none the less gowerful influence in the fight. When the present board started to cut down salariesa howl went up that shook the club. Each one of the in- structors and three of the office men were reduced. This was done in the interests of economy. Then one of the instructor’s salaries” was raised; then another. Then Henselman, the cashier, was discharged and then the office salaries were raised again. In the end the payroll was nearly as large as it had been, and those members who looked with some favor on the reform felt badly. The trouble over the grounds is a matter of history, and the piles of sand now cov- ering the straight-away, and the legal tangle which the whole thing isin, has done the club no good. On top of it all comes a proposition to do away with the groundsaltogether, but thisis not expected to be carried out. These various forces have all had their effect, and it is pretty certain that the man who will promise to foster the athletic spirit of the club and to arouse the interest in affairs which is so lacking in the organ- ization will be ahead in the end. Until the meeting on August 5, the fight will center on securing the nominating com- mittee, and ~consequently ‘the regular ticket. So far the fight does not promise to be a very strong one, but it may develop rapidly in the last few days; as it has done in former years. The election will be held late in August. WINTERS ISLAND COLONY. Members of the Co-Operative Society Visit the Social Settlement. The membersof the co-operative society, which is experimenting with a proposed social settlement on Winters Island,in the San Joaquin River, planned an excur- sion to the island recently, which was very successful. They found the colony in apparently first-rate order, with no evidence of a dic- tatorship yet in sight. The island com- prises 636 acres of productive soil. A substantial levee is being constructed about the place to keep out the winter floods. The place is irrigated twice a month by opening the levee gates. There is a substantial barn and other buildings. Altosethsr the returned excursionists are proud of their island home. There will be another excursion to the island on Au- gust 3. A paper is now being issued in the in- terests of the society called the Winters Island Co-operator, of which A. J. Gregg is editor. It is designed to outline a full system of location, irrigation, drainage, ete., before any permanent buildings are erected on the island. This is necessary because it is intended that every building should be gart of a symmetrical whole, and that at the same time it should be in the best position for the purpose for which it is intended. It is not designed that the colony should be a purely .iecultnral one. On the contrary, plans are being put for- ward fer conserving water power for me- chanical g;mmael. It is intended that the membership should include persons of all trades and professions, from the day la- borer to the civil engineer. The association has been in existence for three iean now, the last annual meeting being held a short time ago. The venture 1s -nr rted by assessments levied by a board of directors from time to time. far there have been twenty-four assessments of $5 each ch: upon the mem| As early as Fel next a force of not less than thirty men will be required to carry on the industries of the island. The number will be chosen from those of the members who are ready to go and live upon the island. s The question of housebold co-operation, or segantohouseholds. has yet to be set- tled by the associatio: VALLEY ROAD TRESTLES. An Important Contract to Be Let for Building Them. Specifications for building trestles from Stockton to the Stanislaus River were fin- ished yesterday by the chief engineer of the Valley Railway and will be advertised to- morrow. The contract will be quite an important one and is being watched by several men in this City and Stockton. There are thirty or forty trestles to be built, varying all the way from sixteen feet to 100 feet in length. Mr. Storey went to Stockton last night. He will go to Collegeville and walk over the surveyed line from that point to the Stanislaus River for the purpose of making a personal examination of the ground. On his former visit to Stockton he walked as far as Collegeville along the staked route. While at the terminal city he will examine the two magnificent locomotives that ar- rived there a few days ago from the Eastern machine-shops. The third locomotive or- dered is on the way and is expected to ar- rive at Stockton in about a week. With all the work now in hand and all the material and supplies paid for, includ- ing rails which are gought for cash at the mills, the company has considerable money on hand. And yet only two assessments of 10 per cent each have been levied on the stock. A SCARCITY OF MODELS, How the Art Institute Pro- cures Its Life-Class Subjects. Fine Athletes Can Be Induced to Pose When They Are Broke. The Art Institute has decided to employ three models a day when the school re- opens in August, and J. A. Davis, collector for the association, is already casting about to supply the threatened demand for hu- man beings capable of posing in a manner to delight the artistic eye. Hitherto when the school has wanted models the collector has generally gone out into the highways and byways and brought them in. This requires consider- able tact, as even in the interest of art it is not permitted in this land of liberty to lay forcible hands on any man, and promising subjects are often wont to repudiate with scorn overtures made to them to pose. “The fact is that there are no regular models in 8an Francisco,” said the collec- tor yesterday, speaking of his model-hunt- ing expeditions. . “Occasionally one will come here from New York, but he never stays long, for up to the present there has not been enough regular employment. ‘When there is a professional model in town you can senerally reach him through the Art Students’ League, but if they do not know of any one there I go the round of the employment offices and the cheap lodging-houses. “The first thing is to choose your model and then approach him cautiously by ask- ing him if Ee wants work.. You can never tell just what will please artists. I have had considerable experience, but some- times I go to Mr. Mathews and say: ‘I have had to bring you a fellow to-day who is not much to look at’ And the whole class will rave over him, At other times I tell them I have found a fine model, and the artists cannot find any - beauty in him at all. What they like bestis a muscular fellow, who is strong and able to pose with- out getting tired. A prize-fighter ora boxer makes a beautiful model, and sometimes T pick up fine athletes ‘broke’ round the cheap lodging-houses on Barbary Coast.” The employment offices are the most fryitful field in which to_look for life-class subjects, according to Mr. Davis. “I go around till I find some picturesque-looking fellow, and asks him if he wants work. His eyes generally bulge out of his head with eagerness at the word work, and he asks what kind. After I have described it he will gasp and be ready to faint. Some- times he takes me for a bunko-steerer. I remember one rag fellow who did not look as if he had 50 cents in the world saying: ‘I know your little game; you want to get me somewheres to robme.” ¢ If there is any one here you are ac- quainted with, bring him along,’ I an- swered. The man was hard up for work, and he did bring a companion along. You should have seen their surprise when they were brought up here. There was no didli- culty about posing then, and the man worked as a model for the school on and off all winter. ‘“‘Sometimes Eeopla take it as a deadly insult if fou ask them to pose. There was an old fellow with a wooden leg who had a little fruitstand at one of the corners on Kearny street. When I was hard up fora subject for the portrait class I asked him how work was, as a Fnliminuy to getting him up to the school. He said times were pretty bad with him and he would be glad enough to get something to do. With that encouragement I unfolded my_scheme, and the old fellow nearly choked with in- dignation. He was preity low down, he said, but had not yet sunk to getting ‘took’ for a livini. “The factis that to hunt up models is quite a job. The class does not want the same subject all the time, and when a model quits work here there is not much other posing open to him. 1 have only known one man make money at it, and he went to New York assoon as he had laid something by.”’ According. to present rates men are paid $150 for a single pose and $2 50 for two goses. Female models, on account of the ifficulty of procuring them, are paid $2 for a single pose. It would require too much tact and delicacy to bring in lady athletes as the men are secured, from highways and byways, so women possessed of the mnecessary strength for posing are secured by advertisement. ‘The increased emplfifment proposed by the Art Institnte wi certainly give a boom to posing, and before long a few regular professional models will find it worth their while to reside permanently in San Francisco. CHINESE EXOITEMENT. The Six Companies Hold a Heated Mecting and the Police Inter- fere to Prevent a Riot. The Chinese Six Companies held an- other meeting on Friday at 728 Com- mercial street, to consider the case of Mook Tai, who is in the City jail, charged with the murderof Chang Wai. It was the most exciting meeting that has yet taken place in relation to the question of the guilt or innocence of the accused, and the police had to be called in to preventa serious disturbance. The meeting finally adiourned without coming to any decision as to what action the S8ix Companies will take in the matter. Both societies, the Sam Yups and Ning Yungs, to which the deceased and accused belon, res‘recflvaly, were strongly repre- ::nhtea“ no:s exce] t:l’}t;)u directly in- rested were admitted. ese were plied with tickets. il The Ning Yung representatives offered strong argument to prove that the accused is not the murderer, and claimed that they were in possession of information that would enable them to locate the real criminal. The Sam Yups, however, ap- peared to place great stress upon the state- ment of one of the teachers in the mission house who saw the shooting and said she thought Mook Tai ik who tired the shot. e So heated did the discussion become that hostilities were only averted by the arrival of the officers. < KNIGHTS OF CHESS. Thompson, Palmer and Howe, Leading in the Tournament. For those who are skilled in chess-craft the Mechanics’ Institute chessroom will amply repay a visit, since there is more than an ordinary interest displayed in the royal game, owing to the chess tourna- ments which are now being played there. In the senior tournament some of the cleverest players of the Pacific Coast have been making a grand effort to distinguish themselves; consequently some remarkable results have followed. Thompson, Paimer and Howe are the Jeading players in first class, and Cole, Fairweatger and Nevill in second class. One of the most remarkable games con tested was won by Palmer from Thomp- son, after seven and a half hours’ play, during which time 106 moves were made by each player. 'Thompson made a blun- der on his forty-eighth move by which he Jost a pawn. This gave his opponent, who is a noted end-game player, some show to win the game, and the contest was contin- ued for nearly sixty moves from this point before Thompson surrendered, and this is the only game which he has lost. The Iolfowing was the record of the play- ers at 7:30 o’clock last evening: FIBST CLASS. w_;m. Lost. Drawn. 4 2 8 1 6 ; 5 3 1 2 7 3 3 1 8 1 Won. Lost. Drawn. 9 5 1 6 1 9 3 3 9 3 7 1 5 3 13 . 8 . 8 . 14 . Spalding. . Cutting. 12 Voyage was formerly any journey, whether by sea or land it did not matter. — e NEW TO-DAY. The Old Reliable Speeialist. Friend and benefactor of the sick and suffer- ing, whose offices so_long established and favorably known, at 737 Market street, San Francisco, where the sick and afflicted can in the future, as they have in the past, receive treatment from the ablest and most successfal specialist of the age. The doctor does not allow the names of his Efldenu or their_diseases to be published; but e cures them. ‘He observes the strictest con- fidence and secrecy in all his professional deal- ings. He has thousands of flgrivne genuine testimonials on file in his ol from judges, lawyers, doctors and the best men of the world. See them. Genuine, heartielt, deep, sincere expressions of gratitude pay such high'tribute to Dr. Sweany’sskill that would make the heart of a sick and despondent per- son leap with joy and renewed hope. There- fore, reader, if you are aware of any trouble or weakness seek him atonce. If you have met with failure or become discouraged don’t delay a day longer, but consnlt Dr. Sweany. Exam- ine some of his very grateful and voluntary testimonials and see what he nas accomplished 1n cases just like yours, for he has testimonials covering nearly every form of disease that man or woman is afilicted with. Do the afflicted of San Francisco and vicinity crowd Doctor Sweany’s offices daily? BECAUSE The wondertul cures he has made have created confidence and delight in the hearts of those who have struggled in vain against the nvgfes of Nervous Debility and other diseases, until this successful doctor (whese picture ap- Ppears above) cured them. MEN LOST MANHOOD, both of YOUNG, MIDDLE- AGED AND OLD MEN, a specialty. The awful effects of early indiscretions, producing weak- ness, nervousness, night emissions, exhausting drains, bashfulness, stupidness, loss of energy, smbition and seli-confidence, weakness of both body end brain or any organs, unfitting one for study, business or marriage, treated with never-fafling success. _Get we! l:lud b1° a mlxfi Tl aching in smal KIDEY AND URINARY Sbeck:Satuia, frequent urination and thick, milky or bloody urine; Bright's disease; biadder, stomach, heart, liver, lung, throat, and ail constitu: tional and internal troubles permanently cured in the shortest possible time. spots, BLMB AN” SK]A diseases, sores, pimples, scrofula, !ygh- {litic taints, tumors, tetter, eczema and other impurities of the blood thoroughly endic“ec& leaving the system in a strong, pure an healthiul state. l)luv ATE diseases, gleet, ganonhma‘ inflam. mations, discharges, stricture, Weakness of organs, eypnilis, hydrocels, varis cocele, rupture, piles, fistula quickly cured without pain or detention from business. FREE oor who call at office Friday after : noons treated free. MDI.ES will receive special and careful treatment for all their many ails ments. LL persons who may be afflicted should con A sult him at once, as his great reputationr in the past will guarantee to every ome kind, honorable and satisfactory treatment. wanE our troubles if away from City. ‘housands cured at home by corre- spondence, and medicines sent secure from ob- servation. A book of important information sent free to all sick persons who send their address. Office Hours—9 A. M. to12 M.,2t0 5 and 7 to 8 r. M. Sunday, 10 A. M.to 12 M. only. F.L.SWEANY, M.D,, 737 Market Street, S. F., Cal. The Tlost [liserable Man. “The most miserable man is the one who is all the time anxious about his health.” Use Paine’s Celery Compound and keep well and strong. It is not like ordinary remedies—it is medicine. Try it. Dlamon PedNYHOVAL PiLis Labics ask Dia ce, volunteered | >