The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 16, 1897, Page 6

FRANCISCO CALL, SATURDAY. TA URDAY. CHARLES M. SHORTRIDGE, Editpr and Proprietor. onths by mail dsy CALL, threen : onth, by mail. .65 | San Francisco, California. T(}s;‘bout.-.n. <vee..Maln—1868 EDITORIAL ROOMS: Str ...Main—1874 | OFFICES street, corner Clay; open until BRANCH reet; open u reet: open OAKLAND OFFICE: 908 Broadway. | EASTERN OFFICE: 4 Park Row, New York Clty. YLTZ, Well done, C enators up. Now we know why Weyler returned to | Havana. The news Talk of economy in the Legislature be- nd lik McKinley is get down to the finist high time started up ¥ aken the war into| y take Havana ns Lave Los A 1vi eles are now ad- as tobogganing re- dena and ng th It profited Spain nothing to kill »aceo | and make way for Gomez to come to the front. It isa pity we cannot kill cinch bills like cinch bugs by a process of white- washing. Thereis a chance now that even Cleve- d mav have a new light and recogniz: something. The Park the Grand everything. ion is willing to meet y any day and explain | nion is in doubt | lature for | General Weyler's ve been j nake the Cu campaign seems to The Code nished the 1 fort Commission itself has fur- gislature with enough food ought and study for sixty day Let us celebrate the defeat of the fund- | ing bill, bur let us not. forget that the war | is not yet at an ep another battle is | in sight. of its predecessors resist them. let us hope it will s now in favor of a Gov- commission to settle the Pacific Anything to postpone fore- im. Huntington ernment roads de the Republican - Legislative caucans in . York Mr. Choate had seven votes, end the world now kaows that there are some mugwumps still living. People who wish the Legislatureto be economical should begin by urging their | representatives to be economical in asking for appropriations for their own counties. We gid not need a bureau of highways to tell us that bad roads cost more than good ones, but all the sameit is justas well to have the truth repeated in an offi- cial form, Democrats and Ponulists will denoiince the Republican majority in the Legisla- ture with extravagance as & matter of course. What elseare their tongues for? If California is to have an arch of fruits d flotvers over Pennsvlvania avenue on inausuration day it will have to be erected by voluntary contributions. The Legisla- ture is not indulging in that kind of State pride this year. a The return of Thomas- C. Platt to ‘the Senate from New York will be dramatic in everything except the essential feature of adrama. The foes who triumphed over him in the old days are gone, and he re- turns to the arena t0o late to take up the old fight and-enjoy a sweet revenge. The supporter of Joseph H. Choate in the Republican caucus at Albany who de- clared his name was familiar as a house- hold word turoughout the Union, and then voted for him as Joseph F. Choate, was most undeservedly laughed at. His candidate is familiarly known as Joe Choate. The bill of Senator Androns making it 2 misdemeanor to advertise lotteries or the results of drawings should find strong support from all parts of the State. These swindling schemes can never be sup- ‘pressed as long as they are permitted to advertise and deluds the peovle into the belief that they really pay prizes. As aresult af enforced idleness among the prisoners oi Kings County peniten- tiary in New York there bave been twenty-two attempts at suicide and three attempts at murder within nine days, and yet in the New York clubs there are plenty of fellows who are idle for moaths withont getting restless. The trouble seems to be with the conviets that the idleness is forced on them. It is compul- sion that grinds. If our Scottish fellow-citizens seriously undertake the work of raising the neces. sary funds to erect a worthy monument to Burns they will not lack for assistance from the people generally. Burnsissome- thing more than the poet of Scotland—ne is the poet of humanity—and all who value manhood more than rank and title will aid in raising a monument to him who sang the great song, *“The rank is but | publican administration. | certain, nowever, that he will give far | of the Treasury the guinea stamp, the man’s the man for a that,” M'KINLEY'S CABINET. The announcement by Senator Sherman that he had been offered and has accepted | the office of Secretary of State in the Cab- | inet of President McKinley scttles th® point of greatest difficulty which has been | experienced in making np the new admin- istration. * With ihis office arranged for | the rest of the work of forming the Cabi- net will go forward rapidly and within a few days we may know who are to be the heads of all the great departments of the Government under the new President. It cannot be denied that the clevation | of Senator Sherman to the office of Secre- tary of State is something of an experi—K ment. The Senator has long been eminent | in finance, but has no establisbed repute | in foreign affairs. Though he has been | long in the Senate and has teken part 1n | debating all great questions of intern: tiona) policy which have come before that | body in the last thirty years, he has not | identified himself with any important | neasure affecting our foreign relations. The inciination of his mind has been toward monetary questions, and it is these | In the prime of | his life as Secreiary of the Treasury he | proved himself one of the ablest and most | | successtul financiers the country has ever | It1s, to say the least, doubtful | he has chiefly studied. known, whether in his old age he can achieve an equal service for the Nation in the alto- gether differept office for which h® has been chosen. It is certain that as Secrefary of State Mr. Sherman cannot measure up to the | standard of James G. Blaine, who cast such a brilliant luster over the last Re 1t is equally more satisfaction 1o the psople than the | | Democratic Secretaries who preceded and toliowed Mr. Blaine. He will have more | force and more Americanism than Bayard and Gresham and ‘more experience and tact than Oluey. He will enter upon his office familiar with all foreign issues now H : under negotiation, and, notwithstauding his advanced age and predilection for financial subjects, can be counted on to | | direct our foreign affairs, if not britliantly | at least safely, soundly and patriocically. | It must be borne in mind that while | the Secretary of State is conventionally | regarded as the head of the Cabinet, and is | sometimes spoken of as the -American “‘Premier,” he is officially no higher than | other Cabinet officers, and the importance | of his position is determined by the im- portance of the issues which arise for Lim | to deal with.- At the present juncture | there seems no grave crisis to confront & Secretary of State unless perhaps one should arise out of the war 11 Cuba, and the recent course of Mr. Sherman in the Senate gives assurance that he is fully | equal to the task of dealing with thatin a | way to maintain the dignity and the wel- fare of the Republic. The most important place in .the new | Cabinet wil! be that of Secretary of the Treasury. With so many and such im- | portant economic and menetary questions, to be solved during the next four years, the heac of the Treasury Department will be in the storm center of Amer.can pol tics and the most conspicuous figure in | the Cabinet. There is need for a man of | exceptional strength and inteil2ct in that | office. Itentailseven in ordinary times more exhausting duties than any other in | the Cabinet, and at this time will require a vigorous body and rugged health, as well as a ciear head to perform the work. Itis not surprising that in his old age Mr. Sherman should have preferred quieter duties. The country will wait with eager- | ness to hear wha is to have that responsi- | e and arduous office. It is the Secretary | 0 is to deal with great issues before the people, and for this | administration at any rate be the head of the Cabinet, the Premier ol the Govern- ment. THE PARK COMMISSION. It is to be hoped the controversy rdised | over certain expenditures by the Park | Commission will be brought to a speedy conclusion by an open und public investi- gation of the accounts of the commission. There is reason for expeeting that this nope will be gratified, since both the Park Commissioners and those who have raised | the charges against them seem willing to eet an investization at once. The Park Commission is one of the few | official bodies in whieh the people have | confidence and which has hitherto es- caped the breath of scandal and been ab- solutely free from suspicion of wrong- doir It 1s, therefore, the more 10 be regretted that at this time anything has arisen which_tends to diminish the faith the | which the people have in the commission | and to'raise a doubt as to the manner in which the sums intrusted to it have been expended. It is gratifying to’ note the commission expressed a willingness to have a full investieation made of all its expendi- tures. One of its members, John Rosen- feld, stated in an interview publisced in TrE CALL yesterday that if the Grand Jury wi Commissioners are ready at any minute and willing to give all heip possiple, It is ed to have an investigation the | new issues and surrounded by new men, to whom his bygone battles are but httle more interesting than ancient history. As a matter of fact the election of Sen- ator Patt, though it will recall a memory of his former defeat, has no association with it whatever. His success is simply an evidence that in New York politics the honors go to the workers, The man who leads either party in that State and fights its battles to a victoricus result is the man whom that party delights to elevate to the highest offices in its pift. New York vpoliticians do not turn away from their best leaders for senti- ment any -more than for money. Though smong her citizens are the richest men in the Union, New York has neyer been known to send a man to the Senate simply because of his wealth and his business ability. Though it 1s the home and dwelling-place of many a learned and elequent “'scholarin politics,” it has never chosen one of them forits high offices. The New Yorkers under- | stand that the leadership of parties and the management of politics are matters of not less importance than business and scholarship, and elect to office men who have shown their fitness to attend to them with skill and efficiency. Mr. Choate; who posed as the Republi- can rival of Mr. Platt, is in many respects the very opposite of the kind of man that New York elects to office. He is a cul- tured scholar, an able lawyer, an eloquent orator and an honorable citizen, but he has never made a study of politics, never ed in organizing bis party and never exhibited any great desire for its success. In the recent campaign, for example, when Republiean workers wers every- where éarnest and active to win the vic- tory, Mr. Choate did not even make a speech. He seemed to be utterly in- different to the result and certainly con- tributed nothing to the victory. Such a man would hardly have made a good Senator even had he been elected. The man who takes no interest in politics in private station is hardly likely to take | much when in office and the country loses very little when be is left to follow the pursuits that are most congenial to him. The people have no reason to regret the return of Mr. Piatt to the Senate, notwith- standing he has besn so often denounced as a ‘'poss.” He is a man who under- stands parties and politics, and the poli- cies and principles of government. He will be a strong man in the Senate, and the Nation, his State and the Republican party will be benefited by his services. “THE SUNDAY OALL." ill ve an attractive number, filled with excellent reading mat- ter that will afford interest, instruction, entertainment and amusement. The discovery of a new metal that defies the laws of gravity furnishes the important subject of one article, which shows how a tesident of the Pacific Slope came to learn the secret of aerial flight. Many facts new to the scientific world are laid down and discussed in 2 manner that proves the writer to be well fortified with knowledge of the matter in band. An 1invention which will create much commotion as well as comment is the gunpowder bicycle, a full description of which appears to-morrow. In the re- markable motor of this machine, the ex- plosion of gunp wder drives the viston forward, and it is said that experiments have proved the scheme practicable. One load of explosives wiil draw a bicycle 100 miles. The new hotel railway 1s treated of at length in an article that everybody who | travels or stays at the biz caravansariés | will read with pleasure not unmixed with astopishment.. They will be led i0o won- der what human ingennity will next con- trive to lessen the necessity for exertion on the part of favored mortals. The new gold fields near Randsburg are given ample space, showing the marvelous riches of the great desert mines of South- ern California. Randsburg is a city of magical growth and the most accurate in- formation obtained on the spot by a special CALL representative is given in the Sunday issue. Just now everybody is in- quiring about the Randsburg mines and | the unalloyed facts about the town and | its gold dizgings will be generally received with gratification. All the usual departments are well filled and Tue SuspAY CaLL will fully sus- tain its reputation as the best family newspaper and magazine on the Pacific Coast. PARAGR: PHS ABOU! PEOPLE. It costs Great Britain $15,000 & year to maintain the Queen’s pack of deerhounds. People are petitioning her to give them up. Signor Crispl has taken time by the fore- lock in having his marbie monument erected in the Naples cemetery. The only inscrip- tion on it is “Crispl.” Russia’s Czaring, a granddaughterof Queen Victorla, is fighung ‘the practice of smoking prevalent among the womeu at court. S.eis said also to have shut down an her husband’s allowance of cigarettes. At the Chinese legation at Washington it 1s. stated that Wu Ting Fang, who suceeeds Yang still more gratifying to note that at & | You as Cninese Minister 1o this country, has meeting of the committee appointed by the late Grand Jury it was stated by E. P. | Farnsworth that be is not prepared to say | but what the Park Commission hasdone its duty. “I do not believe,’ said "he, “that with their knowledge any croolred- néss or irregularities have been counte- nariced.” It is the hope and the expectation of the people thatall charges made against the commission will prove to be ill-founaed. | Our Park Commissioners 1n the past have most ably and economically administered the funds entrusted to them. They have m#de for us at Golden Gate Park a garden and a forest of surpassing beauty out of the barren wastes of sand hills, where it seemed that nothing would grow. Their accomplshments have been a source of civic pride and we' have slways taken vis- | itors to the City to the park with feelings of more than ordinary satisfaction. It would be a loss to tne community if at this time we should fina that this commis- sion also has been guilty of favoritism, extravagauce, or worse, in the performance of its duties. The issue raised in the controversy is one of too much importance to be ignored and certainly the solution of it should not te postponed. The people, we repeat, ex- pect a speedy investigation and prompt settlement of the charges. 1f theres isany- thin . wrong it should be known .at once, and if there is not this commission, in which we have hitherto taken so much pride, should be restored to its former position in public con fidence. SENATOR FPLATT. The return of Thomas C. Platt to the TUnited Siates Senate will be another illus- tration of the Wway the “whirligig of time brings about its revenges.”’ In this case, however, the revenge will be but a barren accomplishment. The contests in which Mr. Platt engaged when lasy in the Senate are over, and his foes of those days, like his colleague, Conkling, bave gone beyond the reach of triumph or defeat. Mr. Platt will find himeelf 1n office confronted by spent considerable time in England, where he studied law and was admitted as a barrister. The brothers Henry and Walter Keney, Hartford merchants, who left a park to the city, are to bs commemorated ‘1n a beautiful clock tower, erected on the spot where they were born ata carried on business all their lives. The Pope has signified his intention to con- tribute to a fund which is being raised in Eng- land for the purpose of erecting a memorial church at Slough, Bucks, in_commemoration of the conversion of King Ethelbertof Eng- 1and to Christianity. Commodore Richard Peck of New Haven, Conn., completed his sixty-eighth year in steamboating the other day. He is 81 years of age, and has been with one company more than half a century. He has been in the steamboat business longer than any other man in the country. Miles Crowley, the picturesque Texas Repre- sentative, is only 34 years of age, and prints in his biography that he was chief enginecr of the Galveston fire department for two terms. His popularity there is said to have given him the political influence that sent him to the State Législature, first as a Representative, then twice as Senator, and afterward to Con: gress. FARM LIFE OFIEN PREFERABLE, Germantown (Pa) Telegraph. The statement was made in one of the daily wppers recently that, according to the testi- mony of.real estate deaters in the intersor of the State, there isa very decided increase in the demand for farms, and that this demand comes largely from thoss who moved into cities voars ago. 1f thisbe true, it i8 an en- couragipg item of news, Out of ten who leave the farm to make their way in the city, eight would certainly have done better had iliey re- -| mained at home. FIRE LOS>ES OF 1846. Chicago Chronicle. Better fire protection, the cheapening of illuminatimg and fuel gas and the improved construction of buildings made the fire losses of 1896 fall $19,822,1396 under those of the previous year. Thisin a total of 111,856,067 is a large reduction, and the smaller fires de- stroyed only half of this mmount. At the same timé this is an enormous sum to set down, 16r the 1051 Part, 1o carelesspess. AROUND THE CORRILORS. John P. Wilson, who wrote the fascinating song, “Dat New Bully,” and whose play of “Little Robinson Crusoe” has been generally discussed, 15 busy with one or two fetching productions which will probably be published during the next few months. Mr. Wilson has devoted a great deal of atfention to song- writing and has many interesting and novel ideas regarding songs that should catch on with the public. He is the autbor of the song “Crappy Sam,” successfully sung by May Irwin, and he is now writing a new burlesque on “The Prisoner ot Zenda” for the Con- cordia Club. At -the Pulace yesterday, in the company of several friends who were is- cussing the subject, Mr. Wilson said: “In the composition of a popular .song but one question is to be considered: What will the public take? The author’s one aim Is to find as satisfactory an answer s possible to this query and write accordingly. But, alas! no man has yet been wise enough to prophesy his trade to make a song ‘go.’ The ‘bdy in the gallery’ scheme is one of them, though' now backneyed by overuse. Haying the song illustrated by means of stereopticon views is avother. A favorite method of gaining that essential thing, the sympathy of the audience, is the ‘spiel’ before the rendition of the song. This consists of a little story of ‘how the song came to be written,’ which in nine cases out of ten fs the purest fiction. Nevertheless these fairy tales are accepted by the majority and lend a glamour of reality to the song, without which it would be wholly hollow and artifl- clal. «“Such is the story in brief of the popular song from inception- to presentation, with most of the worry left out, and now the fancy of the ‘public must' determine whether it stands or falls. “Pernaps in time to come the criticism of the general public will grow more dcute and a balled witl be sccepted strietly on its ar- tistic merits, but to-day, as beiore remarked, when author and composer Lave put forth JOE £32,000,000 already, ana( heaven only knows hew much more it s to dost. Yet the capitol at Washingion, one of. the noblest public build- ings In the whole world, /a vast architectural pile, twice the size of th¢ Albany building, one Gpoh which mougy has been lavished without stint and one whose every column is a mono- lith that excites the vonder of artisis and architects and critics, hias cost only $17,000,- 000, including the repaits and aiterations of three-quarters of a centurly. B L. A.J. Binney of Marysviile isat the Lick. P. J. Brady of S:ttle) got here yesterday. R..N. Tucker of Moufnt Hamilton is in the City. Dr. C. E. Stone of Maryaville is a late arrival here. { Dr. D. M, Livingstone; ot San Jose is at the Russ. Dr. F. 1a Spada of mercial. W. A. Perkins, s druggist of Virginia City, is in town. §. L. Mack, the California. ¢ J. E. Chapin, ownex of a general store at Madera, isin town. | J. D. Browne, a mining man of Randsburg, arrived here yesterday. Mr. and Mrs. J. E. W& ill of Vallejo are stay- ing at the Cosmopolitan. Charles F. Earles; and T. G. Erskine of Sonoma are at the Grpnd. J.B. Turner of the United States steamer Perry is at the Califognia. §. A. Riggs, & livestiock:raiser of Salem, Or. is a late arfival av the Russ. B. W. Barnes of Grakd Fork, N. D.,1s & late arrival at the Cosmopolitan. P. A. Falkenburg, a business man of Port- land, is among recent grrivals, E. F. Bernhard, owner of a large store at Fresno, is here on a busjiness trip. Dr. R.S. Gardner Jjr. and J. T. English of New Haven, Conn., ark at the Palace. Mrs. 8. M. Buck, wifp of ex-Superior Judge Buck of Eureks, is registered at the Lick. Fln Jose is at the Com- business jman of Hueneme, is at P. WILSON, Author of “Dat New Bully” and Other Popular Songs, Who 1s Writing a Burlesque. correctly as to the likes and dislikesof the fickle public; so the song-writer must use his skill and tact, coupled with his experience | and observation, and leeve the Test to the publisner and providence. : “Two points, however, must be borne in mind, the commercial view, and the avoidance of art; for art is not essentiai for this work, unless a happy knack of versifying can be dignified by that pame, and the general public have little taste for the higher variety. This statement is only made coneerning ephemeral songs of the duy, for & song to become siandard and live must possess genuine merit in point ot versification, musical setting, or both. 'Tis of the popular iyric effusion of which we are speaking, however, and we will confine our- selves 1o that topic. “To begin, the writer observes the style of the lalest song that has met with popular ap- proval, and likely as not appropriates the idea; or possibly he has & touch of originality and copies nobody, though this hypothesis is fm: probable. Then comes the choice of a subject, and though the popular writer should be_ pro- lific in themes and heppy in their gelection, a trivial inciuent may serve as the groundwork if properly handled, or an imaginary one with & varnish of rcality, the thinner the better, will answer as well, thongh novel situations are much sought after nowadays. ““Whatever the theme selected he must make the lines broad and their meanirg unmistak- | able; the sentinient must be exaggerated, like the scenes in a melodrama. If he writes of | love it must be of the faithful-until-death variety—unworldly, improbable. "‘The world Joves alover,’ but for the commionplace wooer the world has no sympathy, and in a song the public’s sympathy must be .aroused. The lover in-the Iyric must be a bold, handsome, devil-mey-care fellow, and love like Antony. No half-way business goes with the patrons of this style of song, and the ‘woejul ballad made | to his mistress’ eyebrow’ for them is played | out. 5 “If a comic song is projected it should be strictly comic, not humorous; with touches of horseplay thrown in—catch words and forcible phrases. “For a dialect creation authorities on dialect can be consulted to advantage, supplemented by observatious of the manners and speech of the nationality 1o be depicted, the whole brosdened and boldly accentuated. “In the topical verse everything should be subsidiary to the chimax. The concludifg phrase should be like the cracker on the whip, snAppy, pungent, startling. Perhaps no style of verse is so difficult of construction as the topical, for the air is usually but a vehicle for the words, its success depending on the ap- propriateness of tne theme and the manner in which it is presented. “The selection of topic having been made and the iyric constructed to the best of he author's ability, It is given over to the tender mercies of the composer, and if he be clever and grasps the versifier’s idea he makes the music in concord with the words. We will draw a charitable veil over the differences lia- ble to arise between author and composer, the brain torture the latter undergoes iu the com- position of & catchy air and accompaniment, and imsgine the song as a thing complete. “Then comes the most difficult task of all, that of placing the song upon the market. 1f possible a puplisher should be found, whose inherent honesty has not succumbed 10 oppor= tunity. Itis a mooted quesiion among song- writers if such a one lives to-duy, the. preva- lent opinlon being that, like the dodo, the species is now extinet if it 2ver existed at all. The publisher tound. the next thing is to get some singer to give the song (o the waiting public, and 1vs right here that that important factor, the ‘popularizer,’ gets in his work. Different footiight favorites are cajoled, flat- tered, persuaded sometimes by the promise of a share in the profits into ‘putting on’ the song, for all interested know that the success of the bantling is largely dependent upon the personality of the introducer. Such a party being procured, the soug is heard by the public. . “Apropos, a word or two about songs that have made money through such instrumen- tality mey not be amiss. “In the song ‘Alter the Ball" the verses are Dbeueath contempt, and the air hassuch a wide range that the average voice has not the com- passto singit. I once heard & music hail singer render the first part in the original key, and the refrain a tone lower. Still in spite of its bad rhyme ana faulty construction, this song had an enormous sale, the profits being variously estimated at _from $75,000 to $100,- 000. Another song which has been successiul from n monetary standpoint is labeled My Mother Was & Lady.’ It tells the story of a girl who came to the city to seek her brother, and obtained a situa- tion as & waltress, Fancy the .idea of ing the scene of a sentimental ballad in & hashery ! Inthefirst verse the heroine with the lady- like mother isrudely ‘joshed’ by a drummer she is attending at table, and the ‘josher asks. her to marry him in the third. Talk abouta rapid age, it's all settled i five minutes and in the most puerile verss ever perpetrated. Both of these songs were well introduced, and to that fact must their success be attributed, for it would be doing an_injustice to the intel- ligence of the American public tosay they were accepted on their merits. “The ‘popularizer’ exhausts all the tricks of their best efforts the rest must be left to provi dence and the ‘popularize: THE SHIP OF STATE. She's a-billn’ now Say, fellers, can't ye feel it fur sieam; Ye kin tell it by Ber murmurin’ an’ the tremble of her beam. The engines 1s gll ready an’ she'll never go asiray: With a bran’ new crew an’ cap’n fur to get er un- der way. The future 1s before us and beyond the misty biue, There is fortune for the many: disappointment * " for the few. With every voice a-cheerin’ we'll set out to con- quer fate When Will'm pulls the throitle valve an’ sacts the 8hip o state. We've run right clus to breakers, an’ she'd sort o’ pitch au’ roll Till she mude us fear that mebbe she was gettin’ Ppast control; But, without a-blamin’ no one, mor a-takin no one's part, We're kiod o' glad she's restin’ fur to get a better start. Here’s 10 the preparation for the comin’ festive day When the flags are ajl a-wavin'an’ ths bands be- #in o play. An’ every man wiil len’s han' to Keep 'er true an’ straight ‘When Will'm pulls the throttle valve an’siarts the stip o’ siate, —Washligten Star. Letters From the People. FOURTH STREET. Improvements Needed on Tnat Import- ant Thovoughtare of the City. To the Editdr of the San Franeisco Call—SIR: It being true that * THE OALL speaks for all,” the mercnants and business people all along Fourth street would owe their everlasting gratitude to THE CALL if it would appropriate asmall space of its valusble columns in set- tng forth to the public the present disgrace- ful and perilous condition of this street, more particularly that portion between Market and Mission, the cobbiestones and loose rocks, the unevenness of the grade caused by the raising of the grade in laying the trolley-car track rendering it dangerous for teams and buggies to pass over the same without accident. The attention of theauthorities has been repeated- iy cailed to this matter by the citizens and taxpayers, but in vain. Smash-ups and break- downs are of elmost daily occurrence and- the Teal condilion of the portion of this street be- | tween Market and Mission is actually a public shame. Tae business people on tbis street justly complain that the mouey of the City is iavishly éxpended on streets and avenues in the outskirtsof the City where there is scarcely any business or trayel, whiie here, in the very heart of the City, & sireet that is constantly thronged with travel is suffred to rémain in & condition that would be a disgrace to a Hot- tentot village. Notonly are the interests of the citizens on this street involved in the putting of this street In proper condition, but the put: lic generally are equally interested. We hope through THE CALL to be able to attract the ai- tention of tke authorities 10 the necessity of moving in this matter, A. SwIFT. Pl S OCCULT TEMPLE OPPOSED. Cowr Wachtmeister Says Mme. Blavat- sky Was Strongly Opposed to It. To the Editor of the San Francisco Call—Ste: In your issue of the 30ih of Dec<mber you pub- lished a most interesting article on the growth of theosophy. Among other items it was stated that the “Blavatsky-Judge faction pro- pose to es'ablish an occult temple.”” As the daily companion aud student of Mme. Blavat- sky during the Iast six years of her life I can give the public some very interesting informa- tion iu regard to Mme. Blavatsky's opinion of an “occult temple.” In the early days when & group of now well- known men and women were the daily pupils of our gieat leacher, we asked H. P. B. if we should get the money together and buid such atemple. Her answer wes clear and positive. She said: “By no means. If such & temple is built it will begin with ceremonial magic and ena in black magie.” Whatever temple may be buiit for occult practices by people calling themselves theoso- phists, I beg of you iu justice (0 the memory of our great teacher, don’t unite her name with 1t. CONSTANCE WACHTMEISTER. ‘Minnespolis, Jan. 2, 1897. CRACK (CRUISERS FOR JAPAN.® Boston Giove, It is a high compliment which the Mikado's emptre pays to American ingenuity aud skiil in awarding to Americans the contract for the construction of 1wo new ‘‘up-to-date’” steet crulsers at a cost of about $3,000,000. All_the fainous construction works in the 0id World were eager to get the chance to rovide these accessions to Japan's wer navy. The award of the contracts to Soott of San Francisco and the Cramps of Philadelphia simply means that in cruiser-building, asln otber enterprises, America leads. Sopm————— NEW YORK'S CAPITOL SCANDAL New York World. Governor Black s right in his severe com- ments uvon the capitol building. Itisa scan- dal of iarge proportions. It has been thirty years in construction and is still in an un- seemly condition of incompleteness. The unfinished capitol has'cost more than James Simpson, the lpmberuran and general contractor of Humpoldx Bay, s at the Lick. Ex-District Attorney James F. Farraher of -Yreka is among the arjrtvals from the north. Deputy Sheriff Earl H. Daggett of Tulare County was among yegterday’s arrivals here. L. Williams and T. Maitin of Sydney are among the recentarrivals at the Cosmopolitan. D. E. Knight, the pioneer land-owner, banker and woolen-mill ownefr, of Marysville, Is at the Lick. | John J. Jones, a8 mining and business man of Prescott, Ariz., is agnong the arrivals at the Palace. [ C. 0. Bannister, 8. well-known mining man of Salt Lake, i3 on a visit here and is at the Palace. ! Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Price of the Nat Good- win company arrived here on the Monowai yesterday. A €. 8. Wright, president of the Wilder Steam- ship Company, Hawailan Islands, is at the Oceidental. ! E S. Van Kuran, eity passenger agent at Portland of the Union Pacific Railroad, was in town yesterday. i E. C. Kilbourne, Wlio has been prominent in the business affairs of Seattle for some time past, is in the City. | Mrs. Sissons, propriletor of the old mountain hotel “known as Sissons, in Shasta County, ar- rived here yesterday,. Colonel Sidney P., Sladden of Chicagolsat the Occidental, accothpanied by Mrs. Sladden. They arrived on the Monowai. J. Wenger of Crescent City, where he owns a large sawmill and 18 an extensive manufac- turer of lumber, i at ihe Russ, Brad Barnor of England, who is interested in mining property if El Dorado and Tuol- umne counties, is at the Grand. J. A. Matheson, who is in business at Ana- cortes, Washington, a town on Fidaigo Island, was among yesterday’s arrivals, Philip Turner Simpson, proprietor of the Hotel Cecil, New York,'and the Ocean House at Long Branch, is smong the arrivals at the Occidental, W. I Webster, chief wharfinger at Juneau, Alaske, ana an old resident there, is among the arrivals at the Commerclal. He is here for a few weeks' stay. John B. Elwdod, traffic agent of the Pasadena and Los Angeles Eleotric Railway, the Pasa- dena and Pacific Railway and the Mount Lowe Reilway, is at the Occidental. George Fairbairn, a miner wno has for some years been in the Kootenai country and who owns several claims there, is in the City. He up! If the enemy were to fire on you when Yoo aré siraggling siong like ’ that they Wouldn’t kili u single man of you. Close upl” —London Tit-Bits. Gilboy—I understand that Judge Marrimore is breaking up housekeeping. - Gadman—That can't be; he's very busy these A days deciding divorce cases. Gilboy—Well, isn’t that what I said?—Rox- bury Gazette. “Weheard some of the strangest, most out- landish things last night,” began the woman Who gossips. “Yes,” replied the woman who doesn’t, “so a friend who attended your musicale was tell- ing me,”—Washington Star. ANSWERS 10 CORRES¢CNDENTS. A BAck DaTe—W., City. The 29th of Au- gust, 1861, fell on a Thursday. THE BALDWIN HoTEL—H. W., City, The Bald- win Hotel was opened in February, 1877. No BoND REQUIRED—A. C. C., Fort Apache, Navajo County, Ariz. A person appointed to the position of railway mail clerk under the civil service rules is not required to furnish a bond. SILVER BULLION—C. F., Alemeda, Cal. If you take silver bullion to the United States branch mint in this City it will noi be minted into standard stiver dollars for you, though you are willing to pay the cost of coinage. AN Exglsi COIN—A. C. R, City. An Eng- lish covper coin of the reign of George III, 1799, such ss you describe, has no market value other than that given in the coin cata- logues. Dealers offer such at from 10 50 cents, VoLaPUK—Subscriber, City. No recent sta- tistics of the cacophanous language Volapuk baving been published, this departmént i unable to aunounce f there 18 au increase or decrease of the number of peoplé who were learning it. Froop AT Los ANGELES—T. O. H., Hoboken, New Jersey. There was aflood in the imme- diate vicinity of Los- Angeles in the winter of 1883. By writing to the Healtn Office of Los Angeles you can_obtain such iniormation as you desire. The flood was csused by & cloud- burst. MEXICAN FINANCE—T. E., City. The ratio of silver to gold in Mexico 15 16.5 10 1. The vals ue of bullion silver in that county, as in the markets of the United States, fluctuates. The daily papers in the market reports give the price of silver daily. A Mexican silver dollar s not worth ss much in Mexico s a gold do.- ar. “LooK NoT MOURNFULLY'—M. A., Alameds, Cal. The lines, ‘Look not mournfully into the past,” etc., are used by Longfellow as the motto of “Hyperion.” See “Hyperion,” bonk 4, chapter. 8. The lines are a .ranslation of a art of the epitaph of Tinzens Kayetan vou Sonnenberg, buried in the churchyard of §i. Giigen, Tyrol. THE BALDWIN—A. H. C., City. What is known as the Baldwin Theater was opened March 6, 1876. as Baldwin's Academy of Music, Thomas Maguire proprietor, and J. A. Herne stage manager. Tae opening piece was “Richard I11,” with Barry Sullivan in the characters of DuKe of Gloster and Richard 1 Louise Hawthorue appeared as Queen Eliza- th, AGRICULTURAL OR OTHER LAND—H. V. B., City. 1fyou purchased agricultuzal or school land from the State of California and havs your deed for the same the title is in you, and no one. has a right to enter claim upon it, thuugh Le found mineral in it1n every square foot. The moment the title passes the prup- erty is in the person receiving the title and he has a right to whatever it muy produce. BTRONG hoarhound candy, 15¢c. Townsend's.* e California glace fruits, 50¢ & pound, in hand- some baskets. Townsend's, Palace bullding.” il o ki STANDARD patterns, highest perfection, lowest price. Domestle office, 1021 Market, nr. 6th.* S 41bs. famous broken cands, handsome bkts,, only 50c. Townsend's, Paiacs building. * b Tt SPECIAL information daily to manufacturers, business houses and public men by the Press Clipping Bureau (Allen’s), 510 Montgomery. * rizkida St THE YELL GF iHE SYRACUSE LA WLINGS. Troy Dally Press. The remarkable thing about the yelladopted | by the college of law of Syracuse University is the fact.that it is the only colleze yell which hasany sense in it. Here is the yell: Agency, contracts, bills and notes, Equity, pleadings, Domestic relatjons, speaks highly of the Kooteriai and says the mineral output there is rapidly increasing. Rev. George W. Chalfant, F. H. Chalfantand family and Miss Charlotte E. Hawes, mission, aries, who have been visiting Eastern rels- tives and who are now en route to the Orlent, are at the Grand. They are to sail on the Coptic to-day. Edward Holland, proprietor of the Com- mercial Hotel, is interested in a new freight transportation enterprise in Alaska, to carry freight from Dyea to Lake Lyndefman, a dis- tance of twenty-eight miles. The rate which it is proposcd to charge is $100 a ton. In making this trip a very high mountain is crossed, and in one place 2600 feet of wire cable is used. L. R. Wnitcomb, the well-known newspaper men of the staff of the Chromicle, has been confined to his nome for the past 0 weeks because of a serious case of appendicitis. He has been very ill, and for a time it looked as though & surgical operation would have to be performed 1n order to save his life. Dr. J. W. Keeney, Dr. L. L. Eobinson and another physi- ctan held & consultation and decided on other measures temporarily. Luckily, they were at- tended with good Tesults; at least it appears so now, for Mr. Whitcomb is getting along much better. A great many of his friends haye called in tosee him and inguire abour him during his iliness. Mr. Whitcomb thinks he will probably be able to be out in about two weeks more.__° : CALIFORNIANS IN NEW YORK NEW YORK, N. Y., Jan. 15.—At the Windsor, W. McDonald; Grand Union. W. McCulpin; Amsterdam, A. W. Porter., Mrs. Ellory C. Sar- gent.and Miss Elizaboth Sargent left the Windsor to sail on the Werra for Alexandria, Egypt. CALIFORNIANS IN WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. 15.—Hon. John P. Irish is at the Hotel Johnson, having come on here from Indianepolis, where he attended the monetary conference. - L. G. Howard of Los Angeles is at the National Hotel. NEWSPAFER PLEASANTRY. Bacon—My partner and myself want a wooden partition across the store. Builder—Well, Iguess it you put your heads together you can accomplish it.—Yonkers Statesman. Miss Oldgirl—I am very proud of my descent. One of my ancestorscame over in the May- flower. . Mr.de Brown—Was it your father or your mother?—New York Tribune. In Paradise.—Eve—That new spirit? I heard some one call him Cholly. Adam—Dear me! Who'd ever take him for one of the family ?—Puck. “When I em rich,” he said haughtily, *T will return and taunt you with the Opportu- nity you have missed.” “When you are rich,” she answered, calmly, “1 trust you will offer to pay for the broken leg of that spindle-iimbed gilt chair."” And he went forth witha hollow groan.— Cleveland Plaindealer. The prince in the fairy tale proceeded with his glowing description of the home he had prepered for his bride. “An hundred witching odors,” he exclaimed, “shall greet thy nostrils.”’ “Can’t you make it ninety-nine scents?”’ suddenly demanded the princess, who was in- .clined to be advanced a couple of centuries or such & matter, and whose every sspiration was harking forward to a more practical age.— Detroit Journal. On the occasion of the Lord Mayor's visit to North London recently, a captain was heard,| o remark to his corps: *Close up, boys; close Phillips’ Kock Isiana Excursions Leave San Francisco every Wednesd 1a Rie de and Rock Island Kailways. Through tourist sleeplng-cars to Chicago and Poston. Mau- sger and poriers accompany these excursions to Boston. For tickets, sleeping-car accommodations snd furtber information, address Clinton Jones, General Agent Kock Isiand Kaliway, 30 Mouw gomety street, San Franciseo. ————————— BroxcHITIS. Sudden changes of the weather cause Bronchial Troubles. *“Brown’s Bronchial Troches” will give effective relie e MaNY influences combine to make the halr crisp, lifeless, thin and gray. The best restorative is PARKER'S HATR BATSAN. —————— THE best remedy for constipation Is Avers Pills. Théy never fail. Have yon seen Ayer's Almanac for this year? e . —— A SHORT ANSWER.: St. Lovis Globe-Democrat. Rufus Choate used to thrill juries with sen- tences half a column long, but when a lawyer in Choate’s city & few days ago asked a ques- tion of 663 words the witness requested its repetition and then replied that he did not now. NEW TO-DAY. Of all the nerve-tonics— bromos, celeries or nervines —ryour doctor will tell you that the Hypophosphites are best understood. So thor- oughly related is the nervous 4 system to disease that some physicians prescribe Hypo- phosphites alone in the early stages of Consumption. Scott’s Emulsion is Cod-liver Oil, emulsified, with the Hypophosphites, happily blended. The result of its use is greater strength and activity of the brain, the spinal cord and the nerves. Let us send you a book all about it. Sent free. & BOWNE, Chemists, New York. moved to Market u Eu street, mear the Ferrv—Such a stock and such bargains as are offered there from day to day have never been witnessed on the Coast or eise- ! where. Will you call and see them? Do not wait for whole page ads. in the papers. , The simplicity of these notices may not Attract you, but the quality and price of our goods.will. ¥ CILOSING-. 50-cent Imitation Smyroa Rugs §$1 00 Tave-try Brussels Carpet . $1.25 Ladies’ Tan Oxfords. wide. $1.50 Girls’ Heavy School Shoes. 75¢c Fancy White Baby Shoes. . 20c Ladies’ Biack Seamless Hose. 100 Special Bargains Every Diy. SM"'H! Q CASH STORE. The great Bazaar formerly on Front street has been re- 10c