The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 22, 1897, Page 28

28 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, AUGUST What are the literary tastes of our San Francisco children? The cosmopol character of our City | makes this question one of special in- | terest, and this interest isdeepened by the | knowledge that a chid’s favorite books, after any freedom of choice has been aliowed, form a passably good index to his or her natural character. Earl Barnes has made a study of the literary favorites of children in other parts of the United States, but as we can- not hops that he will revisit San Fran- cisco for that purpose, at least not until this present peneration of teachers shall have passed away, an attempt has been made here on less scientific lines to ascer- tain the feelings of a representative num- ber of our young people in this regard. To this end over 600 of our publicschool | ehildren in different parts of the City have been personally interviewed, and | each has been asked to give a perfectly | honest statement of his or her preferences in the way of books. ‘The question put to'them was this: “Of | all the books which you have ever read or heard read which three do you like the best?” No warning had been given them that such inquiry was to be made; no communication was allowed between the pupils as they struggled with the diffi- | culty of making so serious a choice at | such short notice; and no older person in | any case made suggestion, comment or criticism. Moreover it was particularly impressed upon them that no onesave the person making the investigation thould see the lists turned in, this being done that they might feel perfectly free to express their true sentiments without fear of after reproof or worse dread— | the *‘zood books’ presented to their notice ndicule. | As far as possible the way was made plain for them to tell the exact truth in | the nremises, and as a rule they availed | them'elves of the opportanity with appar- | ent satisfaction. The result of the experi- | ment was all that could be desired in toe ! some cases these newer books way of getting at the facts of the case, although the facts in some instances were scarcely what had been expected. Of course it is well known that fashions change in children’s literature, as well as in the literature of their elders, The “goody-goody” publication of former duys, which told, with divers variations, the story of the bad bov—who reaily, | viewed from the standpoint of to-day, was not so ferociously bad after ali—and the preternaturally good youth whose short- waisted jacket certainly covered budding wings, and how each received his deserts, has long since disappeared even from the shelves of Sunday-school libraries. They have been succeeded by stories of | a more exciiing nature, which bhave aimed, however, at being truer to life than their dull and stilted predecesso's. In have re- an enthusiastic welcome from their young readers; in others they have fallen flat and been a dead loss to pub- lishers and authors. The “why” of this has not so far been accurately ascer- | tained. Children ara severely critical in | | their own way, but their criticisms are all | of the black and white poster variety. | There are no lights and shades in their es- | timation of the reading prepared for them. A book to them is like an egg in one particular—it is either good or bad, and no gradations are to be considered for a moment. | Moreover, a child is influenced more | strongly by the opinion of another child | than he is by all the recommendations of | older persons. Let one bright boy or girl ! indorse a story and every one of their | companions will te eager to read it; but ceived by teachers and l:brarians are not always so enthusiastically sought atter. The investigation made, besides show- ing the status of modern books, prcves something that it is pleasant to know, and this is that certain juvenils classics which made happy our younger days are still i tostand in the large cities East. Alger, 22, 1897 Taken in the Libraries of San Francisco by a Special Mind Photographer for “Sunday Call” Readers. holding their own against the ever- increasing flood of newer writings for our youth. The signed preferences received show that “Robinson Crnsoe,” *The Swiss Family Robinson,” “The Arahian Nights,” the fairy tales of Hans Chris- tian Andersen and the Grimm broth- ers are still among the most popular of children’s books. Tne primary grade pupils also show a great regard for the stories of ““Red Riding Hood,’’ “*Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Babes in the Wcols,” “Jack the Giant Killer,” “Blue B ard,” “Cinderella,” *‘Beauty and the Beast’ and “Tom Thumb.” *‘Red Riding Hood,” however, is easily the favorite. Among modern books it is not surpris- ing that “Tom Sawyer” distances all competitors and that his admirers are to be found in every grade of the primary and grammar schools and include among their number a by no means small per- centage of girls. “Huckleberry Finn,” though very popular, does not approach this almost univer:al favorite in the esti- mation of our youth, and ¢Peck’s Bad Boy” has won only seven hearts, one of them feminine. Careful segregation and tabulation shows that the list of ultra-favorite au- thors, outside of Mr. Clemens, stands about the same here as it has been found Henty, Castlemon and Optic, 1n the order given, seem to appeal especially to our bods, while Miss Alcott, with her 'Little Women” and *‘Little Men'’ standing a very higk first on her list, is the girls’ favorite, with the exception of *‘Aunt Joe's Boys.” which received only one vote out of 1800. The *E.sie Books,”” by M. Finley, come next, althourh they seem to maturer minds scarcely deserving of the reputation given them by their young readers. It seems strange that Kipling’ Book hud only the votes of and one girl; that Stevenson’s juvenile works are no more popular than Kipling’s, and that the Brownies of Palmer Cox seem to have outlived their charm. Colonel Xnox’s personally conducted Boy Travelers in different countries, Cof- fin’s and Captain King's tales of patriots and National events, Kirk Monroe's sto- ries of adventure at home and abroad, the sea stories of Mollie Seawell and W. J. Henderson and the cowboy and Indian tales of W. O. Stoddard, all have many stanch friends among the boys, and an occasional girl testifies to her delight n the stirring scenes described in these vol- umes. Jules Verne is not as muach read as formerly, althoughb he is still a favorite with some, and Trowbridge’s later books are quite popuiar. “Black Beauty” is well liked, but num- bers four times as many boys as girls among heradmirers. “Little Lord Faunt- leroy’* pleases more girls than boys, but not many of either. ‘‘Alice in Wonder- 1and” is still read with interest by tho’ smaller children. The list obtained, however, shows that the favorites of the children are not al- wuys found among distinctively juvenile publications. The wide range of reading indulged in 1s very noticeable, as is the fact that the age of a cmild, after it has learned to read with intelligence and pleasure, does not seem to limit its choice of subjects and authors. In the fourth grade of the Dudley Stone 1rinary School near the park, the **Court- ship of Miles Standish,” “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” the *Last Days of Pompeii,” “Gulliver's Travels,”” the lives oi Colum- bus, Washington and Lincoln, Dickens’ works, “Rip Van Wink e” and ‘“‘Henry Esmond” share the honors with “Mother Goose” fairy tales, “Tom Sawyer,” “Rob- inson Crusoe’” and the “Swiss Family.” In the high grade of the Winfield Scott Primary, at the Presidio, outside of Amer- ican History stories, the life of Washing- ton, and tales from Shakespeare, the chil- dren’s favorites are Miss Aicott’s books, stories of colonial children, and the dear old tales before mentioned. The most advanced pupils of the Gar- fiela School, which is situated in the Latin quarter and includes representatives of nine nationalities, are very patriotic. The lives of Columbus, Washington and Lin- coln are much admired here. *“I like,” writes one flaxen-hairea German boy, “to know what great men aid.” “Ilikestories of war and Washington,” declares a small Italian, and a pretty dark-eyed Spaniard says, “I like the life of Washington be- cause he was a brave man and made this country.” In this school. 100, Little Nell has many loving friends, while Hiawatha, the *Viilage Blacksmith,” *Helen's | Babies’ and ‘“‘Midshipman Easy” are | dear to some young hearts. In the sixth grade of the Lincoln Grsm- mar Scbool (boys) while only two voters cared for *Tom Sawyer,” dozens indorsed the various histories of America, the Nation and its wars and heroes and noted “Michael Strogoff.” Alger's 'lnd Castle- mon’s books are popular here as are also “Uncle Tom,” “Tom Brown’s School- days,” “'Black Beauty” and Longfellow’s and Whittie’s poems. In the seventh grade *Little Men” Lolds firse place, fol- lowed by the *“Wonder Book,’” ‘“Uncle Tom,” *“Tom Sawyer,’’ the histories sbove mentioned, “Rip Van Winkle,” «Qiiver Twist'’ and “‘Black Beauty.” In the Franklin seventh grade the prefer- ences expressed are about the same, wit}l the exception that “‘Rip Van Winkle” is ignored and Dickens receives the scant courtesy of two votes, both for the ~0ld Curiosity Shop.” The Hancock School, near North Beach, is blessed with a library of nearly 2000 volumes, which are lent to the children and used for supplementary readingz. Per- baps for the reason that the pupils obtain most of their mental food from this source, instead of indiscriminately choos- ing for themselves elsewhere, the favorite books in both the seventh and eighth grades are almost entirely of the juvenile order. “Uncle Tom,” “Rip Van Winkle,” | “Old Curiosity Shop.” *‘Little Dorrit,” “John Halifax,” *Scottish Chiefs,” Irv- ing’s *'Sketch Book” and Longfellow’s and Tennyson’s poems are, however, found in the extensive list of best-loved volumes, men and one had been charmed by | OMPOSITE PHOTOGRAPH OF WHAT OUR YOUNG FOLKS RERD and one boy declares his partiality for “Irilpy.” The eighth and advanced grades of the Crocker School, as well as the similar grades of the other scnoois visited, show adecided preference for ‘:grown up'’ lit- erature. Miss Alcott retains her popular- ity here, however, and Dickens is well- beloved, the favorites being *David Cop- perfield” and *Little Dorrit.” *Quo Va- dis,”’ “Jane Eyre,” “John Haliiax,” “The Mill on the Fioss,” “Romola.” ““At the Mercy of Tiberius” and *‘The Rose of Yesterday,” are read by some with pleas- ure, and the poems of Longfellow, Bry- ant, Tennyson ana Whittier seem familiar friends. - The eighth grade of the Lincoln School is rather an exception to its class, The average age of the boys is about 14 years, and the majority are still loyal to their Juvenile books. Dickens, Fenimore Cooper and Longfellow are, however, in excellent standing, but only two boys ex« pressed a liking for Miss Alcott. 'The Franklin eighth grade range—out- side o_l the usual juveniles—from “Than- atopsis” and “The Newcomes” io Muria Correlli and Mary Jane Holmes. The general selection is excellent, however, though the field is rather wide for such young minds and so few agree upon their favorites that a list of those named would be like the catalogue of a small library. It was at first intended to visit the high schools as well as the other departments, bt the hichest grammar grades show so plainly that the pupils in even these classes have for the most part ‘‘put away childish things” thet it was decided that information from those sources would scarcely come within the scope of this ar- ticle. Taken altogether we have good reason to be proud of our San Francisco children, for if their choice of book friandsis not always wise it proves that they bave quick brains and warm hearts and are full of loyalty to their country and its heroes. Mrs. Lieslie Garter as a Woman Viewed in the Atmosphere of Private Life by Muriel Baily. It was not in the glare of the tootlights with the glamour of the stage attraction that I received my lirst impression of her. It was after leaving the crowded streets with their hurrying masses of humanity, passing and repassing and going the same way, and yet with no two walkingin the | same footprints. It was while wondering a litle wearily how there came to be | enough room for all these fe:t to press | the way separately and why there bad to | be so many ways that I found myseliin Mrs. Leslie Carter’s presence. “Come and sit down,” she said, witha refreshing graciousness that dispelied all visions of other human beings on or under theearth. But I did not follow, saving with my eyes, as she swept across the room. I think I forgot until she spoke again that 1 should not stand at the door and stare, even if she was good to look upon. There are some women whose char- | acters are so littie developed that you re- | ceive no impression from contact with | them, and tuere are others whose char- acter development is angular, so that the | sharp points make indentations in your | first impression and you cringe at tioe contact. And then there are others so well rounded that the touch is soothing. 'And this iast impression is as impossible of de- scription as is the effect of a tiny, sun- tinted cloud far up in the ether or the sub- | tle scent of a iragile blossom. The float- | ing beauty is but vapor, and is perishable; | the flower fades with the thought, and the rest—well, what have we to do with any- thing past the hour? Mrs. Leslie Carter, from the top of the | wondrous mass: of hair of that coloring which the gods who lived nearer the sun knew more of than we, to the tip of her dainty foot, was soothing and refreshing. Beating herself opposite me in the depths of the velvet chair, she ciasped herslender white hands and laughed at me with the artlessness of a child. #1 have just come in from rehearsal,” she exclaimed. *Do you know I love re- hear=als? I wish we haa matinee every day. 1doloveitso, and I love life.” She leaned forward and looked at me earnestly. i “Don’t you?'' she asked. | was infectious. *“It must be good, because | the God who gave it knows that it is there great seas, with the dashing of the waves and the sparkling of the sunlight, and the o0ol, dim silence oi the woods, and I an- swered, *Yes,” “Iam glad,” she made answer, *‘for to love is so womanly. Does it not make you feel tender toward a woman to know | that she hasa heart warm toward some- thing which is good and takes it into itself and makes both pure?”’ *“But suppose it is not good ?"’ “Oh,” she said, and her spirit of love there is good in all. Isn't the-e alwaysa tiny bit of white even in the blackest spots? Isn’t there, truly?'’ So they say.”” And I may have spoken dubiously, for she answered quickly: | “It may not be—and perhaps it is best | thatit is not—always visible to us, but | and that is all that saves the life from be- ing too awful to endure. “Itisn’t easy to live in the world,’” she | went on. “I know that. It is a hard | place for women to live in well and suc- | ceed, and yet, wby, what isthere thatis worth anything that doesn’t call for| effort? And the more difticult the greater | the success. Iam glad to Lave succeeded | as well as I have. I love to think of it. At night after the curtain woes down and | the house has been crowded and they | have snown that they liked us I feel like | boaras and dusty scene backs. Thne staring flies above are dear to meand I feel like pressing my lips to the dinginess bacause it has all been with me and a part of the joyousness of success.” *And since you love so much whatdo you love most of all?”’ 1 asked. But I knew her answer before she gave | it, for they have said that whatever we | love most we shall be. “A woman!" she | i repiied. Aud Idid not blame her, look- ing at her then. that I would rather be in ihe world, to take the position and live the life of what- ever I would wish, I would say, ‘Let me live a girl again, with all the sanguine Lopes and the dear. beautitul thoughts and the tender impulses of true girihood.” I would hke to be a girl always. But And I straightway forgot the devious ways of man and the innumerable unan- | swerable questions, and thought of the aside from that I would be what I am. My work is my life. I come to my room from the theater ana I go again on!y to i {of the limpid siream that flows through achild, so giad and joyous, and in love | soul and thonght ab.ut us. with even the dark corners and the old | been simply that magretism of which Mrs. 11" she said, “I had my choice of all | plays on the stage to-day I would choose rehearsal and then again at night to the theater. I have no time nor heart for anything aside’ from it. I do not need anything else. ““And it is not thatI am satisfied with myself entirely. Not that I would not be a greater artistor the best that earth could know. Itissimply that I think it1s lovely to be able to do anything, and there is | someth:ng so beautiful about joy to me | that I always want to be jeyous.” Some have said that” Mrs. Leslie Carter is not beautiful, and some have said that she had no natural art, and others—but what does it matter what words are spoken. Lookinz into the face all wreathed with smiles and hearing the tones of Ler voice, quite filled with the iove that she so loves, I knew that she was noue and all of these. Hers is the beauty cool places down the mountainside and sparkies itself into the beyond, and her art is the nature of it, and bher life is as its life, and where it began I cannot say, nor where it ends, | For I tak that the highestin artor| nature is to make one feel the truth of all | and to realize idealism, and the highest in human nature is to bring one to the reaii- zation of one's best self. As she sat and spoke of these things and of Iife itself and of the world that is sel- dom just, there seemed to be nothing but It may have Carter has a superabundance or it may have been in the atmosphere. Anyhow, there it was, and I felt it and grew to love it, too, as she did. “I wish,” she said, “‘that I had been on the stage since childhood. I think I would have less to learn now. I wasn't born to it, you know, nor bred toit. I just—well, I just took to it. This is really the third part I have played, and I think it is beautiful. “[f I were given my choice of all the ‘Ihe Heart of Maryland.’ Of course it was written for me and I saw every line that went into it, and it seems a part of me. Of course it would be naturai for me to think it a perfect play if I liked it at all. Somehow the character that was made for me is the kind of a woman that apreals to me most strongly. She is thoroughly modest and retiring and vet brave when necessity requires. I wouldn’t { like to have a woman brave all the while. Ithink womanly weakness is so appealing. That is the reason why I object to women’s dressing after the fashion of men. Although it is becoming to some, still I couldn’t bear it myself,”” and she shrugged ber shoulders. *Ilike the touch of lace and silk and the daintiness of ribbons.” I could as well imagine Mrs, Carter with smoothly brushed hair and deveid ot laces and softly rustling silks as I could fancy Juliet searching for Romeo, with her dainty throat encased in the stiff-siarchi- ness of a collar like unto that which the venerable Father Capulet would have worn in these days. There isa fitness in all things, and it is pleasing to find one who understands that which is fit. And so I left her witn the feeling of her joyousness upon me. Whatever Mrs, Carter was yesterday, or what she will be to-morrow, as an artist or a woman, I can- not help—nor methinks can she—but certainly to-day she hath a spirit that God zave her. Murier BarLy. —_— . Famous Portraits. General G. W. Custis Lee, just before leaving Lexingtoa, presented Washingtou and Lee University with portraits of G:n- eral Washington and General La Fayette, each three-quarters length ot life size, which for years adorned the walls of Mount Vernon and which finally were in- herited by General Custis Lee. Both portraits were executed by Charles Wilson Peale, the noted portrait-painter of colonial times. Peale also painted the portraits of Jeffarson, Hamilton, Jay, Franklin, Nelson, Stenber, Knox and others of Revolutionary fame. The portrait of Washington is especially interesting from the fact that it was the first painted of him, and was done when he was in the prime of vigorous manhood, in 1772, he then being 40 years old. The portraits were at Mount Vernon until taken to Arlington by George Wash- ington Parke Custis, a grandson of Mar- tha Washington. During the Civil War they were re- moved from Arlington, the home of Gen- eral Robert E. Lee, and concealed, with other valuables, within the Confederate lines to prevent their capture by Federal soldiers. General Robert E. Lze brought them to Lexington on accepting the presidency of Washington College, afterward Washing- tonand Lee University, since which time they have adorned the Lee home at Wash- ington.—Richmond Whiz, -~ The skins of fruit should never be eaten, not because they arenot palatable or di- gestible or are unhealthy in themselves, but on account of the danger arising from microbes which have penetrated into the covering of the fruit. ——.——————— The consumption of boot-blacking in Engiand in a recent year amouated to the value oi £56),000. Alice Kingsbury Gooley as A Woman, an Actress, a Writer and a Real Old-Fashioned Home-Maker. It is generally a notable event when a play by a local writer is placed on the boards. 1t is more notable when the writer is a woman, and, moreover, a woman who has won distinction for her- self in the histrionic art and knows whereof she speaks in a dramatic way. The presentation of “On to the Klon- dike” in Oakland last evening wa+ full of interest to those of the older generation, to whom the name of the author conjures up many bright and pleasant memories. It is not so very long ago that Alice Kingsbury Cooley was a particularly bright and twinkiiog star in her special constellation in the dramatic firmament. A dainty little creature, a!most fairy-like of figure, with a sweet, girlish, brightly expressive face, unquestioned dramatic abiiity and an airy ‘grace of movement which made her dancing lamous all over the country, Alice Kingsbury’s career was a marked success from ths time she made her first appearance in the National Theater in Cincinnati until she played “Fanchon,” for the last time, in the Columbia Theater of San Francisco six years ago. Bhe was watching the play last night from a retired seat; watching it with eager brilliant eyes which anticipated “'situations,” followed every movement of the players who were making the creations of her active brain live before the public and noting with quick approval or disap- proval every bit of “business’’ introduced. She is a thin jittle lady now and the many emotions, real and leigned, which her mubile face has expressed have loft some lines here and there, but hers is a bright face still, and a pleasant one, and her smile is sweet and winning. Can you imagine Fanchon as a ssdate ‘mother of a family with an evening bonnet tied un- der her chin and a conventional silk gown decorously covering the figure which once expressd all that a figure could express of grace and beauty in the famous “Shadow Dance?’ If you can imagine such a Fapchon, then you can imagine the Mrs. Cooley of the present time, for she was the ideal Fanchon of the past ana she is Fanchon still, though made a bit older and graver by the passing years. She watched the play sharpiy last night, for although playwriting is by no means a new fiald for her, since during her stage life she starred in no less than four plays of her own authorship—*‘The Great Tra- ’” “The Three Wishes”; ‘“Maud, Chimney-sweep’s Daughter,” and “The Little Rag-pi —she feels a spe- | cial interest in this child of her later years. “Don’t talk of me, please,” she said, as I seated myse!f besice her; ‘‘talk about my | play. I doso hope that it will be a suc- | cess. Do you like it?” “Certainly I like it. It is full of the swirl and swing of present human inter- ests; it propounds no knotty problems; it deals with no questions which belong in the courts instead of in our theaters, but it tells of Alaska and the gold fever, and the northern rush and the hopes and fears | and trinmphs of mankind as we know them. And our own Joaquin Miller lives ana moves therein, and conquers almost unconguerable difficuities, and it all ends happily. What more could weask? 1t seems to me to have within it ali the ele- ments of present popularity, and from my heart I wish that it may be a pronounced ‘hit’ wherever produced.”” For myseif, I was delighted with the whole thing. The play itself pleased me. I did not o to see it in a critical spirt, and if there be flaws to pick let others pick them. There are plenty of people whose pen-points are pcisoned daggers, whose eyes see only faults, and who de- light in tearing 1o pieces the work of others which they themselves, super.or beings though they apparently deem themselves, have not the wit to put to- gether. As for me, 1 take my pleasure in a different way. And it was a positive pleasure to see among the first-night au- dience the faces of men and women who came not so much to beamused and inter- | ested by those behind the footlights as to do honor to the little woman who won the admiration of the public by her talents as an actress, and the respect of those who are privilgg d to know ner in private life, for her unselfish devotion to others as a daughter, a wife and a mother. I managed to find a few minutes to talk with her between the acts, but it was dif- cult to obtain from her more than the | barest outline of her public life. “I thirk that 1 was born an actress,” she said. laughing, “though my father was an Engiish Quaker—I was born in | Bristol, England—and my mother a Methodist. Inever dared to vpropose go- ing on the stage until after I was a mar- gedian, ried woman, though I knew every vlay that I could get my hands on by heart before I was 16. [ made my debut as Bianca in the Rev. Mr. Millman’'s play of ‘Fazio, or the Italian Wife’—by the way, he was turned out of the Presby- terian church for writing it—and I made a success of it from the start. After that I played Julia in ‘The Hunchback’ and Pauline in ‘The Lady of Lvons,’ and thei I went starring through the East and South. I always liked tragedy best, but I was too small” — with a disparaging glance at her diminutive personality—*'to be effective, and I seemed to fit into plays like Fanchon.”” I thought of some old press notices of ner which 1 happened to see the other day, and I felt that she did “fit"’ particu- larly well in such plays, modestly as she speaks of it all now. And I thought of how the Old Theater-goer had told me of her long engagement at Maguire’s Opera- house iu this City in the middle sixties, and how enthusiastically he had spoken of her beauty, her grace and har talent. **And you played with McCullough and Forrest and—'* She gave me a sidewise smiling glance witn those still effective eyes of hers. “I've written about ail that myself,’* she said. “Don’t harp on what I have been. 1f you speak of me at all, speak of my present, One doesn’t like to be classed with back numbers, even if one is no longer 16.”" “Tell about her writings, her poems and stories and her books,” saia the pretty daughter beside her. *‘She has published three books so far, ‘Ho for Eifland,’ ‘Se- crets Told’ and ‘Asaph,’ and she has made life-size busts of General Grant and Gen- eral Lee and Dickens and other famous people, and her statves of the Infant Bacchus and Cupid at Piay were exhibited here and in New Orleans and very highly vraised.” The pretty face glowed with loving pride. “And she paints beautifully, too,” she went on, “‘especially figures, and’’— But a small hand checked her gently. “‘Hush, d ar,” said Mrs. Cooley, “the curtain is going up.” FLORENCE MATHESON, There were only five hundred miles of underground wire in London in 1869: there are now thirteen thousand miles. In 1869 there were five and a half miles of pneumatic tubes, compared with forty miles now. THEY AR ‘With scarce a warning they are sifting into town, the hundreds and hundreds of men and women who but a few weeks ago left the crowded city for silvery peaches and feathery surf or lofty mountains and peaceful vaileys. The distinguished author and piay- wright, Archibald Clavering Gunter, is at Narragansett Pier, the companion seaside resort of dear old Newport. Mr. Gunter has grown very stouu since his younger days in California. However, why should he worry about it? His bank book has grown in proportion with his adipose tissue, he has a legion of devout ad- mirers, and as he iz now on the last pages of a new novel which is to be launched in tbe early winter his smile is serene and his bearing becomingly benign. Long may he wave! Californians have not been greatly in evidence during the past two months. At Newport Mr. and Mre. George Crocker and family bave been enjoying the summer and mixing very little in society. There is probably no more popular young lady in the exclusive set at New- port or Narragansett Pier than Miss Vir- ginia Fair, Miss Fair can scarcely be called a Californian now, as she has teen so long considered a New Yorker, and has become one of the belles of the ultra set in Gotham society. However, Miss Fair is at heart loyal to her Western birthplace, and it is said that she would make her home in San Francisco were it not for the desire of being with her sister, the hand- some Mrs. Hermann Oelrichs. Mrs. Oel. riche and Miss Fair have appeared at every social function of imporiance given at Newport this seasor, which in itself be- speaks their popularity. Individually the Oelrichs do very little entertaining. The Long Branch Horse Show at West End Long Branch last week was a great success in every way. Mr. and Mrs. Ernest La Montagne went over from Cedarhurst several times dur- ing the week to view the high-steppers, hackneys and saddle horses and show their approval when some friend was awarded the blue, red or white ribbon. Mrs. La Montagne will be remembered as Miss Catherwood, the daughter of Mrs. Major Darling. She 1s the ideal picture of health and bappy wifehood. At Saratoga E. J. Baldwin, the *Lucky,” 1s passing a few weeks’ vacation inspect- ing his string of horses and telling excit- ing tales of early days in California, when men made fortunes at the gaming tables as well as in the rich go!d mines. He seems still to have the determination of turning toward ‘‘Alaskan regions” early next spring. Apropos, already we are weary of the yery word Klondike and in referring to the new-found gold fields “‘Alaskan regions'” is more frequently used. Hon. Thomas Filch and Mrs. Fitch will give up their handsome apartments at the San Remo next week and start for Califor- nia direct. They will spend most of their time at Ccronado Beach. Thomés Fitch is among the enthusiasts on the Alaskan question and anticipates a pleasure trip there next summer. Mrs. Harry Mann and her young daugh- ter are among the summer residents at Saratoga. Since Al Hayman’s return to America a few weeks ago his offices in the Empire Theater building have been full of stir and bustle, preparatory to the open- ing of the regular theatrical season, there- fore Harry Mann, who manages a great turn to town on Monday mornings, Here is the Latest News Of What Californians Are Doing in the Metropolis of the East Frederick C. Mason and Miss Mason are guests at the Gilsey. They arrived in New York on the 10th inst. James Russell of San Francisco is put- ting up at the Fifth Avenue. Mrs. Harry E. Hayes, recently arrived from San Diego, is here on a short visit. She has apartments at the Fifth-avenue Hotel. At the Hoffman I. Nathan isthe only arrival from California within a week. He does not anticipate remaining in the city any length of time. Dr. Agnes Sparks, for many years a well-known physician in San Francisco, is meeting with success most flattering in Brook!yn. She and her two sons, Freder- ick and Harlow Sparks, are spending their vacation at Cornwali-on-the-Hud- son. Frederick Sparks is a law student in the New York University and Harlow is studying music serionsly and ambitiously. He is a vervy good musician on the piano- forte, and if his enthusiasm continues he bas a brilliant iuture as a concert per- former. 8. 8. Gooafriend, for a number of years deal of Mr. Hayman's business, is so|connected with the San Francisco daily busy that he is able only to run up to | press, has been re-engaged by Charles ¥roh- Saratoga on Saturday afiernoons and-re- | man as advance press acent for one of his best companies. Miss Ida Jeifries is Mrs. { Monday. Goodfriend in private life, and this season she will return to the stage, having been absent from it for a number of vears, Mrs, Geolfriend is an officer of the popularand worthy Professional Woman’s League of New York. Mrs. Ada Levick and her bright young son, Master Gas, floatea into the city on They are both very well and tappy, ana think we are having dread- fully warm weather here. Mrs. Levick may sign with Charles Frohman for next season in one of his new English plays. She is a talented actress and a student, therefore she cannot fail being successful H in securing an excellent engagement in the East.” Darrell Vinton, for so many years asso- ciated with the theatrical profession on the Pacific Coast, will be the leading sup- port to Thomas Keenc next season. Mr. Vinton begins rehearsals with Mr. Keene next week. The season openg the latter part of September. W. L. Jackson of Oakland has been in town during the past two weeks. He is here to put through some important mining deals, Harry Davenport with his wife and pretty baby girl are cosily settled in town for the coming season. Mr. Davenport will soon appear in a new play which will shortly be produced at the Casino. Miss Payson Graham, whose retirement from the stage early last season caused much comment among her many iriends and acquaintances, will leave next week for a two weeks’ vacation in the country. I promised in my last letter to give my gentle readers some idea of the preity things I have had the pieasure of seeing at private openings during the past week. Well, I fear I set a task for myself far too exhaustive for my limited space here. Suffice to say, never before have dress- goods, zowns, millinery, hosiery and bric- a-brac seemed to be so perfect in color, de- sign and grace as the coming season’s fashions promise. Adolphe, the milliner, came in from Paris on Saturday guarding a dozen im- mense wooden boxes with big black let- ters, “France,” painted across the sides. The tanff is a big item on such goods, but as Adolphe expresses it, *Mon Dieu! The ladies must have the prettiest things in all the world, mon ami! The price? Voilal Pouff!” He says browr, brown in all its wonder- ful shades, will be used in everything. Finely cut steel ornaments will be used; long drooping plumes cailed the Amazon vlumes; birds of all kinds, pheasants, doves and big gray acd brown pigeons decorate the whole side of a hat. Side effects of the most prcnounced stvle will be all the rage this fall in headgear. Jockey Club blue is a new shade, and all the shades of castor will be popular. Antique velvet is another Parisian fancy, and o , what a dainty, beautiful trimming it does make! Coming in with the fall stylescomes the edict direct from Paris that the “Fasso figure’’ will be the only recognized one in the world of fashion. It derives the name from a peculiar corset of that make, I believe, anyhow, to be quite ala mode a woman must have what is termed the low-bust-straight- front and sudden-hip figare. It looks lovely, in the accepted term of the fashionable world, and al- ready is being accepted by the ultra set. | The corset has to be made in such a way 2s to leave the bust free, causing a low- bust effect, while the waist line is lessened and the sudden spring in the sides of the corset causes the hips to look full and round. One thing sure, ladies inclined to embonpoint will find that this new style will do away with the abdominal promi- nence, which mars mary an otherwise perfect figura. Dress goods are very pretty this ye Among the silks and velvets what is termed as Bayadere stripes will be used a great deal. The stripes run across the widths. Mourseline brocke, a sort of fancy grena- dine, will be worn during the fall months, over heavy silk linings. Tinsol poplin in Javish brocade patterns E ALL DRIFTING BACK INTO THE WHIRLIGIG come in the delicate evening shades. Purple will most likely te placed on a top shelf in the future, as very few shades of it are shown in the imporied cloths, Brown will be very popular. The news that THE CALL had chaneed | management was quite a surprise to its UFLIFE Gotham readers. On all sides come ex- pressions of regret that C. M. Shortridyge, its former editor and proprietor, was obliged, through continued ill-health, to give up so valuable a property. How- ever, the most cordial good wishes are expressed by everybody that the new management will meet the complete suc- cess they so truly deserve. Hon. John D. Spreckels is a man greatly admired in the East, for his firm charac- ter in dealing with stupendous ente: prises, and whatever he undertakes can- not fail being successful. 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