The union Democrat., 1869-01-09
LETTER FROM SAN FRANCISCO.
= ~ ~
SAX FRAxcIsco, Jan. 1st, ls6s

~
ces on the streets that this is New Years
morning. There is much more than the usu-
al average Of dilapidated humanity, bleeding
faces, muddy clothes, bleared eyes and stag
gering gaits. Where do these miserable
buns" F" get their whiskeys Many that
passed this morning on my way to breakfast
looked as if no respectable quarter would stay
in their clothes an hour and yet money had
been expepded on them or they had expend-
ed money for they were happily drunk.
The boys are footing horns and firing crack
ers and pistols. have for several days beea
studying why the JOY Of male juvenility in
this city at the Birth Of Christ and the advent
ola New Year should be expressed through
toot horns. This custom here, during the
Holidays among our youth lie general and not
only general but fearful. Still, it is more
sensible than to get drunk. Many, this year,
celebrate the Birth of Christ by getting drunk.
It's . strange way of testifying our joy at such
an suspicious event but then we are strange
people aud the usage tallies well with our
manner of keeping Christ's gospel.
AxUsEXENTs.
There is no lack here cfsamusements Legit-
innate Drama at Maguire's Opera House and
Opera At the Metropolitan. Negro Minstrel
~ at the Alhan,brs. Two CiYcuses, Chiarini's
On The vacant lot below the International Ho-
.sl an4 wilsoa's corner Of Stockton and Post
streets. Theatre ComiQae, by the Martnett's
corner Of Kesrney and Pacific. Knock downs,
hshts, robbefies and murders on the Barbary
coast. And then there 10 the doubtful but
nevertheless interesting dramas at the Olyn,-
pic and Bella Union. Eight places Of amuse-
ments in city Of $50, 900 inhabitants Nor
are those oil. There 10 the Anatomical Mu-
scum full OF skeletons, preserved insides and
queer things in wax. 1t is the best place in
the world 70 study yourself and learn to be-
ware Of yourself aud others. There is the
Houng Men Christian Association, also where
nightly one may see on exhibition oil the NOR
al male young men in tbs city. The aver
age attendance at their rooms is about twen-
ty, enough however to answer the purpose Of
saving this city from the fate Of Sodom and
Gonorrah. The term young is used in con-
neetioa vitA these beings merely for effect.
II in sross libel ON youth to call those
yoang that meet there. All Of US who meet
there have passed the bloom of youth. There
10 DR. ScuAder's church developing each Sun
day fresh growth of pulpit oddities, absur-
aities and comicalities. Truly, there is here
no necessity for any intelligent being, with or
without money, going without amusement.
FEMALE WATERS.
Female walters are being tried here at some
of the cheaper restaurants. They take well.
l conversed with the proprietor of the estab-
lisAment who 6rst ventured on this change of
seI. The girls, he remarked were at first q
little awkward. The increased volume Of
dress peculiar 10 the female form impeded
them at hr.t in circulating freely in the lsby-
rinth of chairs end tables. lie had also to
correct propensity among them to hang back
in the cook room and cluster together in knots
for the purpose Of exchanging their views rel
ative to the popular topics of the day. things
and men generally, more especially men.
This is . fault comwoa 10 mosa femsies. lie
was frequentiy obliged to rout these private
little standee parties and drive them out
where they we're needed. There is propen-
sity on the part of all walters, male or female,
at hotels or restaurants to be anywhere else
but where they are most needed. Barring these
little trifles they work very we'll. 1t is said to
girl than o man. Strange that the mere
tribe in the difference of sex should produce
this result. The why, is really study for
philosopher. But female restaurant walters
are no new thing. In few places, they were
to be found by the curious and enterprising
tourist in the city of New York fourteen
years ago. The city authorities knowing the
poor quality of New York morality prohib-
tied them. 1t is fact that female walters in
New York restaurants were at that period le-
gally prohibited. The authorities were scan
dalized that women should endeavor to earn
a living in this manner. The evil was stop
ped. The women were promptly dispersed
and many of them afterwards managed to earn
their bread in an immoral yet semi-legitimate
manner on Church and Elm streets.
An UNcHRIsrIAN SPIRIT.
There is an unchrstian spirit now rampant
among certain newspapers. The whales of
city journalism, the " respectable dailies "
are endeavoring to devour the minnows. The
whales do not solicit advertisements; the
minnows do. The whales are now trying to
prove that advertisements are OF no value to
the advertiser unless inserted in steady,
healthy reliable journal, which has become so
we'll established and independent as to be able
to sail along without soliciting such patron
age. They term those who do beggars "
and parasites" The Bulletin uses such
words. The Bulletin is great power in