Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-27
A Fast Girl.

San Francisc, Correspondence Of the Provi-
dence Journal
Mrs. Ellet, in her recent kook on "Fs.
nous American Women" makes mention
of California lady, remarkable for her
ability to entertain twenty gentlemen at
once by her vivacious conversations
powers. If this were the only or chiefly
remarkable thing about Miss Hitchcock
she would be far less remarkable per.
sonage than she is. But she is charac-
ter, and such character as this age
cannot and need not duplicate the world
over. As Americans, we have long
boasted of the versatility of our climate,
soil and people. Perhaps Miss Hitchcock
was a necessary national production, that
the world may be conviBced of the truth
fitness of this boast. She is public
character--an actress requiring far
broader stage and larger house than other
actresses of the time. She is an only
daughter-an only child, believe-rof a
wealthy and most respectable family, her
father, DR.. Hitchcock, having come to
this coast as an army surgeon during the
Mexican war. He is now retired ply
sician and among the most substantial and
worthy of San Franciscans. His accom-
plished daughter has long been one of
the bellies of this city, without whom
no social gathering of the ton was COM
plete If she wes in the country. When
a child she was rescued from o burn
ing building by some members OF
Knickerbocker engine company No. 8,
since which time she has never forgotten
them-wearing conspicuously, at all
times and all places, a neat gold 20"
upon her dress, and at times making the
company, of which she was a duly
elected member, costly presents, ranging
from the cherished "5" to the gold
mounted frehorn. She was eccentric to
an extent that would shock our New
England notions of propriety, showing
her eccentricity, now by presenting the
"Fivcs" barrel of brandy, now by stak.
ing thousand on a favorite horse at the
races, again by riding on the cowcatcher
with the constructing engineer, over the
entire length of the Nspa Valley rail-
road, to which ride she challenged said
engineer, and still again by the noblest
deeds of philanthropy and charity. She
has upward of $4,000 in her own right,
and of course is expected to inherit the
hundreds of thousands of her fathers
estate. From her own purse she sup
plies the wants of many needy objects
of charity, being generous in the ex-
treme and of noble impulse. She
vibrates between San Franciso and
Paris, taking New York and Lon
don in her way, and astonishing
the natives of each of these quiet (?) in
termediate cities by what she does and
what she does not do. She de6es all
rules and conventionalities OF society,
dresses and acts as she pleases every
where, selects her company from all
classes at will, and yet commands the
confidence and good will of all. She is
conspicuous at the grand balls of the
Empress at the Tnieries, attends an
nuslly the Derby in England, where, it is
said, she amuses herself by winning or
losing q few hundred pouRds day at
the hands of the young sprigs OF nobility.
A few days since she started in company
with her parents overland to New York
and thence to Paris. Two days after
her marriage notice appeared as evil
denee of the last of her eccentricities
she in qsiet way, with the personal
knowledge of but two human beings be-
sides herself and the fortunate ~ groom,
having suddenly experimental in the
role Of bride. Another admirer was
with her all the afternoon that day, until
6 pm, when she went, ss he supposed,
to dinner. At 8 pm. be met her again
by appointment, and went with her to the
theater, after which he accompanied
her as far as Sacramento on her over
land journey, quite ignorant of tho fact
from 8 pm. be had been in company
with Mrs Howard Colt instead of Miss
Hitchcock. This is the same youth
whom she dared to drive down an en-
bankment on the Cliff House road a few
days ago, which he did at the small cost
of $1,000 Her husband is left behind,
she not having seen him, it is said. since
they left St. James free church. Doubt
less, ere this, she has informed her loving
pa and dearest ma of her last romantic
experiment. aud is now enjoying some
other innocent amusement. But while
this heroine is thus eccentric aud ro-
mantle in her composition, and thus
reckless in her demeanor, as before re-
marked, there are in her character many
Of the noblest traits possessed by any.
She speaks evil OF no one. but has a
kind word and warm heart for all.