The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-03-05
A CAEEF0RNTA HEIRESS---HOW SHE
ASTONISHES THE WORLD.

Mrs. Ellet, in her recent book on
ssFamous American Women," makes
mention of a California lady remarka-
bic for her ability to entertain twenty
gentlemen at once by her vivacious
conversational powers. If this were
the only or chiefly remarkable thing
about Miss Hitchcock, she would be a
far less remarkable parsonage than she
is. But she is a public character-an
actress requiring far broader stage
and larger house than other actresses
of the time.
She is an only daughter, and only
child, | believe, of wealthy and most
respectable family, her father, DR..
Hitchcock, having come to this coast
as an army surgeon during the Mexi-
can war. He is now retired physi-
clan, and among the most substantial
and worthy of San Franciscoans. His
accomplished daughter has long been
one of the bellies of this city, without
whom no special gathering Of the ton
was complete if she was in the country.
When a child she was rescued from
burning building by some some mem
bers of the Knickerbocker Engine
Company, No. 5, since which time she
has never forgotten them-wearing
conspicuously at all times, and in all
places, neat gold ''5" upon her dress,
and at times making the Company of
which she is a duly elected member
costly presents, ranging from the cher
ished ''5'' to the gold mounted fire
horn. She is eccentric to an extent
that would shock our New England
notions of propriety, showing her &C.
centricity now by presenting the ''5's"
a barrel of brandy, now by stalking a
thousand on a favorite horse at the
races, again by riding on the cOw-catch-
er the entire length of the Napa Val
ley railroad, to which ride she chal-
lenged an engineer, and still again by
some of the noblest deeds Of philan-
thropy and charity.
She has upwards of fifty thousand
dollars in her own right, and Of course
is expected to inherit the hundreds of
thousands of her fathers estate. From
her own purse she supplies the wants
of many needy objects of charity, be-
ing generous in the extreme and of
noble impulses. She vibrates between
San Francisco and Paris, taking New
York and London on her way, and as
tonishing the natives Of each Of these
quiet ~ intermediate cities by what
she does and what she does not do.
She defes all rules and conventional
ities of society, dresses and acts as she
pleases everywhere, selects the compa-
ny from all classes at will, and yet
commands the confidence and good
will of all. She is conspicuous at the
grand ball of the Empress at the Tull-
cries, attends annually the Derby In
England, where, IL Is sad. she anuses
herself by winning or losing few hun
dred pounds day at the hands of the
young sprigs of nobility.
A few days since she started in COM
pany with her parents overland for
New York, and thence to Paris. Two
days after her marriage notice appear
ed as evidence of the last of her eccen-
tricities, she in quiet way, with the
personal knowledge of but two human
beings beside herself and the fortunate
groom, having suddenly experiment
ed in the role Of bride. Another ad-
mirer was with her all the afternoon
of that day, until p. NJ, when she
went, as he supposed, to dinner. Ate
p. NJ, ne met her again by appoint
ment, and went with her to the thea
ire, after which he accompanied her
and the family as far as Sacramento,
on her overland journey, quite ignor-
ant Of the fact that from s 2. NJ. he
had been in company with Mrs. How
ard Colt instead Of Miss Hitchcock.
This is the same youth whom she dared
to drive down an embankment at the
Cliff House road a few years ago, which
she did at the small cost Of 81, 200.
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 low
ing pa and dearest ma of her late ro-
mantle experiment, and is now enjoy
ing some other innocent amusement.
But while this heroine Is thus eccen-
trio and romantic in her composition,
and thus reckless in her demeanor, as
before remarked, there are in her char
acter many of the noblest traits pos
sessed by any. She speaks evil OF no
one, but has a kind word and a warm
heart for Providence Journal,