The union Democrat., 1869-02-27
Eccentric California Belle.


sgreeably entertain twenty gentleman, and
all at once, by her vivacious conversational
powers. If this we're the only or the chiefly
remarkable thing about Miss Hitchcock, she
would be far less remarkable parsonage
| than she really is. But she is character;
and such a character as this age cannot and
need not duplicate the country over. As
Americans, we have long boasted Of the YER
satllHy OF our climate, soil and people. Per-
haps Miss Hitchcock was necessary nation
al production that the world may be convinc-
ed of the truthiulness of this beast She is
pubic character-an actress requiring far
broader stage and larger house than other
| actresses of The time. She is an only daugh-
ter, an only child believe, of 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 a retired physician, aud among the
most substantial and worthy San Francis
cans. His accomplished daughter has long
been one Of the bellies of this city, without
whom no social gathering Of the ton was
complete if she was in the country. When q
child she was rescued from burning build
irg by some OF the members of the Knicker-
booker Engine Company. No. 5, since which
time she has never forgotten them-wcaring
conspicuouslv. at all times and in all places,
a neat gold IS" upon her dress, and at times
making the company, of which she is a duly
elected member costly presents ranging from
the cherished "5' to the gold-mounted fire.
horn. She is eccentric to an extent that
would shock our New England notions of
propriety, showing her eccentricity, now by
presenting the "Fives'' barrel Of brandy,
now by stalking a thousand on favorite
ot tbn L1, -
cow-catcher with the constructing engineer
over the entire length of the Nana Valley
Railroad, to which ride she challenged the
engineer. and still again bv some of the
most noble deeds of charity and philanthropy
She has upwards of fS50.000 in her own right,
and of course is expected to inherit the hun
dreds os thousands of her fathers estate.
From her own purse she supplies the wants
of many needy objects of charity, being gen
erous in the extreme and of noble impulses.
She vibrates between San Francisco and Paris,
taking New York and London in her way,
and astonishing all those cities by what she
does. and by what she does not do. She de-
fes all rules and conventionalities Of socie-
tv, dresses and acts as she pleases every
where, selects her company from all classes
at will and yet commands the confidence and
good VIII of all. She is conspicuous at the
grand balls of the Empress at the Tuilleres,
attends annually the Derby in England,
where, it is said, she amuses herself by win
ming or loosing a few hund red ponnds day
at the hands of the young sprigs of nobility.
A few days since she started overland with
her parents to New York. and thence to
Paris. Two days after, her marriage notice
appeared evidence of the last of her eccen-
tricities: she, in quiet way, with the per-
soral knowledge of but two human beings
beside herself and the fortunate groom, hav-
ing suddenly experimental in the role cf
bride. Another admirer WINS with her all the
afternoon of that day, until six ?. NJ, when
she went as he supposed, to her dinner. At
eight p. NJ, he met her again by appoint
ment, and went with her to the theatre, af-
ter which be accompanied her and the family
as far MS Sacramento on her overland iourn-
ev, quite ignorant of the fact that from eight
p. NJ. he had been in company with Mrs.
Howard Colt instead Of Miss Hitchcock.
This is the same youth whom she dared to
drive down an embankment on the Cliff
House road few years ago, which she did
at the small ccst of 81 200 Her husband is
left behind, she not having seen him, it is
said, since she left St. James free church.
Doubtless ere this she has informed her low
ing Pa and her dearest Ma Of her last roman
tic experiment, and is now enjoying some
other innocent amusement. But while this
heroine is thus eccentric and romantic in her
composition. and thus reckless in her de-
meanor. as before remarked. there are in her
character many of the noblest traits. She
speaks evil of no one, but has kind word
and warm heart for all. Were that heart.
those talents. and her means consecrated TO
God. and her life restrained by the religion
of Jesus. she would have almost unlimited
capacity for usefulness.-Sdn Francisco Cor
respondence PrOridence Journal.