Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-02-20
Fan Francisco correspondence Of the Providence
Journal.
An Eccentric California Belle.

Mrs. Ellet, in her recent book on "Fa-
nous American Women" makes mention
Of Californian lady remarkable to enter
tain twenty gentlemen at once by her vi
vacious conversational powers. If this
were the only or chiefly remarkable thing
about Miss Hitchcock, she would be far
less remarkable parsonage than she is
But she is character and such u character
as this age cannot and need not duplicate
the country over. As Americans. we
have long boasted Of the versatility of our
climate, soil and people. Perhaps Miss
Hitchcock was necessary national produc
ton that the world may be convined Of the
truthfulness ofthis boast. She is public
character--an actress requiring far broad
crstagc and larger house than other actress
cs Of the time She is an only daughter.
an only child. believe. of wealthy and
most respectable family. her father. DR..
Hitchcock. having come to this coast as an
army surgeon during the Mexican war.
lie is now retired physician and among
the most substantial and worthy of San
Franciscans. His accomplished daughter
has long been one of the bellies of this city,
without whom no social gathering of the
ton was complete ifslc was in the country.
When child she was rescued from burn
ing building by some members of Knickcr-
booker Engine Company. No. 5, since
which time she has never forgotten them
wearing conspcuousl Y. at all times and
in all places. a neat gold '5" upon her
dress, and at times making the company.
Of which she is Il duly elected member,
costly presents, ranging from the cherished
So to the g'd-mountcd fire horn. She
is eccentric to an extent that would shock
our New England notions of propric;y, her
eccentricity, shown now by presenting the
Elves" n harrclof brandy, now by stalking
a thousand on favoritc horse at the races,
again by riding on the cowcatcher with the
constructing engineer over the entire
length of the Napa Valley Railroad, to
| which ride she challenged said engineer,
and still again by some of the noble dccls
of philanthropy and charity. She has up
wards ofs50, 900 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, being gen
crous in the extreme and ofnoble impulses.
She vibrates between San Francisco and
Paris, taking New York npd London in
her way astonishing the natives of each of
these quiet (?) intermediate cities by what
she docs and what she does not do She
dc6cs all rules and convcntionalities so
cicty, dresses and acts as she pleascs every.
where, select 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 Tuil.
lcrics, attends annually the Derby in En-.
gland, where, it is said, she amuses herself
by winning or loosinga few hundred pounds
q day at the hand Of the young sprigs Of
nobility. A few day since she started in
company with hor parents overland for
New York and thence to Paris. Two days
after, her marriage notice appeared as evil
dence Of the last Of her ecccntricities; she
in a quiet way, with the personal knowledge
Of but two human beings besides herself
and tile fortunate (?) groom, having sud
denly experimental in the role Of bride.
Another admirer was with her all the after
noon of that day, until six p. NJ, when she
went rs he supposed, to dinner. At eight
Pm, he met her again by appointment
and went with her to the theatre, after
which he accompanied her and the family
AZ far a. Sacramento on her overland jour-
ney, quite ignorant Of the fact that from
eight P. NJ, he had been in company with
Mrs. Howard Colt instead Of Miss Hitch
cock. This is the same youth she dared to
drive down an embankment on tho Cliff
House road few years sgo, which he did
at the small cost Of 81 200. Her husband
is left behind, she not having seen him, it
is said, siace they left St. James free
church. Doubtless, ere this, she has iu-
formed her loving pa and dearest ma Of
her last romantic experiment and is now
enjoying some other innooeat Amusement
But while this heroine is thus eccentric
and romantic in her composition and thus
reckless in her demeanor, a before re-
marked, there are in her character many of
the noblsst traits possessed by any. She
snaAka Avil of mn ona h,,k has n lind uorA