Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-01-09
A FAST GIRL.
Graphic sketch of the Belle of San
Francisco.


Francisco.
San Francisco Correspondence of the Proyi-
dence Journal
Mrs. Ellet, in her recent book
on Famous American Women"
makes mention of California lady,
remarkable for her ability to enter
tain twenty gentlemen at once by
her vivaciOus conversational pow
ers. If this We're the only or
chiefly remarkable thing about
Miss Hitchcock she would be a far
less remarkable parsonage than
she is. But she is a character, and
such character as this age cannot
and need not duplicate the country
over. As Americans, we have long
boosted Of the versatility of our
climate, soil and people. Perhaps
Miss Hitchcock was a necessary
national production that the world
may be convinced of the truthful
ness of this boast. She is a public
character-an actress requiring a
far broader stage and larger house
than other actresses of the time.
She is an only daughter, an only
child, l believe, her father, DIR.
Hitchcock, having come to this
coast as an army surgeon
during the Mexican war He is
now retired physician 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 complete if she was in the
country. When a child she was
rescued from burning building by
some members of Kniekerbocker
engine company, No. 5, since
which time she has never forgotten
them-wearing conspicuously, at
all times and all places, neat gold
go upon her dress, and at times
making the company, of which she
was a duly elected member, costly
presents, ranging from the cher
ished "5' to the gold mounted fire
horn. She was eccentric to an ex-
tent that would shock our New
England notions of propriety, show
ing her eccentricity, now by
presenting the Elves" a barrel of
brandy, now by stalking thousand
on a favorite he .'se at the races,
again by riding on the cowcatcher
with the constructing engineer over
the entire length of the Napa Val
ley railroad, to which ride she
challenged said engineer, and still
again by the noblest deeds of phi
lanthropy and charity. She has
upward of $50, 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 generous in the extreme and
of noble impulses. She vibrates be-
tween San Francisco and Paris,
taking New York and London 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 de
fies all rules and cOnventiOnalities
of society, dresses and acts as she
pleases everywhere, selects her com,
pany from all classes at will and
yet commands the confidence and
good will Ofall. She is conspicuous
at the grand balls of the Empress of
the Tuileries, attends annually the
Derby in England, where, it is said,
she amuses herself by winning or
losing a few hundred pounds day
at the hands of the young sprigs of
nobility. A few days since she
started in company with her
parents overland for New York and
thence to Paris. Two days after her
marriage notice appeared as evil
dence of the last of her eccentrici-
ties she in a quiet way, with the
personal knowledge of but two
human beings beside herselfand the
fortunate CO groom, having sud
denly experimental in the role of
bride. Another admirer was with
her all the afternoon of that day,
until 6P.M., when she went, as he
supposed, to dinner. At eight P. NJ.
he met her again by appointment
and went with her TO the theater,
after which he accompanied her and
the family as far as Sacramento on
her overland journey, ignorant ofthe
fact that from eight P. 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 embank-
ment 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 sad, since they lett st. James
free church. Doubtless, ere this,
she has informed her loving pa and
dearest ma of her last romantic ex-
pertinent 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 demeanOr,
as before remarked, there are in
her character many of the noblest
traits possessed by any. She speaks
evil of no one, but has kind word
and warm heart for all. We're that
heart, those talents and her means
cOnsecrated to her God and her life
restrained by the religion of Jesus
she would have almost unlimited
capacity for usefulness.
THE PARTY WITH THE DIAMONI
The Lafayette correspondent of tn
New York Times SAYS The maske,