The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-12-31
correspondence
[rRoM A LADY CORRESPONDENT TO THE P. C. ADVERTISER
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 18th, 1870.
rrf,n prasaut VVaafhAr-

The Present Weather.
Our winter has set in with considerable power
spite of DEMONSTRATIONS to the contrary from queru-
lous people. Last week was stormy, and this week
gives promise of abundant rains. Monday. the 9th
of December, was a frightful day. water poured in
torrents from the heavens, gusts Of wind seemed
blowing from every quarter,-one could scarce re-
tain footing, certainly not the same position for five
minutes at q time,-there was 30 much whirling
round, bracing up Of the body, and wnrding of OF
the rain, to be done. Our last four days have been
unusually cold, and old CalifOrnians complain that
our winters are changing. growing colder all the
time however that may be, Jack Frost certainly ID
having his fun with us just at present. ~
Libraries. 4~.,.as q ho
The excitement caused by the Mercantile Library
Lottery has passed away. The institution has been
renovated thoroughly. is now open to the public, and
free from debt. Comments upon the lottery scheme
are unnecessary. Suffice it, that still another young
man has gone insane upon the subject, and yester-
day was sent to the asylum from Sacramento.
The Odd Fellows Library has immense influence
in our city lit is free to the wives, daughters and
sisters of members of the Order, and consequently
is well patronized by them. 1t has the advantage Of
containing many valuable works Of reference, and
books not to be found in ordinary public institutions,
having been donated from private individuals. In
many other particulars also this Library must stand
Bret 1zart.p s.l
e.. Mechanic Arts College. lsir
The inauguration of the lectures at the Mechanics
Institute, under the direction of the Regents of the
State University, was an event in the history of our
city. These lectures win be forty in number, per-
fectly free, and will. fit students to pass examinations
upon the topics under consideration. which will en-
title them to certificates from the University. Over
five hundred people are enrolled as students, and
numbers are waiting to enroll. Professor LIE Conte
has delivered Eve instructive lectures upon the coal
measures other professors will take in turneach his
speciality. - .I2.- "
- Funny Incident.
By the way, a funny incident happened the other
night. An old lady, whose seat was numbered three
hundred and over, planted herself in the seat Of
number forty. or whereabouts. When the gentleman,
who had occupied the latter seat arrived, Of course
he wanted it. The woman, however, sat firm as a
rock, and said" Is there no Ealiantry in the nine
teenth century 20 He expostulated. but she did not
move, and responded to his demands by asking if he
thought he was going to get the seatf I am, if L
cam he replied. Still she did not move, and the
disappointed owner walked away highly disguised
with women's rights, ~ vowing that next time he
would be there early enough to secure his place.
Medical Lectures.
Miss DR.. Cook is delivering a course of medical
lectures to ladies, they occur semi-monthly, are in
teresting and well attended. Do not our women need
some physiological knowledgef Such waists as one
sees on the street. such paper-soledr shoes. and such
liberal use of cosmetics when will we learn wisdom 7
Talking of our health, I an reminded to mention
some horrible school rooms, visited not long since,
into which the sunlight never comes, and where
teachers and pupils breathe over and over foul air.
Why are the city authorities 30 slow to correct glar-
ing evils in our public schools or better, why do
they attend to a few buildings to the detriment Of
others7 The Girls New High School will soon be
completed, then the South Cosmopolitan School will
move into the building at present occupied by the
High School. A number Of contracts for new accom-
modations have lately been awarded, and time may
rectify existing evils .s4I s7sss f-T rsa
AmcsemeRfS.
We have had all sorts of a-musementsl lately. Thu
skating rink is visited by immense numbers Of people
and really the scene is a fine one-imagine crowdi
Of cayiy dressed, pretty women, gliding over th'
Aoor. to the sound Of music then. should one unfor
tunate lose footing. what shouts Of laughter burs
forth. I was told by o frequent attendant Of tn
rink. the other day, that he went on purpose to Se'
people fall, for they picked themselves up in sucl
disconnected hasteIt was as good as a play 10 Sc
them. rr4ru tsl - Ir
The Musical Institute has given a number OF class
ical concerts, quite to the taste Of cultivated mus
: clans and the approaching anniversary OF tn
. birthday of Beethoven is TO be celebrated by ID
Musical Fund Society in q becoming manner.
There is q rumor that Nilsson may visit our coas'
We can only hope such will be the case. She Is ere
! ating q grand sensation in Boston just now.
, Under the head of amusements can l plac
> churches with a good grace7 There is a religion
recreation you know. and why not speak Of the VAR
GUS houses of worship just now , DIR. Stone Preach'
q Sunday evenings in the Mechanics Pavilion. TIL
! is to afford free seats Tin q central ~location) to q
9 who may desire to attend worship. The plan is a goo
one.
: DIR. Scott lectures on the commandments. and u
= Scudder on the life of Joseph. Both OF the cours
, Of lectures are highly interesting and well attende