Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1878-01-17

fFrom the evening Expressly
gossIPPY SACRAMENTO LETTER.

FROM A LADY CORRESPONDENT
SACRAMENTO, Jan. IA, 1878.
DEAR ExPREss:-Here 1t is the
middle of the month and so long
past New Years, 1t seems like tax
Ine up q stale subject to write OF
that day. Yet, perhaps few
words relative to its observance
here may be read without weari-
ness. The ladies Of Sacramento
deserve the highest encomiums for
their Judgment in almost unlver'
sally excluding alcoholic drinks
from their tables. The result must
have been satisfactory to them, ior
though paying calls received tne
amount of attention usually ac-
corded the old time-honored Dutch
custom, the gentlemen, at the
close of the day, bore no traces
either of mixed liquors or OF too
much of any one kind. 1t occurred
to us afterwards, however, when
we heard some complain of the ef-
feet OF twenty or thirty cups OF
strong coffee and an equal number
Of dishes of chicken salad, etc.,
that our reforms must be more
sweeping than the mere abolishing
OF wines. Every lady who re-
ceives is expected to load her table
with delicscies and etiquette de-
mands that every gentleman par
take Of these wherever he presents
himself to pass the compliments
OF the season, Why should al
hostesses vie with one another IN
appealing to the epicurean tastes OF
their guests? Are there not other
senses to be fed? Why not o feast
for the eye or the ear? The sinner
man, is not to beignored, to be sure.
Could it not be understood that
certain ladies would furnish mate
rial nourishments? Others might
put the same time, money and
taste In decorating their reception
rooms in some unique way. Ma
ture affords such q variety of beau
tifui ornaments from the heavy
evergreen and holly, to the dainty
fern, the trailing smilax ana the
delicate moss, awaiting only
graceful hands to transform cheer
less parlors into very bowers OF
loveliness. Let Others agaia pro-
vide music, such as would delight
the ear and make the heart glad.
We have faith enough ia the mas
culine element of society to believe
that the two latter modes of refresh
ment would be as acceptable as the
former, and that the ladies bold
enough to inaugurate the new GUS
tom would know no diminuti0n in
the number of their New Years
cards.
A GLANCE AT LEGISLATIVE MAT
TIERS.
There has not been much excite
ment in either house of the Legis'
lature since the election of Farley,
unless we except the skirmish in
the Senate on Saturday, the result
Of which was the resembling of the
Irrigation resolution. The resolu
tion was simply provision for
grand paseo from San Bernardin(
to Siskiyou, at public expense, fol
seven of the Senators and severa
attaches, who were expected to re
port on and develop, in a month";
observation, q scheme for irrigat.
ing and mining the whole State
Extensive preparations had been
made, cars chartered, and kilograms
sent announcing the coming of the
party, which was to have left here
on Monday. "What a fall was
therew when the resolution was
rescindsd. The fiery Senator from
Tulare, Fowler, who headed the
proposed excursion, shook himself
and Numbered and swore in vain.
His opponents smiled benignly at
his wrath and carried the day. He
ia an odd genius, this Fowler. A
horrible murderer of the Kings
English and q man of no culture,
he has q reputation for practical
sense and considerable force,
enough of the latter to defeat the
passage of bill authorizing women
to act as Notaries, after 1t had
been unanimously approved by the
Judiciary Committee and was
meeting with little or no opposI-
ton. There is no better illustra-
ton of the mans character than
the fact that not long afterwards
he was active in promoting the
passage of a bill allowing women
to practice law.
THE TEXTBOOK WAR.
On Thursday next the Bancroft
School Bill will be considered, and
q lively time is anticipated. 1t
ought to succeed on its merits. The
Readers are far superior to those
now in use In our public schools,
and are, moreover, manufactured
on this Coast. The argument of
expense is met with the agreeme nt
Of the firm to give Bancroft Rea-
ders for McGuffey's for one year.
Two years ago, by order of the
State Board Of Education, large
number OF the former were issued
In good faith. On mere technic-
atty, the order of the Board was
annulled by the Supreme Court,
and the books remained on the
shelves at great loss to the publish
ers. They are making their fight
In gentlemanly and honorable
way. While rival houses have
sent twenty or thirty emisaries into
the field, the Bancroft's have hired
no lobbyists and are represented by
but two of their firm, who are
seeking to obtain favorable legisla-
ton on the merits of the case, not
always successful mode of proce-
dure; but right triumphs some
times, and we hope 1t may here.
THE cRoCKIR ART GALLERY.