Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-05

Will tuc uedu-DtdVS IurOWu ILL., III lis
clined to believe that the dead beats often
get up dinners with the deliberate purpose
OF operating on the men of means expected
to be present. 1t is a shame. | love Cali
ifornia and Californians but don't in
clude among those the humbugging.
swindling forty-niners.
THE GERMAN
Is more than ever in vogue this season. A
German is given every evening or two at
some of the fashionable houses here, and
conducted with will and energy worthy
of a better cause. 1t is, to me, so very
dull and tiresome dance that | marvel
how it ever became favorite What it
has In the way of recommendation l can
not see. 1t must be liked because it is
fashionable. l have seen delicate young
women keep at it unhaggingly until dawn.
How they had the strength to hold out,
puzzles me. When it was over, they
looked tagged enough; but they sat down
with glow of triumph, conspicuous
through their air of fatigue, evidently con-
WINGED that they had performed a high
modish duty. The German has been prev
alent here for a number of years but
until recently it has been on the wane.
| 4NOW IL HAS DTOhen OuI again WlCn ELL
broidered fury, and any number of pretty
| and agreeable girls are sacrificing their
nervous force to its ravages. They have
not the stamina to exercise, or study, or
do any one of score of wholesome things,
but they can execute the German six nights
in week. What marvellous fortitude
women show in the sacred cause of
| fashion
1t is not the young alone who take part
in the German. Usually, in New York
society, all the dancing is done by girls of l6
to % or %, and men inside of 30 Mar
riage is apt to put ays end to dancing, and
parenthood closes it completely. 1t is not
| who lead it are so or more have gray
hair; are grandfathers. Thurlow Weed
and Peter Cooper have not yet been seen
whirling around spacious drawing. rooms.
| But if they were addicted to society they
probably would be. If not very supple or
graceful, their age qualities them-as the
present fashion is-to lead the German.
On the great day, when all things shall be
revealed, we shall, perhaps, be informed
as to the occult fascination of that formal,
dreary measure.
THE WORLDS FAIR,
To held here in 1888, IS still much talked
of, and a number of preliminary
meetings ON the subject have already
been held. Since the announcement
that the Germans have relinquished
their idea of fair the same year,
and since our commercial future promises
to be so prosperous, many persons are in
favor of the exhibition who were not be-
fore. As yet, however, there is no en-
thusiasm on the subject. A great many
intelligent people thlnk-not without
reason-that worlds fairs have been
overdone; that the public has lost interest
in them; that they present little variety,
and that anything short of great success
would be national modification. The
Philadelphia Exhibition exceeded our
fondest anticipations. 1t was credit to
the country; it helped us in hundred
ways it Is source of lustlfiable pride.
But is not 1883 too soon after 1876? That
is the vital question.
A worlds fair once in twenty years is
believed by any quantity of sagacious per-
sons to be sufficient for the world. Lon
don, Paris, Vienna, not to speak OF New
York and Philadelphia, have given, it is
held, both hemispheres surfeit of the
theless. The fair of 1888 is too far off to
appeal to the multitude. They may take
to it very kindly when it is nearer at hand.
Some of the men concerned in the move
ment are among our wealthiest, most
liberal and most enterprising citizens, and
will be unlike themselves if they do not
push the scheme vigorously. If New York
| becomes duly aroused in the matter, have
no doubt of the result. She knows that
she cannot afford to fail; that her reputa-
ton as the capital of the nation will be at
stake. If the subject continues under dis
cussion through this year, it will be plain
that the intent is cordial and earnest. At
present, however, it is useless to deny that
widespread apathy prevails.
ENORMOUS LEGAL FEES.
The enormous fees paid to lawyers is
periodically discussed here, and the fact
usually awakens indignation. Why should
they be paid SO much more than any other
class of men, professional or commercial?
Some city attorneys get fabulous prices.
| There have been repeated instances in this
| city in which vast estates have been swal-
| lowed up by the barristers, who appear
often to be little better than highway rob-
bers. Such men as S. l.. NJ. Barlow, David
Dudley Field, Samuel J. Tilden, Clarkson
N. Potter, Edwin II. Stoughton and Chas.
O'Conor have amassed great wealth by their
profession, their fees in single cases reach
| ing from 500, 600 to S2JO,000. | have
| heard that in the suit of Cornelius j..
Vanderbilt against VIM. III. Vanderbilt to
break the dead Commodore's Will, which
suit was finally compromised, the counsel
| for VIM. II. actually made out bill for
$500, 900. 1t was not paid. l hear, but
something like 100000 was paid. Corne-
| hus J. g counsel got from him, as the story
goes, 100000, which he could perhaps
afford to give, because he would have re-
| ceived nothing without their assistance.
Such figures seem an absurd exaggeration,
though doubt if they are. An eminent
advocate frequently receives for one fee
what most men would regard as riches.
There are, it is said, 5000 or 5000 attor-
neys here The great majority barely con-
trive to live; but as many as 100 get,
though they do not earn, from $50, 600 to
$3.50, 900 annually for labor altogether dis
proportioned to the compensation. If law
yers are, as is contended, a necessary evil,
they are a magnifcently over-remunerated
evil. am acquainted with people of good
| Judgment who would take fifty cents on
the dollar of any claim rather than appeal
to the Courts. In the long run they would,
l am sure, save money.
! VARIETIES.
| Private letters say that Bret Harte in
tends to resign his Consular agency at
Korefeld, and return home on account Of
ill-health. Germany does not agree with
him, and he has been far from well for sew
eral years past. His literary career in the
East is believed to have been bitter dis
appointment to him, and his diplomatic
experience abroad has by no means met his
expectations.
Denis Kearney, the sand-lot demagogue,
has not helped himself or his cause by his
present trip to the Atlantic coast. Some
of those who have hitherto regarded him
fayorably do not so regard him now
Prof John Fiske, of Cambridge, who is
lecturing here on Americas Place in His
tory" is son of the present Mrs. Edwin
H. Stoughton by previous marriage. He
talks, it is said, Of making his home in
New York
Samuel J. Tilden is now reported to be
worth fully $40, 600, 900, and to be willing
tn spend n clean half of ~ in b;s renewed