Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-09-22
SAN FRANCISCO LETTER.
NOTES OF THE FAIR AT THB ME-
CHANICS' PAVILION.
Various Social Events at the Metropolis,
and others in the Foreground
Realistic Acting.
san FRANcIsco, Sept. 10. 1883.

writes Longfellow and so, doubtless, it
was for such a sufferer, but under such a
brilliant sky as we are enjoying, to the rest
of the world it seems quite tolerable to
be alive. As far as amusements and enter
tainments are a gauge, the city is enjoying
itself heartily. There has never been as
fine an exhibition at the Mechanics Pa.
vilion as this eighteenth fair, and numer-
Gus lunches and dinners are calling people
from the country every day. A popula-
tion is very quick to find out good thing,
and as the fair is the best we have had for
some time, SO it is also the best attended.
The new Pavilion lends itself to the ar.
rangement Of the exhibits more kindly
than the old one ever did, and decorators
borrowed hint from Conclave times and
decorated the ceiling SO that bare rafters
are not visible anywhere. The floor is
filled with exhibits, and presents no.
where an expanse of barn. like space. The
garden is one of the chief attractions.
Besides the usual display of tropical plants
and fern, John Fl. Siever has exhibited for
several nights
THE NIGHT BLOOMING CEREUs
One evening with three open blossoms upon
one plant. This peculiar flower, which al.
ways has the hush of moonlight and mys-
terry about it's corolla and wreath of feath-
cry gold stamens, is beautifully described
in Leonard Cases story of the BREAD.
winners" coming out in the Century. The
cacti, aloes, Japanese lilies and crotons are
present in beautiful abundance, and among
the larger plants the peculiar AmOrphopha.
lus ReUiereia, or black lily of the East In
dies, which, when the three heshy green
stalks of its first growth die down, sends
up black flower shaped like the Gala,
giving out vile ordor Of decomposition, as
attractive to flies as it is repulsive to men.
The crotons and calladiums, ornamental
plants with variegsted leaves, are from the
Kew Gardens in London. A tobacconist
has huge tobacco plant in flower set out
at one end of the garden bed, and Mrs.
Runyon, of the Sacramento river, has an
exhibit of jellies in glasses near by.
THE PICTURE GALLERY
Is full OF goUd things, two or three from
the Nahl collection OF old masters, "Tar-
quin and Lucretia" and the "Dying
Cato" Kunath's portrait of Mrs. Low,
Brooks wonderful painting of his own left
hand, which I heard lady say, with COM
ical innocence of any slang intention, was
alone worth the price of admission. The
two Milanese pictures" Peonies " and a
nymph-are on view two comical COM
panion pieces OF a mouse stealing from an
owl, and next swallowed by the owl, and
some beautiful flower pieces. The en-
broidery, in six great cases In the south
promenade gallery, shows California well
abreast of the time in art needle-work.
An embroidered satin piano-cover, to be
ratified at the end of the fair, and some
screens and valences with elaborate flower
and bird patterns in chenilles, are really a
delight to the eye. The wonderfully con-
structed silk patchwork quilts made by
busy hands of very old ladies are duly
seen.
THE MACHINERY ROOM,
Called by many the finest of the depart
ments, is like the Kaedive's description of
western progress in a complimentary ad-
dress to an English envoy, "Whirr, whirr,
all wheels; buzz, buzz, all steam " The
the rod to which sll the lesser ones are at
tached,i fascinating enough, by its impress
sion of tireless power, to hold one spell
bound, gazing at it longer than one knows.
The boat Pac tic, with it sloop rigging set,
is shown at one end of the machinery
room, Gilboy himself standing up in her,
| selling the log book of his voyage in her to
| Australia. Some oil eketchings of his cap
sizings and rescue are to be seen on the
canvas above him. We looked for and
found the hole made by the sword fish in
her bows, near the keel II a sailor on
shore is droll sight, this weather beaten
little craft, high and dry in the Mechanics
Pavilion under an electric light, is infinitely
more homogeneous. On Saturday the in.
closure where the business college is, con-
tanned a young girl with her instrument,
busily telegraphing. The exhibits of fruit
and wine from the grape growing ranches,
the painted porcelain and costly furniture
are all better selected and more advan-
tageously arranged than on former years,
while the candy, popcorn and soda ele-
ment is as extensively patronized as usual,
for the fair is the delight of all the chill
dren.
SOCIAL EVENTS.
Lady Waterlow ia being pleasantly en-.
tertained by all her friends. Last night
Mrs. Charles Crocker gave her dinner,
and this morning Mrs. L. L. Baker, a
daughter of the Rev. DR.. Stone, gave ner
musical, followed by an elaborate lun ch.
con. The appointments at the Croc ker
dinner were rich and choice, beyond
what is seen even at the lavish hospital
tiles of San Francisco. The table cover
was raw silk, heavily embroidered in fruit,
grain and monograms in high relief. The
napkins were also of raw silk. The chan
delier, which is of a size and shape for q
great deal of decoration, had depending
from each group of arms ball of how-
ers, aud from the center an ingsniously
constructed ball of fruit, grapes and pears
predominating. The service was after the
newest fashion, which substitutes olives
farcies for the former raw oysters, and
small fish, which also precede soup. The
arrangement Of seating guests was some
what altered by the accident to General
Mcdowell, who was thrown from his
buggy on his head. and taken home in
sensible Tuesday afternoon. which natur.
ally prevented Mrs. Mcdowell as well
from being present. Thursday evening
Mrs. Crocker gives
RECEPTION
To Miss Dora Miller, at which Judge and
Mrs. Field will be guests, as well as Mr.
and Miss Flood. Miss Daisy Parrott's en-
gagement to Lieutenant Payson, formerly
of General McDowell's staff, is announced,
and the Sharon ball at Belmont is set for
the November full moon, when the Senator
returns from the East. Evan j. Cole
man, Dr.. Gwin's son-in.law, returned to
the city on Saturday, after a trip to Europe
and the Eastern States, unfortunately rem
dered less enjoyable by two serious illnesses
in London and in Paris. About twenty
family friends were gathered at the Gwin
house on Sacramento street TO welcome Mr.
Coleman, and good supper awaited dis
cussion, when a telegram was received that
the overland train was delayed and would
not be in till midnight. Nothing daunted,
the guests chatted away the evening, when
at II o'clock another message announced
that the delay might be protracted till
much later. The friends of the traveller
took