Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-19
STROLLs TN SAN FRANCISCO.
THE yAGARI' $ AND SHAMS OF
SOCIETY PEOPLE.
Japanese Us. Chinese Domestics =
Matrimonial Cbiiis-Demi Monde
and Maidens in Fashion Weeds.
correspondence of the REcoRD-UsroS.l

Correspondence of the RECoRD-USIoN.l
SAN Francisco, December 16, 1885.
The municipality of San Francisco, I'M
like well regulated cities, always does the
correct thing at the wrong time and wrong
end. Whereas in other cities, the streets
are swept and ell refuse matter removed
from them at an hour when respectable
people are supposed to be snugly tucked
away in their beds, here this operation is
begun at about the time when the main
thoToughfares are thronged with theater-
goers and promenaders. The dust arising
from the pressure of the heavy brooms,
manipulated by muscular arms, is more
Opaque than the densest London fog, and
every one on the street during this untime-
iy procedure swallows more than his share
of this fopry compound of filth. Good
clothes are ruined by it; tradesmen's wares
are covered with it. and in divers other
WAYS has this early street-sweeping arrived
at the dignity Of an intolerable nuisance.
Complaints upon complaints have been
filed with an intelligent body known as the
Board of Supervisors, regarding this and
kindred matters, but they are not needed,
for
THIS AUGUST BODY FEELs AUTocRATIC
In the brief authority with which it is clad.
! challenge any large city to produce as
short-sighted, impolitic, and c1nceited an
officer as the average San Francisco Super
visor. In ether cities, where thinking and
cGnsiderate men are in charge OF munich
pal aiIairs, the repairing of sewers ard
streets, and like work, is performed ut an
L. -l,a,, hncfla of fbn i
evening has subsidized; but here the order
OF things IS extremely reversed, and all else
our municipal authorities do is consoraDt
with the foregoing Once in a while clear
minded man IS pressed into service as a Su-
pervisor, but he soon finds himself as be-
ing in g microscopic minority. The Board
is usually composed of parcel of fossilized
men possessed ofideas that might have been
practiced half century ago, and who stub
bornly refuse to leave their beaten path.
Younger men, with progressive notions,
are required here to wrench the reins of
city government out OF the unsteady hands
of these old fogieS, ere this municipality
can righttully claim what it now only bears
in name.
JAPANESE ". CHINESE.
One not q very close observer can scarce
" imagine what inToads the japanese are
making upon the Chinese as domestics
From most reliable source l learn that
there are about 1000 Japanese serving in
that capacity here. They are the most pO-
lite of servants, and fail into our ways and
customs with much more alacrity than
their ncighbors from the Orient. A Japan
csc, even Of the lowest social CASTE never
retains his native habiliments twenty -four
hours after his arrival here; and in fact
the greater number come here in European
attire. While they are careful and in many
ways desirable servants, they are very I'M
reliable They do not steal as the Chinese,
but make up that deficiency by being con
summate hypocri,es and artistic liars. The
greatest trouble experienced with them.
50 far, is their nomadic inclination-they
remain in one house long enough only to
learn ali they desire to know, and then
they are of seeking another situation 1t
is useless to tempt them to remain by Of
fering them more wages when once they
have concluded to 90. They are not as
mercenary as The Chinese, for they rarely
ask for an increase Of pay. This induces
me to believe that their motives for serving
in menial capacity is rather TO familiarize
themselves Tith our manners than TO earn
money. When interrUgated as their cause
for leaving your service they at once begin
10 lament over the necessity for quitting
II Is not difficult for them TO shed q pint of
tears at moments notice-and make
some plausible statement about a sick
brother or friend requiring their attention
The next morning, perhaps, you may find
your Jap sweeping the front steps Of your
next door neighbors house and he will
stare rs II he had never seen you before
However in many other ways they are pre-
ferable 10 the Chinese as servants they are
not impertinent; they are careful in obey
ing, all instructions, and they are more tidy
and clearly than the former Yet the
japanese must Change his whole nature ere
he can take the place Of the white female
domestic Of thirty years ago.
THE LATEST SENSATION
Is the debut Of Mrs Gussie Williams, nee
McMullen, at the California Theater. Prior
to her marriage she was one Of the shining
lights Of society here, and no newspaper
" society gossip was considered complete
without 4 mention of her name. 1t is only
a few months since reporter interviewed
that lady regarding her matrimonial
preferences, Gpon which subject column
of the trashlest stuff WAS printed in one of
our dailies. If my memory serves me
well, she, AZ about that time, had given a
son Of General Thomas II. Williams his
congo. The publication Of this fact, and
other matters bearing upon it, caused no
little fiutter in society; ;" then, when she
married young Williams after all, the fut-
ter increased, and now society is com
pletely Mortified. However. that did not
prevent society from turning out TO
witness the first night-as claquers,
imagine. The lady's first appearance was
anything but a success, and on the follow
ing morning the city press gave evidence
that it could be charitable Every one in
society wants 10 know what could have
induced the lady to adopt profession so
soon after ner marriage.
ApropOs IN connection with the above,
ii is not 50 very long ago that 4 young law
student here welded one of California S
wealthiest daughters. His recommenda-
tion to Der and her family was q handsome
face and good breeding, beyond that moth
ing. He possessed neither wealth. talent
nor genius but Jhat,mstteTed little, as the
young lady was blessed with an income
sufficient for both of them. For some
lime their welded bliss continued uninter-
ruptedly. to ali outward appearances.
Within the last year, however, the young
husband contracted such extraYagant hab-
It's that benevolent but stern mother-in-
law found it necessary to put veto upon
further proceedings of u like character.
The wife Of only q year or two sided with
her mother in this respect
AN icy BARRIER GREW UP
Between the young couple and legal sep
aration was in contemplation-in fact, at
torneys had been engaged to draw up the
necessary papers, which, by the way. have
not yet been destroyed. This matter has
been, and is yet, the talk of society"
More recently, however, it has been ascer-
tained that the young man lmprudently
rebels against the authority and interior
ence of rich mother-in-law, and declines
TO curb his desire for display and all that
sort of thing, which may yet result in a
divorce in high life. There is no privacy
connected with this subject, as it Is dis
cussed everywhere, as if it were of interest
to anyone excepting the parties directly
concerned. san Francisco is, after all,
nothing but an overgrown, gossipy. scan
dal-mongering town. The one-half of it
succeeds pretty well in learning how the