Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-12
THE METROPOLIS.
A QUIET OUTLOOK FOR THE
COMING HOLIDAYS.
TJncbaritabIe EfiIlionaires-Ul Man
ners of San Franciscans-Eei-
demic for Woman-kiliing.
lcorrespondence OF the Rrconp-Ux1os.l

day wares. In the more prosperous days of
this city, tradesmen would vie with each
other six weeks before Christmas tide, to
see who could make the costliest and most
elaborate display. But this year they are
apathetic; they know that the multitude
will be unable to expend much money,
owing to the scarcity of the article. The
preparations being made are insignificant,
and altogether the coming holidays will be
marked by dizziness heretofore not seen
in this city. Only the wealthy few viii be
able to celebrate tie holidays in the usual
manner, expanding money without thought
of its value but that class is in the small
est minority. l am ID that even the
charitable institut ons will be unable to
treat their inmates to the small con idera-
lions bestowed upon them in former years.
Within the past week or so q
man died in This city - one risen
from the very lowest walks of So
ciety-one who from his earliest youth
began TO feel the bitter sting of poverty and
want. When called beyond, his estate was
valued at millions upon millions. He
owned railroads, steamboats,, lands and
bonds; and the only charitable requests
he made were trihing sums to two Roman
Catholic Orphan Asylums. This is a key
to what good deeds he performed while in
good health, with the great wealth aecumu-
lated in our midst. For selfishness and
-bloodedness some of the San Fran
cisco Dives have no equal, and all manner
of charitable institutions are ever tottering
on the brink of want and disorganiZation.
MILLIoNAIREs WITHOUT BoUNTEs.
l know two millionares here. one of
whom has mother in a Massachusetts,
poor-house, and the other has sister in
your city eking out a precarious existence
making dresses. My pencil can scarcely
be restrained from writing their names.
But there are many others of the same iIk
with the faculty, however, of hiding their
selfish and unnatural characteristics be-
meath grinning mask. Everyone here
knows Millionaire -, who meets YOU
on the street with the most benevolent
smile and solicitously inquiries about your
welfare. This human crocodile had
bright, fascinating son, 20 years of age,
who, four or five years ago, was in the en-
ploy of large firm. His salary was $50
per month, $50 of which his misery father
exacted from him for board and lodging.
The lad naturally being fond of good
society, one may imagine that $40
per month did not 90 very
far. One fine morning the youth volun-
tarily confessed to his employers that he
had misappropriated $500, but adding that
his father would make good the deficit
When the rich progenitor of an erring son
was informed of the case, his face did not
even change color but in stern manner
said: D-n the boy will not pay a dol
lar for him, and the sooner you send him
to State Prison the better it will be for all
concerned" The lad was not prosecuted,
but he sailed before the mast on a clipper
ship England bound where soon there
after he died in London of want and desti-
tuition, without friend to soothe his diving
moments. Of course, this may read like O.
very brief fancy sketch yet there are a
hundred reliable men here who will cor
roborate every word of it, and perhaps add
many truthful narrowing details to my
narrative.
BAD MANNERS OF SAN FRAYCIsCANs.
Years ago, when immigrants, whether of
high or low degree. were wont to come
here, either via Cape Horn or via the 18th
mus of Panama, this city had an enviable
reputation for the gallantry of its men
but, alas, how that reputation has van
ished! Then none who aspired to be rec
ognized as a gentleman would neglect to
raise his hat on the street to any lady of
his acquaintance. etc. But now the order
of things in this respect has most disagree
ably changed, and many observing stranger 6
remark that so little respect is accorded to
ladies in public, and that their comfort is
considered the merest trifie. This is true
During my comparatively brief soiourn
here, after an absence of almost thirteen
years, l have particularly observed how
few men raise their hats upon meeting a
female friend they grin, just touch their
hats, and pass along. Sometimes they
rudely make some remark while pushing
ahead, about last evenings dance or whist
party. They, however, i'll rare cases only,
show a lady that degree of courtesy which
so admirably characterized the San Fran
ciscan in ante-railroad DAYS Go into a
crowded street-car, one will rarely see
man offer his seat to Il lady and if seat is
offered 1t is not done by one of the con-
stantly-increasing and insipid Anglo man
iacs, but rather by tired-out workingman.
The manner in which the present genera
ton conduct themselves in the ball and
drawing-rooms is also in shockingly bad
form, and, / believe, would not for a
moment be tolerated in good society +"
outside of San Francisco. The liberty Of
speech and double entendres which the
San Francisco beau allows himself while
auui tSS4llG iaulGS ui receptions, ETC, recall
ones mind TO the privileges granted by
Lady Dolly, in " Moths" But so long as
the ladies don't object | don't know that |
have any reason to growl-only it's pity
that the observance of delicate convention
alities cannot be continued.
ANOTHER SEASON OF WOMEN KILLING.
The epidemic of woman killing by tilted
lovers, dissolute husbands, and that sort of
human vermin, has again set in. 1t ap-
pears to have its run here the same as
smallpox, diphtheria and sewer-gas dis
eases. Within the past ten days or so two
would-be woman-killers have Been added
to the large array Of murderers adjoining
the cells of the county jail I presume it
Will be but short while, especially if the
murderousiy-assau should die, before q
heTde of maudlin, sentimental females
begin to adorn the cells occupied by the
mereiless assasSins with flowers and other
luXuTies TO render their confinement COM
paratively bearabie as they did in the case
of that miserable thug. Wheeler. That the
authorities should tolerate all this is dis
grace to San Francisco, where, as l under
stand it, the murderer is the recipient of
mere consideration, pending his trial, than
the poor Yagrant who purloins little food
to prevent starvation. The Jail is crowded
with murderers, the number are constantly
increasing, and if they don't hang a score
or two of them pretty soon a separate
building viii have to be erected for the
accommodation of that class of criminals.
1t appears to be almost next to impossible
to execute murderer in this CITY, however
horrible the proven details of his crime
may have been. This may be ascribed to
the many technicaliiies in our laws which
are taken advantage by every pettifogging
practitioner. Not a few assassins
have been lying in cur Jail two
and three-and, yes, four years, after
having been convicted several times, still
hoping for new trial: and it is safe to as
sert that, in the majority of cases. it viii
be accorded them. With law so lax in
its operation, there is no wonder that the
crime of murder is constantly on the in
crease here. Only last Saturday fellow
named William Hicks. who in July. 1876.
murdered a street car conductor in cold
rxrl, oh h