Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-12-05
FROM THE BAY.
OUR SAN FRANCISCO CORRESPOND.
Emf CRITICISES SOCIETY.
A New Craze-Superstiti and Age
Are the Times Better Anti
Chinese News-The Drama.
Correspondence of the REcoRp-UNroN,
Sax Fp.Ncrcoo Decernh erl 1895

Correspondence of the REcoRp-UNroN,l
SAN FRANCISCO, December 4, 1885.
Carlyleian cynicism is the most recent
phase of crankism among the jeunesse dore
of both sexes in this city. They deem it
bad form to express establishment or show
outward signs of pleasure at anything. The
correct thing is to be sphynx-like-neither
to allow joy nor woe to change facial
muscle. To be'blGse and be cynical at the
age of % is the fashion, even if the class
referred to have never polled their patri-
clan (?) noses beyond the circumscribed
limits of this peninsula, or have perused
any literature beyond the trashiest
novels of the day, etc. This abomi-
nable craze, as it may be termed,
is not alone confined to the paryenu
in his adolescent stage, but his or her
elders are also tainted with it in too many
instances. Old and young of this type
would feel aggrieved were they informed
that there are greater and more instructive
writers extant than Mark Twain, Bret
Harte or Burdeite They never heard OF
such men as Spencer, Milton, Tasso, Dante
and Voltaire, to say nothing of Keats, Glib
bon, Pope, Addison, Cowper, Bacon and
score more who have contributed so much
pleasure to the intellectual mind and, can
didly, they would feel bored by perusing
the productions of these
INTELLECTUAL GIANTS.
Their standard OF art is the comparative
dwartish efforts of our local talent 1t
would be idle to ask them whether they
ever heard of such maestros as Murilio,
Correggio, Rubens Raphael, divine artists
whose fame is imperishable. They attend
the Grand Opera-whieh they understand
about as much as a hog does Latin-merely
because they owe il to society" to make
public exhibition of the costumer's art.
But while Patti, for instance, is rendering
one of the most ecstatic arias in an incom-
parable manner the female contingent hide
their faces behind their fans, yawn and
think "Oh, what bore"
The only subject that really interests this
species of humanity is that of
PERSONAL ADoRNMESr,
To arouse the envy of those less fortunate in
possession of worldly goods. a stranger
would naturally conclude that these PEG
pie represent the best class of our popuIa-
ton; but it only requires a brief soiourn
here to eradicate that impression. The
abode of culture and refinement is to be
found among the so-called middle
class of this city, the thresholds o! which
the cynical parvenu is not permitted
TO cross, because only good breeding,
natural refinement education and virtue
are Hospitality welcomed, to the detriment
OF the golden calf. The young ladies of
this grade of society are not Of the type
who daily promenade Kearny street at
tired in vulgarly bad taste, for the edifica-
ton of hordes of dissolute loafers; nor DO
they entertain that solt of gentlemen ~
who after finishing their evening
call, spend the rest of the night in all man
ner of unspeakable debaucheries These
young ladies and their families are the hat
ton OF San Francisco. Dollars and dia-
monds do not open the doors of their COM
parative humble homes to those who have
nothing more to recommend them. 1t is
not an uncommon thing TO encounter
THE CYNICAL YOUNG NAN
In saloons at all hours of the night, after
having paid a visit OF attended a reception,
mounting the names of the ladies he met
during the evening. His auditors are usu-
ally bar-room loafers, who possess them
selves in patiei.c e and listen, because the
cad frequently puts up the drinks"
l. is only few days since that one of these
fellows was soundly thrashed by the brother
of a young lady for such conduct, and it is
TO be regretted that more brothers do not
take this matter IN hand. Furthermore,
the cynical" young lady who, by intima-
ton, confesses she has exhausted all foun-
tains of worldly pleasure, is not above en-
gaging in an innocent street Irritation, how
ever scarcely perceptibe to the uninitiated
eye But enough of this.
Say what one will, the world contains
nearly as much
SUPERSTITION
Now as it did when witches were inciner-
ated at the stake, only the people are
ashamed to acknowledge this weakness.
Since the deaths of Sharon and Donahue
the wealthy old men here are asking them
selve, Who'll be the next?" The most
trit1ing ache.Or pain now induces them to
send for physician / am personally ac-
quainted with half dozen rich men who
have become excessively nervous since the
above deaths. 1t is true, they have reached
three score years and more, yet they bear
the outward picture of health. But during
the past week they have discovered their
heart, liver or kidneys to be in a chronic
state of disorder. Last evening a promi-
nent lawyer told me that since Sharon's
death he had drawn up the wills of ten of
the wealthiest residents, men who, six
months since scorned the thought of max
ing testamentary provisions until their
physical condition compelled them to do
SO. All this is superstition, super
induced by excessive nervousness. |
The quantity of liquors and wines
recently consumed at the various clubs is /
unprecedented, and all to infuSe Dutch |
courage into the hearts of the old men who |
know they cannot take their boarded gold, |
with which they performed SO little good on I
EARTH to the shore beyond. Few young |
men in this city are rich, the wealth resting |
in the hands of men from So years to 90 |
years Of age, most of whom came here !
when habits of life were irregular, and |
every form of dissipation was the order of |
the day. Is it then a wonder that they /
manifest superstition of their early APP
preaching end? Five years hence, and !
perhaps sooner, will find the greater num-
Der of these men
AT ETERNAL REST,
And they have a premonition of the fact.
Their vast fortunes Will be distributed /
among the members of their immediate /
families the average San Franciscan
does not endow colleges, libraries, etc
and then this city will contain sure
enough gilded youth.
| am told by heavy merchants and bank |
ers that the annals of this city do not |
record as dull year as the current one in /
all branches of business, trade and indus
try; the depression is unparalleled. AL
though they assert that the recent copious
rains have infused fresh hopes in the heart
of this community, yet on every side one
hears Of contemplated
INFRINGEMENT,
Reduction of forces etc. The Mercantile /
Agency people-close-calc men-do t
not feel very hopeful in the matter Of an
early reaction. They set the tipe for a
change in the existing condition of affairs I
for the fall of 1856 or 1887. Now this does
not appear very encouraging, because in the
interim many solid man may go to the /
wall Visiting number of banks, insur-
ance Offices and mercantile houses recently, /
for the purpose of informing myself of the |
real business status of this city and the in
terior ] was told. in most every instance