Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-07
THE GOLDEN GATE.
.s8ION,s EBB AND FLOW BE.
YOND THE ROCKIES

euro In San Francisco-Oddittes and
commodities of Chinatown-MOnstrO
,tias in MIIIinery-Fashtonab Ugli-
ness in Head Gear.
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. Alt would
probably have astonished good many
neonle who are not only still alive, but
have many years OF life before them, TO
have been told when San Francisco was
still a mining town, that IL would, at this
carly date, rank as one of the great cities
ot the world. AS it stands, with such
shortcomings as the eyes of the regular
inhabitants rather than those of the
stranger may discover, it is a modern
marvel-a golden city, as rich in promise
now as when the first vein of gold was
struck In forty-nine.
II is far note from East to West, and
traversing the three to four thousand
miles over plain and desert and noun
tain. with an ocean between the capital
city of Oregon and the Golden Gate, there
are abundant opportunities for judging,
from the hundreds of small towns which
have sprung up within the past three
wears on the track of the Northern Pacific
road, of what San Francisco was, while
seeing with wondering eyes what it is.
The summer months are not considered
the favorable season in which to judge Of
climate or society in the Western metrop-
oils. 1t is the time when it is given over
10 fogs and trade winds, and the fashion
able part of the residential population be-
takes itself to the seaside, to the East, or
to Europe. Still, there does not seem to be
the wholesale fitting there is with us, nor
the same reason for it. The fogs are only
heavy msts, which serve instead of show
ers to keep the earth green and they clear
into the brightest of days, the sunshine of
which does not exhaust, for
it is tempered by the cool air.
which makes wooden clothing
not only bearable, but delightful.
During the afterpart of the day the winds
are often high, as well as dry, and catch
the dust and debris of the streets IN swirls
and eddles, which breaking up are tossed
into the eyes and ears alike OF pedestrians
and occupants of the most gorgeous We
hicles, so that the hours for driving and
shopping are limited with those who can
choose their time, those between IL and
being the most fashionable and certainly
the most agreeable.
NEW PARIS.
There are many days, however, when
the morning mist is only thin haze,
which hangs over the city like veil,
ldealizing its general characteristics and
sndOwing them with beauty which per-
maps does not belong to them at close
range and in detail.
1t was on such morning that we OBJ.
tanned our first view OF San Francisco,
and the wide streets, the grey tone of the
high buildings seen through the soft haze
IF Of a az of ode
it seem more like Paris than any other
city upon this or any other continent.
This view was subsequently very much
modified, but it was also confirmed by
after acquaintance with the leading bust
ness houses, and especially with the
tastes in dress of the ladies who may be
supposed to represent the cultivated ideas
of its best society. There is perhaps
nothing more misleading than the fixed
ideas obtained from first and one-sided
Impressions, with no allowance for
growth, progress, change and the rapid
Development which ls characteristic of
the age. 1t has been the habit of the East
to speak of the dress of the ladies' OF the
West as pronounced, TO the verge of vul-
garity-as Outre, as exhibiting violent eX-
tremes, and as conveying general I'M
preston of crudeness and uniformed
taste.
GENERAL VIEW.
Whatever may have been true of the
past, such assertions are very far from
representing the conditions of to-day
The faults of the dress are too strict
cOnventionality; a too exact following of
set copies; too great fear of departing
from authorized rules and standards; no
ignorance of what these rules and stand
ards are. This will be seen to be quite
naturally the case; for San Francisco
possesses more women, probably, who
are rich in their own right. or who share
In the wealth of their husbands, than any
other city ia America; and it is these,
who are as much at home in London,
Paris or New York as here where they
were born or where they have lived, who
set the fashions and create the standards
winch the majority accept.
The first thing which strikes the stran-
ger IS the conventional excellence of the
modes, the generally good cut and style
OF even the costumes seen on the street,
4 tle hne outlines, the tailor-like neatness
Of the suits and the Partisan beauty and
hnish Of the wraps. There IS an entire
4 absence of aesthetic element which one
sees IN London, OF the originality which
leaders OF fashion display IN Paris, of the
cotton gowns and coarse straws which
are as prominent in Newport as at hur-
Hngham. Cottons cannot be worn on the
street at San Francisc0-the climate for
DDS II. There are, therefore, no white
embroidered "rObes' 10 he seen either on
Tue streets or in the shops, and
we white gowns are either OF wool,
lot toe theatre, or of null or richer silk
Vi satin fabrics for indoor entertainments
ana evening wear. An assemblage In
sun Francisco will compare favorably
WIN gathering anywhere OF the same
character for the style and elegance of its
uIesslng; that is, within the limits pointed
out which somewhat restrict the express
oloh OF individual taste, and prevent de-
IaItufes from accepted modes, the differ
INES oelng almost wholly those imposed
W climate.
IHE HOME OF THE WRAP.
ine wrap Is an important institution
1aAele IL u unsafe TO venture out for any
uHel&ened time without one; and where,
r nole or less, it IS needed all the year
rUuho' The present dressy style OF small
laps exactly meets the climatic require
ehls; out this tact would hardly ac-
ooun' lor the beauty and variety of these
80 mehls 10 be found in leading establish
tt","'s' II the tRRte was as conformed as
ere ilenLiy asserted. IL is indeed very
U',ous iact that one finds in any one OF
s,et" large dry goods houses a very
eN 4arRef and liner variety OF imported
NaPs man can be found in any house in
80 lofki and qualities placed IN the
rsuSr STOCK which at the East would be
cv,,nssiiuered Qulte exceptional in style and
IucllN, and Oulv ahntVu m n.sot,,aiuo