The morning news., 1889-03-15
BHRLIN's REIaNING BEAUTY.
The Early Career in San Francisco of
the Famous Baroness Hoffstein.
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From the Stockton (Cal.) Mail
Herr Vosch was talking about beauty
beauty in scenery, beauty in horses, and,
finally, beauty in women. He said casually,
in the course of his conversations: 'The
most beautiful woman | ever saw in my
life was San Francisco lady, and yester-
day, at the ranch of Senator Stanford, |
saw horses that would make our German
breeders wonder at their beauty"
"WhO was the beautiful San Franciscanp
l asked idly.
"Ah," replied Herr Vosch, ''I know not
her name here. She is the reigning beauty
of Berlin now-the Baroness Hoffstein, wife
of the great banker of that name. Her
beauty, her robes and her equipages are the
talk of Berlin. | was introduced to her
just before my departure, and when l said
that | was going to San Francisco she told
me that she came from that city. All, but
she is beautiful IN face and form so distin-
guished, too, that one would almost swear
she was of princely birth. Men and women
alike spoke of her But you shall see for
yourself. l have here her Photograph. A
friend of mine got it by stealth, for she Is
too modest to make public her picture"
Herr Vosch opened poclIetbook and
showed me the portrait of the Baroness
Hoffsten.
y
Frequently" was my answer.
"Is she not beautiful, and so pure, so
modest" continued the enraptured inquirer
and chemist.
did not dispute Herr Voschs statements,
but questioned MIN further about the
baroness, who, he told me, lived at different
times in a half dozen palaces, had servants
by the score and was a marked character in
society. Though owing to death in the
royal family she had not been seen in court,
yet she would undoubtedly make a senss-
tion at the German court when the time of
mourning was over and the capital regained
its wonted gayety.
did not care TO tell my German friend
SO, but it was in a San Francisco court that
the original of the picture he showed me as
that of the Baroness Hoffstein made the
first sensation of her life. l remember the
occasion well. had an appointment at the
police court to explain to the judge why l
had fired off a shotgun within the city lin
its, and was giving the points of my defense
TO shyster lawyer, when suddenly there
was buzz in the court room that pl esaged
something unusual. l looked around aud
saw a really beautiful girl being motioned
to the prisoners dock by policeman. She
was plainly dressed, evidently a girl in
poor circumstances but despite her tears,
her crumpled attire and the fact that she
was in the charge of a policeman, every
one gaZed at her admiringly. Portly
old Judge Rix motioned to the bailiff and
the girl was given a sat among the spec
tators, where she would not be exposed TO
everyone's gaze as she was in the dock.
Her case came up before mine, and |
remember listening to catch her name while
Clerk McNulty read the complaint, which
set forth that Daisy Newman was charged
with the crime of misdemeanor-petty
larcenY-for having stolen a quantity of
ribbons, laces, ETC., from her mistress, W no
kept millinery store on Market street,
San Francisco. The milliner made her
complaint, and Judge Rx, in a fatherly
way, called the pretty girl to the stand and
questioned her. There was no defense-she
had stolen the goods; but a few glances from
between the moist lashes that shaded her
lovely eyes were more potent than cloud
of witnesses and after little good advice
from the judge, which called forth shos ers
of penitential tears, Daisy Newman left the
court room. She was met outside by a
woman who put her into a carriage and
drove her straight to a house of ill-repute
at No. 3lS Sutter street. The woman was
Mollie Wood ward. Her business at the jail
was in connection with her shooting by her
late husband, DIR. Wood ward. She had met
the girl down below and promised to pro-
vide for her when her case was settled All
Of this learned from the chief of police a
.
beauty and evident penitence for her first
sin. He shook his head in pity when he told
me where she had gone, aud said:
1.-The girl is born thief. She is beautiful
and can assume look Of innocence that
would disarm any one. Mark my words, II
she lives she will become famous, l think,
as a confidence operator. Many a man
she'll ruin before she dies"
Every word of this story is as exactly
true as memory Of circumsta qces that struck
me with good deal Of force at the time
permits A thousand people in San Fran
cisco will remember the girl and parts of
her story; the police records are also in
evidence. Thai such a girl should become
the wife of a rich German baron and take n
place in society is but another evidence that
a woman's beauty is the greatest power in
the world. Eastern adventuresSes have
bled the west in the past, and this is turn
ing the tables with vengeance. Daisy
Newman's father was carpenter, or some
thing Of the kind in tnis city, but he is
dead and she has no relatives here who are
known 10 the police.
WaIdinUa