The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-05
MEN ABOUT TOWN.
Various Questions Discussed by
the Gossips.
Peculiar Senatorial snarl-Billy White in q
New Role-Chr;stmas Turkeys-Antici-
pated Reforms

events he is in quandary. AS the matter
now stands, in fact he is undecided as to
whether he should be written as Senator or
ex-senator, but is inclined to think that the
former is more in keeping with the circum-
stances of the case. The question is like
wise puzzling the Governor and his legal
advisers.
1T will be remembered that the late
Charles Pond was elected to succeed him,
but Succumbed few days ago to heart fall
ure. The Governor decided to call special
election. TO be held on the 23d inst, when
Mr.. Jones bodied UP with the claim that as
Mr.. Pond had not qualified, there could be
no vacancy. Under the Constitution an
officer holds until his successor qualities,
and Mr.. Jones is therefore preparing to
move to Sacramento this winter, to remain
until the Senate declares a vacancy and an
election is ordered. In that event the ses-
sion would be wel-nigh over before the new
Senator could qualify.
COMEDY IN AN ELEVATOR.
" Billy" White, one of Frank Daniels
best comedians now playing " Little Puck "
at the California, appeared in new role at
his hotel night or two ago Billy is ire
sistibly funny, and, as he says himself,
never draws serious breath" Billy is a
Bohemian he enjoys nothing better than g
sociabie time after the theater with some
cenyivial friends, over the flowing bowl and
cigar. But the other night he really ap-
peared in a new role. Comedy was deserted.
he took heavy part III a realistic drama,
which, by the way, has never been seen on
the stage, and may in the near future amuse
audiences immensely by its introduction.
Billy was ready for bed, but the elevator
boy was not ready to take him upstairs.
THE kid'll run the blooming lift himself"
said Billy, as he walked from the hotel office.
He got into the elevator, closed the door
and tugged vigorously at the rope, which
sent him upward. But his friend followed,
opened the door, and when the elevator was
halfway up stopped the car by catching
firm hold of the rope. The elevator re-
manned steadfast despite Blly's frantic eff
forts to move il up or down.
Strange sounds and imprecations came
from where it was. Soon a great noise fol-
lowed, and then loud cries of Fire! wake
up! firew Billy yelled FIRE for all he
was worth, but not a single guest heard
hiH. By the time he had grown frantic
from dread his old convivial chum of fifteen
minutes before let go the rope below after
giving il an upward pull. Down came the
floor, VI on which Billy cast longing glance
as he descended, unable or AFRAID to touch
the rope. He went into the dark cellar with
a frightful bang.
from the darkness as Billy pleaded that his
life might be saved. A minute later the
elevator was drawn back, with Billy inside
as limp and weak as an exhausted athlete
after a race.
''Pm weak" he said, feebly, as the beads
of Precipitation fell from his face. "Give
me some brandy. That elevator toak a
kwink' up there and nearly killed me-"
he walks upstairs now.
OCEAN RACING.
" / noticed short time ago." said Captain
Hannah of the Corona. that the trans Allan
tic steamer lines had decided to pnt stop TO
ocean racing i'll the future, and the travel
ing public may congratulate itself that such
Is the fact. 1t was constant menace tn
human life, and the only wonder is that
there were not more and greater disasters.
Just think. for instance, of 10,000-ton
steamer crashing into an iceberg at the rate
OF twenty knots an hour. The force of The col
llsion would be such as to crush her hull like
an egg-shell and send her to Davy Jones'
locker before an effort could be made to
save a passenger. And yet am told even
IN the denseSt fog the speed was not slack
ened, it being claimed That the ship under
such circumstances would more readily re-
spond to her helm. This argument l con-
slider a bad one; for by slowing down there
is chance to get out of the way. by stop
ping. In the casa of a submerged iceberg,
for instance, vessel going at slow rate
would suffer but little injury, while one
being driven at high rate Of speed would
60 to the bottom with a crash"
EVILS TO BE REDRESsED.
Professor Anderson, State Superintend-
ent-elect of Public Instruction. in recent
Interview, said: There are a few evils
which | will endeavor to redress. One is
the unnecessary and foolish law which
forces teachers who move to another county
TO run the gantlet OF examination for a
certificate similar to that which they have
already acquired.
Another one is the multiplicity of
studies now imposed upon pupils. The
effect is disastrous, and is being felt in the
country as well as the cities, owing to the
desire to initiate.
Still another is the tight-laced principle
of grading, which causes smart pupils to be
handicapped by indolent ones"
CHRISTMAS TURKEYS.
Christmas without turkey would be like
the play of Hamlet" with Hamlet left
out. And yet few people realize what
vast army Of the noble birds are butchered
to make a Christian holiday. Take San
Francisco, for example. with population
of 100000 or thereabouts. and you have
fully 10000 families, comparatively few of
which would be content to go without a
turkey, no matter how poor they are or
what sacrifices must be made to procure il.
The average bird will weigh, when dressed,
twelve pounds, and it is easy from this to
calculate the Christmas consumption at
6O0,000 pounds or 800 TONS or, to put it in
still another form, fifteen carloads. This,
dCCUIulUS ~ 81. vi. utu1, lilb COMMISSION
merchant, VIII be about the amount handled
by the dealers, and would give to each
man, woman and child share of two
pounds each. The supply comes almost ex-
clusiyely from the valleys OF the San Joa-
Quin and the Sacramento.
THE CHARLESTON.
Paymaster Burtis of the Charleston. in
speaking of the trip Of the cruiser, said last
evening that the fastest time made by her
was fourteen knots an hour He stated that
there would be some misapprehension about
the published statement that the Charleston
had only made three knots an hour when off
the Heads. This was not because the cruiser
could not make better time, but for The
reason she slowed up on purpose. He said
the Charleston had not yet, in her travels on
the Pacific, encountered what her officers
considered real rough weather, which would
try the cruiser at her best. When asked
why the cruiser had proceeded to Honolulu,
he said it was to protect American interests
in the islands in case revolution occurred.
Where will the Charleston 60 next?"
was asked.
Il wish knew myself" was the answer.
ipgton."
CURIOUS FACT.
Newspaper men, as a rule, are careful
critics Of other papers than those on which
they are employed, and TO such an extent is
this carried that the work of an old hand is
familiar with the various journals. This
very thing has developed a peculiar fact in
connection with the recent election which
would escape the eye of any but u trained
newspaper man. In glancing over the East
ern dailies that find their way in among the
exchanges many changes are observable,
and the solution. no doubt, is to be found in
the TACT that the recent political upheaval
has called from the reporters desk many Of
the brightest writer's to accept political pc
sitions as a reward for their services during
the campaign.
FARMERS REJOICING.
c. L. Leyinsky, lawyer of Stockton, who
has been through the San Joaquin Valley
during the last few days, is at the Grand,
and states that the farmers of the valley are
all rejoicing at the heavy rains which came
with the recent storm. He said that not
much water is needed in the valley this
year, as the heavy dOwnpOur Of the last sea-
son thoroughly soaked the ground. All that
is required this year is light showers to
moisten the top Of the earth which became
baked under the influence of the summer