The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-13

who dreams that she needs only to show
herself to be sought out and whirled away
by partner is poor match, and slowly
learns that
SOCIETY IS PITCHED BATTLE,
A tug-of-war, game of pull and haul, a
football match in tulle. that the elements
oil success are audacity, eternal vigilance
sharp elbows and strong hand. BY sec
Ond season the timd debutante tries her
strength against her rivals in what is slang
lily known as body-snatching and IMAM
stealing" But when q ballroom is short
some sixty men of enough to go around as
partners what are these extensively trained
and costumed young dancers to do?
his season Of Advent is marked by the
usual charity fairs and lunches and one
charity ball and by many teas to introduce
the rosebud daughters of great families
The Daughters Of the Revolution, having
smoothed out the little difficulties that for a
time rent that body, have begun course of
lectures on American history that will con-
tlnue throughout the winter. Mr.. Moncure
d. Conway delivers the first in this lecture
series, and other specialists follow. The Folk
Lore Congress will assemble here in the last
days of December, and ethnology will be
foremost during that holiday week, when
Congress has gone and society saves itself
for the great activity OF the New Year
season. The National Geographic Society
have announced series Of winter lectures,
first OF which will be that of Mr.. l. c.
Russell. who has spent another season OIL
the higher slopes of Mount ST.. Elias. A
fortnight ago General Greedy entertained
the society with an account of his Arctic
winters. showing for the first time many
photOgr graphic views of his camps and their
surroundings. The unpleasant notoriety
given the survivors of that expedition, and
the unirlendly discussion Of the events at
tending their last months in camp. pre-
vented. General Greedy from making any
other presentation OF his camp-life public
than the book published soon after his re-
turn. bis promise to give an informal talk
and show the pictures to the Geographic
Society was long delayed, but his lecture
more than filed
THE SMALL HALL
Where 1t was held, and people stood
throughout. sat on windUw-sills, radiators
and the steps of the aisles.
This last week Mr.. w. E. Curtis, whose
name is synonymous with South American
and Pan American conferences and affairs,
displayed and explained some fifty oda por-
traits OF Columbus, which he has collected
fol the Worlds Fair. Mr.. Quits has been
diligent student of Columbiana, and has
ferreted out every known portrait, volume,
chart and relic of the e. eat Admiral He
has been engaged in his research for several
years. securing the Indies and Central
America; searching in Spain and Italy, and
hunting through archives, libraries. mu-
seums and collections in Northern Europe.
ali MS CUultuDOTa ullLe in uescTlDlQU
Columbus as red haired and freck led, but
none OF the fifty portraits made those fea-
lures clear. He in turn appeared with a
smooth face and a Hebraic nose; with the
flowing beard, finely cut features and gor-
geous costume OF a courter of the middle
ages; with the cap. the fiat nose and goggly
eyes OF an early Hollander; with the lean
aud hungry look OF an anchorite; and he as
often wore monastlc robes as the gowns of
noblemau. In half the portraits he wore
the ruff that came in vogue two centuries
after his time. and on the whole it most GER
tainly appears that none Of these portraits
are true or wore painted from life; and each
historian and bi9grapher has but taken his
choice and sanctioned the portrait which
seemed to represent his ideal Columbus.
Poor Columbus may we'll gain ones sympa-
tiny, and two continents making ready to
celebrate the quadro-centennial of his dis
coverles find very little that Is unques-
toned and authentic TO do honor to. His
birth, HE education, his life. and all but his
death are disputed. His true portrait and
even his tomb are unknown, and of fifty
portraits and three tombs one has equal
claim to genuineness as any other.
NEARLY EVERY WASHINGTON HOME
Contains its historic pieces of furniture. or
naments or pieces of tableware that came
from some great mans home or legation.
Statesmen and departing Ministers usually
leave the ruck of their household effects for
the auctioneer to dispose of. their illustrious
ownership most often insurng fancy prices,
AT many tables one sees coroneted porce-
lain and glass, which one is told came from
the auction a. such and such house or
legation. Charles Summers tableware is
the property OF one colored caterer, and
Reverdy Johnson's belongs to him, too;
while NJ. Catacazy's, Count Hoyo's, Sir
Frederick Bruce's and Secretary Chase's
glassware was bought by other purvey ors
Of the gay world. Count Arschot of the
Belgian Legation delighted these souvenir
seekers with sale Of his household effects