The morning call., 1892-10-02
NOTES BY TIE WAY.
A Rambler's Observations on
Things in General.
HOW TO KEEP A LOG AT SEA.
Getting Even on C. p Huntin gton-A Female
Pugiliet-Queen victoria's Dolls.
zola's Earnings.
Written for THE MORNING CALL.

written for THE MORNING CALL
None OF Columbus crew on that weary
voyage which terminated in the landfali at
Watil ng Island troubled themselves about
eetting on the result. Their minds were
niieo with misgiving, and they thought
their commander on the verge OF lunacy
ana were inclined to be mutinous. But
tney carried matters no further. Instead
OF lnduiglng in betting these voyagers did a
gooa Zeal Of praying night and day, a
pious proceeding which shows how very
douotiul the crew must have been about
the upshot of the adventure and the need
Oh guidance from the Ruler Of all things.
Dettihg on voyage presnpp0ses consid-
eraDle degree of confidence in mans own
achieyemenfs and his ability to expedite or
retard vessels progress by good or bad
navigation.
on all the fast ocean steamers to-day the
great event is the forecast of the daily run.
ihe wonder Is some of the passengers do
bot carry chron0meters and sextants and
charts anu do their own reckoning. so as
10 get ahead In time for safe bet. Under
me sweepstakes system there can be no
lavoritism to the shrewd and calculating.
ne numbers are drawn out of a hat, and it
IS all question OF luck and nothing else.
lew thousand dollars at least change
nahds In this fashion during voyage.
linen there is the drawing on the pilots
number, and there are any number of side
pets Tor large amounts.
good story reaches me, on unquestona-
bic authority. of how the passengers Of the
Golden Gate, Pacific Mail steamer, beguiled
the time In gaesses at the daily runs in
November 1852. Having made something
OF pile. numbers of '49-ers were returning
home to settle up affairs East and bring
their wives and families out. Others were
making the voyage for business. A number
OF the San Francisco merchants kept To-
gether at the table, and had the under
standing that the one who made the worst
guess at the number of knots run each day
should pay forfeit of champagne for the
whole mess. Two Sacramento men were
admitted to the j0vial circle. These were
Coils Z. Huntington and Mr.. Olmstead.
From the start Huntington proved an as
touudingiy shrewd guesser. He was always
the lowest In his estimates, and always es-
capped payment, an exemption which in
those far-away poor days appeared to afford
ii
got found out, aud had some little punish
ment awarded for his smartness.
Down to Acapulco, Huntington's guesses
were always within mile or two of the
actual log. lie kept his own counsel as to
how he succeeded and his companions at
table kept their secret when they discov-
cred his methods The observation at noon
was taken by Captain c. p. Patterson aft of
the smokestaek, aud by Mr. Rowland, the
first officer, forward. 1t was Huntington's
practice TO get at the log Of the mate as
soon as he bad worked it out, and therefore
he had the inestimable advantage of never
prophcsying before he knew. Rowland
had no knowledge of the object He would
have given the same information TO any
one, and so for that matter would the
captain.
When the trick was disclosed at Acapulco
the knowing ones plotted revenge and sue
ceeded in dragging Coils P. Ii. in tor a
whole basket of champagne, which score be
paid with ill-concealed wrath. The mate
was taken into confidence and was willing
10 make amends for his share Of the game.
One day Huntington was found 10 have
made the trifiing error Of twenty 10 forty
miles in the reckoning. and every one else
was we'll within that calculation. So bas-
ket of champagne was ordered at his ex-
tidy sum OF 500. 1t is said that Huntington
was so chagrined at being trapped that he
avoided observation for the remainder OF
the voyage.
Out near the Preside there lives In
little cottage an elderly woman with his
tory full OF episode and sadness. She is a
Belgian from Bruges, aud proud of her
country, whether In its French or Fleming
aspect. Brought up as an ouvriere, she at.
tanned TO skill as q decorator and glider,
and her little household contains q few
bright specimens of her handicraft. In
Paris she could earn her 8 francs a day at
home-no despcable sum In the gay capital
for working woman. Many years ago she
came to the United States with her brother,
and married Belgian here.
But all her relatives in this country are
gone over 10 the great majority, and the
poor woman is left absolutely alone to fight
the battle Of life in old age To add
tnousandfold to her misfortuHes she is we'll
nigh stone blind Yet she is by no means
grumbler or cherries. When she has any
one to talk French or Fleming to she is full
OF "reminiscences in merry tone Had she
her eyesight and a full purse she would like
to end her days in the environs of Brussels.
As things are she looks forward to entering
the Old Ladies' Home. She has one Of the
kindest of landlords, who has allowed her
to live rent free for twelve years.
1t Is bad enough to have men fighting for
what is termed the championship or the
world. To have women enter the prize-ring
Of pugilism is unspeakably revolving. Yet
have we here in San Francisco an Amazon
OF brawny arms from Australia, who is
anxious to tackle some female brusers she
has heard of In the East. She has acquired
fame in the Antipodes, and has come here
TO extend it. Nor is she afraid of encoun-
;ering her own weight in masculine muscle.
She is rather proud of the fact that she can
knock her husband out in ten rounds, and
the husband has the credit of having
trained her. AS an excuse tor her extra
ordinary profession, she says she can make
more money at it than in any other way,
and that is certainly n large measure of
practical justification. She will probably
find it impossible to get Gentleman Jim to
face her with gloves. Could she give ex-
Champion Sullivan thrashing he would
get his deserts for past moral failings ON
drunken sprees.
The airship OF which drawing was
given In The CALL last week is one of the
right sort. such as the curious may see in
old prints. but never have and never will
see In the air. There is just trifs of nov
city in the introduction Of masts and sails in
shipshape fashion, with shrouds and rat
lines for the hardy aeronauts to go aloft
and braces to haul the yards round on any
tack. Only Jules Verne could navigate an
airsbip Of this design. and even tor his
purposes Of romance he would probably
alter q few of the details.
Some years ago at Woodward's Gardens
man OF thoughtful mien. who never said
much. was occupied week or more in get