The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-22
BY THE WAY.
BEING a RamDlGT'S Observations On
Things in General.
Hot Weather and Furs-The Kilt and Its
Origin-0ne Who Knew seott-shetland
Ponies.
BY THE WAY.
written FOR THE MoRNINe CALI.

The past week gave US few days of
weather quite hot enough for the tropics,
and far more trying to the constitution Of
San Franciscans than IS their won't to ex-
perience. AS they sweltered and perspired
in the blaze Of sunlight, people who are oe-
casionaliy treated by the philosophers to
speeulations on the waning heat of the SUM-
and the approaching doom Of the earth long
after the present generation has goneto Lone
Mountain, must have had serious doubts
as to there being any evidence Of decline
of solar activity. Within the historic period
at least We know nothing Of diminution
IN the disappearing forces Of our great
lumlnary. The observations Of a couple
OF thousands Of years are of little account
in determining great secular change, but
there is good reason to believe that the
suns heat, instead of diminishing, has in
reality been stationary and possibly in the
ascendant Helmholtz has pointed ont the
true cause Of SOPs empowering irTadiation
OF heat without apparent loss. As long as
the sun is IN great part gaseous the con-
densatiOn Of its mass and the consequent
reduction Of its diameter viii sustain It's
calOrihc powers and may even increase Them
We are said TO be several millions OF years
from the time when the solar mass VIII be-
come yiscOUs or somewhat solid. and irradi-
alton viii then be a measurable dIsSlpd-
ton Of the solar activity. The period Of
gloom is such a long way OF that the
philosophers are not apt TO worry about 1t
unnecessarily. They have time TO e0gltate
fresh theory on the subject Of death and
life in the universe OF worlds.
bot as it was last week it would have
surprised no one who is Observaut of fash
ion among the fair sex had the morning or
afternoon walk been marked by the wear
ing Of furs. For the most part furs appear
to be worn L cur climate because they are
considered handsome and distingue, and
not because they are needed to keep the
chill weather at distance from tile body.
Men dispense with furs on the Pacific Coast
and SO might women If they studied the art
OF wearing the waTmest materials next the
body and LETT the requisite remainder Of
clothing to be added as occasion requires.
But the general habit Of women is 10 have
cold attire next the body aud warm materials
outside, where they can do the least good,
and thus it is with furs. There are pT0ba-
bly, more furs worn in San Francisco than
IN most OF the large cities Of the East. The
desire to exhibit clOaks or Sacques OF fur
or clOaRs trimmed Herewith, IS so intense
that other parts Of the costume, suitable for
the finest summer weather, are not for q
moment considered homogeneous. Fur
harm0niZes winter and summer fascina-
tingly.
The chaplain OF an Australian colonial
regiment has been lectured on the impTo-
priety of wearing a kilt while conducting
divine services. 1t is proper rybantic
garment, such as David the King might
have worn when dancing before the ark
and might, therefore, be deemed proper raj
ment for clergyman when addressing sol
diers. IL would offend ScOtchmen griey0usly
TO suggest that there eau be anything irreY-
erent about a Kilt, and il would
even be q serious matter TO contend
against worshiper OF the tartan
that G kilt may be ridiculous on
some figures. 1t is aQueStion OF custom, and
although anomalous as ecclesiastical attire,
the innovation may be forgiven and even
encouraged as showing a taste in dress and
q confidence that the lower limbs are Shapeiy
and eXhibitable. Had this army chaplain
played the OagplpeS and sklT.ed a plbTOch
Of sacred music thJ Scotch among his
auditors would At least have forgiven him.
IOuchY as the Scotch were on the point Of
allowing instrumental music in their
churches on Sunday, they IN Ight have re-
Tented IN their opposition readily had the
pipes instead Of whistles been tried.
Lord MOncrieif 80 years ago startled tile
Scotch by telling them on the faith of his
t0ric investigation that both the kilt and
the bagpipes came from London, and were
in fact the invention Of a Cockney. Tartan
there always has been in the highlands
perhaps not enough Of it-and the PLAID
trews and bonnet belong to the clans, but
the kilt is a modern idea, and it is mOrtify-
Ing 10 think that a CuekBey may have
shipped and stitched the first male petticoat
and then palmed it of on the Gale
domains as ornamental. II a COckney
did Oficiate at this sartorial ceremony be
possibly had its comfort suggested to him
by studying the elegance Of an Anglican
Bishop in the canOnical garb which makes
him so conspcuously 0utre in the street.
He also has a klt-well, not quite that, fer
It does not 90 round him; II IS only an
apron, and why he needs IL is r mystery.
But unlike the Highlander. he does not eX-
pose his shanks, which would be a most
u0seemly and objectionable proceeding
unless they were well made-a matter not
left TO individual discretion. he sWarheS
his calves in tights OF funeral hue, and
his coat has 2 peculiar cut and peculiar
buttous; his neckcloth is ample in folds
and the great hat, with flying buttTesses, is
the proper sort Of headgear 10 distinguish
feiOW-mOTtal in a crowd. 4 Bishop 10 Eng
land Is compensated for wearing this attire
by having salary Of at least 4J000 q year,
a country palace with fine grounds and q
house in London, 10 make his legislative
lab0rs in the House Of Lords possible with
comfort The time was no doubt when
Bishops. Ike other people, wore wigs The
wig is Tow tie peculiar heritage Of the bar
TisteT's profession, aud as there IS no scarcity
Of horsehair it may continue to be forensic
adOrDment.
A short time ago the Countess Russell
and Mrs. Dick Russell appeared in skirt
dance at the Royalty Theater in London
before a fashionable audience. The per-
Torrance was given for the benefit Of the
National Life-boat Institution - noble
cause quite worthy Of skirt dance from
the Princess Of Wales and all the lovely
members Of the British arst0cTacy. The
Countess and her companion aequltted
themselves so well that they were repeat
edly encOred, and danced again and
again with spirit and dash
which did not tire the audience,
however much il may have faligued them.
Whether this innovation in entertainments
has come to stay cannot be predicted An
amateur corps de ballet, composed Of all
the young ladies who have come out and
are IN their first season would form an at
traction that a theatrical manager would
risk his reputation and fortune upon, espe-
cialy if the great world came to look on and
set the fashion. But the average ANA eur
performance, whether in music or theatre
Gals, is disappointing. To succeed well re-
quiFes hard training and sUDordination to
direction, as well as capacity, and somehow
the amateur is too independent to be con-
trolled. Lady Russell and Mrs. Russell had
the benefit Of advice from a premiere
dsnseuse OF the Aihambra Theater, where,
If anywhere, one can look on at a beautiful
ballet.
There are still not few people in good
health who recall Sir Walter Scott and have
personal acquaintance with various incl
dents Of his life. One Of these worthless is
George Croall of Edinburgh, who was at
tie famous banquet we're Lord Meadow
bank alluded to the presence of the mighty
magician who had rolled back the current
Of time. Sir Walter confessed to the author
ship OF the WaYerley novels aud toasted Tire
actor Mackay, who had made his Bailie