The morning call., 1893-12-12

What to do with the artistic collection
formed by Mrs. Kate johnson and con-
veyed by will to Archbishop Riordan, so
as to realize the objects in view, must be q
somewhat anxious question. Is the collec-
ton strong enough to form a gallery which
would attract enough visitors so as TO
form a permanent source of income for
the women's and children's hospital,
which it was Mrs. Johnson's design to en-
dow? 1t is certainly large enough TO at
tract large numbers for a time, but after
the novelty has worn Off il might be- a
eause of expense rathsr than a source OF
income. To connect 1t with the hospital
itself is a somewhat hazardous expert
ment, but in the economy of administra-
tiOn that would have advantages. The
collection would also form the nucleus uf
a larger one to which many might con-
tribute, but then there Is the cost of a
suita BILE building to consider. Presumably
the pictures will not be dispersed by auc-
tion. If they were the best market for
those that have world-known names at
iached would be in the East at a favorab BILE
moment. IL Ia to be hoped the collection
will remain in San Francisco in it's ea-
tirety.
If Valiant be the man who threw the
bomb on the floor of the French Chamber
OF Deputies. he is proud Of his work. To
glory in murder0us deeds. to boast of
having thrown whole city into consterns-
tion and apprehension. is part Of the creed
of the new order-out-nf-chhos fraternity.
1t may be that the fellow is lying. There
are natures so warped that they delight In
taking credit for infamies, and only strive
to exculpate themselves when the guiilo-
tine is in sight. Ravachol modified his
rawlings good deal before his head was
struck off. The police learn how easy Ii Is
10 manufacture q bomb out Of crude
materials. Unfortunately there Is quite a
library on the arts OF preparing explo-
sives, and desperate fanatics are only too
well facilitated in planning outrages.
There may be no positive cure for this
rampant cult of destruction. but society
can at least punish severely the mis-
creants who are caught and must make
the precautions of search and scrutiny in
public buildings thorough. Some legisa-
tive halls are entered a great deal too
easily by anybody.
Is 1t the fact that some of the Stanford
professors during their holiday expIora-
tions of California have actually discov-
cred several small mammals new as species
to sciencef II they have been so lucky
they are on the road to fame In nomencla-
ture. One little specimen with a single
distinctive feature of divergence from its
type-an odd bump on the head. an elon-
gated nose, a strange DEVELOPMENT of foot.
peculiar fur or skin-would be sufficient
TO elevate the eyebrows Of the deep stu
dents who brood over science: but to find
several is enough to send all the collectors
of Christendom into an ecstacy Gf expec-
tation and ferment OF envy. II is prob
able that California from north to south
has been little more than skinned by
naturalists of varying discernment and
ability. There is still good deal to ideu-
tify and classify, and the field is. there
fore, inviting for the scholarly and en-
thusiastic who have leisure. There Is mo
money In it," as the saying goes, but there Is
plenty Of work-just as good for happi.
ness.
This is the last month OF 1893. Thomas
FL. Blythe died in 1883. and his fat estate
still fingers In the courts, aud is likely t.
be heard of in some shape at least another
ten years. until all the lawyers connected
with it 60 not blithely to the grave. The
litigants are numerous and have by nc