The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-22

finishing one of the reception-rooms In the
WOman's building rs California room.
From her plan, by the way, spraDg the
movements among the women OF New 0rk
and Ohio TO furnish similar rooms, and this
plan suggested to Princess Christian OF
England, Nine. Carnot OF France and the
Empress of Japan the idea of furnishing
other parts of that building In conjunction
with other women of their own countries.
Mrs. Walte's success with this scheme
gives promise that the discovery and embodl-
ment in marble of CALIFORNIA; most beau
tiful woman will be no less successful.
Rupert Schmid Is known as the greatest
sculptor ON the Pacific Coast. and as a
sculptor OF genius whose work will bear
comparison with that of any other living
artist.
This very interesting scheme Is not
financial one. It's motive Is patriotic and
artistic and hence does not invite sueers
from skeptics and philistines.
The enterprise will necessarily be carried
through with some haste, and the details as
now outlined are as follows:
The Venus of Milo Is made the standard
by which the contestants will be judged.
This is a pretty high standard for A. ID.
1893. but the glory of the victor will be all
the greater.
All the native women of California who
have faces and forms that approach in any
considerable degree the standards exhibited
by Grecian sculpture, and especially that OF
the Venus OF Milo, are invited to send pho
togTaphs of their drspcd figures and exact
measurements of their forms TO Mrs. Waite
at San Francisco, and so enter the greatest
beauty contest the world has ever known.
or course everybody knows that maideus
with exquisite forms often have faces that
few care to see again. and there are charm
ing ladies' who have features calculated TO
enTaptuTe every gallant eye that sees them.
but whom nature blessed only above the
line where a necklace rests.
Such people are not eligible for this con-
test, for the most perfect beauty is desired.
Lines OF beauty and some charm of
wonlanly expression must predominant In
the face. In other words, the face must be
beautiful. for IL is to be reproduced with ex-
actness IN the marble.
Beauty of form must. too, be apparent
through the drapery that will lend modesty
to the statue, and here is where that i'm
mortal work OF Phidias', or some other
sculptor OF nearly his time, comes in.
Each contestant will be required TO seEd
In a complete and exact set of measure
ments, taken according TO directions which
will be given, and the one whose proper
tons come nearest to those of the Veuus Of
lilo will become the California Venus.
There must be measurements of the
height. the neck. the bust. the waist, the
hips, the thighs. the feet, the arms, and
other portions OF the anatomy, taken with
care and exactness on the proper lines.
Accompanying these must be full-length
photograph OF the contestant, showing the
form so draped In crepe or other cliDging
material that the outlines Of the form will
be partly revealed.
The drapiDg must not be and need not be
at all immOdest.
1t mast he in classic style, but need not
necessarily follow conventional Greek and
Roman styles, and the style of drapery will
be counted point by the judges
The draping of the figure must simply be
artistic, and IL must necessarily be so ar
ranged that 1t will reveal, to large degree,
the outlines and proportions OF the body.
One or both arms. the neck and a portion
of the bust may. for instance, be left bare,
and the clingng drapery may be so ar
ranged that IL will display, modes.ly
enough, the form of the rest OF the body.
Few seminary girls who have exhibited
their Delsartean grace in the beautiful free
dom of Grecian costumes have resisted the
temptation of having their pictures taken
therein, and the showcases of the leading
photographers reveal the appreciation In
the highest society of Grecian and evening
costumes combined when photographs are
to be taken.
These photographs must all be Paris
panels for another thing. The photograph
and the measurements prescribed must be
accompanied by the name and address of
the contestant and a statement as to
whether the subject Is blonde or brunette
and all must be sent to Mrs. Frona Euuice
Waite.
The name, address and complexion will
remain sacred secrets with Mrs. Waite and
no one need fear that they will be revealed
without permission.
The photographs will be numbered as
fast as they arrive and 10 Identification Int
the number will be placed on them. When
the closing time arrives all the photographs
nd In is,rt ~.
ments Will be submitted to jury of three
well-known, competent and disinterested
artists They Will compare the measure
ments with those OF the standard Venus.
study the artistic merits of the faces and
figures shown in the photographs and fl ON
the whole lot select three as the best types
of California beauty.
Their decision will be final as TO the
three and the victorious one win, according
10 the plan as now arranged, be selected
from the three by popular vote. II ia
planned that all the photographs sen. in,
including the three selected by The jury,
shall be exhibited in a hall to the public and
an admission fee will be charged. Whatever
net proceeds there may be will be devoted
wholly to the legitimate expense of the en-
terprlse. and not cent will be appropri-
ated by the promoters. III the winner is
one VINO can III aliord any expense her ex-
penses to this city and while sitting as a
model for the sculptor will be paid.
At this exhibition. which may be for only
one evening, each visitor will be entitled to
vote for one of the three selected by the
jury, and the one receiving the highest
number Of votes will be the California
Venus.
Whoever. CALIFORNIA; most perfect beauty
may turn out to be she must come to San
Francisco and sit as draped model In Mr..
Schmid's studio. When the statue is fin.
ished IL will be sent to Chicago and set M
| In the California room Of the Woman'l