The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-07
AROUND THE coRR1poRs.

AAOONO COhkS4OOASs
All bohemia was panied yesterday that Otto
Norman was forced to the wall. If Mr.. Nor
man could have heard the many good things
that were said of him, coupled with the regrets
that his place should have passed into other
hands, he would no doubt have been gratifed,
although mere words do not always help
man the most.
For nearly fifteen years Mr. Norman has con-
Quoted this noted place at Bush and Kearny
streets. During that time it has been the re-
sort OF actors, musicians, artists, newspaper
men, and also OF foreigners from France and
Germany especially. Many is the good time
they have had there, and many glass of
lager, Pisener, Culmbacher and wines have
they had over the strange and amusing stories
that were told.
Then the steaks that were served, the roast
beef and the countless other things that could
be had at the moments call to refresh the
inner man, served to round out the attractions
OF the unique place.
There was sawdust on the floor when 1T
rained, but dry or not outside Norman's was
always place where bohemia could gather in
the most informal way. When cheering viands
were discussed one could form a circle in
card game if he wished, and he might stay as
long as he wijhed, for it ran like clock-day
and night.
chairs he would usually manage to get them
together despite the crowds and thus stretch
his feet out and recline at ease while he
smoked and imbibed beer till he was entirely
comfortable. Here, while watching the curl
ing smoke, he could build air castles, without
which life is after all scarcely worth the
living.
Thus it transpired that Norman's came to
have very tender place in bohemia heart.
tlI16 mt IA Mo- or,tc
was almost the sole place of meeting OF many
OF the working newspaper men. The reporters
gathered, after finishing the evening assign
ments, and discussed their scoops, excepting
always those of the morrow till it was too late
Tor rivals to get them.
There they waited oftentimes till the first
editions of the dailies were out, and then
eagerly scanned them, each to see how his ia
vorite story appeared.
If the story was "butchered" by the cynical
sphinx who welded the blue pencil there
were sometimes comments that might have
made even his hardened ears Jingle had he
heard them. Talk about how two of such
judges of copy could "cut' alike was also
heard, and this was not 1nfreauently consid-
cred justification of the story as originally
written.
In that candid place at times, too, one
might hear comments about the "skates" in
New York journalism might sometimes be
discussed. AS the newspaper man, however,
is, for the most part, soldier, obeying orders
always, any dissatisfaction was apt to be soon
Gained.
Through all the varying scenes Mr.. Norman
came and went, bestowing pleasant greetings
on everybody. He was never perturbed. If he
ever was angry nobody knew it. Nothing
troubled him apparently. and many is the
,,Nar 1,aL al, <11I ol11,.4 l.
yesterday are true. No doubt he did.
Many German and other societies have held
their banquets in the rear of the place from
which the viands were directly served, and in
the rooms above.
Athur McEwen got much of the material for
some of his best stories there. Ned Townsend
was so impressed by his experiences there at
odd times that he has embalmed some OF them
in his books Charles Nicholson, the
Cuban war correspondent, and Pete Bige-
low were frequently there. There it was
that the man who interviewed Evans and Son.
tag in their mountain fortresses drank his big
gest and most numerous glasses of beer. Billy
Hart lately carried away by q malignant
cancer, and known as the Samoan war CORE
spondent and best waterfront man San Fran
cisco ever had, Joe Ward and host of others
were often seen there.
Every visitor has called Norman that
"Here, Norman, q VISITOR would Call out,
'.zwei glass beer, ;" or seine glass;" according
to the number TO be served. In this way the
place was aided to obtain wider celebrity
But it would take columns to tell of the many
odd features of the place.
Norman was officer in the German army.
One day he met with an accident His arm
was broken. and no longer being able to serve
in the field his mind turned to America and
hither he came.
Bohemia hopes he will be able to start
again. for the old place will never seem quite
natural with him away.
Among the arrivals at the Russ is F. E. Doyle,
who for ten years past has been foreman at
Butte, Mont, of the Belle OF Butte mine. He
thinks the Butte district is one of the most
marvellous ever discovered.
at is the biggest camp on EARTH" he said
last night, with the enthusiasm of the usual
Montanan. Take the towns of the district.
Anaconda has a population of 5000 people
and Butte 10000. The payroll of the Ana
conda Copper Company alone is over $3.50, 600
a month, and there is enough gold and silver
in the copper to pay for all the mining and
milling, leaving the copper free.
"Down at Butte things humming right
along. don't know how many companies are
at work, but there are lots of them. In both
camps things are very active. 1t gets cold
there in winter. 1t was degrees below zero
one morning recently, but it got warm the
next day. Sometimes the thermometer drops
to 60 below, and it is sharp enough then, you
may be assured. lake ii ell in all, though, as
1 said, it's big camp"
Mr.. Doyle is taking things easy for time in
the land OF sunshf