The San Francisco call., 1895-05-22
AROUND THE CORRIDORS.

women to San Francisco. His place OF busl-
ness was on the south side of washington
street, between Dupont and Stockton, at
time when Washington street was the leading
thoroughfare of the City.
Mr.. Limaruty's establishment was little
shop, and when the people who passed up and
down the street first saw the sign announcing
that he was man dressmaker, they smiled
Then they stopped to look through the window
at the man who fitted ladies' dresses. Then
some OF the fair sex made bold to visit the man
dressmaker TO examine his work, and 1t was
not long before Lmaruty dresses and Limaruty
suits, and Mmaruty riding habits, became the
craze.
Mr.. Limaruty is a small man with blonde
mustache and light hair and light blue eyes,
He is about SO years old, and is still a resident
OF this City. When seen few days ago he
SAID: "To say that ] was the Worth OF San
FRANCISCO is putting 1t rather too strong
while 1t is true that mine was the first dress
making establishment conducted by man in
This City, was not in it with Worth. His repu-
tatlon was universal one, mine only local.
When was advancing to the age when it was
necessary to choose trade or profession, it be-
came my desire to become tailor for men.
MY father suggested that at the same time it
would be we'll to learn the art of making
dresses for ladies, as in Austria, where came
from, 1t was very common for men to be cut
ters and filters of ladies' garments. Acting
upon his advice I learned the two trades in
Wolfsberg. my native place, and when told
that had mastered both trades, started out
for myself. Reaching San Francisco in the
early part of the sixties worked for a time for
| cloakmaker, and then started out on my own
account. The man dressmaker was novelty,
ana there was soon so much work that had to
engage number of men and women to help
me. Before going out of business these num-
bered six men, and three women to help each
man, the women being seamstresses. Then
had forewoman.
"Was there any delicacy on the part OF my
customers? Well, at first there appeared to
be; but when they understood my methods,
which were the same that were followed by
Mr.. Worth, there was no trouble on that score.
My forewoman, under my directions, took the
measurements which noted, and during the
time | offered suggestions as to what would
suit the patron as to color. class OF goods and
style. When suit was ready to be fitted the
lady went into the dressing-room with the
forewoman, and when it was on 1 passed
judgment on it and decided whether changes
or alterations had to be made. want to tell
you that in those days it required great deal
of material for a lady's dress, for it was the
days of hoop skirts.
prices? I charged high prices, but never
turned out any but frst-class work. My price
was from $40 to $75 for a suit. While charged
high prices, am proud to say that always
paid my journeymen and women the highest
wages The men never earned less than $25 a
week, while the women made from So to s. q
week.
sAmong my customers there were many of
the leaders of society, and you can well under
stand there were others who were not leaders,
just the same you will find them now. AS
the Chinese quarter increased in size and the
4.
more favored avenues were chosen, Washing
ton street began to decline, so change OF loca-
ton became ne eeessary. l took the upper floor
of new house on Post street. near Kearny,
which l fitted up at an expense of $4,000, and,
if l do say so, had the finest establishment in
the whole City. Business was hourishing and
felt that would make an independent for
tune, when suddenly sickness laid me low,
and a man l trusted my business to let it run
down so that when / recovered it was not what
it had been. Then debated whether should
resume the business or work at my other
trade. 1t occurred to me that many had told
me that it was wrong for me to engage in a
business that specially belonged to women,
and with increasing years | believe that
gained wisdom, so concluded that those who
had urged this upon me were right. gave up
the idea of starting new place and took up
tailoring for men, and as you see am still in
that business"
A well-known newspaper man of this City has
wife who is very sympathetic and whose
feelings are hurt whenever she witnesses pain
inflicted on human being or animal. One of
the evenings during the early part of the
month, when there was moisture in the all, the
husband went home to his supper and during
the evening meal was informed that "those
people across the way are very cruel" To the
question, "How is that2" the wife answered.
'.Why, during all the rain this afternoon their
poor parrot hung out at the window and with
the rain coming down on it all the time it
looked like or worse than wet hen. 1 pitied
the poor bird and at one time felt as if ought
to have gone over to notify them, but maybe it
is just as well that did not.''
The next evening when the husband was at
his evening meal the wife said: "I really do be-
lieve that those people across the way have
been imposed upon by whoever gave or sold
them that parrot spoke about last night.
happened to look across the street and there
was the parrot at the usual place, but the beau
tiful green wings l noticed before were white
l suppose that they had been dyed and when
the rain fell on the bird all day yesterday the
color was washed off. 1t was q mean trick, but
it does not justify the people in leaving poor
polly out in the rain ali day."
The following morning the husband, while
looking out one of the front windows, saw a
sight that caused him to call his wife. When
she appeared and asked what was wanted he
simply pointed across the way, and she saw
two cages at the window, each containing q
parrot. one had dark green plumage without
another shade of color and the other had dark
green plumage and white wings.
The wife retired without saying word and
now an allusion to parrots, particularly one
with dyed wings, makes her angry.
William NJ. Houser, superintendent of the
blood horses at the yina ranch, is down with
some horses belonging to the Stanford estate
that are to be auctioned off this week here. The
profits of the Vina ranch go toward the sup
port OF the university at Palo Alto, and Mr..
Houser thinks that good sum will be realized
this year-much more than ever before.
"The profits until year or two ago were very
small" he said last night at the Grand, "as SO
much money was used in making improve
ments. Now everything is in good shape and
the prospects are that there will be very good
crops this year. Then the ranch is being man
aged very economically and undoubtedly the
profits will be much larger than ever before.
They have new man at the head of the winery
department, and more wine-dry wines princi-