The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-16
Bathrooms Are Again Being
Recruited From the
Highways.
HYDE PARK DECLINING.
1t Is Being Superseded In Popu-
larity This Season by
BatterSea Park.

Is more thronged with visitors and tourists
than for several years past there is gen.
erai complaint that the season is not up
to the hlgh-water mark of former years
1t is claimed that this is due to a paucity
OF court functions, the frequent absence of
various branches of the royal family from
the capital, and last, but not least, to the
TACT that many of the great English fam
lies are still compelled to curtail their ex-
penses considerably in view of losses of
various descriptions due to the hardness of
the times, resulting in the contraction of
rent rolls and other such inconvenience.
AS result of this economical spirit pre-
vailing among members of the aristocracy
none OF the entertainments given have APP
preached in lavishness those of former
day. Naturally this state of affairs causes
a good deal of grumbling among the swell
West End tradesmen, but they are some
what making up for it by catering to the
crowds of rich or well-to-do Americans
who are now here for time at least-bril-
liant birds of passage who spend their
money royalty.
Then, again, in social circles the old COM
plant is again heard that the young men
who appear at the balls are recruited from
the highways, and that the really smart
young men will not dance and are daily
becoming more difficult to please. As
proof of this assertion, it is stated that for
recent ball the Marchioness of London
derry herself sent out invitations to 500
bachelors, and yet she only secured the at
tendance of $50 of them.
Another marked feature of the season is
the declining popularity of Hyde Park as
an outing ground. This may be due
largely to the fact that BICYCLES have super
seded horses to a great extent, and it is
found to be more diverting to watch the
wheel-riders in Battersea Park than to
watch the equestrians in Rotton Row In
deed, it is row quite the thing to picnic in
Battersea Park, formerly looked upon as
quite plebeian resort, and especially to
breakfast there.
So far as business is concerned, the shop
keepers only salvation lies in the Ameri-
cans who are arriving here in larger num-
bers this season than ever before. As a re-
suit of this influx of transatlantic visitors
the various prominent hotels of London
sduring the past few days have been doing
really phenomenal business. The man
ayers of four of the largest hotels have
been interviewed on the subject, and thew
joined in saying that never before in early
June has there been such rush of ocean
travellers to London. Hundreds of people
have been turned away from the big hotels,
and among them were many passengers
of the new American line steamship St.
Louis, which fine vessel completed her
maiden trip across the Atlantic on Thurs
day morning last. incidentally it may be
mentioned that many of the passengers of
the st. Louis had trying experiences after
arriving in London. With their baggage,
large and small, piled outside and inside
cabs they spent most of Thursday driving
about the city looking for accommodations
at the hotels or elsewhere. Naturally this
state of affairs is causing hotel men of the
British capital to swell with pride, and
they say that they are more convinced
every year that London is taking the place
which Paris formerly occupied in the
hearts of Americans for shopping pur-
poses. Be that as it may, there is no doubt
at all that the American tourists are max
ing longer stay here this year than usual
So far as fashion is concerned it is no.
ticed that the hats of the ladies are becom-
ing more and more startling as the season
advances. For instance, fashionable
West End milliner displays 1.-The very lat
est" in ladies' headgear. Poised on the
front is dove with outstretched wings
around small riviere of diamonds.
The investiture of the birthday honors,
which will be attended by the new knights,
is to be held by the Queen at Windsor
Castle during the first week in July. The
@< h
than usual. The newly made knights will
attend a luncheon, which is to be spread
in the famous Waterloo chamber of the
castle. At o'clock in the afternoon of
the finally selected day they will repair to
the white drawing-room, where, in the
presence of the officials and number of
distinguished visitors, the Queen will per-
form the customary ceremony of investi-
ture.
Although it is supposed to be the height
of the season, the theaters are fast closing
their doors in the face of bad business, and
were it not for Bernhardt and Eleonora
Duse and few others London would soon
be in bad way for dramatic amusement.
The triple bill at the Lyceum Theater has
proved failure, and John Hare closes the
Garrick tonight In addition "The Tri-
umph of the Philistines" will be with
drawn from the st. James Theater next
Thursday and 1.-THE Second Mrs. Tanque-
ray" will be substituted. IAN Artist S
Model" at the Lyric Theater, 1.-THE Shop
girl" at the Gaiety Theater and "The Pass
port at Terry's Theater are the only real
successes of the season.
The revival of LA Traviata" at Covent
Garden Theater on Tuesday last, with
Patti as Violetta, was the event of the
operate season. The seats sold at fancy
prices and they were all filled. In addi-
ton many weIl-known men were COM
PEELED to stand in the gangways. The
boxes and stalls were ablaze with dia-
monds. Nine. Patti received great and
most enthusiastic welcome. Ladies threw
bouquets upon the stage, thing unknown
in Covent Garden for years. But it must
be admitted that PATHS voice has lost
much of its former attractiveness.
May Yohe (Lady Francis Hope) is to
tour America for year, beginning Sep
TENDER next.
1t is announced that Mr. and Mrs Ken