The herald., 1896-07-05
THE ZLNGARL,
A BOHEMIAN CLUB

Los Angeles now numbers among her
many social and literary organizations
a Bohemian club, THE Zingari," which
has lately come into existence and at
last supplies a long-felt want among
those having penchant for literary or
artistic work. who by banding them
selves together are enabled to indulge
in the many joys of Bohemian life The
objects of the club are the bringing to-
Sether and the better acquaintance of
bright intellects, whether of the liter
ary art or musical world. and the bet
terment of ALL by the exchange of the
new ideas and theories, which will be
consequent result
Sociability and good fellowship VII
be one of the prime features of the "Zin-
garl, another of which will be the hos
pltaDle entertainment of the many dis
tinguished visitors who come to South
ern California.
The credit for the organization of the
CLUB Is due to Mrs. Mary E. Hart and
Mrs. Alice Moore McComas. both of
whom are women who have national rep
utatlons as workers in the broad field of
Journalism These women after con-
sidering the matter thoroughly decided
that the time had arrived for the for
nation of an organization of this char
acter which would bring together the
many people of literary and refined
tastes, scattered through the city. and
while being means of pleasure, would
also be one of benefit They worked
long and energetically in behalf of the
OBJECT, and at last success crowned their
efforts.
The first meeting was held on Friday
afternoon, February 7, 1895, in the rooms
of the Merchants association. an organ
1zation effected, and the following Of
ficers elected: Hon. Lionel A. Sheldon
president; Mrs Alice Moore McComas
and Prof. A. Wilhartitz, vice-presi-
dents; Mrs. Mary E. Hart, secretary:
q. A. Bartlett, treasurer; Will e. Chap
in, Miss A. A. Chevallier and William +.
Burbank, executive board
Joaquin Miller our famous California
poet, was guest at the initial meeting
and, by unanimous vote, was made the
first honorary member. Mr.. Miller con-
graduated the club on it's success in or
ganizing. and complimented it upon the
happy selection of its name, "zingari,"
which is the Bohemian for gipsy' and
means well contented wanderer."
The president, Hon. Lionel A. Shell
don, was born in New York, and emf
grated with mis- parents to Ohio when a
very small child. He was raised on a.
farm and such education as he received
was acquired through the common
schools and at Oberlin college.
He provided the means to pay for his
euucat1on by teaching and other labor
After graduating from college he stud
leo law and was practicing in Ohio
when the war of the rebellion broke out
and in August, 1861. took captaincy in
tne zno Ohlo cavalry, and was promoted
TO major. A short time afterwards he
was transferred to the And Ohio infan-
try as Lieutenant-Co Colonel, the late
President Garfield being colonel. He
served the remainder of the war and
commanded the advanced brigade in the
rear of Vicksburg for the first eight
days, and until Sherman's corps came
up and took the front
The close of the war found him in New
orleans, where he remained practicing
law Tor fifteen years, six of which We're
spent In Washington during the diff
ferent sessions of congress, having been
a member from New Orleans of three
congresses, the forty-first, forty-second
and forty-third.
In 1881 he was appointed governor of
New Mexico by President Garfield and
held the office from May S, 1881, to June
l5, 1885. In December 1885, he was an
pointed receiver of the Texas and Pa
c1fic railroad, which position he held for
TWO years, and until it was sold; then,
Wnen mis- accounts We're settled he came
TO California, arriving January l. 1885,
Mrs. Alice Moore McComas, the sec
ond vice president, is we'll known in lit
erary circles as a talented magazine
writer and newspaper correspondent.
she Is the wife of Judge C. c. McComas
and is very popular in social circles.
Wnere she Is ever ready to aid in the
dissemination Of liberal and progressive
IDEAS. Being fearless and independent
thinker herself, she wields a powerful
force In the Zingari, which is founded
upon intellectual enjoyment and good
fellowship.
Mrs. McComas has for years been