The Monitor-register., 1896-12-18
communicated.
A. M Shermer's NGaIi fornis Letter

Heights, 426 feet; Russian Hill, one mile
long, and situated in the most densely
settled part of the city, is 400 feet above
the sea level.
Mob Hill, so called because of the loca.
tion thereon of the homes of some of the
milliopaires, is reached by the California
Street Gable Railroad. Notable among
them is the building on the corner OF
Califor nia and Mason streets, erected by
the late Mark Hopkins, at a cost OF
50, 600, 900. for the city home of himself
and wife, and their retinue Of servants.
Mr.. Hopkins died before 1t WAS entirely
finished, leaving the palatial mansion to
his wife, who married a Mr.. Searles q
short time previous to her demise, leaving
it to him.
Finding it too large an expensive ar
inheritance, Mr.. Searles subsequently
presented the dwelling and handsome
grounds, carriage house and stables to
the University of California, and by the
Regents converted into the "Mark Hop
kips Institute of Art" The Institute is
open from q. m to 5 p. m. daily, and
we'll repays a visit, not alone for the
pictures exhibited, but because the build.
ing itself ranks among the finest. in
America.
The interior finishiDgs are varied and
superb, and the plumbing of the most
improved and exquisite style. In passing
through the entire building l gathered
many important items from the painters
who were employed at the time in re.
painting, during the spring vacation OF
the Art School.
A woman is employed the entire year
at 500 per month, TO attend to the clean
ing, beside the janitors.
The first Friday in each month there is
free admission to visitors. There is
usually crowd, and many who are able
to pay the 25 cents for admission other
days. take advantage of this Tins. The
Chinese, being great admirers of art of
every kind, are so numerous tt at recently
the managers were obliged to restrict the
number to one hundred Chinese visitors
on free admission day. The foe barn. is
used foE sculpture and plaster model
ing, etc.
steep, and musttake an expert goodman
to drive pair of igh.stepping blooded
horses, owned by the elite of that section
of the city.
The Stanford, Flood, and Huntingdon
residences are nearly opposite. They are
in the care of servants who are on duty
when the owners who are living, or the
descendants, wish to spend short time
there. That class Of Californians are
mostly on the wing-visitiDg fashionable
resorts in this State, vizs Castle Urags.
Lake Tahoe, Monterey, etc. New York.
Europe, China, Japan, Central America,
and other points. are well known to many
here, young and old.
| All are broad and liberal In their views,
instructive and. entertaining and ready
to converse on any sub ect. desired. One
who adheres to inc olo snfs Of his or hel
early life as par excellence, am happy te
SAY, is rare personage IN this hustlinQ
city.
Van Ness avenue is9at right angles
with California street, and 10 quite leve
its entire length. The sidewalks are
very wide. witt artificial psvements and
asphalt street, very wide, also exempt
from street cars, making it boulevard
it is similar to Broad street, Philadelphia
Handsome private residences and gardens
churches, club houses, etc, with roses
geraniums, heliotrope and faschias trained
five and ten feet in height on the fronts
sfer on-trellis, In constant bloom the entils
| year. rs
Walking from church yesterday. aftel
hearing DR.. Mackenzie's grand and in.
spring sermon, purely gospel and prac.
)tical, from the text Gen. xii, LIST verse
and last part of the. 9Th: "And there be
builded an altar, etc.," also the impress
i've singing and the rich. tones brough,
out by the skilled organist, my heart was
overlooking with gratitude to my Heav.
emily Parent for permitting me to share
bis choicest hlessings In my lasNdsys.
1t was a ohxfzang abbath, as usual,
with the mercury at 600, and the ROB,
green foliage of the trees casting its
shadow on the pavemene II it had been
possible, would gladly have transported
you all at moments warning to these
scenes. The transition would have been
great; from your bare trees and scared
lawns to green lawns bordered with lux
uriant Gala lilies, the circumference OF
which would exosed twice the size OF
your house plants.
Clans Spreckies, of Philadelphia fame,
is having fine dwelling constructed on
Van Ness avenue. being now a more
ssn loDable part of the city than Missioo
fstreet, where his present residence and
I grounds are located. Nearly two years
! have been taken in its construction, and
it is not yet completed. The bath-tubs
are earthen, and will be sent from Treu-
ton, N. j., to be ornamented here. Mr..
and Mrs. Spreckles have gone to Europe
for some furnishings, etc.
This city has an area of AZ square
miles and population of 800, 600, is
eishth in the list of lalg, cities in the
Union and-s third in commercial import.
anoe. Nums nli1ss Of sailing vessels
5: ): !:
celled by any city b !t,sd st.,a,
San Francisco VI al h;r,hn,..s -
the cable roads: the =. smoo,hnsss
and velocity eight fties per sourl II
whichsthe steepest hills are surmount.s
is wonderful and the views OF this splen.
did cityH obtained from them is, in many
cases, quite enchanting and beyond a
parallel. The fare on all lines is Eve
cents, including transfers with connec ing
lines. The ferry, at the foot Of Market
street. fsthe starting place for nearly all
lines.
The immense size of these handsome
ferry boats that are constantly arriving
and departing are q marvel to all new
corners who cross San Francisco Bay
|'from Oakland and other points. Like
the miniature ferry boats between Cam.
den and Philadelphia, they are crowded