The San Francisco call., 1896-04-06
THEY SAW THE BIC SEALS,
Vanderbilt and Depew Visit the
Cliff House, Sutro Baths
and Heights.
Scientific Horticulture in the Park.
A Plant That Deprives One of
the Power of Speech.

Cornelius Vanderbilt and Chauncey M.
Depew may, on their return East, say that
they have seen California for yeste rday
they saw the Seal Rocks, the Cliff House ana
Sutro Baths, and any one who does not see
these cannot say he has seen California.
1t was expected that they would visit
Golden Gate Park and call upon the Mayor
at his residence at Sutro Heights, but there
was disappointment as to the latter.
President Austin of the Park Commission
ers waited in vain for them, and the
Mayor did not receive them, as he hau
been informed in reply to an invitation
telegraphed to them when they were in
Los Angeles that want of time would pre-
vent them from accepting.
Yesterday mornng the two distinguished
visitors and their travelling companions
attended divine service at Grace Church,
and Mr.. Vanderbilt deposited $10O on the
plate as an Easter offering, while Mr..
Depew dropped two new crisp $40 bills.
In the afternoon they were taken IN
closed carriage through the park and
driven to the Cliff House. They were
shown over the new structure, and then
they took peep at the seals and were
afterward conducted to the baths, where
they were met by Colonel 7. P. Robinson,
to whom they expressed regret that time
would not permit them to visit the Mayor.
They expressed the hope, however, that he
would give Mr.. Sutro their compliments.
While they were examining the baths
Mayor Sutro entered the building, ,and there
was an introduction and pleasant general
talk, after which the visitors accepted an
invitation to see the baths in all their de-
tail of operation. They spent nearly an
hour in the place. examined the engine
room and the source of supply from the
ocean, after which Mr.. Vanderbilt said:
This is wonderful; it is magnificent.
There is nothing that for grandeur ap-
proaches this in the world" And Mr..
Depew added, There is but one Cliff
House and but one Sutro Baths in the
world"
The party was then driven over Sutro
Heights and shown the entrance to the
Golden Gate as seen from that point, but
declined to leave their carriage to enjoy
the Mayors proffered hospitality urging
lack of time, as they had to hurry to their
train.
They were then driven back through the
park, catching glimpses of it as they were
hurried through. On their return to the
hotel they declared that the park was a
most magnificent one, and their visit to
the ocean had been one of the features of
their trip.
At o'clock they were taken to their
train and started for Sissons to obtain
view of Mount Shasta. They will then re-
turn to Sacramento. and from there start
eastward over the Central Pacific.
Since the notice appeared in THE CAI-
about the 'caricature plant, said H. Il.
Holbrow, superintendent of the Golden
Gate Park conservatory, "any number of
people have visited this place to inquire
for the plants, and during the fine days
they crowded around them discovering
the strange figures that may be seen on
each leaf"
Mr.. Holbrow has number of wonderful
and interesting plants and flowers that he
delights to talk about. Here" said he,
pointing to creeping plant reaching IN
der the roof of the conservatory and COW
cred with beautiful blossoms, 'ls re-
markable plant, it is the Rangoon creeper
of India. Those beautiful clusters of flow
ers that you see open in the morning and
then they are pure white, but as the day
advances they assume delicate rose tinge,
which increases gradually as does the blush
hat mantles the cheek of a maiden, and
as the day wanes they take on deep GRIM
son hue that then never changes. That
| other creeper with those bell-shaped, large
yellow flowers is from Brazil and is called
the Allamanda Schottii. 1t is the most
beautiful of all creepers. Then there is
the fragrant Stephanalis oversour heads,
that is one one of the most delicate of
blossoms.
"But here" said the superintendent,
pointing to a number of plants in pots
that no one would scarce spend nom ent
to look at, sis wonderful growth. 1t is
the Duffebachia Nobillis, or the dumb
cane of Brazil. The remarkable feature of
this plant is that any one who bites one of
its stalks is almost instantly bereft of the
power OF speech. Is the loss permanent?
No; the juice that flows when an incision
is made touches the lips and tongue and
causes an Inflammation which lasts three
or four days, during which time the vic
tim is unable to utter word"
During the week the following contribu-
tions have been made to the Park Mu-
scum:
From J. H. Neff of Colfax, the head and
horns OF cartboo from British Columbia;
Mrs. w. H. Voorhees, of this City, pioneer
cam mpaign silk badge Fremont and DAYTON
1856; j. l.. Bardwell of this City, very rare
piece of white coral from Korea, an alabaster
cup, dozen very old arrow-points, an obsid-
ian used by the Aztecs; Eduard Causton, Nor
walk, Los Angeles County, ostrich plumes and
eggs; w. Huckmeier of this City, young sea
otter; w. F. Wehl of Athens n. Y, collec-
tion of eggs from GAINESVILLE, Tex: Mr.. and
Mrs. Henry Mayer, case of stuffed birds.
Despite the rain there was a good at
tendance at Sutro Baths Yesterday, more
than 1900 visiting there during the after
noon. More than half the visitors took a
plunge in the big bath.