The San Francisco call., 1896-06-15
IT WAS THE PEOPLES DAY
Great Crowds in Golden Gate
Park and at the Ocean
Beach.
School Children Invited to Visit Sutro
Baths Next Saturday-WeSton
Goes Ballooning.

Despite the many attractions without
the limits of San Francisco there were
many people yesterday at the park, at the
Cliff, at Sutro baths and at the Haight-
street grounds.
The children's playground in Golden
Gate PARK at this time Is the one point to
which the rising generation goes. As the
close of the scholastic year approaches the
pupils of the public schools are taken out
in classes by their teachers, given an out
ing, and then, by courtesy of the Commits
sioners, George NJ. Murphy, who has
charge of these grounds, treats them to
rides on the merry-go-round and the DON
children's quarter.
Last Saturday Gardener Monroe did not
forget that 1t was the one hundred and
nineteenth anniversary of the adoption of
the American flag, and he displayed his
patriotism by decorating, with miniature
flags. the Liberty tree that was planted in
the valley opposite the old band stand, a
few years since, by SeQuoia Chapter of the
Daughters OF the American Revolution.
This tree, one of the giant sequoias of this
State, planted in soil brought from many
historic spots, is thriving well.
In the conservatory Foreman Holbrow
has a choice lot of new blossoms that have
opened within the past few days. One Is
an exceedingly rare orchid. 1t is called
the Renanthera Cochinea, is a native OF
Cochin China, and in England a very
small specimen commands So. 1t is grow
ing over the south end of the lily pond,
is blood-red and scarlet, and in the center
of the blossom is little formation resem-
bling brown bee with striped wings.
In the pond there is a sort of Fourth Of
July display of lilies. There is the red,
the blue and the white, but the red and
white blossom only in the morning.
Another rare plant now in bloom and
giving fragrance to the atmosphere is the
plumeria, from which the perfume fran
gipani is produced.
A very peculiar plant is the AIocasia
macrorhiza, the leaves OF which are varie-
gated cream white and pure green, but nc
two leaves are marked alike. 1t is a great
curiosity and is OF the family from which
the natives of the Sandwich Islands make
poi, their staple food.
Another very rare plant is the scarlet
passion flower, which is pretty and at
tractiye.
"Jatropha" is the sign on pot contain
ing a plant the stem of which is bottle
shaped and surmounted by blossom that
looks like q piece of coral, but in. color
orange scarlet. 1t is the plant from which
jalap is made. 1t will be placed on ex-
a great curiosity that has just bloomed
is the cashew nut. This sends forth d
fruit that is soft when ripe, and from the
fruit projects the seed, which is kidney
shaped and exceedingly hard. IL is said
to be the only fruit that produces the
stone or seed outside of itself.
President Austin of the Park Commits
sioners said that he did not know what
would be done in regard to park for the
people of the Mission, but he was of the
opinion that they oughtto have one larger
than that which the two abandoned ceme-
teries would give them.
Captain Thomson of the park police is
sad because on Saturday in chasing some
individuals who were violating the regu-
lations be lost one OF his heavy silver
mounted spurs. ''If the finder will return
it at the police station | viii hand him Sc
and only say thank you"
Those who visited the Sutro baths, and
they were many, witnessed many good
races, swimming and canoe, high diving
and Dana Thompson's trick of remaining
| under water for many minutes. He saws
it is trick, and wants people to guess
how he does it.
/ Next Saturday Colonel Robinson pro-
! poses to have Miss Foote and young Cor.
nell make high dive simultaneously, but
! he has not announced whether Cornell
! will don female attire as on previous oc-
casion.
Mayor Sutro was not at the heights yes.
terday. For several days he has been on
his ranch in Napa County. He has, how
ever, authorized the manager of the baths
to extend an invitation to the first-class
pupils of all classes in this City to visit the
ba tbs on Saturday next, when they will be
admitted free and special performance
will be given. There are more than zoe
classes in this City.
George Weston made q successful ascen-
sion from the Haight-street grounds yes
terday afternoon, and his parachute jump
was a fine one. He dropped more than
fifty feet befote the parachute opened. He
landed on the eastern end of Buena Vista
Park.