The herald., 1896-03-08
SPRING STREET NOTEBOOK
BY s. B. R.

Los Angeles is overrun with more freaks,
fakirs and weird, unearthly specimens of
the genus homo than any city OF 100000
Inhabitants in these United States. This
probably is largely due to the fact that
this city, being so widely known as health
resort, naturally attracts to it's doors null
titudes OF those unfortunates bereft of nor
NAL vigor and vitality and. as a diseased
body 10 seldom accompanied by we'll
conditioned mind, the phenomenon may
be explained.
AS result of scientific navigation I find
that the restaurants are the best patronized
camping grounds of these human tangents,
probably because they eat-the one exter-
nal popularity common to all of them.
One sat across from me last night. This
eccentric called for sterilized milk, among
other unusual things, and looked know
ingly at the waiter. That sad-faced toiler
loitered noe by the wayside, but wheeled
for the liquid Wand with the precision of
an automatic chess player and soon re-
turned with two.foot pyramid of dishes,
handling the same with dexterity not ex-
ceeded by Japanese juggler. and he
didn't seem to expect applause for it. The
man with the squint in his brain attacked
the perverted milk, took draught, and
then commenced chewing vigorously, his
teeth clicking like pair of castanets.
"Why is this thus?" l asked him after
his mastication had stopped, and sound
like cannon ball dropped into cistern
announced that the milk had been deliv-
cred.
"You see," he explained, as his eyes
gradually retreated to their normal posi-
ton in their sockets, ''there are 2S9,763
septic microbes in each drop of milk; after
the destruction accomplished by sterilza-
tion, chew very rapidly to kill what can
of those left in
l ran into another abnormal condition
with a sound in his head, who was trying
to force the legs of his chair into what
seemed diminutive rubber flower jars, and
as we collided he snarled out something
about my attacking his insulation theory.
The street exhorters who are dexter
ously exchanging Bible quotations for
small silver change, are not 80 many in
the one with the flowing locks, sometimes
encased in fish net, as when he was
picking up genuine silver dollar tossed
by some deluded listener, and his worthy
spouse was telling the audience that their
object was to reach the hearts of the
the people. Any way the pocket lies on
lhat route.
Then comes fakir with Japanese oil for
rheumatism cure. The attack of this NAL
ady that he can't put to flight in three rubs
of his priceless discovery il OF foreign Or
igin, and ought not TO be considered in
company with the old-fashioned home
product.
The comic and sporting papers displayed
in the windows and outside of the stands
seem to create almost as much blockade as
the gutter preachers. A picture in any of
these pink sheet periodicals OF weeklies of
one human pug endeavoring to erase the
useful features of his advereary's vissage
with his fist is fascinating spectacle for
many pedestrians, and the half.tones of
variety actresses in abbreviated skirts ex-
ert their share of influence over the pass
ers-by. But to the credit of the sex, wo-
men seldom are seen thus engaged.
There Is violent need OF more cars on
the Westlake avenue line. Every day. and
especially Sunday, the cars at certain
hours are iammed to suffocation, and be-
tween the unventilated interiors of these
so-called public conveyances, and the steep
hill, with, however, the fresh air and clear
sky. the choice for those living within
route.
The big crop (for California; of the
'beautiful' which fell the other day ere.
ated a magnificent effect on the noun
tains, but the air was rather unpleasantly
COiS IoE tulS Ctlindtcs I1OWcNcEs ~ Wdb ue'
lightfully clear and bracing, as tingling as
''extra dry" fresh from the ice, and any.
body who can complain of lack of variety
in our climate ought to go east where his
sterling qualities are more in demand.
Los Angeles has more beautiful women
to the acre than any city in this country.
Here are the dark-eyed Spanish-tinctured
beauties who trip lightly past the apprecia-
tive stranger and thrill him with a quick
glance from the liquid orbs which have
made Spain famous.
Then, there are the rich middle COM
plexions, or mediums, which are full of
interest and impulse, with brown or grey
eyes, wherein are depicted the index of the
happy dispositions of the fair possessors.
And there are blondes too-natural, and
some are mean enough to say-the chemi-
Called kind. But I don't believe this.
Why should not our brilliant sunshine inn
part its splendor to the crowns of glory of
some of our beautiful girls? With their
blue eyes, creamy skin and pink cheeks
they are things of beauty and joy forever.
Then there is the slumbrous, deep, thrill
ing eyes Of the girl who belongs under the
heading of the middle class just men,
toned, but whose hNir is almost black,
whose features are fine and clearly cut,
and whose flgure-lithe, slender, sinuous,
and who is like q true daughter of the gods,
tall and divinely fair.
At the dance given by the Tuesday Night