The San Francisco call., 1897-03-11

dica and her famous company taught us
that melancholy fact. Opera is what San
Francisco wants-opera with artists whose
fame has preceded them. Opera mounted
grandly and gorgeously, such as the Cali.
fornia management offered their patrons
last night.
Compared to the Nordica audience
latest and most brilliant in our memory
the assemblage that filled the California
last evening was as brilliant meteor to q
tiny twinkling star.
Every body was there. Everybody
dressed in their very best, with added
spiendor in the shape of rare and costly
laces and priceless jewels.
The opera season summoned in evil
dence the people, the hoi polloi. They
stood three deep in front of the theater en-
trance and held their breath or gave vent
to joyful exclamation as carriage after car
riage unloaded its quota of fair occupants.
Another fact proved is that woman, no
matter how fair or lovely, never looks SO
handsome as in the gorgeous costuming
which opera not only permits but de-
mands. Society answered nobly fashions
imperative decree, and the result was one
of the "prettiest houses" according to
managerial vernacular, the California
Theater has ever held.
The California is not theater that is
easily dressed" For some reason or
other costumes must be more than gor-
geous, jewels more than brilliant to make
a good showing at this house. But the
theater last evening was dream of love-
illness. Fair necks cleaned, diamonds
outshone themselves, silks rustled and
satins shimmered in way to please even
the most exacting OF tastes. Hats were
not in evidence, that is, there was not a
Gainsborough in the house, and the few
head coverings that were worn were so
tiny that they looked more like a ribbon
or a feather or a bit of lace fastened
daintilv in the coiffure. The dressing was
not confined 10 the lower floor. In the
balcony there were rare laces to be seen,
ladies without hats and gentlemen in the
evening dress operate performances de-
mand.
Probably the fact that the company
halls from New Orleans may account for
the charming custom introduced last
evening of visiting" between acts. The
lobby formed charming retreat, and not
few ladies mingled with the gentlemen
and exchanged greetings and opinions.
OF course French was heard all over
Good French, poor French and most in
different French. 1t seemed to be the
thing. Those who could not formulate
sentences to express the enthusiasm they
felt gave vent to their Joy and lingual
attainments in loud and oft-repeated
"Bravos."
Among those in the audience were:
Mr. and Mrs. Henry j. Crocker, Miss Ives
Mrs. jeremiah Clarke, Mr. and Mrs. E. j.
Moulder, Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph R. Crockett,
Miss Caro- Crockett, DR.. Perone, Mr.. and Mrs.
Miss Edith Mclean, G. W. Prescott, E. A. Bru.
guiere, Mr.. and Mrs. Russell J. Wilson. Mr.. and
Mrs. A. LegalleI. Mr.. and Mrs. Henry T. Scott,
Colonel Crocker. Mrs. A. Sperry, Mr.. and Mrs.
Calf Mr. NJ
Thomas, Mr.. and Mrs. A. Vignier, DR.. and Mrs.
Pescia, Henry Pechoir, Emile Pissis Eugene
Pissis, Madame sabatie.. Miss sabatie,
Kruttschnitt Horace G. Platt, Allen St. J.
Bowie, Alfred Bouvier, Henry Goldstone,
Mrs. Young, Miss Mayrie Young, Miss Kate
Mrs. Tallant Mr.. and Mrs. J. Gunn, the Misses
Moore, j. d. Phelan, Mr.. and Mrs. Sidney NJ.
Smith, Mr.. and Mrs. A: Hochstadter. Nine:
zska Mr. sna MRS C. NJ n5 MTs Dr. Mar
gan, Mr.. and Mrs. Boardman. Mr.. and Mrs.
Leon sloss, Mr.. and Mrs. A. Roos, Achille Roos,
Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Napthaly, Mr.. and Mrs;
Mrs A. Raas, Mr.. and Mrs. Morrow. Herman
Shainwald, Mrs. Lyons, Mr.. and Mrs. Henri
Kahn, G. Tobin, Count de Pare Latham
DIT. Trs Harry Tevis. Mr. and Mrs. Leopold
Michaeis, Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Alexander, Mr..
and Mrs; T. J. Coleman, Mrs. D. Brown, Mrs;
Mrs. Arnold, Mr.. and Mrs. Ames, Miss Ames,
Mr. and Mrs. w. l.. Ashe, Mr.. and Mrs. s. l..
Alderman, Dr. and Mrs. Barkan, Mrs. Beaver,
the Misses Beaver, A. Bergerot, G. Berson, Mr..
and Mrs. Bigelow. Mr.. and Mrs. s. Bissinger,
Miss Carrie Taylor, Mr.. and Mrs c. A. Spreck-
els, E. Heller Mr.. and Mrs. ]. Jewett. Mrs.
Truesdell, Mr.. and Mrs. F. Zeile, Mrs. Newton
Booth w. H. Payne, Mr.. and Mrs. A. Reiss,
Mrs. S. NJ Cooper. Miss Julia Crocker. Mr.. and
! Mrs A. Borel DR.. and Mrs. Calegaris, Mr.. and
Mrs Dodge, Mr.. and Mrs. W. V. Bryan.
Mr. and Mrs. 8. w. Ehrman, J. lawson, Mr..
and Mrs Lowe, Mr.. and Mrs. G. w. McNear,
Mr. and Mrs. E. w. Hopkins, Miss Helen Hop
| kins Mr.. and Mrs. Timothy Hopkins, Mr.. and
Mrs. w. F. Herrin, w. F. Whittier, Mr.. and
Mrs. w. Mayo Newhall, Mr.. and Mrs. Frank
Johnston, E. R. Lilienthal, G. f. Ferguson.
Mr.. and Mrs. NJ. Herzog, Miss Julia Herzog,
Mrs l. steinhari. Glenn Bennett, Herbert Gil
bert, Mrs. ]. Schweitzer, G. Burton, George
Barnes, L. E. Stanton. G. 81. Holt,
L. Alexander, Miss Flora Alcovich, Miss
Evelyn Katz, g. H. Newman, L. c. Masten
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Carpy, Porter Garnett,
G. A. Moore, A. H. Mooser, Mr.. Soloman, Mrs,
E. Melville, Nine. Dubedat, w. F. Wood, A. R.
Fault. Mrs. H. H. Schmiedell, w. Hochstadter.
J. NJ. O'Brien, W. Wilson, George Carroll. Z.
Deuprey, C. R. Spliyalo, w. Butler, M.
is on every wrapper
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