The San Francisco call., 1897-12-19
FAIR SCRIBES
At THE HELM
Santa Rosa Ladies Take
Charge Of the Press
Democrat.
Issue One Edition Of the Daily
Paper in the Cause Of
Charity.
Novel Means or Providing a Christ
mas Dinner for the City's
Poor.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN1A hOSA, Lee. 1S.-In1S mas
been busy day for the ladies of
Santa Rosa. Tonight many of
them are Just ready to drop" as a
prominent society belle laughingly put
it while relating her experiences this
evening, but the fact that the results
of their labors are to be devoted to the
cause of charity and to providing
merry Christmas for the poor of the
city amply repays them, no doubt.
Though tired, they are a happy lot
over the outcome of the days work.
Last week the Press Democrat,
which has just fitted up elegant new
quarters and is ready to aid any good
cause, announced that it would turn
the entire office over to the ladies to-
day and allow them to devote its pro-
ceeds from Sunday mornings paper
to the poor and destitute.
The novelty and generosity of the
proposition attracted much attention,
and the ladies responded with alacrity.
Mrs. T. ]. Geary was made managing
editor, Mrs. John P. Overton city edi-
tor, and Mrs. James w. Oates busi-
ness manager. A meeting was held
and the entire staff soon named, after
partment Immediately laid their plans
as to the best way to land the festive
"ad' and to secure the remunerative
''write-up."
Orders were also taken for extra
copies of the paper, and even before
the ladies took charge of the office this
morning a good business had been
booked.
The first aotiuo xx-0rlx nf "a hl-
gan at $685. when Miss Bess Riley and
Miss Lulu Leppo, two of this city's
most prominent society girls, did" the
| early Donahue train which leaves at
that hour for San Francisco. a num-
| ber of important personals were Sc
| cured, after which the two fair re-
porters started at once for the South
ern Pacific depot, from which a train
! left at 6:05. From then on until mid
night pretty girls with notebooks that
harmonized in color with their gowns
darted in and out all over town chas-
ing the elusive item and interviewing
| its prominent citizens upon all sorts OF
subjects.
a reported murder was fully inves-
tigated and both the police courts were
| closely watched from early morn tc
dusky eve. a prisoner confined in the
County Jail was interviewed and a re-
porter was kept busy all day long il
both departments of the Superior
Court. A baseball game at Cycling
Park was written up in rafting style
by the sporting editor, while the edi-
torial writer's and Mrs. G. o. Richards
the telegraph editor, worked far into
| the night.
Tho ladies hod ~
every department and ran things tC
suit themselves, none of the regular
staff being present Saturday beine
i payday, the ladies had the additiona
work of making up the payroll for tbs
| twenty-three people employed in the
office, the funds for which had beer
left in the safe by the regular man.
agement.
When the books were balanced a.
the end of the days business it wa:
found that the ladies were ahead ovel
$500 as the result of their good man.
agement. and the Christmas of many
a poor unfortunate in the city will bt
made happy thereby. The paper
which will make its appearance in the
| morning, Will be a handsome sheet o.
eight pages, we'll filled with local anC
telegraphic news, some of which i,
handled in truly original style. Tn.
City Council is warmly roasted in al
article on the editorial page for faiIins
to pass an anti-expectoration ordi
nance, and the carriers on their morn
ing rounds are being anxiousl,
awaited by deeply interested client
age.
Following is the complete staff: