The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-27

BY JOHN McNAUGHT.

ilization, where all sorts of folks do
all sorts of things. Then he says:
This sense of isolation is greatly en-
Joyed by the Eastern tourist and as
much by the ladies as by the men. A
very fashionable woman indeed-when
at home on the Atlantic seaboard-
confesses that the other evening at
high midnight she sat in a lace.
screened box in hall" and there wit
messed the exposition of Little Egypt.
1t was so like Paris declared the
truant lady. But, poor thing poor
little Egypt-she must have had the
stomach ache! You see, when 1 am in
Rome do as Romeo does!'"
All of which goes to show that when
Boston responsibility is in San Fran
cisco, Boston responsibility has a good
time-and who can blame it? It is not
fair, however, for the frolicsome danes
to pretend that in all their frolics they
are but living according to our views
of life. 1t is of course proper when
in Rome to do as Romeo does" but it
appears the Boston Juliet sometimes
overdoes it and makes Rome howl.
Having quoted that story from the
Boston Herald man it Is only fair to
him to add that on the whole he makes
a good report of us to our well-beloved
Eastern kin. Thus he says that what
most impresses the stranger in San
Francisco is the tendency of the people
toward independent judgment in all
matters, social literary or artistic; and
he adds:
There is a disinclination to accept es-
tablished verdicts and desire to form
an opinion based upon the facts in the
case. This is shown in the reception &C
corded to celebrities Of all sorts, from
those Of the army and navy, the church
and the state, to those of the stage or
"the smart set" Some very great people,
indeed, in their own estimation, when in
the East, are small pumpkins" indeed
out here, whereas merit is readily recog-
nzed, and an actress, for example, does
not need to enjoy New York or London
reputation to be in vogue in San Fran
cisco, and vice versa.
That statement is pleasing and thor
oughly satisfactory. 1t will be read
with general qualification and approval,
not because it is in praise of us, but
because it is true. We do not care for
flattery, but we do like to have visitors
speak we'll of us because such speaking
shows they appreciate merit and can
tell the truth. That is always pleasing.
Many men and women of many
minds, and many with many lack of
mind, have had their say on the sub
ject of the publication of the Browning
love letters, but it has been left to a
young English poet, Miss Elsie Hig-
ginbotham, to give the best expression
to the finest feelings on the subject,
which she has done in this dainty
triolet:
AN APOLOGY.
On Reading the Browning Love Letters.
Forgive sweet lovers of this book,
The sad, who scan your story;
Forgive their wistful eyes that look
Forgive, sweet lovers of this book,
Their knowledge where your fingers shook;
Their watching of your glory;
Forgive. sweet lovers of this book,
The sad, who scan your story.
Accept. true lovers here enshrined,
The few who share your gladness
In touch of heart, and soul and mind;
Accept, true lovers here enshrined,
Their seeing of themselves defined,
Their growth of joy from sadness
The few, who share your gladness.
Condone, great loverS-being dead,
The printing of these pages;
Nor shrink that we've too, have read,
Condone, great lovers-being dead,
Our vision of the gold you she'd
For hearts in coming ages,
Condone, great lovers-being dead,
The printing of these pages.
If that exquisite bit of verse do not
give to all lovers of fine literature Joy
sufficient to induce them to read it
more than once, and to thank me for
digging it for them out of the welter
of the verse of the day, then I don't
know enough about what is POLITICALLY
pleasing to be entitled to run a hay
rake.
Persons who wish a day of complete
mental as we'll as physical rest and
relaxation after the strenuous intel
lectual exertions of the week may let
their brains repose upon this conun-
drum which is now going the rounds
in the East, having taken the place of
the kissing bug and filling it so full
the bug is not missed:
What's the difference between a man
o'-war going through the Suez canal.
under tow of tugboat, and boiler with
a capacity of 5000 tons of steam. loaded
to 1000 tons, with no safety valve, in
charge of an engineer who has a certifi-
cate from Bellevue Hospital showing that
he is a good ambulance driver. but the
sole support of widowed mother and
seven uncles, with no income to speak of.
all Of which is invested in Spanish fours.
bought on a margin of 2 per cent in a
Wall-street bucket-shop conducted by two
professional card sharps from Honolulu
under indictment at San Francisco for
arson?
I submit the conundrum to the atten-
ton of the worthy for two reasons
first, as an illustration of how very
silly in the East are the amusements of
the silly season; second, because it is
asserted there is an answer to the
conundrum, and as / do not know it I
give it up-to the public.
From the frequency of the iteration
and reiteration of the report that the
marriage of Lily Langtry to young De
a 70 I1n mo toI,, 1T