The San Francisco call., 1899-10-08
EDITORIAL VARIATIONS.
BY JOHN McNHUGHT.



BY all odds the most interesting event
of the past week has been the triumph
ant demonstration of the efficiency or the
wireless telegraphy. II appeals not only
20 the reason, but to the imagination. 1t
seems as If fancy itself could not set
bounds to the potences of the new mar
vel. To be able to direct electric currents
through the air with such certainty as TO
compel their services gives TO humanity
something of the attribute OF demlgou
There exist recording instruments in the
great observatories Of the world OF such
Celicacy that whenever a spot appears on
the surface of the sun the instruments re-
cord a change in the magnetic equilibrium
of the earth If such records can be OBJ
tanned of what is going on at the vast
distance of the sun, 1t is not unreasonable
t. believe that since we have now the
power to direct electrical energy without
wires we may yet be able to start cur
rent al any given point on the globe whlch
will he recorded by instruments at any
other point. 1t Is even possible that here
after battles may be reported as the yacht
race has been in this instance, and bulle-
tins be published every three minutes in
forming the public how the fight goes
Marconi has done something more than
invent an improvement in telegraphy. He
PSOPtNN
having hitherto unknown powers.
Out of the popular enthusiasm in the
welcome to Dewey there has come some
thing which promises to be of permanent
and inestimable value to the republic. The
grand triumphal arch erected in his honor
in New York has been found 10 be so no.
bic and so beautiful that with one accord
the Tress, the people. the critics and the
ortic In IN o.
marble.
VIC have accomplished In this country
so little in the way Of pure art that the
very promise Gf a really fine monumental
structure in the chief city Of the country
is pleasing. 1t might be said of US with
a fair degree of truth. that we have pro-
duced d million books but no literature,
and achieved a thousand artisan sue
cesses without accomplishing art There
are scoffers who declare we cannot attain
TO genuine art, and the scoffing hurts a
little because there is almost as much
truth in the words as there is spleen in
the men who utter them. The superb arch
in New York holds out a hope that we
shall have a monumental refutation of
such Knockers hereafter.
If New York fail 10 carry out the in
spiration of the time we might get the
models ard raise the arch in marble
here. 1t viii be remembered we have a
Dewey monument committee in San Fran
cisco.
A story is going the rounds which gaud-
lily illustrates how we live when we be-
long to the Four Hundred, and how to be
happy though rich. BY way of fifty cele-
brating a recent wedding in high life and
making good use of festal garments after
putting them on. bachelor of means
and manners invited half dozen ladies
and as many gentlemen to dine with him
after the celebration Of the distinguished
nuptials. The most elaborate prepara-
tions were made for the feast The table
was beautifully decorated with flowers of
pure gold in vases of deeply chased sill
yer, and diamonds were sprinkled about to
give a pleasing appearance of dewdrop
freshness to the petals. The hour came,
the dinner was ready, the wines were
cooled to the exact temperature that you
get when you pay most for it; but the
guests did not come. The host, with one
lone friend, a masculine friend at that
waited and waited. BY and by he started
the telephone to going The ladies re-
sponded promptly. They were ready, they
were waiting, but their escorts did not
come. More telephones failed to rouse
the escorts. but did bring responses from
persons having them in charge. The es-
corts were all disposed-suffering from
symptoms of blind drunk About 10 o'clock
the host and his faithful friend essayed
to finish the dinner themselves. They
made but stagger at the viands, but
with the wines they got along swim
mingly, for time that is, but in the end
were drowned in a sea of champagne and
went down under the table lamenting the
drunkenness of their friends. Such is the
way you can live when you do not have
to work for the living.
A leader of Washington society is
quoted as having said she knew Dewey
would become d great and famous man
because when a comparatively subordi-
nate officer and stationed in that city he
was never neglectful of social courteses.
Evidently the praise was intended to be
high, and just for that reason it conveys
an intimation that as a rule the naval
officer in Washington is not noted for
courtesy. 1t is probable that IN their
cruising about the seas the gallant fell
lows become Indifferent to the observ-
auces expected of educated men by the
American woman. At any rate a lack
of social courtesy so uniformly marks
them that lady of light and leadership
discerns true genius in any one of them
who distinguishes himself by actions of
politeness
The experience of the Washington lady
recalls an incident in this city. Not long
ago certain ladies went to visit the Iowa
bearing with them a letter of introduction
to the captain from an official of high
rank. The letter was duly taken by an
officer on deck and possibly conveyed to
the captain. but probably to the petty
officer who commands the apprentices for
an apprentice came up and showed them
about the ship Neither the captain nor
any officer received them nor spoke to
them, nor sent word to them of excuse or
regret. The letter of introduction was
ignored as If it had not been. Judging
by the standard set up by the expert
enced woman in the national capital there
are no Deweys on the Iowa. The Incl
dent is trifling and goes as it came. but it
is likely the ladies of Washington may
yet have to exert their influence to have
professorship of manners established
at Annapolis.
student and scholar who describes
himself as an adept in curing obses-
sion," but signs his name Memo" writes
long letter to inform me among other