The San Francisco call., 1901-11-17

- Id San Francisco is passing away.
But il Is not passing so quickly
nor so completely that strangers
~ arc artists have nothing left to
admire and study. The best relic
Of early days is what is known now
and what was known then as the Gov
ernor Latham mansion" 1t was the
finest house on the coast for years. in
fact. until the brownstone house Of the
Floods came around the Horn.
Besides being known for its beautiful
interior and furnishings. IT was known as
the heart of society in the west, just as
the White House is in the entire States.
In 1850 Milton Slocum Latham came to
San Francisco with Judge Heydenfeldt-
Fire and all kinds OF trouble set upon
him, first singly and then in crowds, and
the first thing he knew he was handling
the reins and carrying freight from here
70 there. For this teaming he received
SIS a day.
After caring for his horses one night
he put his hands in his pockets and saun-
tered downtown. gathering attracted
his attention Now it so happened that
Colonel John B. Weller was scoring Con-
eress for not admitting California into
the Union.
without thinking Latham made a reply
SO bright, so to the point and so thor
oughly appropriate that he Immediately
attracted the attention OF the politicians.
The next day he changed his position
and incidentally his profession.
Fortune again seemed to smile upon him
and had he possessed the wonderful lamp
Of Aladdin he could not have made money
any faster than he did.
The fl-health of his wife, Sophie Bird
sail Latham, caused the Governor TO look
about for q home where she could have
perfect rest and untiring care. About that
time Joseph Woodwork built handsome
home on a double lot on Folsom street.
between Second and Third. The indi-
Viouality OF the place particularly pleased
Latham's fastidious eye and he maze up
his mind to purchase it II money would
DO It.
Flfty-nve thousand dollars answered the
purpose.
The only change that was then made
was TO buy the adjoining lot and have the
house removed What he wanted was
absolute Quietness for the tired. troubled
mind OF his VIE
At the end OF two years he found him.
self alone in the mansion and commenced
TO remodel it to suit his own sweet will.
No such tri7ing thought as TO the price
of ANYTHING ever entered his brain He
had plenty Of money and what was more.
his investments were bringing in Is and
o per cent annually. He wanted bill
lard hall. nausic-room and bowling al
lev. To want was TO have With him.
The mantel in the MUSHROOM is said to
be the finest piece of carving on this
coast. It is Of solid mahogany and repre-
sents the hunt Two Herculean figures
hold IT up on either side and 1heir task
seems no light one. Directly over the
hreolace is a wild boar's head and turned
toward il on either side. as though still
IN pursuit. are two hounds.
The cantha leaf is twisted and turned
to make the graceful pattern that fol-
lows I'D one side and down the other A
stays head, a figure blowing horn and
another holding a spear high in the air,
make an effective top for it.
No such carving was done here in those
DAYS, nor, for q fact, in these either. The
carvers were brought over from England.
and the work was done slowly and we'll
And that is why those interested in wood
work are told by authorities in that line