The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1904-10-16

How white are the fair robes Of
charity, as she walketh amid the lowly
habitations Of the poor"
The Wattersons refuse to admit evil
dence Of charity in the hearts or heads
Of smart set women. Every once in
while" as Fra Elbertus measures time,
the country is treated 10 a TRADE on
her scant charities, or her lack Of them
which is especially pleasing TO the
social anarchist. At the recent charity
festival given at Harbor Hill by Mrs.
Clarence Mackay. when she turned her
mansion over TO the bucOlic country
side, il was cried out from the house
tops that it was not charity that
prompted the proffer Of the house, but
the supreme pride Of its mistress. And
thus do such attacks go abroad, but
with apparently little harm. The char
titles go on in their own silent way.
To be sure, the West is proverbially
Open-handed and big-hearted. but It is
said on the authority Of statistics that
San Francisco ranks all other cities Of
its size in the United States in its phil
anthropies Now. that's nice of san
Francisco. isn't it? And distinctly nice
and worthy Of the smart set maids and
matrcns VINO are lying awake o nights.
trying 10 plan out another year for
their pet charities. There's that year
old Maternity Hospital down on Eighth
street, where such humane work has
been done since its inception. 1t was
for that charity that a few hundred
women foregathered in Century Hall on
Thursday afternoon and played euchre
at a dollar per play. Now that was a
pleasant way Of helping in good
cause
Then, there's the San Francisco
Branch of the Needlework Guild.
guided by the soft hands of women of
leisure, who succeeded last year in
gathering together so 900 new garments,
70 be distributed among the poor at
Thanksgiving time. New garments,
friends-none Of your crumpled chif-
fOns or antediluvian matinee and ball
gowns. but fresh. new. comfortable
clothing. That's philanthropy in its
kindliest guise. And they are now pre-
pairing TO repeat last years benefcence.
Then there was the concert given on
Friday night at the ST. Francis by
Madame Francisco. engineered by a
coterie Of busy patronesses, every one
Of whom worked with a will--for it was
10 reDlenish the feeble treasures of the
Maternity Hospital and the Founding
Home that the fair songstress sang.
And thus it is that not week goes by
when winter time has drawn near that
doesn't bring its quota Of love labor.
Ard blessings on her, the smart set
]. -
eth cheerfully Of her time and her not
o'erabundant pin-money!
The week was redolent Of orange
blossoms. 'Iohenerin' wedding pres
ents and perhaps exchanges. .Bnf wbv
eternany "Lohengrin"2 What did the
world do before Wagner inverted
it? Surely there must have been
some sort Of marriage service in
The dark days before the com
Ing Of the prophet Of Bayreuth. To
what. then, did the oncoming bride
march to the altar? That poor "Lohen-
grin" march has been frayed and fraz.
lied and frizzied until the vitality has
-0rg ago gone from II. And it's SC
funereal. Could anything be saddeF
sorrier, than to see four solemn, black.
measured tread and eyes fixed Will,
the lugubriOIs "Lohengrin" fills the
church ike dirge? ] sometimes won,
der the principals don't turn to anC
run 10 cover. At best it's ominous
Who can say that such doleful music
doesn't cast a spell over happiness
Can't some one suggest something?
There was the Fleishhacker- Gerstl'
wedding in San Rafael on Wednesday
than which no Drettier ever Joined TIVE
loves together. Never was fairer day
never were lawns greener nor hedges
sweeter. Thousands of blossoms haC
burst into bloom. caressed by the early
sun, whose perfume filled the air witt
incense Within this setting an alta
was reared. with candles and fiowen
and feathery ferns. and here were tn
vows plighted. From this side abou