The San Francisco call., 1905-03-26

~ MUCHLY Travelled Iondoner,
lately visiting San Francisco, told
RI the writer the other day that he
- Jaw as smartly turned out car
- riages in this city as he has OBJ
served anywhere in the world. This
bit Of nattery, however, was laid on
with rather a thick brush. 1t was well
that he did not say as many smartly
turned out carriages, for that would
have rendered his dictum of no value
whatever. 1t is true, we have a few
residents of wealth who have fine turn
outs, with servants in liveries, but they
are the rare instances. When any OF
these appear in the streets, in the shop
ping districts, or even in the park, they
a. sure to attract a crowd OF curious
observers, the result of their rarity.
Take Central Park, New York, at about
o'clock in the afternoon, when all the
smart people are driving-the display of
luxury in eQuipage and equipment is
sUmething enormous, but no one ap-
pears TO notice anything unusual about
it. 1t is attractive, too, for nothing
looks better than a smart carriage with
correctly nveried coachman and foot
man on the box, the exQuisitely goWned
occupants resting in luxurious ease
upon the cushions. To see the hand
soonest equipages one must go to New
York or abroad, TO London, Paris, Ber-
lin, Vienna or st. Petersburg. This is
not saying that San Francisco is so
very far behind the times in carriage
matters. We have some fine turnouts
here, but they are not in the majority
that is all
1t was NJ. Theodore Kearney Of Fres-
no, who is now automobiling in Europe,
who claims the distinction Of having in
troduced liveried turnouts in San Fran
cisco. In an article in a Fresno paper
last year Mr.. Kearney said: Some
twelve years ago l brought to San
Francisco a tandem cart with highly
bred horses and the latest style Of har-
ness. To have my turnout in entirely
good form I had my coachman in
proper livery sitting up in the cart be-
hind me. This was at the time the
correct thing in our Eastern Cities as
well as abroad, but for long time
was met with hooting and Jeers every
day from our free American citizens as
] drove out to Golden Gate Park. / am
not without some moral courage, and
knowing that I was right ] stayed
with it., and 1 have the satisfaction of
seeing in San Francisco many well ap-
pointed carriages with coachmen and
grooms properly equipped" Though
Mr.. Kearney claims the honor of intro
bly, the Selbys, Athertons, the late
George Gordon. the PARROTS, McAllis-
tiers and Newhalls might all dispute
his claim were they disposed to do SO.
The George Newhalls could easily claim
ghat they pioneered the custom of
bringing a liveried carriage into the
downtown district, for Mr.. Newhall is
the only business man who drives home
Ia that degree Of state.
Many wealthy San Franciscans con-
stder any approach to a livery in their
servants attire beneath the dignity of
q patriotic American. What thew
'tould not wear themselves they will
not compel their servants to wear.
Still there are others, quite as good
Americans, too, in thought, word and
deed, who believe strongly in liveries
and their right to dress their servants
N them. Frank Carolan has quite a
crowd of servants at his Burlingame
home. always correctly liveried. All OF
George Pope's men are well liveried.
George Newhall believes in liveries and
has his servants thus uniformed That
there are seen liveries in this part of
the world of every cut and color is not
due to the absence OF a standard, but
that the standard is not recognized.
Perhaps and this u more to the point.