The San Francisco call., 1907-02-26

Tribunes claim that the city on the
shore of Lake Michigan holds the most
beautiful woman in America has met
with quick approval The challenge
of this paper in dispute of its Chicago
contemporaries boast has brought an
early rush of chivalrous support. 1t is
apparent that no man in the State
who believes himself a competent judge
of feminine charms will withhold the
photograph of the most beautiful Cali
fornienne he knows, if he happens to
have the precious picture in his pos
session.
The Call was not jealous because the
Tribune had the opportunity to pub
lish the portraits of ninety or more
beauties. 1t is an every Sunday affair
for the faces of California's maids and
matrons to add delightful interest to
the society page or the story of some
accomplishment of a fair genius The
Call was not even jealous of the fact
that an Eastern community, including
the second metropolis of the United
States, could muster 5000 contestants
in battle of beauty. 1t isn't pretty
simile, but it piqued The Call that its
friend, the Tribune, should be carried
away by enthusiasm over its 5000
beauties and declare that the most
beautiful of them all was, perforce, the
most beautiful woman in America.
BEGAN WITH VENUS STATUE
Of course she is the most beautiful
woman in Chicago. That cannot be
doubted, considering that upon the deci-
sion depended the payment of a $50 900
wager between a proud New York mil
lionaire and an equally proud Chi
cagoan with the money to back his
%
spent in advertising to find the Chicago
beauty, and the Tribune paid the bill
for the privilege of telling the story
and publishing the pictures of the most
beautiful of the contestants. Enter
prising on the part of the Tribune,
wasn't it? And worth the price. be-
cause there is nothing so absolutely
appealing to human interest as the
beauty of a beautiful woman. The
feeling in reverence for this particular
expression of art began with the sculp-
turing of the Venus of Milo. And the
armless statue has lost no whit of the
admiration of its worshipers in the
passing of the ages. If the armless
statue-as a shrine of worship-can
find bright-eyed, flesh-and- blood be-
ing to take its place in human fancy
the idolators of feminine beauty are
bound to increase in number
NO PRODUCT OF FASHION
The judges in the Chicago contest
were looking for beauty. and they
found ii. AS an evidence that the
particular charm was not product of
fashion or class distinction, the judges
chose their beauty from among the
thousands of stenographers working
for a weekly wage in Chicago Offices.
Miss Della Carson. the victor earns S12
week, and from her picture it is ap
parent that work, in her particular
field, has not marred line of her
charming face. Undeniably she is
beautiful If she is the most beautiful
of 5000 beauties in Cook County, Illi-
nois, she has right to be famous. But
if she is the most beautiful woman in
America she will first have to submit
to comparison with the beauties of ev-
cry State in the whole Union before
she can claim her title.
California is going to be heard. The
Call has already seen to that by chal-
longing the Tribune's boast. The faith
ers of beautiful daughters. the hus-
bands of beautiful wives, the brothers
of beautiful sisters and--who are most
certain of their judgment-the adorers
of beautiful sweethearts. are not going
to see Chicago, or any other city or
State in the Union. rob California of
her chief glory-the perfection of her
women.
PRIZES ARE OFFERED
The Call would be inclined to leave
the defense of the States beauties to
the women themselves, were it not for
the fact that modesty is the ruling pas
sion of the sex and a public parade of
beauty would bring blush. But
there is to be no embarrassment in The
Calls contest II is a wholesome ex-
preston of pride in a race of athletic
healthy girls. who have won strength
by outdoor life, health and spirit by
living in the purest air mortal ever
breathed. and bright eyes and coloring
in a commingling of breezes where the
balmy sea sends its zephyrs to meet
the rush of winds from snow capped
peaks.
So 1t is certain that California has
beautiful women. 1t Is equally certain
that the California male mind realizes
it. The Call announced its contest on
Sunday. Pictures began to arrive yes
terday from this city and around the
bay Every mail will bring them
from now on. and every county in the
State. and every hamlet in the coun-
! judgment. The Beauty Editor is going
to be a busy man and The Call will not
fail in its effort to take the temporary
laurel from the brow of Chicago's fa-
vorite
In addition to the enviable palm of
beauty, The Call is going to give $3.50
in gold to the woman chosen by the
jury as the most beautiful in Califor-
mia. The next in rank Will receive
$50. the third SIS and the next twenty
FIVE viii be given SO each.
Send your photographs to the Beauty
Editor. The Call.
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