The Holly chieftain., 1908-10-30
AFTER THE BALL.
csiKss~is's Fisst clsar;~s House Nss
No . Finaneial One.

e1se . Finaneisl ons.
The meaning of the term "clear-
ine house" may not perhaps be fa.
miliar to all people outside of bank.
ing and commercial circles. An in
cident which occurred during our
civil war may give a clear though
homely idea of what q clearing
house is.
The occasion was in 1864 when
the citizens of San Francisco gave
the famous Russian ball" to the Of
ficers of the Russian fleet of war
ships in San Francisco's harbor,
which had been sent to the federal
government by the emperor of Rus
ssia to the assistance Of the northern
states in that war.
That ball was the most brilliant
affair Of it's kind that has ever taken
place in California. 1t was attend
cd by the governor and all the state
and municipal officers, the members
Of the supreme and superior courts,
al the foreign consuls and the Off
GERS OF the army and navy within
reach of San Francisco, besides
many of the old and wealthy Span
ish families from southern Califor-
mia, all handsomely dressed and re-
splendent in diamond ornaments.
The large hall was splendidly dec
orated with Russian and American
hags intwined. The flags of the for
aign consuls and lines of cages OF
singing canary birds were hung
around the gallery. A military
band and string band supplied the
music. On the stage Of the hall
were stacks of arms and accouter-
ments of war, while the rich dresses
Of the ladies and the uniforms of
the officers Of the navy and army,
together with the grand official re-
gala of the foreign consuls, made
It scene of splendor and wonder
and delight to the Russian sailors.
After the supper, which was serv-
ed in keeping with the rest of the
ball, the Russian Officers, the con-
suls and many of the guests Of hon
or retired, but "the dance went on"
Soon afterward it was seen that the
walters in the hat room had become
confused in their deliveries, and
gentlemen, finding their hat checks
useless, were obliged to 60 inside
and search for themselves, which
resulted in soon covering the floor
with articles Of clothing, from which
each man took that which fitted
him best and went home.
The following day notice ar+
peared in the newspapers inviting
all persons who had lost their over
coats or hats and had taken others
instead to return them to place
designated in the notice and receive
their own. The result Of this move
was = success, for every man who
had lost his twn and had brought
the article he had taken recovered
that which selonged to him, the
writer being one Of them. This,
than, was Crlifornia's first clear
ing house, th ,ugh not a financial
one, in so far as the basic principle
Of the banke 81 clearing house is
concerned.--Los Angeles Times.
Unhardsnsd BY Custom.
It is strange what tricks even tn.
tored nerves will play. The strong
est man will wilt into an uncon-
scious heap under the vaccination
lancet or be reduced to abject faint
ness by the sight of dentists imple-
ments. The Earl of Malmesbury in
his memoirs tells 4 little incident
Illustrative Of this fact:
A sad accident happened this aft
ernoon to one of the keepers, who
blew of two fingers Of his right
hand in loading gun. The fingers
had to be Immediately amputated.
All the gentlemen stood around to
witness the operation and to en-
courage the man, who showed great
pluck. It was curious that every
one bore the sight calmly but Lord
Raglan, who had seen 100 battles.
he tainted and had to retire. In
action he is known to be remarkable
for his unmoved sang froid.
: the answer to a question con-