The San Francisco Call and Post from San Francisco, California • Page 6

6 BELVEDERE'S PERFECT "NIGHT IN VENICE" A Blaze of Colored Splendor and a Dream of Beauty. FAIRY ARKS AND BARKS. Director General Hawkins Conducts His Entire Programme Well. THIRTY THOUSAND SPECTATORS. Governor Budd, State and City Officials and Every One Attend and Admire.

Crimson and yellow. Yellow and crimson. Last night, when the sun went down and the soft shadows of the evening etole into the limpid cove at Belvedere, a thousand flags and lanterns fluttered and swung in the gentle breeze, nodding a welcome to the coming guests. The steamers and tugs were loaded down to the rails, and the rolling roar of the sunset guns were but echoes to the cheers and huzzas that floated up and away into Bilence. The swift approaching shadows deepened into gloom, and like beacons to all mankind the red and green and yellow lights glittered and flashed across the water like a million tongues of fire, licking up the ripples and fading away in the Band.

Darker it grew, and a burst of music Clashed out its introduction and blended with the overture of "All Hands on Deck" from the yacht Alice Stofen Suddenly, like the arrival of the remaining stars, many new lights appeared, another gun boomed out its approving roar, and Belvedere's "Night in Venice" was on. There was a perfect blaze of illumination and color as far as the eye could reach. From the north to the south end of the island could be seen a wealth of decorations and dainty arraugement. From the ark of Director-General Hawkins a perfect view of the scene looking west could be had, and like constellations nestled among the trees, the homes of the Belvedereans stood out of the dark background. About 7 o'clock the moon rose in all her splendor, and seemed to consider the scene Worthy of the hour.

Among the ravines and on the slopes long strings and festoons of Chinese lanterns were hung from flagstaff to treetop and from gable to post. The homes of C. 0. Perry, T. V.

O'Brien, R. S. Wheeler, Peter Dean, J. C. Tucker, Arthur Page, C.

E. Holmes, Dr. Duubar, Dr. Frink, Charles Crocker, Mr. Birmingham, Robert McGilJ, Georse Pope, Dr.

Harris. Horace Ball, J. D. Maxwell, A. 0.

Donnell, J. A. Parsons, Mrs. C. J.

Hendy, Dr. Bazan. A. Fusenot, Mrs. Logan, Eugene Mr.

Phillips, Mr. Baggett, Mr. Worthington, the "Kickers' Court," and others were dotted -with charming arrangements and added to the beauty of the scene. It was wonderful the amount of work that seemed to have been accomplished by each resident. At 2 o'clock in the afternoon about half of the houses seemed to be adorned, but by nightfall every home and boat and lodge was dying the carnival colors and doing its share of the extravaganza.

By 8 o'clock both the American Concert and the Fifth Artillery bands were in full swing, and mingled with the music were the song and laughter of those who visited from yacht to ark and from arK to launch. Photographer Bushnell, who had been at work ail day on his ark succeeded in accomplishing a very unusual result. The main parlor was tastefully turns with fishnetting whose meshes contained over three thousand carnations and natural flowers. Neatly gathered ribbons of silk in the carnival colors were dextrously arranged in the corners and on the windows, while .300 lanterns, solely colored in crimson and yellow, were added to the effect. Leading to tne water's edge was a pair of Venetian stairs set on hinges and so arranged that they could be raised and lowered for the reception of guests.

On either side of the stairway reposed two life-size paper-mache lions, newly bronzed and made fierce and Btern for the occasion. At the entrance of the parlor stood two ancient suits of armor with open visors and a welcome expression in the gap. Charles B. Tidball, assisted by several young ladies, had so arranged the rive sleeping-rooms that the whole effect struck one as at once daring and yet very artistic. On the upper deck of the ark a heavy brass cannon, firing three ounces of powder, belched forth it 3 salutes every minute after the parade was over, and the stags, headed by Ferris Hartman, took possession and proceeded to immortalize the occasion.

Fierce dragons and winged griffons protruded from each corner, and four batteriesrof Roman candles, spouting 250 balls from each battery, was set on each corner. In the center a skyrocket atand was sending up its signals, and red and blue fire acted as a sprinkle to plete the display. At the base of the stairway Mr. Bushnell, dressed in his best suit of white flannels and a yachting cap emblazoned the golden word "Cuckoo," after tht ark, stood to receive his guests and extend his hand with an accomplished Chesterfieldian smile. In this pleasant exercise he was assisted by his colleagues, Carl W.

Koopand Charies M. Malic, who attended to the ex officio position of keepers of the mixological department. They did it well. A long flagstaff was the clustering point of crimson and yellow ribbons running up from all quarters of the upper deck, and immediately over the door blazed a transparency with the word "Cuckoo" that could be seen from afar. Altogether the entire ark was a wealth of crimson and yellow from the top of the flagstaff to the water's edge.

The colors of the San Francisco Yacht Club flew over ail. A launch and four rowboats plied between the ark and the ferry, receiving and returning guests. Along the bar the yachts, Rover, Chispa, Azaline, Billy Virginia. Nellie, La I'aloma, Little Annie, Elia, Dawn, Pinta, Harpoon, Thelma, Truant, Secret, Acme, Ceres, Belle, Kamona, Jessie, Lurline, Idler, Mascotte, Mischief. Sappho, Queen and many others were stationed, and in the concourse were the arks Alameda County Hportsmans' Club, Polliwog, Tobin's ark, Neil Elder, La Sirena, Cuckoo, Columbia, The Octopus, Atlantis, Wigwam, Bohemia, Dolphin, Argonaut, Commodore Tiddle, Linda, and a few others which arrival duriog the festivities.

The lively little gasoline and steam launches which flitted to and fro with pleasure parties Presented an active appearance. Among them were the Vamoose, Cub, Maseotte, Norwood, Sinbad, Caroline, Domino, Wanderer, Cold Molasses, Cynthia, Me Too, Comet, Rarnita, Satellite, Dart, Wildwood. Each one did excellent service in making it possible for guests to see all parts of the concourse and points of interest along the shore. Long before the hour appointed for the beginning of the parade boats from San Francisco had landed nearly ten thousand passengers, and more even to come. From all points of the compass tugs and launches were heading for Belvedere, and far out in the bay signal-lights could be seen coming up to the bar.

Every available method of transportation was utilized, and there wasn't a boat in ban Francisco, Oakland or Sausaiito. Along the roadways reaching from the Tiburon ferry to Belvedere, there was a perfect army of travelers wending their way In and around the labyrinth of paths and drives that prevail on the hillside of Belvedere. Those who were able to obtain a. glimpse of the parade water from the roads on the slope had a particularly good view, as the whole arrangement lay almost at their feet. Those residents of Belvedere who had homes built on the water's edge viewed the spectacle from the wharves that are in I use as boat landings.

Director-General Hawkins provided for his guests by placing chairs and benches on a spacious float which was lashed to his official ark, "The Polliwog." The interior had been elaborateiy decorated by a bevy of young ladies, who, amid a bower of sweet peas, hung the silk pennants and banners that were awarded as prizes for the best decorated ark, launch and row- i boat. There were a great many visitors to i this point, and the general found it almost impossible to get away from the hands of his friends to take charge of the parade and see that his lieutenants were in pos- session of all the assistance they desired. I He was about as omnipotant as any mortal who ever agreed to engineer an affair without compensation and be content with glory as a reward. Not only was he in demand during the programme, but also up to a late hour after the fireworks were used up and the peep' of day was getting ready to declare itsslr. At about "8:30 the boats that had been skipping all over the concour to i get in shape for the great floating Spectacle which was to come off at 9:45.

The COMMODORE BUSHNELL'S ARK, TEE BEST DECORATED AT BEL VEDERE'S NIGHT IN VENICE. by a "Call" artist last launch Maseotte like a grand marshal rushed up and down the course to place its followers in trim for the review. Everybody was all excitement, and those who were of importance in carrying out the programme excused themselves and went off somewhere to recover their nerves and get perfectly calm so as to be in condition at the critical moment. There must be no mistakes, no bitches, no blunders. Finally everything was in readiness, and from out of the lull before the beginning rang a long blast from the Maseotte' a whistJe the line of boats took on life and began to move.

Everybody left the course, and in a few minutes the entire procession was moving down the waterway and every craft, from the Mascott to the" tiny war canoe in the rear, was blowing and "blazing out its fire and its brilliancy. The first live minutes of the parade were almost noiseless except for the ruff ruff of the gasoline exhaust valve and the rushing of the "feathers" at the bows of the boats. Everybody was at "attention," but suddenly, like the bursting out of a pentup joy, the whistles began to blow and a hundred small cannon poured out a volley of barks. Each boat was punctual in burning its red and green fire, and when the leaders had reached the old Dollart, thestakeboat, a course was taken to the left and the whole line of boats appeared as one long chain of different colored lights writhing and twisting around their reflections in the quivering water. The beauty of the scene was startling, and the effect swept over the mishty throng of spectators like a great wave of happiness.

Cheer after cheer and boom after boom shook the air and roman candles dropped showers of tints over the whole concourse. When at last the procession reached its starting point the boats broke ranks, and then began a mixing up of color such as was never before witnessed on the Pacific Coast. Gayly dressed ladies were welcomed to the launches, and mandolins and guitars were brought out. Strains of "With All Her Faults," "Oh, Promise Me," "Love's Sorrow" and other familiar airs were waited across tne thickly boated waters that seemed be alive with reflections and bright-colored ribbons. Immediately after the parade the pyrotechnic display from Valentines Island was begun.

The first feature was a gigantic shower of colored whistled into the air and burst into a million pieces. Like a brief flash of tinted lightning it lit up the scene and showed a sea of upturned faces that covered the hillside and blocked the observation points. Both bands kept up a continuous strain of music, and the arks and houses along the shore were crowded with guests. Not a single house on the island was dark. The little lodges and the big mansions dispensed good cheer, ana those who got within gunshot of Belvedere encountered it.

Promptly at 10 o'clock, as prearranged, every inhabitant of the place set off a quantity of red fire, and it was then that the perfect picture was framed in by a wall of darkness made deeper by the bright light within. The situation was like a dissolving panorama. Without warning a tug would shoot out of the night, flash across an opening, a handkerchief would be fluttered like a puff of steam and the picture would be gone. There is no more to tell. It was beautiful, idyllic and a credit to Belvedere and her people.

To many it was an all-night affair, and only the light of day drove the magnificence of the night picture from the sea and made it one of the unforgotten memories in spectacular history. INCIDENTS OF THE THRONG Thirty Thousand People Visited the Island on the Boats. Never before in the history of the San Francisco and North Pacific Railway has such a crowd congregated in the ferry depot as was ready to take the first boat for the second annual Night in Venice at Belvedere. Thousands upon thousands jostled and jammed each other in their anxiety to be among the first to depart. At times the presstire of the masses of pleasure-seekers was so great that many were forced through the gates without presenting their tickets.

It became necessary to close the gates once, but after that the passengers were allowed to tile slowly through until the boat was comfortably filled, leaving behind a number of disappointed persons with either a wife, husband, sister, brother or sweetheart upon the departing boat. After reaching the dock at Tiburon, hundreds of rowboats, sailboats and a larsre number of gasoline THE SAN FRANCJSCO CALL, SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 1895. i launches were in waiting ready to convey those who received invitations to the arks and yachts moored in the sheltered bay. Others quietly sought points of vantage among tfae wooded hills and avenues. Others scattered among their friends, and the following is a partial list of the guests and their entertainers: The guests at the house of Mr.

and Mrs. Joseph S. Mattoou were: Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Center, Mr.

and Mrs. A. Chesebrough, General W. H. Dlmond, Mr.

and Mrs. D. D. Stubbs, Mr. and Mrs.

F. S. Douty, Colonel Fred Crocker, Captain R. R. Searl'e, Hay, Mr.

and Mrs. J. P. Le Count, Mr. and Mrs.

Jerome Madden, Mr. and Mrs. John Sampson, Mr. and Mrs. Hanford, Mr.

and Mrs. Joseph Austin. Mr. and Mrs. J.

K. C. Iloobs, Mr. and Mrs. D.

Huber, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Jackson, Mr.

and Mrs. J. McMullan, Mr. and Mrs. Frank White, Mr.

and Mrs. W. S. Pavis, Mr. and Mrs.

Marcus Gerstle, Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Field, Mr.

and Mrs. Ernest Cox, Mr. and Mrs. H. Dutard, Mr.

and Mrs. Christie Williams, Mr. and Mrs. J. M.

Wright, Mr. and Mrs. G. 11. Russ, Mr.

and Mrs. I. Danglada, Lieutenant and Mrs. J. B.

Milton, Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Stack, Mr.

and Mrs. R. E. Dickinson, Mr. and Mrs.

W. Jobson, Mr. and Mrs. L. A.

Boynton, Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Hooper, Mr." and Mrs.

W. Fuller, Mr. and Mrs. W. H.

Lorlng, Mr. and Mrs. G. Mr. and Mrs.

F. S. Sherman, Mr. and Mrs. J.

W. Frobasco, Dr. and Mrs. Otto Westpiial. Lieutenant and Mrs.

U. R. Harris, Judge and Mrs. D. J.

Murphy, Mr. and Mrs. Spinney, -Mrs. E. J.

Robertson, Miss Spinney, Mrs. Helma Berger, Miss Berger, Mr. and Mrs. Walker, Mr. Clough, Mrs.

J. B. F. Davis, the Misses Davis, A. E.

Buckman, Charles Sonntag, J. Session, Miss Maude Northam. Fred Sinionton, Mr. and Mrs. E.

B. Jerome, T. H. Goodman. SHAMROCK LODGE.

Fred E. Harmony, Mr. and Mrs. J. A.

Ritchie, Mr. and Mrs. M. Crowell, Mr. and Mr.s.

C. E. Rev, Mr. and Mrs. H.

Harrison, John Kelly, J. the Misses Carson, Miss Perry, Miss H. Baker, J. B. Elliott, Mr.

and Mm. A. S. Souel, A. S.

Crawford, Mr. aud Mrs. G. 11. Martin, John Maher, Mrs.

Burgess, Misa Hampton, T. A. Kirkpatrick, C. F. McAlister.

BAYO VIBTA. R. E. McGill, Mr. and Mrs.

Robert Vance, Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Pchmidt, Mrs.

F. M. Bliven, Mrs. K. E.

Stincen, Mrs. A. Ptinceu, William Hurry, M. Cutten, Mr. and Mrs.

Schroder, Mr. and Mrs. 11. M. McGill.

Mr. and Mrs. Irving Moulton, Mr. and Mrs F. Aureguy, Mr.

mid Mrs. B. Bisac. Mr. and Mrs.

John Lyons, Mr. and Mrs. Currier, Currier, Miss Wicks, Miss Florence McGill. Miss Charlotte MuG ill, K. A.

Chase, M. Derbick, Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Nichols, Charles A.

Kelly, Mr. Connitt, Miss Hattie Moultou. Mr. and Mrs. Jos.

Greenburg, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Greenburg, Miss Wolf. Mr. Brooks, Miss Brooks, Miss.

Burns, Miss Plon, Mr. Mclnery. LA SERENA ARK. Mr. and Mrs.

Georee A. Knight, Fred S. Knight, Charles E. Knight, Arthur Calahan, Ward Eaton. J.

W. McDeriuott, Mr. and Mrs. F. W.

Eaton, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Wyman, Mr.

and Mrs. Lloyd Eaton, Miss McDerraott, Miss Emma McDermott, Jim Snook, Charles A. Kelly, S. A. Monseratt, E.

Zimmer, Joe White, Miss Stencil, J. J. O'Counell. POLLIWOG ARK. J.

R. La Rue, C. A. King. W.

E. Beck, C. L. Cushing, H. L.

Cuehing and family, J. W. Right and wife, E. H. Hooper and wife, C.

L. Pierce, H. L. Jacksou, S. L.

Sales. Hon. James H. Budd, E. L.

Colnon and wife, F. S. Chadbourne and wife, Daniel Cole ana wife, W. L. Ashe and wife.

D. H. Dibb and wife, Mr. Neyins, Miss Nevins, Mr. G.M.

Hickman, Miss Hickman, Mrs. M. P. Berwin. GRACIE.

Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Hill, Mrs.

Ed Theller, Miss Llliie Sherwood, Miss Emily Wade, Miss Nettie Wade, Miss L. Hill, fieorge Winterburn and wife, Andrew Clearey, G. H. Freiermuth, Charles T. Hill, George 11.

Winterburn, A. M. Jellison and wife, Thomas L. Hill and wife. ARK "KIEL ELDER." Horace Stevens, Dr.

Franklin Pancoast and A. D. Navlor, proprietors. U. S.

Deputy Marshal A. L. Farish, wife and daughter; L. H. Pockman and family; Miss Juliet C.

Schulte; James S. Hawkins, Director-General of Belvedere's Second Annual Night in Venice. Manuel Azueta, commander of Mexican warship Zaragotsa; Jose V. Dosal, Chancellor to Mexican Consul; W. Brad Thompson; J.

C. Thompson Hon. C. F. Gardner, Receiver U.

8. Land Oflice, Sacramento; Price; Colonel Tevlin, Miss Williamson. Commodore Gutte, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bundschu, Miss Alma Bundschu, Carl Bundschu Walter Bundschu, Mr.

and Mrs. Solly Walter, Captain Coolidge. AEK CUCKOO. F. H.

Bushnell, Dr. Terrill, Mr. and Mrs. Bookstaver, Miss Donovan, Miss a. Hurney, Dr.

and Mrs. Needier, Mr. and Mrs. Ottinger, Mr. and Mrs.

Allison, General A. S. Bushuell, General T. McDuffy, Carl N. Koop, Charles M.

Malick, Thomas Lcacy (manager Mexican orchestra) and wife, W. L. Sabin, C. O. Blethin and family, Mr.

and Mrs. W. J. Slocum, Manuel Eyre, Miss Nellie Eyre, Miss Chrystal Plummer, Mrs. Field, Miss Snook, Ed Williams.

ARK WIGWAM. Mrs. E. J. Swales, F.

Grlmwood, Dr. H. C. Davis and family, Colonel C. L.

Taylor, James Margo and wife. ARK ATLANTIS. A. E. Wellingliouse, H.

E. Pennell, C. B. Sloane, W. H.

Crowell, David McLaughlin, W. E. Balcom, J. H. Hawks, 11.

D. Hawks and others. KINNB'HA HA. Mr. and Mrs.

George A. Crux, Mr. and J. Louis Frazier. Mr.

and Mrs. Horace L. Brown, Mr. and Mrs Frank Selfridge, Edward Selfridge, Ruisell Selfridge, Miss Reynolds, Miss Hewell, Mr. Grace, R.

a. Huie, E. M. Huie Mrs. E.

P. Cole, Misses Cole, Mr. and Mrs. A. L.

Bancroft, Mr. -Bancroft, Miss 1 Bancraft, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Spencer.

COLUMBIA. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Howland, Mr. and Mrs." L.

W. Seely, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Scbmitt, Mr. and Mrs.

Harry Hart. Mrs: Edith Schmidt, Miss Ross, Miss Nagel. Miss Johns, Miss Goff Mr. Dr. Eidemuller and family, M.

J. Brougham, Misses M. and E. Brougham, Mr. and Mrs.

Young berg, Mrs. Olita Luot, Eugene Davis, Attorney Hosmer, Joe Nouges, C. H. Wilson, Leonard Grover, Frank Smith, Frank W. Marston, Joe Marks, D.

rititt, Ira Bbiiop, gumnet iiardr. Mrs. A. F. Benjamin, Miss Florence Benjamin, Mrs.

Keith, Mrs. Dickey, Mrs. Martin, Mrs. Platt, Mrs. Bishop, Mrs.

Jones, Mrs. Francher, Mrs. Swain, Mrs. Carnshields Smith. Mrs.

Marks, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. L. Grover, Edgar 11. Wilson.

Among the passengers on the Ukiah leaving the City at 7:30, the guests' boat, were Warden and Mrs. Hale, Mr. and Mrs. Hall McAllister, Mr. and Mrs.

P. E.Bowles, Joseph Nouges. Mr. and Mrs. E.

F. Taylor, C. A. Worth, Mr. and Mrs.

V. W. Gaskill, General J. W. B.

Montgomery, Judge Levy, Joseph Naphtaly. General and Mrs. W. H. Brown, J.

H. Mangels, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar A. Cohen, A.

B. Williamson, Mr. and Mrs. J. M.

Goewey, James E. Mills, Geneial and Mrs. Walter Turnbull, Miss Turnbull, David Stark, Sir Henry lleyman, Mr. and Mrs. George Sanderson, Mr.

and Mrs. R. B. Woodward, Jefferson G. James, H.

P. Sontagg, A. Vogelsang, George H. Cabaniss, Harry Barton, Mr. and Mrs.

W. E. Miller, Mr. and Mrs. John Taylor.

IS STILL DEADLOCKED. The Flection Commission Divided Over the Position of Chief Clerk. The Election Commission met once more yesterday, but the meeting so far as re suits were concerned was as useless as the last one. Balloting upon the candidates for tae chief clerkship consumed most of the time, and the result was that no one was elected. The candidates were Samuel K.

Thornton, who has Mr. Castle as his voting strength, B. H. Patrick, backed by Foster and Denman, and James S. Reynolds, who controls "Wellin's vote.

Thornton and Patrick are the only real candidates. Wellin is voting for Reynolds only until the two Republican members agree upon their candidate. Denman is voting for Patrick because Foster voted for him for chairman, but Denman has no intention of electing Patrick by his vote unless Castle and Foster agree upon Patrick for the office. The deadlock is still unbroken, and the commission, after two useless ballots, adjourned until August 30. MEYER STRAUSS DEFENDED Resolutions in His Behalf Adopted at an Indignation Meeting.

His Excommunication declared Is Proposed to Ignore It. The decorous ladies and gentlemen who met at the home of Mrs. Frank J. French, 1617 Jackson street, last evening, would hardly have styled their conference an indignation meeting, but such it was, and the result was the adoption of the following protest against Meyer Strauss' expulsion from the First Congregational Church: Whereac, We learn with Forrow and indignation that at the prayer-meeting of the First Congregational Church held Wednesday, July 31, 1895. the name of Brother Meyer Strauss was stricken from the roll of the church without due preseutation to him of the charges against him, in his absence and without a hearing, by a bare majority vote of the members present, such majority constituting only onelifteenthof the total membership of the church; therefore, be it Resolved, That we strongly condemn the above stated action as totally contrary alike to the broad and catholic spirit of Congregationalism and to the principles of common justice.

Resulted further, that we hereby tender to Brother Strauss our heartfelt sympathy, assuring him of our deep and abiding confidence in his Christian character and of our desire to cooperate in any measures that may be taken to redress the gross injustice of which he has been made the victim. Resolved further, that the secretary of this meeting be instructed to transmit to Brother Strauss a copy of these resolutions. Dr. McDonald presided and most of those present spoke in denunciation of the summary action of the small portion of the church represented at the Wednesday evening prayer-meeting. It was declared to be the sentiment of last evening's meeting that the action taken on Wednesday night was illegal and that it should be ignored.

STRAUSS' EXPULSION. Ministers Averse to Committing Themselves to an Opinion, but Generally Think It Was Uncalled For. It seems to be the opinion of the pastors of the principal Congregational churches of this City that the recent excommunication of Meyer Strauss by the First Congregational Church was unconstitutional and unpecedented. As yet no discussion of the matter has been entered into, because each congregation is supreme in itself, and if Meyer Strauss, an enthusiastic member of the First Congregational Church ol this City for nineteen years, is to be reinstated the effort must properly be made by him or by his friends. And to his friends Mr.

Strauss, the artist, looks for any action that may be taken in his behalf. Excommunication practically means dishonorable expulsion from the whole church. Among the Congregationalists it is a very uncommon occurrence. 'In fifty years there have probably not been nearly 100 persons excommunicated in this City," said the Rev. Mr.

Pond of the Bethany Congregational Church. "Members are received into Congregational churches carefully." The Rev. Mr. Williams of the Plymouth Congregational Church remarked: "I have been a pastor for twenty years, and no member of niv congregation was ever excommunicated. 1 Excommunication is an extreme measure and ia usually resorted to only in cases of proven immorality, dishonesty or crime in its legal sense.

There are other and quieter ways of removing a member from a congregation, and when such a course is necessary they are usually employed. In order to be reinstated Mr. Straus or his friends for him must ask the congregation of which until last Wednesday's prayer-meeting he was a member to form a "mutual council' consisting of representative members of the church and of neighboring congregations chosen by the church and the aggrieved one. Should this council be formed it reviews the evidence, but, while its findings are merely advisory, they are seldom disregarded. If a "mutual council" be not granted the excommunicated member xjjay himself select a similar representative body of church members called an "ex-parte council," and if this council find an injustice has been dene they so advise, but if their advice is not heeded they may furnish a certificate entitling the expelled member to honorable membership in any congregation except the one from which he was expelled.

The law of the Congregational Church strictly requires that the pastor must first speak to the accused of his fault privately, then with a committee; the last resort at reconciliation being the public note, and usually a written notice of the accuaation must "be sent to the accused ten days before public action is taken by the church members. It requires a two-thirds vote of those members voting to elect deacons, to elect a pastor or to excommunicate a member. Mr. Straus was excommunicated by a vote of 61 to 49, and the letter that caused, the action against him became public less than ten days before his expulsion. Earliest National Banks.

National banks were established in the United States in 1816. The highest denomination of our letral-tender notes is $10,000, and our circulation of paper money is the largest in the world, being while Russia has $670,000,000. Imp once meant a child. Shakespeare, speaking; of the children in the tower, calls them imps. Jeremy Taylor, in one of his sermons, speaks of "the beautiful imps that eang to the Savior in the temple." NEWS OF THE CHURCHES Dedication Week at the Second United Presbyterian Church.

ONE OF DR. CASE'S PRELUDES. Entertainment at the Howard Methodist Church for the Finch Orphanage. The Bay Conference of Congregational Churches will meet on Tuesday, August 13, probably at Dougherty station. The chief theme of discussion will be "The Relation of the Christain Endeavor Society to Churches." The relation to the churches in an undenominational sense will be treated by F.

H. Mar; in a denominational sense by W. W. Scudder and to the local church by Dr. C.

O. Brown. An entertainment will be given at the Howard Methodist Church on Tuesday evening, August 13, for the benefit of the Fred Finch Orphanage. Thia is dedication week at the Second THE SECOND UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BE DEDICATED TO-DAY. from the architect's designs by a "Call" United Presbyterian Church, on Guerrero street, between Twenty-second and Twenty-third.

Dr. M. M. Gibson will preach at 10:30 a. m.

to-day. At 12:15 p. m. the members of the Sabbath-school will assemble in the lecture-room, where they will be addressed by B. B.

Mc- Clellan and others. The dedication services will begin at 3 p. when Dr. Gibson will give an address. There will be a union service of United Presbyterian Churches at 7:45 p.

and Dr. E. S. McKittrick of Allegheny, will preach. To-morrow evening tnere will be a social gathering, when there will be informal addresses by different pastors.

On Wednesday at 7:45 p. m. Dr. George McCormick of Salinas will give an address on "The Relation of the Prayer-Meeting to Personal and Congregational Life." Rev. W.

W. Logan of San Jose will speak on "The Relation of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor to the Church" on Friday evening, at the same hour. Four new members will be admitted to the Howard Presbyterian Church this morning, making the number of additions to the church membership since Key. F. B.

Farrand commenced his pastorate eight months ago forty-three. Mr. Farrand says the prospects for the new church near the park are very bright. He will preach this morning on the text, "Whom Having Not Seen I Love," and will answer the objection of skeptics that it is impossible to love him whom one has never seen. Hi 3 theme in the evening will be "The Face of Jesus Christ." Dr.

W. F. Day. pastor of the First Congregational Church at Los Angeles, spent a few days in the City last week en route for Alaska. He will preacii at the First Congregational Church at Portland today, also on his return from the Alaskan trip.

Dr. G. R. Wallace, the incumbent of that church, will fill Dr. Day's pulpit during his absence.

Miss Minnie and Genevieve Oveatt, members of the Howard Presbyterian Church, will sail for China the first week of September. The young ladies have been appointed missionaries to the Chinese. The committee appointed by the San Francisco Presbytery to consider plans for the organization of a Presbyterian Sunday-school Institute in this City met at Calvary Church on Friday evening for a conference on the subject. Dr. Mathena presided.

A committee was appointed to confer with the officers of the various Presbyterian Sunday-school as to the practicability of such an organization. Dr. Case's views on the propriety of bloomers for feminine attire have attracted some attention in Chicago. An evidence of this is the fact that he has received a circular from the Chicago Cycling Ladies' Skirt Company, calling attention to the modesty and usafulness of its goods. Rev.

H. H. Wyckoff, who represents the Congregational Church Building Society as coast secretary, is devoting all his energies to raising money to discharge the debt on the Turlock Church. There will be a council of recognition at the Congregational chapel on Pierce and Green streets on Tuesday evening, August 20. The council will be participated in by a minister and delegate from each of the Congregational churches.

The chapel is a branch of the Plymouth Church. Dr. W. D. Williams will preach on the text "Are There Few to Be Saved?" at the morning service at Plymouth Church.

It will be a communion service and four new mem hers i will be admitted. In the evening he will speak of the recent Endeavor convention by request. Hon. J. Fairbank, superintendent of the Puget Sound Chautauqua Assembly, gave an interesting lecture on the striking incidents of "Ben Hur," illustrated by stereopticon views, at Plymouth Church Friday evening.

It was eiven for the benefit of the Boys' Brigade. The Methodist ministers will resume their meetings, which were adjourned for a month, at the usual time and place on Monday. Miss Anderson, the Swedish evangelist, will occupy Dr. Chase's pulpit at the Howard-street Methodist Church this morning and evening. The Woman's Auxilary of the Episcopal Missions has received a legacy of $1000 from Mrs.

Caroline L. Johnston of San Rafael. The Guild Hall of Grace Church, Martinez, has been secured for use by a new academy. A College Appointment. Mr.

B. L. Remick, A.M., of Waverly, lowa, a graduate of Cornell College and recently a postgraduate student of Joans Hopkins and Chicago universities, has accepted the position of professor of mathematics in San Jose College ol the University of the Pacific, at College Park, Cal. THE CAROLINA RICE BIRD. He Takes a Fourth of the Crop less of Gunpowder.

The danger to which rice Is subjected from the time of planting to the day when the crop is sold are many, but probably the greatest enemy the rice planter has to contend with is the rice bird. It is said that this bird, which is known in different localities as Java sparrow, bobolink, reed bird and other names, destroys from onefourth to one-third of the Southern rice crop. They are slaughtered in enormous numbers by the sentinels employed and also by sportsmen, but such ia their greed that they will hardly fly when a shot kills the companions by "their side on the same bush, but will continue to eat until they are themselves alain. This makes a heaven for the sportsmen, and many take advantage of this season to put in a few days' shooting in the rice fields. This, however, has its drawbacks.

In order to get at the birds the hunter must leave the banks and enter the fields, and in doing so he meets with many obstacles. There are bog holes for him to become mired in, or he may fall into an old ditch and have to swim across, and there is the danger of catching malaria, which at this season of the ear is particularly dangerous. But reward sweetens labor, and if a couple of sportsmen kill from 500 to 1000 birds in the course of a day's bunt it is not considered remarkable. When, however, what is left of the crop, after the frost, freshets and rice birds have had a turn at it, is stacked in the barnyard to cure, it then falls prey to an enemy second only to the ricebird the blackbird then appears. These ravenous birds will settle upon the stacks in great numbers and as the sheaves are stacked with the head, that which contains the rice, outward, they have no difficulty in appeasing their hunger, and oftentimes even a gunshot within a few feet will fail to drive them away.

Sportsmen stand on one end of the long rows, and, supporting their pieces on the end stack, will fire along the line, and more than 200 have been known to be killed at a single Philadelphia Times. THE STRANGEST INSECT. It Is Half a Plant and Is Found in New Zealand. The aweto, as the Maoris or natives of Xew Zealand call it, or Hipialis virescens as naturalists term it, is found in New Zealand, and is a vegetable caterpillar of from three to four inches in length, and, so far, science has not been able to say whether it is a vegetable or an insect. It is always found at the foot of large myrtle trees that have beautiful red flowers on the stems, and a beautiful creeping clematis as white as the snow.

The Maoris call this tree by the name of rata. The aweto buries itself among the roots of the rata, a few inches below the ground, and there lives until it is full grown, when it undergoes a most wonderful change. The spore of a vegetable fungus, termed by naturalists Sophoeria Robertsii, fastens itself to the neck of the caterpillar, just between the head and the firat iing, and then grows upward to the heigTH of from six to eight inches. Many people assert that there is never more than one stem, but such is r.ot the case, for some have been found with two stems, although very rarely, says the Boston Transcript. The stem shoots up out of the ground, above where the caterpillar is living, about two or three inches; below the earth it grows into the aweto, until it nils up every possible space within the outer skin without changing the form of the insect the slightest way whatsoever, but simply substituting a vegetable matter for animal matter.

As soon as this takes place both the plant and the caterpillar become dry and die, but retail exactly the same form as when alive. The whole has a brown color and the insect appears a wooden caterpillar, with a huge horn standing up from the back of its neck. How the caterpillar manages to propagate its species no one can tell. Usually the caterpillar becomes a chrysalis, the chrysalis changes into a moth, the moth lays eggs, and those eggs again become caterpillars, and so on without stopping. Many reasons are given why the plant shoots up from the back of the neck of tne aweto.

One is that the aweto has a slimy substance oozing out from its neck, which, while the aweto is borine at the foot of the rata tree for its only food, catches the seeds of the fungus and holds it fast there till the latter begins to crow. When it has sucked all the vegetable life out of the aweto it must naturally die, for it finds no further nourishment. The aweto is often found in large numbers. When an aerolite strikes the atmosphere its temperature ia instantly raised to from 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 degrees. So says Proessor Adams.

SHOULD GROW ALFALFA. A Few Pointers to San Joaquin Farmers on Its Cultivation. MORE PROFIT THAN WHEAT. Large Meat-Packing Concerns Interested In Alfalfa as a Food for Stock. The Southern States have crowned cotton as "king" for many years, and corn in the West is king, then why should not alfalfa be crowned king of the San Joaquin Valley California, that part of it embraced in the big San Joaquin Valley is, in the strug- gle of wheat-raising, competing against padrone labor of Argentine, ryot labor of India and ex-serf labor of Russia.

Our State is generally recognized as an American State, more observably so than many of the older ones and, of course, it is Americans in California who are now competing against the pauper labor mentioned engaged in wheat raising. It is inevitable that in the end we will surely go to the wall unless our wheat-raiser will live as his competitors do, which it is to be hoped may never be. Grasses are the most important of all the agricultural products. Statistics show that there is no one crop grown out of the earth that equals in value the grass crop, and one who cares to investigate the wonderful productiveness igate the wonderful productiveness of alfalfa in the San Joaquin Valley must be with the conditions that prevail with the idiotic effort to raise wheat at present prices, and will naturally propound the question, Why don't you grow alfalfa and raise cattle? All that country lying between the Mariposa River and the Rocky Mountains is becoming less and less productive, and tame grasses are not being started with much success. All that country is overstocked with cattle on the big ranges now.

The physical and natural conditions that prevail in that part of our country are not conducive to the growing of tame grasses. A scarcity of rainfall and an almost impossibility of irrigation will surely throw the business of cattle-raising into such favorable locations as this big San Joaquin Valley presents, with its four and live crops of alfalfa every year. It is not intended to convey the idea that beef cattle raising on alfalfa in this San but it Valley pres, with its four and live crops of alfalfa year. It is not intended to convey idea that beef cattle raising on ali is a bonanza, but it certainly is a more profitable enterprise for the farmer to engage in than the one of wheat-raising at the present prices with but little possibility of its heing much higher for many years to come. Take the extensive areas of land in Kern and Tulare counties, now lying under a water system, that can be used the entire year for irrigation, and, if partly planted in alfalfa, there is no doubt but what the stock-raiser, on such land as that, will become well-to-do in a very few years.

Three of the neighbors adjoining the writer's fruit ranch near Visolia are conducting their farms on the alfalfa idea and they are the only farmers nearby whose lands are not blanketed with a mortgage. There are many other alfalfa ranches in Tulare County, also in Kern, and in every instance their owners are free from incumbrances, and generally a and they are the only farmers lands are not blanketed There are many other riches in Tulare County, also in Lin every instance their owners om incumbrances, and generally they have money to loan. Wheat farmingcan hardly put up such a showing as that, anywhere in our State. In particularly mentioning cattle-raising in connection with alfalfa.it is not intended to advise the giving up of hog-raising; if there is any one feed that pigs can be brought up on better than alialfa the discovery has not yet been made. It is equally as good for chickens, turkeys, ducks or geese-raising.

All of our domestic animals are fond of it and they will get fat and keep so on it alone. Is there any earthly reason why packing-houses for curing meat on this coast couldn't be kept supplied from the product of our soils and thus turn the trainloads of packing-house products of Chicago in another direction? Let Kansas City and the "windy" city supply the East, but let California supply the West. Her fruits are now going to London with success, and there is no reason why her pork, bacon and beef should not supply our Pacific Coast. Major C. J.

Bekrt. MAKING TOYS. The Art Descending From One Genen- tion to Another. Miss Amelia B. Edward, In her "Untrodden Peaks," mentious many an interesting visit to the homes of the working people of St.

TJlrich, where so many toya are made. "In one house," runs the account, "we found an old, old woman at work, Magdalena Paldauf by name. "She carved cats, dogs, wolves, sheep, goats and elephants. She has made these six animals her whole life long, and she has no idea of how to cut anything else. She makes tlfom.

in two sizes, and she turns out as nearly as possible a thousand of them in a year. "She has no model or drawing of any kind to work by, but goes on steadily, unerringly, using gouges of different sizes and shaping out her cats, dogs, wolves, sheep, goats and elephants with an ease and an amount of truth to nature that would be clever if it were not utterly mechanical. "Magdalena Paldauf learned from her mother how to carve those six animals, and her mother had learned, in lute manner, from her grandmother. Magdalena has now taught the art to her own granddaughter, and so it will go on being transmitted for generations. 1 In another house Miss Edwards found the whole family carving skulls andcross- I bones for fixing at the base of crucifixes, for the wood-carving of Grodner That is religious in its nature as well as amusing.

In other houses there were families that I carved rocking-horses or dolls or other toys, and in still other houses there were lies of one house we found about a dozen I girls painting gray horses with black I points. In another house they painted only red horses with white points. It is a separate branch of the trade to paint saddle and headgear. A good hand will paint twelve dozen horses a day, each horse being about one foot in length; and for these she is paid 55 soldi, or about 2s 3d English." Tariff was the name of the Moorish chieftain, Abou al Tarifa, who had a fortress near the Straits of Gibraltar, and levied toll on ships and merchandise passing through. CIGARS Manufactured by S.

HERNSHEIM BROS. New Orleans, La. RIN ALDO BROS. Pacific Coast Agents, 300-302 Battery Street, S. F.

Branch 29-31-33 South First San Jose, Cal..