The San Francisco Call and Post from San Francisco, California • Page 19

THE FOREMOST WOMEN'S OF SAN FRANCISCO AND THEIR LEADERS TfiF, in the days when the water came op 1-s to Montgomery street," the mantle of 1' prophecy had fallen upon the shoulders of some one who had described to his associates the San Francisco of the present time, that prophet would have been, indeed, "without honor in his own country," since no one would have believed him. That the growth of our City in a material way has been phenomenal all acknowledge, but the facts concerning its growth in other directions are not so well known. It has been rather of a fad with some of our Eastern friends, and, indeed, with some of our own people, to speak sornewuat slightingly of our attainments in artistic, literary and musical lines; but those who are in touch with the inner life of our best circles know tbat this is unmerited. In no way is our City's progress more clearly shown than by a glance at the list of our women's clubs. There is certainly no City in the world of Francisco's size which surpasses us in the number, variety and efficiency of our women's ors.anizations, since, not including the church, religious and pureiy social societies, there are over a hundred literary, artistic, patriotic, political, benevolent and educational associations which have recocnized positions and do excellent work in their several lines.

Of the literary clubs the Century, Sorosis. Laurel Hall and Philomath are the largest and most widely known. The Laurel Ha.l bear? the palra of seniority, as it was organized eleven years ago. It has a present membership of 100, is dist ncily literary in its aims and counts among its members, past and niany of the most talented and acconiplished of our San Francisco ladies. Mrs.

I. Lowenberg, president of the society for the past two years, has by her gentle rule specially endeared herself to her foLow-members, while she hrs done much to advance their interests. Mrs. is a native ol Mobile, and a- educated at a convent at Cape Girarneau. Comirg to San Francisco with her parents while still a young cirl, she made an early and vary happy marrisge and for some time was absorbed in home and social life, little time to anything save the charitable work in which she has always been vitally interested, and contributing special articles to the Ingleside, Progress, California Magazine and other publications.

Three years ajjo Mrs. Lowen berg founded the Philomath, which is noted as being one of the wealthiest, most exclusive and most successful of our women's organizations, and which expends its ample funds most liberally in securing eminent speakers, writers, musicians and artists to add to the interest of those meetings which are not devoted solely to selldevelopment. Mrs. Lowenberg is a slender, dart-eyed lady with a bright complexion and a charming manner. Almost fragile in appearance she does an immense amount of work, as she is not only president of the two clubs mentioned but is also one of the managers of several charitable organizations and is indefatigable in discharging the many duties devolving upon her.

The Century, long known as "the" woman's club of San Francisco, is only a year younger tban the Laurel Kail. Mrs. Poccbe Hearst was its first president, and it was her generosity as well as her tact and general loveliness of character which laid the firm foundation upon which the club has buiit so wisely and so well. A clause in the constitution forbidding the seeming seeking of notoriety in any way has raised somewhat of a barrier between this association and the outside world, but the privilege of membersnip has been discriminated bestowed upon over 200 ladies, and prosperity and harmony have characterized each year of its existence. Mrs.

P. B. Cornwall, who is president this year, is a fitting representative of the broad culture, refinement and gentle courtesy characteristic of its members. Mrs. Cornwall has been in California since is certainly one of our Slate's most charming adopted daughters.

Her administrative ability is exceptional, and besides attending to her social duties, wbich are many, and to the requirements of her position in the Century Club, she, as corresponding secretary of the San Francisco Ladies' Protection and Relief Society, attends to the entire correspondence of that body, which has under its charge over ijOO children. The Sorosis Club, organized in 1893 with twelve members, has now 115 on its roster. This association is built on practically the same lines as the New York club of which it is a namesake, and has achieved much during its four years' existence. Mrs. W.

B. Carr is president, Mrs. Irving Scott having retired alter two terms of oftke. Mrs. Carr is a Massachusetts woman born and bred, but her married hfe has been spent in California, where she has endeared herself 'o an exceptional large circle of friends.

She is a lady of great executive ability and was one of ihe organizers of the club, concerning wnich she felt a special interest because of the fact tnat two of her aunts are prominent members of the parent organization in New York. The Pacific Coast Women's Press Association, now in its seventh year of existence, has been exceptionally fortunate in us presidents rs Nellie Blessing hyster, widely known philanthropist, teacher and author; Mrs. Emily Browne Powell, one of our lew true poets and a graceful prose writer as well; Mrs. C. P.

Stetson, famed for brilliant speech and versatile pen. and Mrs. Ada Van Pelt successful editor and lecturer, have each filled that prominent and responsible position and filled it well. The present occupant of the chair is Mrs. P.

T. Dickinson, wifo of Colonel Dickinson of Alameda, a lady who has won distinction in many d.fferent lines of literary work, and whose gracious dignity, tine tact and charming Personality fit her to perform the duties of her office. Mrs. Dickinson, better known to the reading public by her pen-name, Hester A. Benedict, comes from Massachusetts stock on the paternal side, although she is a native of Portage County, Ohio.

Her lather, Harvey Baldwin, was an enterprising and successful business man, and her mother, a beautiful Kentuckian, was among the first of American women writers and contributed for many years to both the religious and secular press. Mrs. Baldwin, who has reached the age of 83, lives in Cleveland, Ohio, and in her happy old age can realize that she has built for her-eif two enduring monuments, since the Baldwin chapel and Baldwin hospital, in Korea, were both founded by her. Mrs. Dickinson's first poem was a quatrain, written at the age of 7, and declares that to its kindly reception No Way Is tke Progress of Our Western Metropolis More Glearly by a Qlarxce at the List of Our Womerv's Organizations by her gifted mother she owes her subsequent successful literary career.

At 16 she "saw herself in print" for the first time, and thenceforward contributed poems, specials and stories to Pniladelphia and New York papers. In IS7I Mrs. Dickinson published "Vesta," a volume of poems which wag exceptionally well received, and two years later went to New York, where she became a prominent member of one of the most brilliant literary coteries of that city. During her stay there she took a course of dramatic training, and subsequently gave a very series of readings in our large cities. Harmon Benedict, for many year? manager of the T.

8. Arthur Publishing House HOW THE UNWARY ARE FLEEGED AT SURE-THING GAMBLING GAMES JloW Gheating Is Garried Some Quarters by the of Ingenious Descriptions of a FeW of the Most JRemarkable Devices for Luring Dollars Into JricUsters' Goffers all that great variety of games habitually played with money at stake, where the element of chance enters largely into account, there are probably but few. if any at all, in which there is not practiced a great deal of fraud. The sleight-of-hand performances of those slippery-fingered eentlemen.who have such faculties for dealing "i at" hands are bewildering in theextreme to those unaccustomed to such maneuvers, and to the uninitiated the tricks of a loaded die are astonishing. But the game-loving public has been so often cautioned and the known methods of cheating have been so repeatedly exposed that most of those who play to any great extent are more or less familiar with the established coJes of crookedness and are perpetually on the slert to detect any attempt on their legitimate c.ances of gain.

There are, however, a great many ingenious contrivances for cheating at various games which differ widely from the ordinary methods of dealing crooked cards, and these devices, got up with mechanical skill and known only to those who employ their agencies, continually deceive the public and defy detection. It would seem, with the ruinous disadvantage to which tbe players are subject in all percentage games, that the most greedy "bankers" would be satisfied to deal "square" and there would be no desire nor necessity of committing tbe wholesale robberies which are so persistently perpetuated with the aid of Yankee ingenuity. It is to those who indulge in the "friendly" game of who plunge on the "bank" or tempt fortune on the it is to those who travel and accept of the enticing hospitality of fashionable gambling-houses that the following description of some devices which have been brought to the writer's attention may prove interesting and instructive and of possible pecuniary advantage to the few to whose wisdom a word is sufficient Probably the most popular and universal game in America to-day is that of "draw poker," and there is so much skill required in playing it successfully that it is usually considered more cf a game of skill than of chance. In California, for instance, the laws against games of chance have been construed by the courts as haying THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1897. in Philadelphia, was Mrs.

Dickinson's first husband, and one of the great sorrows of her life was the loss of a lovely little daughter born of this union. Her marriage to Colonel Dickinson was followed, in deference to her husband's wishes, by a long period of literary idleness, but latterly she has overcome his objections and taken up her pen again. "Fagots," her latest volume of poems, is warmly praised even by usually severe critics, and is meeting with a large sale. During a year's residence in Japan Mrs. Dickinson was s-perial correspondent for the New York Mail and Express and the St.

Paul Daily Globe, and her keen observation, quick perceptions and felicity of expression made her letters special no bearing on "draw poker," and while such games as "faro" and "roulette" are generally suppressed the public poker-rooms are run openly without interference. It is in this game that crooked cards and false deals are so often resorted to, but it is not generally believed that there exists any mechanical device by which cheating can be carried on in poker while a correct "deck" is used and tbe dealing is fair. Such a device does exist, however, and its mechanism is so perfect that it can be operated continually to the tremendous advantage of those using it, without creating the slightest suspicion, and always leaving the 'deck" in proper shape for the closest inspection. This ingenious device is shown in the illustrations of this article, and consists of an ordinary appearing poker-table, wnich is, however, very different in consirurtion from how an ordinary poker-table should be. In figure 1, a represents the top of the table, covered in the usual manner with green cloth and neatly set in the hollow frame.

(6) Between tne top and the frame, in front of the operator and his confederate, are two slight openings (c) sufficient in width to allow the passage of a card, but not wide enough to be noticeable from the general fitting of the top and frame. Journaled to turn in the center spindle of the table is a rod, (see fig. 2), at the upper end of which is pivoted a lever (c). This lever is provided near its outer end with a spring clasp (r), which will nicely grip and hold a card when inserted. The lever (c) is guided by the groove in the inner face of the frame (see 2 and 4), so that the clasp may be brought up just beneath either of the openings (c).

At the bottom of the rod (d) is attached an arm (h), which is moved by the feet of the operator, the bottom of the table on his side being opened sufficiently to allow nis toes to ex end beneath it Now if the operator desires a certain card to fill his hand and discovers, by means of a system of signals, that his confederate possesses the same, he first moves the arm (A), so as to bring the clasp beneath his own opening, (c); then by standing his cards on edge, between his hands and himself (as is usually done by players in looking at their cards) he gently, with bis features in both papers. Among the many publications to which she is at present contributing prose and verse are Lippincott's Magazine, Home Journal, Golden Age, Children's Hour, Saturday Night, Brooklyn Independent, Burlington Hawkeye and the leading dailies. Mrs. John F. Swift is a woman who has generously given much of herself to public life.

Born and educated in New York, she spent a numoer of years in Japan, to which country her husband was United States Minister, but since returning to San Francisco she has become a leading spirit in all movements tending to better the condition oi women. Bhe has been callea, most appropriately, "a sister of women." Clear-headed, firm and practical, she is yet sympathetic, unselfish and warm-hearted, and wins for herself the affection as well as the hearty co-operation of her associates. For three years Mrs. Swift was president of the Woman's Exchange, of which Mrs. John Curry is now head, and fur the past two years was president of the Century Club.

At tin present time she is president of the State Suffrage and the Woman's Congress associations, and fills both positions with grace and dignity. Her private charities are extensive, and she is an active member of several benevolent societies. Mme. Louise A. Sorbier is filling her fifth term as president of the Woman's Educational Industrial Union, an association which helps women to help themselves.

Mme. Sorbier was born in Paris, but came to this City with her parents when a little child, and was educated here, partly in a convent and partly by private tutors. Meeting with reverses of fortune in she went bravely to work to support herself and three children and soon developed into a practical and shrewd business woman, making investments of her business profits which enabled her some years since to retire on an assured income. Mme. has been an efficient officer of the French Benevolent Society, St.

Vincent de Paul Society, Woman's Congress Association, State Suffrace Association and the Constitutional Amendment Association, and is president of the First Equality Club of the Thirty-ninth District. There are three chapters of the Daughters of the Revolution in San Francisco and Mrs. Henry Wetherbee, four of ancestors Captain Amasa Mills, David Merrill, Eli Lewis and Dr. Samuel Kich- helped fight the battles of our country in those stormy days, is regent of the original or Sequoia chapter, which was founded in 1890. Mrs.

Wetherbee is a native of Connecticut and came as a bride to California to over one of the most artistically elegant homes of the coast. Gif ed with unusual musical talent and a tine soprano voice, she has always been especially thumbs shoves a discard, through the opening and into the clasp; then by moving the arm (h) with his foot he guides the clasp over beneath the other opening and the discard is brought up into the hand of his partner, who replaces it with the desired card the arm (A) is then again moved and the clasp is brought back and the card taken by the operator. This is all done in much less time than it takes to tell it and witnout any perceptible movement. It will be seen that by the above means each of the two confederates have the pick of both hands and tbe cards which both may draw, and as each is dealt live carls at first and is entitled to a draw of five ca-ds they should be able to collect some remarkable hands. Among the "banking" or percentage game in vogue two very popular ones are "faro" and "roulette." In both of these games cheating is carried on very extensively, though "roulette" is generally supposed to be run fair.

The "brace" game of "faro" has been often exposed, and can usually be detected by carefully keeping "cases" or tally on the cards as they are dealt. But when your cases do not correspond with the cards at the end of a deal it is well to pocket your losses and say nothing, as you will invariably get the worst of any dispute on that score; and then, 100, you may have made a mistake yourself in tallying. Crooked "faro" dealing is mostly expert manipulation of the cards, which are ahays made especially for the purpose, and consists in shuffling so that the dealer retains a knowledge of the re ative positions of some or all of them. Then by dealing two cards instead of one tie can at any time change the order in which they will win or lose. "Itoulette" is a more fascinating game than "faro," and determines the cood or ill fortune of the player at every whirl of the wheel.

It is a pretty sight this revolving top, with its little ivory ball traveling round and round it; and in watching them spin it is hard to conceive how any ouiside influence can be brought to bear to dictate into which of the tnirtyeignt small pockets the ball shall subside. But sometimes the bottoms of these pocketa are made movable, and are skillfully prominent in the highest musical circles, and has devoted much time and attention to "the divine art of melcdy." Mrs. Wetherbee was one of the organizers of the Ladies' Relief society of Oakland and also of the Women's Exchange of this City, of which society she is vicepresident. Unselfish in disposition and of an exceptionally winning and gracious presence, Mrs. Wetherbee is truly "wellbeloved" by all who know her, and her charity is as wide as it is unostentatious.

One of the youngest of our really successful women's clubs is the Women's Federation, which was organized a little over two years ago, and is composed of delegates from such of our various women's societies as feel specially interested attached to a system of levers i such a manner that when the wheel is in motion, and until the ball subsides, any set ot levers may be operated to raise the bottoms of the corresponding pockets. This prevents tne ball from entering these particular pockets, and it must of necessity locate in one of the others. Also electro magnets may be concealed beneath any of the pockets and a small piece of iron contained in the ball. Then by connecting the circuit in any convenient manner the ball may be at once precipitated into one of these magnetic cells. It will be seen that rculette may be thus run so that the player shall never win except by the magnanimity of the "banker," and with wheels carefully constructed it is impossible to observe the fraud.

An extremely ingenious device in this line of trade was got up by an Eastern inventor, and its most peculiar characteristic was that it was designed to beat the "banker" instead of the public. It was used in connection with some expensive machines, resembling the telegraph "ticker." These machines gave out promiscuous quotations on wheat and stocks, and the players could bet as they chose on their rise or fall. Several of these machines were rented to different gambling-bouses, and the inventor contrived the following means to insure himself against loss of rent through bad-pay customers. In each machine he concealed an electric battery and a magnet, so arranged that by connecting the circuit he could cause certain known quotations to succeed each other. In setting up a machine he would connect the battery to two tacks concealed in the carpet, and whenever his rent became overdue he would attach a piece of metal to the bottom of the heel of his shoe and then go and stand upon the tacks and play the machine until he had won the amount of bis rent.

As he must, of necessity, have been put to considerable trouble in collect ing bis rent in this roundabout fashionand money overdue is entitled to interest, it cannot be authoritatively stated tbat he scrupulously limited himself to taking, the exact amount he should have other- Wise received. Ex-JPlungeb. in working "for the public good." Progressively philanthropic and educational bodies are chiefly represented in the association, and the different committees into which the membership is divided have accomplished much in their several lines. Mrs. Eva E.

Bates is president of the federation, a gentle-voiced, unassuming little woman whom nothing short ot an unmistakable "call" to help bear the burdens and lighten the sorrows of others could have forced into public life. A native of Massachusetts, Mrs. Bates was educated in Boston, where sbe lived for some years after her marriage, surrounded by a congenial circle of fr.ends and fully occupied with the pleasant duties of her home life, her books and the care of her little son. Coming to this City sne lived a very quiet and retired life until almost three years since, when she became convinced that there was work waiting for her outside her own doors. that time, although the home has never been neglected, a portion of each day has been devoted to the interests of the poor and friendless.

To Mrs. Bates' New England birth and breeding is due that spirit ol sturdy independence, modified by strict adherence to principle, which has enabled ber to make a success of undertakings beneath iha burden oi which weaker natures would faint and fail. It is owing in a great degree to the enthusiastic and untiring efforts of this practical philanthropist that the Houae of Refu.e for homeless women and children recently established by the federation crystal! izod from an idea to a reality. The Port, a Club, a law club for women founded by that brilliant, and successful woman lawyer, Clara S. Foltz, is doing good work under the able leadership of Mrs.

Kate F. AVillat-, who is also grand secretary of the Order of the Eastern Star. The absence from the City of Mrs. Foltz, who is dean of tne society, is a matter of regret to its members, but they are doing her credit by their perseverance and application, and are accomplishing much in a quiet way. Florence Percy Mathefon.

AN ORIGINAL ZOUAVE. Interesting Sketch of the War Experience of Louis dames. A variedly picturesque career has been that of Louis James, the actor. Louis' parents were anxious about his future, and as in the case of all families had formed plan 3 for his career plans that all miscarried, by the way. Mrs.

James wanted tim to follow the church. Her father was Bishop of Illinois and she had iond dreams that her stalwart son should follow in his grandfather's steps. His father came of a family of lawyers and naturally wanted to see him read law. They were counting without fate that meddlesome arbiter who spoils so many well-laid plans. While attending school in Chicago Louis met Major Ellsworth, founder of the famous Ellsworth Zouaves, the first company of its Rind organized in America and one that was to play quite an important role in the events of its country.

Louis was a fine, big fellow for his age, and clean and strong of limb. Naturally the company captivated his imagination and be loved to watch the drills and evolutions of this band of athletic ypung men. One day Major Ellsworth told him there was a vacancy in the company, and invited him to join. Louis, who had watched them often and was a natural athlete, soon excelled all his companions in the manual oi srms and those athletic practices which distinguished the corps. He was soon the crack drillsman and "show" man of the company.

At times war rumors were rife, and the war spirit blazed out. Major Ellsworth took the company for a tour of the country, and its magnificent work, brilliant skirmish drilling and general bearing was the means of starting amateur zouave companies from one end of the country to the other. Their lightning execution of the most complicated tactics evoked unfailing enthusiasm and helped to foster the warlike spirit which had grasped the Nation with a gathering hand. After this tour of the country Louis was- sent on a visit to Binghamton, N. where his father's family lived.

His fame as an Ellsworth had preceded him, and he was welcomed by a delegation of young men, who begged him to organize a zouave company. The first meeting of this band of brave young spirits was held in the town hall, and the city was requisitioned for arms and accouterments. The city coulci not provide them, but petitioned the Governor of the State for the arms. Before the State was able to recognize the company, Mr. James was compelled to leave to join the Ellsworth Zouaves in Boston, where they were to give a series of drills and exhibitions.

Then ne went back home to Chicago. The James Zouaves became the nucleus around which was made up the Forty-seventh flew York Infantry, and in recognition of his work Mr. James was gazetted with the brevet of major. At that time James' father had removed to Washington, where his friend, Lincoln, had secured him an office iti the Department of Justice. When the Fortyseventh New York Infantry arrived there, Louis, who had not dared tel! hi? father of his entering the army, donned his regimentals and took his place at the head of his regiment.

The blow struck the elder James with particular weight. He was passionately fond of his son and opposed to his entering the army. He moved all the powers within reach and secured the nullification of the commission. Louis was equally disappointed, being resolved to serve his country on the battlefield. Soon after thwarted in his determination to join the New York resriment in which he had been gazetted tie ran away and enlisted as a private in an artillery regiment, also from New York.

He served in this regiment in the Army of the Tennessee, and was afterward assigned to the quartermaster's department of the same corps and stationed in Louisville, which was the recruiting headquarters for the army. It was here that his love for the stage became the absorbing dream of his life. He had tne good fortune to meet Barney Macauley, then ager of the Louisville Theater Stock Company, and the young soldier was one day accepted for small parts in tbat famous organization, and thus began his stage career. His first public appearance was made in "Mazeppa, and as he tacetiously remarked recently it was the most L-ratclul part he ever played, for he said was, "1 thank you, my Lord." 68x80, line white blankets $5, worth $8 5a City of tana. 19.