GOSSIP FROM CALIFORNIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5335, 21 December 1878, Page 6

GOSSIP FROM CALIFORNIA.

Tiie entries for the Auckland Fnmuier Meeting cloned on Friday, the 13th. The stakes have filled fairly well, 32 horses being nominated for the different events. Some of them arc entered in six, seven, and even eight races, so they will have plenty to choose from, and the soundest horse will have the best chance at the latter end of the meeting, as there is every appearance of the ground continuing as hard as a turnpike road, which will be certain to find out the v/eak points in many of them before the last day. It is also doubtful if the soundest of them will stand more than two or three races. There are four ra/.os and a scurry for the opening day (Boxing Day), including, the Auckland Cup, which at the present time is rather an open race, owing to tho unsoundness of of the horses engaged. At the time of writing L'idy Elizabeth and tho Don appear to have the best chance, as they are both goiDg welj, aiid are likely to continue sound. There is a "rent deal of mystery about Elsa, as a report is industriously circulated that she. is unfit and lame, also that Mr. McGce has been trying to train her by swimming in the tidewav —a very forlorn hope of getting an acima! tit. Still, at the -,me time, she is being backed by people who profess to know all about her. Hippocampus is reported to have "one all wrong during the Taranaki meeting, and as he is not entered for auy of the other races, Euch is most likely the case. P.-.u-'awsrewere, which has been the pick of the since tho weights first appeared, will, in all probability, not like the hard ground, as she suffers from bad feet, and the one that split year befoie the Duncdin meeting, will most likely go again. Ariel is also in the same state, and is going very short and sore, though should the ground bscorae soft he may render a good account of himself, as it must be remembered that two years ago, when he came from Christchnrch, he was very lame in his feet, but the ground becoming soft, he was able to Isnd three races on the last two days of the meeting Magician has broken down. Gillie Galium is sound and tit, but X am afraid not <-ood enough for a race of this description. I have no fancy for, as he not only oaesliko a non-s f ayer, but he has a temper of his own, an.l is inclined to bolt. As the ground is very hard at present, I may have cause to alttr my opi-.u.:; before the day, as breakdowns are very likely to occur when the horses are undergoing their final gallop. There is co'hing doing on the Champion Rp.ce at present, B.oodee, \Varlock, and W«.-l-liniton being tlv; only ones inquired after, and the field, in c.ll probability, will not excoed six or seven. By this mail, news has arrived that Mr. Russell has purchased, at the late sale of the Glasgow Stud, the thoroughbred entire horse Musket for Messrs. Maclean and Co., and that he left in the Kent on November sth. It is to be sincerely hoped that he will arif'- - e safe. The people of the province ought to be deeply thankful to the pluck and enterprise of these gentlemen for importing such a stallion, as he is by far the best entire that has ever been brought to this country. Musket—(foaled 1567) by Toxopholite, dam by West Australian out of Brown Be-s, by Camel —was not only agood racehorse, winning raccs at all distances, but he has also proven himself a good horse at the stud, having got. several winners. His best performances were winning the Ascot Stakes, miles, as a three-year-old, with tin crushing weight of Sst. 121b5.; aud as a fi"2-year-old he won the Alexandra Plate, 3 miles, carrying lOat. 71b3. He is a horse of grc-cit quality and plenty of substance. The fol. -.ring extract from Ball's Life will shew ihv co'uiou of people at home : — was a ittlo exeitemeut introduced into affaire wL*.u Musket appe.ireil, though, considering what, otallions sell for now-a day 3, he was disposed o: fcr a quarter his value, at 550 guineas, to Mr. Kusseli. At any time within ;he next three years Mu=ket may become a orack stallion, as he has had a good man}" chances given him from the Bout kill " and Yardly S'.U'ls and elsewhere.' In addition to the above horse, Messrs. Maclean ar.d Co. have imported a Clydes dale sta'Jion, Star and Garter, and eight mares of tie purest Clydesdale strains. The}' all arrived .-afely and in good condition at Lytte'.tou last week, aud may be expected in Auck'and shortly. If a few other moneyed men in Auckland would shew the same enterprise as these gentlemen, this provincial district would shortly be second to none for pure-bred stock of all kinds. The race? then, under proper management, would go ahead and take their proper place among the New Zealand meetings. as we have such a thorough sportsman as Sir Hercules llobinson coming as Governor, who, it will be hoped, will improve the prenent state of things. Owing to the death of Mr. George Payne, one of the legatees under Lord Glasgow's will, tl>» whole of the Glasgow stud was disposed of. The terms were 'hat the mares and stallions should be Ist for breeding purposes only, and that if put to t.ny other purposes the lease would be cancelled, but at the same time hirers might re-lot them, subject to the same conditions. Therefore, most of them were purchased by the highest class of racehorse-owners and breede;.*, and the company was small and select. General Peel put a reserve on some of the very eld mares, so they will end their days at the farm. The following is a list of the principal animals and prices : — Mare (dam of Royal George and Princ l George), by Young Melbourne out of the j Rescued by Orlando (Mr. TV. S. Crawfurd), 560 guineas. .Flurry (foalsd 1808), by Young Melbourne, out of Makeshift by Yoltigeur (Mr. W. S. O&wfurd), covered by Musket, IDSO guineas.

Faraway (foaled ISGG), dam of Lands-end, &c., by Young Melbqurne out of Maid of Maiham, covered by Toxopholite (Mr. Chaplin), 650 guineas. Mare (foaled 1559), dam of Departure, Adieu, and Tramp, by Young Melbourne out of Maid of Maaham, covered by Toxopholite (Mr. Chaplin), 520 guineas. Mare (foaled 18G1), dam of Sefton, Liverpool, and Croxleth.by "VTeat Australian out of Clarissa, covered by Toxopholite (Mr. W. S. Crawfurd). 1570 guineas. Patchwork (foaled ISG7), by Young Melbourne out of Makeshift, covered byJOrest (Mr.Chapl:'a). G3O guineas. Lady Masham (foaled 1867), dam of Peter and Micenus. by Brother to Stafford out of Maid of Masham, covered by Toxopholite (Mr. *W. S. Crawfurd), 1700 guineas. Adelaide (foaled 186(5), dam of Queen's Own, St. Hilda, &c. f by Young Melbourne, dam by Teddington, covercd by Toxopholite (Mr. Chaplin), 900 guineas. STALLIONS. General Peel (foaled 1861), by Young Melbourne, dam by Orlando out of Brown Ecus (Mr. A. Peel), 170 gaineas. Musket (foaled 18G7), by Toxopholite, dam by AVest Australian out of Brown Bess (Mr. Russell). 550 guineas. FOALS. Colt foal by Speculum out of Gilbert's dam (Mr. A. Taylor), 500 guineas. Colt foal by Pero Gomez out of sister ;o Adelaide (Prince Sottykoff), 200 guineas. Filly foal, sister to Prince George (Mr. Craufurd), 300 guineas. Colt foal by Knight of the Garter out of Anonyma (Mr. Alexander), 300 guineas. Colt foal by Toxophlite out of Faraway (Mr. Crawfurd), 200 guineas.

It was by far the best sale of the season, — 28 mares realising 12,310 guineas ; 5 stallions, 980 guineas ; and 13 foals, 2380 guineas.

The death is announced of Sir Richard Sutton, who died suddenly from an attack of gout, on October 3rd, at Ryde, Isle of Wight. His connection with the turf was preserved up to the time of his death, as he was a purchaser at the late Middle Park sale, and his once familiar colours, black and scarlet, were carried quite lately by Ultimus at the Epsom meeting. Sir Richard Sutton's first important success on the turf was when Earydice, which had won the Althorp Park Stakes, on tbo only ocoasion of running as a two-year-old, carried off the Cambridgeshire of ISSS, and he subsequently accomplished great feats with horses leased from tienoral PearsoD, one of which was Guardevisure, winner of the Cambridgeshire in 1865, whilst Lord Lyon was victorious in the Two Thousand, Derby, and St. Leger of 1866. Sir Richard had also Elland, winnsr of the Queen's Vase at Ascot, Nottingham (a favourite for the. Two Thousand Guineas in 1862), Cockatoo, Furzectaat, Dnnsany, and other winners. He was fond of field sports in general. Sir Richard was also very fond of yatcbing, being the owner of the Aline, which won several prizes for him. Old Turfite.

The following is from our own correspondent at Sat Francisco, under date November 10:— SIRS. SUILLABEP.'S RECEPTION. You see that tall lady standing in the embrasure of the crimson satin-dr»ped window. Her dress ia silk, in colour blue oiel, richly ornated with royal blue velvt, set off by the finest web of point tie I'lan tin's lace. (Ioil:i(1 her throat and in her ears are di a " monds and pearls of enormous value. Her long, golden liair is coiled simply round her liead in Grecian braids, fastened with diamond hair-pins. Thia is Mrs. Shillaber, cousin of Mrs. Partington, of newspaper celebrity; and who is really Mrs. Slnllaber ? Mrs. Sliillaber is a rarely artistic woman in her tastes ; her statuary i* glorious, and her receptions are perfect. The last statue she imported from Kome is Mcrope, —a perfect incarnation of beauty, a poem to study. The cost of thia wonderful work of art, which is " Merope drifting on a cloud seeking a resting-place," was 4000 dollars, and this ia only one of many such in M rs. Shillaber's possession. Her last recept'on was given to Major-General Fremont, 500 guests being present. Such a blaze of beauty and beautiful dresses I never saw. .Such arms, which are now entirely sleeveless though the corsage in almost always liigh ; such cosmetics, red and white ; such masses of hair, at 100 dollars a switch, you never saw—could not picture unless you saw. The reception, which was held at the Occidental Hotel, was a grand success, seven large rooms and all tho principal corridors being filled with magnificently dressed women, the glitter and shimmer of trains three yards long, beflowered and bejewelled, sweeping across the crimson carpet, set off by the army and navy uniform and the sober dress-clothes of the escorts, made a splendid tableau. Mrs. Shillaber was formerly the principal of one of the public schools, but made an enormous fortune in stocks, and heigh, presto! has bccorne a leader of fashion. Well, it is good to hare one appreciative, ajsthetic woman, among the crowd of noureau r'tchc who oan baroly write their own names.

WKDDINO IN Hl«n LIFE. The town is slowly recovering from the last week's sensation —t he marriage of Miss Kate Trowbridge with Mr. Boatne, a wealthy citizen of this place—the ceremony being performed by Bishop Kip. Tho chancel of the church was a perfect bower. Large hoxes of t'opical plants and small trees were arranged along the railing of the altar. Behind both the reading-desk and pulpit was an arbour of beautiful flowers. In the centre of 01: * were two hearts joined, com posed of carnailnis aud white roses, and in tho other a monogram, "B. and T.," in forget-me-not's ajd ro c es ; an arch of smilax spanned the altar, and when the bridal pair took thoir position, a huge marriage bell, four feet high, made of solid tuberose l , was suspended over their heads; 2000 visitors and spectators witnessed the imposing ceremony. By the way, this idea of being married beneath a bell of flowers is very poetic and beautiful, and quite in vogue. There were six bridesmaids aud six groomsmen. The bride is a pttite blonde, and was robed in a glory of white silk, the immense train being trimmed with waves of point lace and orange blossoms up to the waist, the base having a foam of rusetted silk to grace it; a veil like a summer zephyr fell from the head to the very edge of the robe, and diamond pendants completed the toilet. At the Palace Hotel a reception was held at 9 o'clock, when SOO guesis were presented, a magnificent supper finishing the affair. They marry at night in San Francisco, and many of the brides go right li me ; a very sensible plan. In New i'ork they pretend to go off on a honeymoon expedition, but in reality they never get further than a fashionable hotel, where the pair rest for a week.

DEATH OF MR. KULOI'iOX. I suppose everyone has heard of the great firm of Bradley and Kulofson, photographers. Well, a terrible accident occurred to Mr. Kulofson, on the 7'h inßt. He was supervising some workmen on the roof of his gallery, when his foot slipped, and he fell GO feet down to the pavement, being immediately killed. He leaves a wife and eleven children ; also, 180,000 dollars in property. He wrote a book that became notorious, called "The Dance of Death," ono of the most ob.-cene and disgusting publications that ever came under my ken ; but he made many long thousands of dollars by it for all.

THE PRESS. xnere has been quite a stir over an attempt made by the Convention, now in session, to gag the Press, but it fell through. It would be quite an idea ; for no one is safe here if they do even private wrong—their misdeeds reflecting discredit on themselves alone, —that makes no kind of difference; the reporters go to work and ferret it out, and behold the moat sacred scenes of family discord published the next hour. Any lady who commits an indiscretion goes into the paper, name in full, no matter how high her social position may be. Every now and then the morning papers coma out without a blush with the true-inwardnecs of some horrible social scandal, which scares society out of its wita, then dies down into a lull.

FLOWERS, FRUITS, CABS, &C. We are in possession of the most enchanting winter season possible to imagine; a cluudless sky, which would well rival that of Italy, and a sun thai is at times too powerful. As 1 sit now at my window, and look gratefully out among tho flowers, I cannot i.'at bless the day that brought my wandering footsteps to Sap. Francisco. All along the streets are the flower-dealers with their baskets of fresh violets, pinks, and rosebuds. In oonjunction with them are the men who hawk strawberries—fancy t trawberries, large, ripe, and red, at the end of November ! Their presence is hardly compatible with the season, —any more than a stranger coming here would take it for a delightful summer. San Francisco is, after all, a heap of incongruities. To walk down Market-street, which is the most prominent business street in the city, one would imagine that the entire population was on the move. Before every store, almost, there is a display of goods on the side-walk — beds, chairs, tables, in happy confusion, — wares of all kinds,

xrum not peanuts 10 ennarens perambulators. Then the pavements ! —heavens, what pavements in a city like this ?—wood, of course, uneven and fui! of nails, rows upon rows, enormous heads rising up under your feet until, after living here a few months, people wearing shoes No. 2 gladly "scramble along shod in No. 4. So the golden city has iti_ disadvantages amidst it* beauties, and this is one of the most serious, lrue, one need not walk, every kind of ridiag convenience being at band, —one, two, three-hor/.e cars, taking passengers to every part of the city,—clumsy cars for the almost perpendicular hills being a siarked and peculiar feature. Up hills which no horse can toil up, are lines of these wonderful contrivances, which are propelled by invisible wire ropes. The rails upon which the cars run are precisely similar to those on other steam railways, with this difference ; a third rail passes along in the centre of the track ; in this is a groove, and within this groove is the wire rope, to which the car is attached by a cog-wheel fastened to the beak of the car. The machinery which winds the cars up and down the hilly streets is situated at the top of Nob Hill, the highest point in the city, and underground from this all point four lines of this wonderful invention are worked, and they may be truly termed one of the most wonderful of all the American inventions.

THK "HOODLDK3." A very peculiar element, indigenous to California, which is, probably, unknown in any other part of the civilized world, is " hoodlumism." The hoodlum is a human animal, who matures between the ages of 15 and 25—seldom living beyond that age. His idea of life is a short and happy one, and, being somewhat soldier-like in bis proclivities, prefers, on the whole, to die in his boots, or risk the gallows, by his wonderfully dare-devil existence. He is a gentleman—of the road, the street corner, and the rum mill (there is one at every corner of our streets pretty nearly). Work has no charms for him. He generally sleeps all day, and rises to breakfast when the slow ordinary mortals of the work-a-day world are retiring to their peaceful rest, —converting night into day, and so changing the whole course of civilised life. He has a slang of his own, understood only by the fraternity, and the motto the class adopt is, " United we stand, divided we . fall." The education of this •pest of society begins at ten, when the up:gr.owing .hoodlum commences to smoke icigarettes, chew tobacco, and call his father "the. old man," his mother "the old woman." Law and order have for him no business in the world, his whole life is an aggression—cursing and vulgar language being tho thing he most delighta in. Should a stray buggy or horse be hitohed np to a lamp-post, this dare-devil

takes possession uninvited, drives off to some distant town, and there sells tlie lot to defray his expenses back to the city, for the Uw of meum et tuem is to him unknown. Let not my gentler reader's cheeks pale when I inform her that girls are as well known as boys in the same capacity. They are, in fact, often head of a band of males in depredatory excursions. They all smoke and curse, ignoring their sex. The hoodlums will form in bands and "put up" travellers even in broad daylight, generally other hoys, "going through them,"and producing pistols and knives should resistance bo offered. As a body they will fight to the last drop of their blood for a brother and friend, and never "peach" on a " pal." They are not confined to the lower classes, but fre quently come of highly-respectable parents. Around the haunts they infest there is no terror so great as that felt for the "hoodlums."

SMASH IN THE STOCK MAI'.Kr.T. Ono of the terrible periodical "smashes of the stock market lias taken place within the last week. Once again the men al ' ( l women, hopelessly ruined, are flying wildly through the streets with agony depleted on thtir faces, and curses upon thnr "P* 1 . Once again the pistol, the knife, and the poison phial are doing their deadly work. Once again the voice of tho populace la against the grasping, cruel money fiend-, the Bonanza ICings^—Flood, Mackay, and the new monarch, Jo'hnny Skae, arc objects of a new horror and deteetat on. It was the work of an hour, while the two form r man fought with new rival for the possession of Sierra Nevada mine. riie market went to bed-rock, and the streets present an indescribable picture of agonized humanity. Riots have been apprehended, but we hope to sail through without fires and murder, which has been feared. The illegitimate manner of stoek-dealing is the curse of this most beauiiful country. All busiuess is set aside when there is a market, and so sure as that market is on the boom and everyone gets in at auy figures, however hi"h, down it comes at the lilting of°thc fiuger of one of the "kings" In the present instance Johnny Skae, tiie contractor for the Sierra Nevada mine, is an object of abhorrence to Flood and Mackay, the Bonanza men. They wish for the control of this new Bonanza, and Johnny slicks close, refusing to compromise. From -SO dollars per share the market has fallen to 3S dollars, and this within one brief week. A ripple, a murmur came in a waft from head quarters (Virginia City) as to ths falling off of the ore-body in the mine, and lu the effect! Stock was thrown in such quantities into the market that buyers could not be found for it ; the result being ruin. Keports were current to the effect that insiders did not care to cross-cut or; the 2100 level, fearing a bad "show." Eilich and Head, with other representatives of thu mine, hare been quietly selling, supplying and overcoming the demand, aud though dealers were willing to "copper" these sales, the market fell steadily backward. The closing quotations up to last niiht were 04 and 47 dollars —this from 280 dollars !

RETORN OF THE AGITATOR. Denis Kearney, the Irish agitator, is about to return to the city after doing the East, where he ha 3 failed signally iu accomplishing his purpose. The would-be great father of the working men has slightly over-reached himself, but there is no question of his being on the make, like others of his class. However, he has effected nothing, but shewn to the Eastern working men the entire unsoundness aud futility of his proceedings. He will, however, be received on Tuesday here with open arms by his confreres. A procession is organised, and it will bo quite an ovation.

THE CHINESE. The Chinese question is as far from being settled as ever, nor is it ever likely to end iu the absence of the Mongolians from free America. Indeed, their influx is as great as ever, and I don t see how the industries of thid coast could very well be carried on without them, the price of white labour being so enormously high. No good female Bervaut can be hired for less than £5 or £6 a-iuonth, and are bad and good for nothing at that ; whereas, you can have the best kind of Chinese help for £2 10s, which, especially in these hard times, makes a wonderful difference. A Mougol, when he ia good, is not to be excelled ; lie cooks, washes, irons, does chamber work, and keeps a silent tongue all through. Individually 1 think Buch an appendage to a household is au unmixed blessing, but when the same animal is bad they are utter lv iibcloh" 'p«»»i----a omuaman the housewurk for one week, and you may leave him to himselfjfor ever.

A SENSATION IN OTAII. A very sensational affair has been going oil ill Utah, the laud o£ the Mormons. A Miss Owen, aa English lady, delicately reared, came over to marry her lover, to whom she had be n engaged for several years. The man's name is Miles, ami meanwhile he had adopted Mormonism and become an elder of the Church. Miss Owen, oil her arrival, found that he had already two more wives engaged, but being infatuated with the polygamous bachelor, she agreed to become a sharer of his home with the other two. The marriage was celebrated, and at the reception afterwards Miss Owen lost her equilibrium on fiuding that ehe was not the senior wife, the place of first bciug allotted to the eldest woman, as is their rule. She took the law into her own hands, and, before the assembled guests, raised tho question of priority, but failing to oust the eldest of the other two, who are sisters, she made use of her hands, striking tho lady on the face. Then began a wild riot, Mr. Miles declaring he would set his foot down right theie upon Miss Owen's interference. Finally she appealed to the Gentiles, and went under their protection ; but lovo conquered, and Bhe ahortly went ov.er to the Crio, making it by her presence a quartette, so disgusting the entiro community, that the matter has been taken up by the authorities. What the end will be no one knows. The Gentile women have sent an appeal to the President's wife, Mrs. It. Hayes, and the women of the Eastern State*, begging that some measures be taken for the suppression of this growing vice of polygamy.

VTIIEAT CORNERED, The wheat market is unusually high at the present hour, prices ruling higher than in England, with great demand, and 110 shipments. Jim Kean, who has been for many years one of the most fortunate and persistent stock operators 011 the coast, has something to do with this. This man was formerly poor, his wife sewing for a living. After protracted illness, he at last rushed into the stock market, where ho rose rapidly by his vim and strength of character. There ho.was known as "The Free iai-.ce," entering into no combinations, but working on his own responsibility alone. Two years ago, he went East, dealing largely in stocks,'and I amassing somewhere about 10,000, OOOdoJjlars. At the first intimation of the Afghanistan war, he began to buy up the wheat, purchasing all from Chicago, and finally, having cornered almost all the wheat in tho United States, the Produce Exchange in Mew York is intensely interested in the transaction. The effect of the heavy purchases have increased the speculative demaud for all grades of wheat, there being an advance of 1 per cent, bushel on No. 1 red, the market closing easier, with more disposition to sell. No. 2 spring wheat rose to 84J cents in Chicago,—lJ cents higher than last Tuesday's closing prices.

FASHION CHIPS FOB THB LADIES. Suppose I finish up with a few fashion notes for the lady readers who are good enough to feel interested in my "gossip." San .Francisco women out-dress the world, and look more stylish than any I ever saw anywhere. Now-a-days they wear their hair in sea-waves flat to the forehead, crimps being obsolete. Some puff it all over the head from the back of the neck to the forehead. Whitd and gold is the rage for evening wear. In the street, navy-blue cloth short dresses, edged with gold braid, hats ditto, with sprays of gold leaves, gold butterflies, beetles, &c,, 100., are in vogue. Sealskin cloaks worn down to the heels, with caps to match, can be bought by the wealthy. Gold buttons on everything are fashionable. Brocade and silk to match are used for street suits. Long sacques of hea ry cloth take the place of short jackets. Black Cashmere, with black silk trimmings, is the dress that one sees most of in the streets. Bonnets stack on the top of a coil of hair make you wonder what their use may be. Trains are square, and about two yards long. Thank Heaven, they no longer appear on the I street ! If they do, a long loop carries them over the arm. Walking gloves should hare six buttons. New dinner cards are panel-shaped, and ornamented with landscapes. Mixed laco are among the novelties, white and coloured. Flowers made of fur are very elegant. Petticoats are flounced to the waist; and low shoes, with silk stockings, are the proper style for carriage and house wear. Silver Pfar.