GOSSIP FROM CALIFORNIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIIL, Issue 301, 28 December 1878, Page 3

GOSSIP FROM CALIFORNIA.

" Pilver-Pen '' writes from Sin Francisco to the Auckland Herald as follows : — TnE " HOODLUMS." A vpry p«cul ; ar e'ement, sndigpnou9 ' C'if ir Mi which is probably urk ova ip Hv.y other portion of the ii> i!iz-il w.-rl. 1 , i- " hoo.tluraism." The { lir.rwlhnn ia h hurnbn aim/iil who ma- ! tun s h t^veen tho ages of 15 and 2.5 — | se'dnm living beyond that age. His idea of life is a abort and happy one, ami, ht-ins' gonvwh'it soldier-Uko in his proclivities, he prefers on the whoK- to \ dip in his bootp, or risk the callows by j h ; p wnndtrful dart -devil existence. He I is a gen'lproau of the road, the street c-ratr, nr.<\ the rum mill (there ie one »it every enrnfr of our streets, pretty nfatly) Work h-sno charms for him, I He generally sleeps bII day, and rises to brpf.kfast when the Blow ordinary mortals uf the work-a-day world are retiring <o their peaceful rest, — converting night into .lay, a^d 80 cbaoging the wliole course of civilised life. He has a slang of his own understood only by iha fraternity, and the motto th« c'ass adopts is, " United wo stand, divided we fall." The education of thia pest of society begins at ten, when the upward-growing hoodlum commences to smoke cigarette?, chew tobacco, and call bis father " the old mm," his mother "the old woman/ Law and order have for him no buainesa in the world ; his whole life is an aggression — cursing and vulgar language being the thing he most delights in. Should a stray bugay or horse be hitched up to a lamp-post this daredevil takes possession uninvited, drives off to Borne distant town, and there sells the lot to defray his expenses back to the city, for the law of meum et tuum 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 iv fact often head of a band of males in depredatory excursions. 7 hey all smoke and curse, ignoring their aex. Tie hoodlums will form in bands and "put up" travellers even id broad dbyli«h{, generally other boys " going through them," and producing pistols and knivps should resistance be offered. As a body they will light to tbe lost drop of their blood for a brother and friend, and never " peach " on a " pal." They are not confined to tbe lower classes, but frequently come of highly respectable parents. Around the haunts they iufest there is no terror so groat as that felt for the hoodlum?. SMASH IN THE STOCK MARKET. Oue of the terrible perioJical "smashes" of the stock market has takeu place within the last week. Once again tb^ men and women, hopelessly ruiued, are flying tviUlly through the streeis with agony depicted on their faces,. an : rurses upon their lips. Once ugftin tJ;e pistol, the ki.ife, and the poison plih! are doing their deadly worlj. Once a^ain tbe voica of tbe populace ifl agßtrßtih<<graaping, cruel, money fiends, tb.. Boaanz* Kin^s — Flood, Mackay, and ihe new monarch, Johnny Skue. are olj ctsof a new horror and detestation. It was the work of an hour, while the two former men fought with their new rival for the possession of N'erra N^va ia raioe. The market went »o bed-rock, aud ihe etreeia present an indiseribable picture of agonized humanity. Riots have been apprehended, but we hope to aail through without firea and murder, which hao been feared. The illegitimate manner of stock-dealing is the curse of this moft beautiful country. All business is set a-ide when there jb a market, and 8o cure as lhat market ia on the boom and everyone gets in at any figures, however high, down it cornea at the lifting of the finger of one of tbe "kings." In the present instance JohnuyUlSkae, the contractor for the Sierra i^wada mine, is aa object of abhorre&W to Flood and Ma'ckay, the Boaanzilttiien. They wish for the control C^-thia ,new Bonanza, and Johnny Btjfikaclp'-e, refueinjr to compromise. From 280 dollars per share the matket libs fallon to 38 dollars, and this within one brief week. A ripple, a murmur came in a wuft from headquarters (Virginia Cily) m to ihe tailing off of tbe ore-body in the mine, and lo the effect 1 Stock was thrown in suah quantities into tha market that

buyers could not be found for it; (he result being ruin. Reportß were current to the tfi ct lhat ineHers did not care to crosocuc on the 2100 ft et level, fearing a hmi "show." Eilicb. and Head, with other representatives of the mine, h*ve been quietly selling, supplying and overcoming the demand, and though dealns w^re willing (o " copppr" these sales, the market fell Bteadi'-y backward. Thec'o^ing quotations up to last ni»hf. were 54 and 47 dollars— this from 280 dollars ! WEDDING IN HIGH LTFE. The town is slowly recovering from the lasi week's flensmion — the marriage of Miss K»te Trowbridge wjib Mr Boatne, a wealthy citizen of thia place — the ceremony beins» performed by Bishop Kip. The chancel of { the church wbs a perfect bower.! Large boxes of tropical plaota Bml small trees were arranged along the ; railing of ihe allar. Behind roth the reading-detk and pulpit ,was an arbour of beautiul flowers. In the centre of one were two hearts joined, composed of carnations and white roses, and in the other a monogram, " B. and T." iv, forget-me-noi's and roees ; an arch of Bojilax spanned the altar, and when the. bridal pair took their position, a huge inarriago bell, four feet high, made of solid tuberoses, was suspended over, their heads; 2000 visitors and spectators witnessed the imposing cenmony. By the wwatj t this idea of beiDg married beneath a bell of flowers ia very poolic and beautiful, and quite in vogue. There were six bridesmaids aad six groomsmen. Tho bride is a petite bloude, 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 baße having a foam of resetted silk to grace it ; a veil like a summer zephyr fell from the head to the very edge of the robp, and diamond pendanls com^ pleied the toilet. At the Palace Hotel o reception was held at 9 o'clock, when 800 were presented, and a magnificent supper finished the affair. They marry at night in San Frnncisco, and many of the brides gj right home; a very seneible plan. Iv New York they prelend to go off on a honeymoon expedition, but in reality they never get further than s fashionable hotel, where the pair rest for a week. FASHION CHIPS FOB THE LADIES. Suppose I Suish up with a few fashion uoteß for ihe lady readers who are good enough to feel interested in my"goße;p." San Francisco women out-dress the world, and look more stylish than any I ever saw auywbere. JSow-a-ilays they wear their hair in seawaves flit to the forehead, crimps being obsolete. Some puff it all over the head from the back of the neck to the forehead. White and gold is the rage for evening wear. la the street, navyblue cloth short dresees, eJgei with gold braid, hatH ditto, with sprays of gold leaves, gold buttei flies, beetles, <ftc, &c, are in vogue. Sealskin cloaks worn down to the heels, with caps to match, can be bought by ihe wealthy. Gold buttons on eveiything are fashionable. Brocade and eiik to mutch are used for street suite. Long sacques of heavy cloth take the place of bhort jackets. Black Cashmere, with black Bilk trimmings, is the dress taat one sets most of ia the streets. Bonoets stuck on tbe top of a coil ot hair make you wonder what their uso may be. Trains are square, and about two yards locg. Thank Heaven, they no longer appear on the street ! If they do, a long loop carries them over tbe arm. Walking gloves should huve six buttona. New Dinner cards ere panel shaped, and oran&mented with laudscapes. Mixsd laces are among tbe novelties, white and coloured. Flowers made ot fur are very elegant. Petticoats ore flounced to the waist, and low shoes, witu eiik stockings, are the proper style for carriage and house wear.