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2 distant city outlined against the far horizon. At the close of a long, hot day of sandy travel, just at sunset the first fresh breeze from the Pacific greeted the traveler—“ California,” some one said, and sud denly a mass of verdure, a bewildering glimpse of rich farm lands and rolling country buist on our view, and almost as suddenly darkness fell, and we were compelled to be content with the promise of “San Francisco in the morning.” A night of rapid movement through Southern California resulted in a morning which brought us almost to the city’s gates, and soon the dusty train was exchanged for the big Oakland “Ferry” which was for years the only entrance into the city of San Francisco. The trip across the Bay is indescribable—travel ers have often said that not even the famous Bay of Naples can equal in beauty that of San Fran cisco Bay—more than half surrounded by blue hills, lying close to the water’s edge, there is a glimpse of the Golden Gate in the far distance, while close at hand is the city. The Mirage of the Desert is rivalled here—the water front of San Francisco is more beautiful, though almost as unreal in outline— stately buildings of every, conceivable sort of archi tecture seem crowding one above the other, as far as the eye can see. The hills on which the city is built give added height to its buildings, and form a sort of setting for the city itself which, viewed from the Bay is most unusual and most interest ing. In silence, the “overland passengers” stand as the landing is made, each one a little awed, if the truth be told, by this sudden revelation of Nature’s lavish handwork supplemented by the craft of man. Naming of the Golden Gate. Almost invariably on the “overland boat” some one tells the story of the naming of the Golden Gate, but if it happens to be in the early spring time, the gleaming gold of the yellow poppies which cover the hills on every side make explanation un necessary for it is easy to understand how the early settlers, making their tortuous way to California, around the Horn, were impressed with the gold-cov ered entrance into San Francisco Bay. But the little sentiment permissable to the travel er is soon dissipated by the evidences of a great me tropolis which he sees on every hand. Market street, from the ferry landing to Mont gomery street, a distance of about a mile and a quarter, was at one time beneath the blue waters of the Bay itself, but the land was gradually reclaimed, filled in and made one of the chief points of com mercial pre-eminence in the city. It was difficult to think of Montgomery street as ever having been itself the water front, for the solid block of hand some masonry, the towering office buildings, the State and national banks, the wholesale houses and above all else the Palace Hotel for years the Largest Hotel Building in the World, gave an air of stability to lower San Francisco which is unequalled by any other business section of any other city in the country. I never quite un derstood why I was daily so impressed with this very part of the city, but it somehow appealed to me**in many ways. First, perhaps, because I knew what gigantic labor was required, in the early days, to construct a city of this vast dimension and of such apparent stability. So many “forty-niners” were to be found who told such amazing stories of the hardships of that time, of the lack of every necessary element of civic comfort or even civic possibilities that the results actually attained seem ed almost fabulous. I have said it was difficult for a resident of the East to adjust himself to life in San Francisco and perhaps one of the chief causes for this was the climatic conditions. It was no uncommon thing to see women in seal skin coats and dainty summer millinery, or men in huge overcoats, with collars turned up and mufflers adjusted, wearing straw hats! This concession to the change of seasons seemed about the only one made by the people, and it never ceased to amuse me, although I did it myself, of course! In this connection a word about The Climate of San Francisco will be opportune. There is a certain sameness about the seasons, but it is a very delightful same- The Golden Age for April 26, 1906. ness—l can describe in no better way than by comparing at least ten out of the twelve months to those Hist days in early fall which come to the East laden with the breath of approaching winter. “How exhilarating,” we exclaim—“l can do any amount of work now; don’t believe I will ever be* tired or lagged out again!” Now, that is San Francisco climate, and 1 verily believe its forceful power, its strengthening touch and its energy-creat ing influence is the secret of the success which its people have met with during their entire civic his tory. There are damp days and foggy days, and in mid winter there are cold days, but there is seldom a warm or hot day, and the average days are sunny and cool with a sharp tang from the ocean that is absolutely inspiring. One evidence of the invariable temperateness of the climate is the Marvelous Mass of Flowers which grow out doors, all or most all, of the year round! These flowers are splendid carnations, gor geous roses—La France, “Jacks,” and Mareschal Neils; heiliotrope, which grows as tall as a man’s up-raised hand can reach; sweet peas (in season) and chrysanthemums in a profusion so lavish that one is almost overwhelmed. These flowers are sold on the streets of San Francisco for almost nothing —25 cents will buy a bunch of carnations almost too large to carry; the same amount will invest the astonished purchasers with long-stemmed roses enough to fill the house with perfume, while 10c will buy a bunch of violets many inches in circum ference and even five cents is an amount which will command almost as many huge chrysanthemums as can be conveniently carried in the hands! The annuals of the coast are perennials in San Francis co, growing out of doors all the year round. All .the year round vendors display their wares, one of their chief “stamping grounds” being the open space surrounding Lotta’s Fountain at the in tersection of Market and Kearney streets. This fountain was donated to the city by the little ac tress Lotta, and was in almost constant requisition both by animals and humans, it being arranged for the use of both! Fancy the picture presented at this point—the pretty bronze fountain completely surrounded by the masses of brilliant blossoms, the busy tide' of traffic flowing in three directions—along Market, Kearney and Geary streets, and the people, always gayly dressed, always cheerful and prosperous, look ing generally busy, yet never failing to pause a moment here and to carry with them some fragrant burden of brilliant color and unusual beauty. A special characteristic of the people of San Francisco is the universal habit of Pleasure Seeking. On Saturday afternoons it would seem as though the entire populace sought some place of amuse ment or recreation. Almost every office and whole sale business house had a half holiday on Saturdays, and fathers and families with their entire domestic contingent could be seen flocking to parks, the Cliff House, to the ferry (the gateway to “out of town” resorts), and to the theatres. In San Francisco there is a twelve-month theatre season and it was always a source of interest to me to note the thea tres in mid-summer. Crowded houses were the rule and it became customary for New York actors to make a special San Francisco season during July and August, for they found it in very truth a har vest time for the player. Perhaps one of the most inspiring sights in all the city was Market street at midnight or just after the theatres closed. That seemed to be the hour chosen for recreation, con viviality and general relaxation. But if there was much good natured liberty there was wonderfully little license, and it was a rule and not an excep tion for ladies to go alone to theatres in San Fran cisco at night, and it was rare indeed to note any instance of rudeness or insult to them. Perhaps this was just one evidence of The Old Pioneer Spirit, for there was a chivalry for women in the early days which the native Californian seems never to have quite lost sight of. (Continued on page five.) tory. News of the Week. Eastman Johnson, the painter, is dead in his 82nd year. More than SII,OOO has already been contributed in Boston to the fund for the purchase of the old Paul Revere homestead. M. Abramoff, the Cossack officer who treated Ma ria Spiridonovo, the revolutionist, in an outrageous manner while she was in prison, was assassinated on April 18. Already preparations are being made for a great British delegation to the world’s convention of the W. C. T. U., which is to be held in Boston, Mass., in October. Maxim Gorki and the woman who is known as his wife, may be deported from the United States because of false representations in securing entrance into the country. The marriage of King Alfonso and Princess Ena, of Battenberg, has been definitely fixed for June. The foreign ambassadors who are to attend the cere mony, will arrive in Madrid on May 8. The discovery is reported from Weidersehinz, in Carinthia, of a lode of quick-silver nearly half a mile in length, and from one to three yards in depth. The proposed bridge across the Eastern branch of the Potomac river, is to be 1,000 feet long, with a draw 100 feet wide in the middle, and will cost at least $900,000. Scientists of international repute met in Phila delphia, April 18, the meeting being one of the features of the celebration of the 200th anniver sary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin. Captain Joseph Graham Morrison, aide de camp and last surviving member of General Stonewall Jackson’s staff, died at the home of his sister, Mrs. Stonewall Jackson, in Charlotte, N. C., on April 12. The fifteenth continental congress of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolu tion, assembled in Washington, April 16. For the second time the proceedings were conducted in Con tinental Hall, a building erected by the Daugh ters. Elaborate plans are being made at Colorado Springs to celebrate in truly Western style, the centennial of the day in which Lieutenant Z. M. Pike first sighted the famous peak which was af terwards the land mark of the hardy pioneer whose wagon train wended its way slowly over the plains. There is good authority for the statement that a secret international congress of anarchists will be held in America t b e early part of June. Seven well known anarchists have left Switzerland sep arately and by different routes for America. A despatch from Rome says Professor Zambrano, who was delegated to estimate the damage done the soil through the recent eruptions, has submitted a report in which he says that twenty-four million pounds of sterling is a moderate estimate. President Roosevelt has decided to appoint Chas. B. Aycock, former governor of North Carolina, and Van Leer Polk, of Tennessee, members of the dele gation from the United States to the Pan-American conference, which is to meet in July at Rio Janeiro. A reliable source reports that the Japanese gov ernment intends to adopt parts of the Swiss sys tem of militia with slight modifications. During the last four months, two Jananese officers, a colonel and a captain, have been studying the Swiss sys tem. and the organization of shooting clubs and have reported favorably upon the result of their inquiry.