Page:California Inter Pocula.djvu/304



tizing minuteness  in  the  morning  paper  does  not  mak breakfast the  less  palatable,  and  the  exposure  of  pri- vate life in  the  public  prints  does  not  lessen  the  circu- lation of a  journal.

How many  in  all  this  bustling  city  could  pray  the prayer of  Socrates,  but  would  not  rather  write  him down a  ragged,  bare-footed,  old  heathen,  and  an  ass  ? " O,  beloved  Pan,  and  all  ye  gods  whose  dwelling  is in  this  place,  grant  me  to  be  beautiful  in  soul,  and  all that  I  possess  of  outward  things  to  be  at  peace  with them  within.  Teach  me  to  think  wisdom  the  only riches.  And  give  me  so  much  wealth,  and  so  much only,  as  a  good  and  holy  man  could  manage  or  enjoy."

San Francisco  climate,  like  the  people,  is  exceed- ingly mixed, very  good  and  very  bad ;  treacherous, contradictory, and  yet  most  reliable ;  hot  and  cold, and yet  neither  hot  nor  cold;  dry,  yet  always  damp, raining, but  not  wet — clothing  at  one  time  on  the street, lace  shawl  and  furs,  overcoat  and  duster,  and one as  appropriate  as  another. "Four seasons  in  one day ;  blarst  such  a  country ! "  exclaimed  a  tragic Faust as  he  threw  up  his  engagement  and  hurried  out of town.

Often in  the  kitchen  there  were  storms;  as  when Alice, who  was  a  good  cook,  and  had  a  bit  of  temper withal, had  her  wages  gradually  reduced  from  $250 to $100  a  month,  flew  into  a  rage,  and  marched  her- self off*, saying  she  would  not  live  in  such  a  place.

How different  from  all  this  is  the  picture  of  to-day ! Gradually from  Yerba  Buena  cove  the  city  of  our father Saint  Francis  has  spread  out,  first  northward over the  hills  and  into  the  valleys  beyond,  far  away to the  Golden  Gate,  then  southward  for  miles,  en- compassing the old  Mission  Dolores  and  far  beyond, while westward  and  on  the  hill  tops  broad  avenues lined with  palaces  and  gardens  invite  the  weary  money- makers to repose. Grand hotels,  and  mercantile  and manufacturing establishments,  stand  along  the  busy