, 1883-09-01
Sass FRANcIseo. Aur. 20. Issa


rived at the o. z. L N. Co.'S wharf in San
Francisco. on Saturday, at noon precisely.
Our trip was enlvened by the First Cavalry
Band, which, as usual, stood in to make
everybody happy. and such was the appre.
ciation OF the passengers that series of res.
olutions complimenting them were unani.
mously adopted and rendered, and also
something more substantial in the shape CT
nice little purse, also presented to them.
IL is universally conceded that they are the
best band at the Conclave.
| think 1t an open question if ever city
was SO handsomely decorated as this on
any occasion. The flags, banners, wreaths. |
etc. stretched Across tine streets SO nuuer- |
ously as actually TO obstruc. the view, and
in many instances the buildings are so COM
pletely covered with decorations that moth !
ing else is to be seen. At night the scene is
magnificent, and will he remembered Tor |
lifetime. kearney street Is especially mag
nlicent, and with the line Of electric lights |
can only be imagined-nos described. The
Chronicle Office is beautiful, and every
pedestrian stops to gaze upon a sight they
will probably never see again. As usual,
that first-class newspaper is ahead of all
Others, and its enterprise in getting ont its
last Sunday edition is the subject of much
comment and communication 1t is the Jour
naiistie sensation OF the dag, and it, proprie-
tor and editors may well. feel proud, ior it
was ten strike. 1t is sixteen page edi-
ton, and the largest and best that ever ap-
peared on the coast, and contained l0i col
unins Of solid reading matter and forty of
advertisements, etc. Eleven and quarter
tons OF paper were used and 5000 copies
were struck of. 1t was principally devoted
to history Of the Knights Templsrs, and
contained every scrap of information. Mr.
John p. Young. the talented editor, informs
me that he has had men working on the his
tory for the past eight weeks. This is true
journalism, and worthy OF the Chronicle.
On Sunday the first days proceedings
commancsd by the march Of the Knights in
full uniform TO the tap OF the lrum, 70 the |
pavilion to make their orisUns. Although
tickets were issued, such was the crowd that
in half an hour every seat, except those re-
served for the Templars, were occupied, and
the doors were closed, thousands being uIa,
hle 10 attend the ceren.ony, which was as
solemn, grand and delightful as can be con
ceived. All that was best IN social and in |
teiieetGal circles were present. The Ritual |
consisted Of hymns, chants, prayers and ser I
vices.
PICTURESQUE SPECTACLE.
TIE Chronicle thus describes the scene :
The spectacle OF SO large body Of men, |
finely dressed and earnestly united IN the
performance OF solemn ritual in the midst !
of large number Of spectators more soberly |
clad, but equally earnest and decorous, was |
magnificent A. the service proceeded, and |
the Sir Knights entered more deeply into It's |
sentiment and expression. it became even |
more impressive. The living picture w2s IL |
a worthy setting. Tie upper windows were |
open for the entire length of the building, !
and the breeze auttered the long Ice Of flags |
and banners suspended in front OF them.
The sun as it sapk lower diifdsed its light |
through the vast space, softening and blend |
ing the innumerab!e colors on pillar, flag |
aud banner into soft and pleasing, though |
still bewIldesing, variety Of tone. Ia suc.' |
mass Of ysriegated drapery all unpleasant |
baroness and hardness Of outiine disap- |
peared and there only remained an idea 0: |
symmetrical proportion ami Intelligent de.
siga that made the architecture Of the build |
ing seem at once massive aud HARMONIOUS, |
and entirely suited to an exhibition OF rem |
iniscences of the Middle Agos. Even the |
picture on the farther wall OF the knights OF !
the Temple charging up to the walls OF Jeru-
salem became realistic amid such surround |
iags, and the Sir Knights present, who Keep
their fame alive by such observances IS this,
seemed in the misty ali to have inherited
some Of this heroisln, and to lie waiting only
for those unexpected circumstances which
We are told sometimes make even unheroic
men crow suddenly to heroic nature.
All me different Communicates keep open
house and affiliate in the most agreeable
manner, inviting each other 70 their diiier'
ent headquarters and treating them Ike
brothers. Refreshments are provided anu
hcspitalities tend cred regardless of expense
have visited the Bodie, Salinas, California,
Iowa. Nebraska, Nevada and Oregon head
quarters. and intend to take them all IN
before | leave. There never was such
bapsy. iovial. big hearted lot OF fellows
brough. together in the world teiore.
thoroughly believe not only with them, but
with all the people OF San Francisco the
only idea is to make everybody feel good
Frep the hotel clerks and street car con- |
ductors fee, the Inspiration OF the moment
and are not only civil, but actually polite
Io fact it is as pleasant ana happy time as
ever witnessed and only wish that the
numerous readers of the STATESMAN, includ-
ing our morning contemporary, were here 10
erjuy it. They could not help coming home
wiser and better men.
The Oregon Conmandery has taken me
under its especial protection, and IN return |
| look out and ste that they do not get
into trouble. Oar own citizens are of course
With them, and they are among The most
popular OF all the Communicates. In march |
ing they make fine appearance, and with |
their unequaled band, are the subjects "i
many compliments Tis true that some OF |
them might be better looking, but take |
them altogether they are hard 10 beat or get |
away with.
The theaters have actually no attractions |
worth noticing. All the pieces on the boards |
Of the Erst-elass theaters are tame ana COLL I
moppl,ee in the extreme r. }. T.
4 Mistaken Impression.