The morning call., 1890-08-05
VIEWS OF CALIFORNIA.

Interviewed About a Land of Poetry,
Beauty and Literature.
Assistant Postmaster-General Clarkson,
who was recently in this city, was inter-
viewed by the representative of an Eastern
journal, and on the subject of California,
when reminded that he had said that Cali
fOrnia was peculiarly the land of poetry and
beauty, said:
"Yes, so 1t is. Pioneer life and its dam
gers and hardships produce people of
sentiment, and this country has had this
schooling for forty years. while the land
seape and climate have contributed to it as
they always do. That is the youngest por-
ton of the republic and is scarcely of
age, yet it has established the second, if in
deed not the first, school of American liter
ature. 1t is all intra-continental country.
and has the sentiment and form of express
sion of more than one nation, Bret Harte
and Joaquin Miller and others with them
are children of the Sierras and the sea.
San Francisco is n city of intellect and po-
etry. as well as of commerce and power. 1t
has been so maSterful as TO make OF Itself
in thirty-eight years the largest and most
prosperous city ever made in the same
length OF time in the history of the world.
1t is exceedingly literary in its libraries,
and in art and music and opera and in all
LU6 lar anu me lDllRS U1 lie. LIS utHS-
papers are as remarkable as the city. There
are no better papers printed than The
CALL, Chronicle and Examiner. While in
San Francisco, l was in one cemetery con-
tanning the graves Of David c. Broderick
and Edwin c. Baker, the equals of any
Americans, past or present, Senator Sare
gent, senator Quinn, all IN one quarter OF
an acre of ground. spot Of earth scarcely
to be eQualed in the republic.
5" The wealth OF California in great men
shows how climate, mountains, sea and sky
affect the temperament of people in the en-
eouragement and reward they give. Such
pride in State and country Is stimulating TO
the mind and heart, and this spirit is prev
alent in the mountains. Why. even the
cowboys, so picturesque in manner and
costume, are many OF them the gentlest of
men, fond of poetry and literature as well
as lovers of nature. In our mountain rides
on stage and on horseback we found capital
entertainment among many OF these men
aud Diuch OF general interest. Many OF
them are familiar with history, science and
literature, and about the campfire at night
many OF them draw out guitar, hddle, or
volume of poetry and charm the hearers in
equal measure. Many of them are men of
education and good families, who prefer
this kind of life with nature to any
other. and almost any of them would die in
defense of women or children, and even of
strangers, if need should come. Their
70 ugh costumes often cover hearts veined
with a tenderness and chivalry that the car
pet knight of the city neither possesses nor
appreciates. Another very interesting
feature of the West is the Indian. You
find MIN in every place in his native shape
and habit. You see fine specimens Of man
hood trapped out i'll true colors, showing
that barbarians have had the love and
schooling of nature in colors. l must have
d streak of barbarism in me, for l love
bright colors. So, in fact, does everybody.
This is why a bright spot in nature or
clothing catches and holds the eye. We may
learn something from line Indian, or even
comfort Of clothing. The FlorentineS were
the best-dressed people the world has had,
and they dressed in colorS and allowed in
dividuaity in dress. The modern fashion
of putting all men in undertaker's black
leaves them as much alike as an army of
crows from the common r00kery."