The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-01
!. AROUND THE PARK.
From Mountain Peak the Cross Casts
=. Shadows Below.

r.. The attractions of the exposition
grounds failed TO divert very many peo-
pie from Golden Gate Park on the last
: day of the year. While the attendance
was not so large as usual, it was suff-
. GENTLY so to fill the auditorium on the
concert ground
:. The park police had quite quiet time
:. until about 4 o'clock. when the rush on the
part Of the people for home kept the off.
GERS at the entrance busy. Car after car
was laden with crowd that clambered in
some instances even on top of the cars.
:. at was a gOod-natured crowd-perhaps a
e. trifte: more quiet than usual. Yesterday
was the day specially set apart for form
ing good resolutions, to be put to the test
during the incoming year. Whether the
determination to swear OFF, from some
particularly favOrite form of pleasure or
vice made them thoughtful or notcan be
known only to themselves.
&. When the last strains of the band had
died away in. the afternoon quite a mum Der
of the listeners strolled around through
the shady walks aud driveways. Not a
few went as: far as Drake Hill. upon the
summit of whichis the Celtic cross COM
memmorating the first use of the Book of
Common Prayer on Californian soil. In
the year 1879 Sir Francis Drake landed in
the Inlet now known rs brakes bay. Il
was there Chaplain Fletcher used the
:. Book CT Common Prayer upon the landing
from the Golden Hind being effected. a
little over 800 years later the fact is being
common Grated by the erection of the
+" Christian symbol in the shadow of which
all Of the culture, refinement and progress
IS being. represented In the exposition
grounds. II -.
- a bleak wind swept over the mountain
side yesterday. aid in the gloom Of the
advanced day gnOmish shadows were cast.
= Here and there shadOwy forms fitted
about, climbing to examine the huge struc-
ture of solid masonry. Later. as the light
banks of fog came floating from seward
the mountain was deserted. In an inter-
mittent:manneT only had the sun pierced
through the clouds that hid it from view
during the daY; but just before it sank
below the horizon the fOgbank drifted. the
clouds rolled aside and from blue sky
the sun cast its radiance over portion OF
the park lands. -.
: The cross was bathed in the food of
golden light, and below, in the valley, the
gorgeous colOring OF the exposition build
ings were Illuminated and glittered in the
radiant stream. High upon the pinnacled
dome of more than one building shone the
crescent. Curious incOngruity! The Orient
and the Orcident meet; the crescent
shining in he valley and the cross in
almost solemn majesty alone on the
mOuntain-tOp.'
Only for a few moments and then the
gold and pink Of sunseJ deepeDed into the
purple shadows of night. Old Sol chad
given his benediction and departed.
AS the last fOotStep was turned toward
the park gates all nature seemed hushed to
sleep. Only the whispering of the trees
rs they sighed forth a requiem for the
dying year was to be heard. Father Time
had wrapped himself in inky cloak
and in the stillness aud darkness of night
shook his hoary locks as he forever dis
appeared to give place to the bright and
laughing infant to be known as the
year 1894,