The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-07
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
A RIVAL FOR SUNSET COX.

To the Editor OF the San Francisco Cdtl-S1R:
One of the most beautiful as well as one of the
most novel speetacles was accorded the pas
sengers on the different ferry-boats crossing
the bay this morning just before sunrise. AS
witnessed from the ferry-boat /Tiburon the
view was extremely gorgeous. The whole sky
toward the south, west and north was shrouded
by veil of almost inky b!ackness, and the
City could hardly be discerned through this
ebony shroud; but over toward the east, just
q little above the horizon, was presented such
a grand and magnificent sight that 1t excited
the keenest admiration OF all beholders-a
spectacle that sh oil remain permanently fixed
in the memory of all who beheld this admra-
tion-inspiring scene. 1t was just before the
god of day peeped his fiery eye beyond the
apex of the Coast Range mountains. 1t re-
quired no cudgeling of the brain or effort of the
Imagination to behold, planted in the eastern
sky, veritable scene of enchantment.
The sun, before beginning his daily patrol
around this portion of his domain, shot his
preliminary rays among number of fragmen-
tary clouds that had lodged in the eastern
heavens, and the effect was magical. There
were presented to view long and serpent-like
creeks and rivulets, winding through extern
sive and level marshes, apparently running as
far as the eye could reach and losing them
selves In distance and space. Forests of trees
could be plainly discerned in various places, of
ali sizes and shapes, in clumps, and here and
there solitary ones standing majestically alone,
and occasionally some monarch of the forest
standing supremely above his kind. Lakes as
of liquid silver nestled between mountains of
extraordinary height and covered with luxuri-
Gus growths of vegetation, and giving to wit
nesses of this resplendent scene q birdseye
view OF all this gorgeouSness at one and the
same time Then there were bays OF sparkling
gold, STUDDED with numerous isles, some ap-
parently connected with the mainland by
natural bridges, and traversing on its smooth
surface might be seen graceful boats and
crafts of fantastic shapes, and now and
then steamer could be imagined,
with curling smoke putting from a
perceptive smokestack. And farther off in the
far distance was an ocean OF unnatural calm
ness, spreading seemingly without end. until
the eye could not follow it to where it joined
itself with the horizon A little toward the
north, where Soils rays were not so panetrat-
ing, could be distinctly seen distant cities,
with growths of trees, and smoke issuing from
tall chimneys of specter manufactures, while
from fancied roads leading thereto, CLOUDS of
dust enveloped their entire length as If caused
by the tramp of armies of men and charge of
heavy dragons Indeed. no picture of fairy
land, even by the most mastery and versatile
brush, could equal the magic picture portrayed
in the eastern sky this morning by that great
and irreproachable artist, the sun, and as il
dissatisfied with his work. on taking one
glance at the whole picture as he peeped over
the hills, and not deeming 1t worthy his arts