The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-17
THE OLDEST MAN
ON MISSION ROAD
Views With Delight the
Lighting Up of st.
Mary's College.
UNIQUE CHURCH FAIR.
A Charity Entertainment for
the Benefit of a Worthy
Parish.
REV. P. D. BRADY'S FLOCK.
Japanese Lanterns Strung in Fes.
toons in a Grove of Trees
Light Up the Way.
REV. P. D. BRADY's FLOCK.

John Resting is the Oldest man, as well
as the oldest resident, on the Mission road.
He wants this to be distinctly understood,
and, as he stands on the porch of his home
and waves his arm as though outlining
the horizon, he says:
There was nothing out here when
built this home more than thirty-nine
years ago, and have lived here ever
SINCE"
Old man Resting is one of the early ar
rivals in this City. He reached here
aboard the steamer Panama on April 4,
1851, and his judgment of good Ioca-
ton for home. founded after half
dozen years study, was the very site in
which he now lives.
This reminds me of oIden times" he
chuckled last evening, looking out and
over the grand scene before him. 'There
is old st. Mary's College and its beautiful
grounds. When / came here il wasn't yet
built and the trees were not yet planted.
Look at il now. Isn't that beautifu1?''
AS a matter of fact the scene was pos
itively lovely and inspiring. The old col
lege lowered high above the pines and
eucalyptus trees far in the background.
The grove to be traversed before reaching
it was Illuminated by thousands of jap
anese lanterns strung in festoons, and in
light and airy costumes betting the
balmy atmosphere of the warm belt hun
dreds of young and pretty girls with at
tentive cavaliers promenaded, laughed,
chatted and generally made merry before
entering the portals of the old edifice
where was being held the bazaar for the
benefit of the old st. Mary's parish.
The bazar opened last night and will
continue in vogue until the night of
the Goth.
Father Peter D. Brady, who has gath
cred about him the loveliest buds of his
parochial garden, has Unused into them
much of his bright nature and they have
managed to turn the somber hall of the
old college into veritable poem of color
and bunting.
1t is no wonder that old man Resing
stood back and chuckled with glee as he
gazed upon the merry scene before him.
II remember" said he, 'the day that
| the closing exercises were held over there.
| 1t was after the first six months the col
lege was running. There were $50 pupils
in attendance at the time and every
| single one of them had a whole family
wishing to be present. There were no
streetcars then. Those who came here
had to either tramp over the sand dunes
from the City, come out horseback or in
wagons. This section was packed like
the main street of q mining camp, and [
remember well how every body was
hungry.
~ just swept the shavings out of my
house and laid out tables covered with
sandwiches for every body to feast. Well,
they Toasted, that's all [ can say, and [
had to go without ham and bread until
the old lady could bake again and buy
some more ham, This crowd reminds me
of those old days of nearly forty years ago,
only the girls are prettier. the lads are
better dressed and thew do not aDpear to
be so hungry"
"Come in off that porch John, you're
talking NOR ms good Tor you" came from
the inside where dear old lady sat knit
ting beside her lamp. John subsidized
Four decades ago archbishop Alemany,
Father Gray and Father Brennan OF the
old Mission Dolores church got money
enough together to build st. Mary's Col
Iege. Father Gray was president of the
institution for eight years, and was sue
ceeded by Father Brennan. The Christian
Brothers took charge twenty-four years