The San Francisco call., 1896-11-08

ii. k.
h;,; IA, author OF Thoughts for the Times
music and Mora So etc. New York: Dodd,
Mead q Co. For sale by William Doxey, Palace
Hotel, City; price, vols, SIS
"Adieu! to San Francisco, with its bright
skies, Its loyal, open-hearted citizens. its beau
:tlfui- sensible and sympathetic women, its
marvellous cable-cars and electric trans that
run up and down its perpen ndicular streets like
maglc-Rs the Cinnamon say: No pushee, no
pullee, but go vera last much Adieui the
busy mart and the bustling hotel, the crowded
church, the fraternal clergy, the pleasant So
cial gathering, the genial hospitality and the
inventive newspaper reporter
1t is in these parting words that the Rev. 81.
r. Haweis pays lis respects 10 this City in his
recently published work entitled Travel and
Talk" which purports to be record of 100,-
600 miles of travei undertaken by the author
in the years 1855, 1898 and 1895. Mr.. Haweis
is well known in this country, both as a cleric
and q writer. His last book cont tains much
that is interesting and amusing TO American
readers generally and to residents of the Peci-
hc States in particular.
The author of Travel and Talk" evidently
came to this country prepared to criticize. To
certain extent he has carried out his pur-
pose. Americans OF former generation re-
member with bitterness their experience with
Charles Dickens, who was feted and honized
and made much OF in the Eastern cities of this
continent, yet returned to his native land and
peRned his American Notes. wherein he
scathingly criticized Yankee manners and
customs. Mr.. Haweis has registered his
opinions OF our people, but he has done so in
a rather gentler manner. While pointing out
the crudities of American civilization, he is
careful to present our good points, and for
these mercles let US be thankful.
We shall take up in this review that portion
Of Mr.. Aawels' diary having particular rela-
tion to San Francisco, for the reason that the
81 % nj. saf- Ia.
ward the metropolis OF the Pacific Coast is the
same as that which he employs for every
other city visited by him. He commences with
the climate, that perennial subject introduced
by the Californian TO the stranger within his
gates, from whom unstintiug admiration is
expected. Los Angeles, the Clergyman found
':.wretchedly coid," and San Francisco very
damp. He says, however, that if he desired to
prolong his lie he ould probably take up his
residence at 'San Raffaelle." (The gentle
reader is requested to note the spe.lIng)
There is one point about which CaliIornians
have been much misrepresented, and that is
their supposed sensitveness TO criticism.
This, Mr.. Haweis thinks, more imaginary
than real. "You can discuss with them," he
. says, "Ihe state of the arts or education, and
there viii be little difference of opinion be-
tween cultivated European and an average
shrewd and educated Californian on such
matters. What they detest is Tor peop.e who
have concealed their real opinion and fiat
tered them up when in their midst to get
right away and then round upon them" Our
author confesses that he has learned wisdom
in America aud hence has failed to share the
fate OF Mrs. Kendai and LottIe Collins of "Jay
Town" fame.
Civic corruption on the Pacific Coast comes
In tor share OF amusing comment. the Lon
don clergyman processes 10 have a vast and
aboundlhg admiration for Mayor Sutro whom
ne ca na mar Of San Fra ppiS
He thus describes the historical mass-meetin
held at Metropolitan Temple:
CAT that meeting the best speakers-men of
position, Senators, Judges of the Supreme
Court, ETC., INDUCED in such amenities as
'Jobson is q ihief; 'Bounder is a perjurer' !;
e. der Smut is the owner of bad houses, -
street; 'Grasper was turned out OF Bunkum's
Office for robbing the till'; '3inker is liar
and '0'Sneakum forged a wilP-sentiments
received with uproarlous applause, some of
. the incriminated parties being present and
smiling around blandly."
A pleasant chapter or two is devoted to
Christmas in San Francisco Our methods OF
celebrating the birthday of the founder of
great faith met with the strong appreciation of
Mr.. Hawels. As he expresses it, ii is sound
to the core" Further than this, he remarks:
:; This go-ahead country, this materiahstic,
money-grubbing Frisco is in matters of reli-
gion and OF use and won't the most con-
u.
The Christmas high and low jinks of the
Bohemian Club were matters of marvel to the
author OF Gravel and Talk" In passing he
takes occasion to comment upon the fact that
the rowdy element that is apt 10 creep into
such clubs IN London was conspicuous by its
absence IN San Francisco. "ThIs guild of
Friscos wit and wisdom, whose symbol is an
owl with Que eye winked, has gathered in by
kind OF magnetic attraction all the esprits
6Dp nf hQ lam
tors and artists meet in Bohemia on common
ground. Boisterous, roIlicking, effu-
sive 10 the point OF almost Celtic senti-
mentality, but rowdy. coarse, risque-No!"
1t Will tnus have been seen that, viewed in
atleast TWO most important aspects, San Fran
cisco, So far from being behind the metropolis
OF the Old World, is acknowledged by q promi-
nent London divine, scholar, writer and stu
dent OF human nature 10 be far ahead oil it
In the reception accorded to the Christmas
festival Engiishmen have from time imme
mortal considered themselves to be pre-
eminent The yule log, with its accompani-
ment of Santa Claus and general merry
making, has by many been accepted as suggest
ing English hosp. .tallty and English senti-
menL Yet here is an eminent Englishman
who feels it incumbent on him to confess that
the Californian's welcome to Christmas is at
least as warm and as pleasant "On the
whole" concludes the autEor OF Travel and
Talk, al think it would improve some of our
glish pessimists TO come over here and get
their English sourness knocked out of them
and little San Francisco merriment knocked
into them about Christmas time. They would
have better chance of beginning Happy
new year"
as for English clubs, who will deny that
they have ever been regarded, both by the
conservative Briton and the outsider as en-
blematic of English solidity and English re-
spectability. But If we TO believe Mr.
Haweis who certainly ought to know, there
exists certain "rowdy element which is apt
to creep into London clubs. which con-
spicuous by is absence in San Francis CO."
Surely, then, we can dry the tear caused by
the wounds inflicted upon our pride by act
resses to whom our theater-goers have pre-
sented the cold shoulder.
A visit 70 the Stanford and LELAND (sic) Uni
versity and lecture to the students in attend
ance is one of the recorded events of Mr..
os,s. n. ftos ohn1o~ -