The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-06

Boston brains are buZzing like so
many buzz saws over the very
pertinent question: Where does the
devil spend the summer" 1t is con-
coded by all that he spends it among
his friends, but there is a radical and
somewhat heated difference of opinion
as to whether his friends are found in
the city or at the summer resorts.
OF course such a question would not
give rise to any earnest discussion here.
The Californian devil may be at Santa
Cruz, Shasta or somewhere in Amador,
but We know he is not in San Fran
cisco. and therefore it would be i'm
possible for even the most diSputatious
man to raise an argument on the issue.
Nevertheless, as a matter Of leisure
day amusement it will be worth while
to take a look at the subject from a
Boston standpoint. Boston view is
nearly always worth having; and be-
sides, to talk of the devil is such
variation from municipal politics that
even If considered as a novelty merely,
It VIII be found of interest to all moral
lists and summer resort people.
One Bostonian. who evidently believes
duty and work TO be the supreme things
in life. maintains the devil goes to the
mountains and the seashore as soon as
the summer season opens. He says:
"Of course, Satan turks about the
hours of idleness, the hours of absence
from ordinary associations and re-
straints, the hours of vacation abandon.
to tempt to every form of evil, to all
pride, and selfshness and self-indul-
gence."
Another of the same creed, and pos
sibly of the same complexion, but or a
livelier disposition and more pictur-
esque style jumps into the controversy
with the exclamation:
"One moment, if you please, while 1
telephone an order to hell for my win
ter's stock of fuel. Now, then, friends,
what can l do for you? An excursion
to hadesl Well, come on. Start at
Paradise, take the man and the woman
briefly stopping there; go by way or
the modern parks, the mountains, the
harbors. the beaches and the sea. On,
now, with 'seven-leagued boots to hell
and return"
In that outburst are three statements
which may be regarded as among the
most interesting news items of the day.
One is the announcement of the exist
enca of telephone communication be-
tween Boston and hell another that 1t
is practicable in that city to obtain
fuel from hades and the third that one
NAV go to hell and then return to
Boston. 1t is true that no one having
gone to hell has ever been known to
return to Boston, but that is not sur
prising when you come to think of it.
The arguments of those who maintain
that the devil spends his summer in the
CITY are weak even as the theory is
weak. He is but a sentimentalist who
believes Satan would stay in town with
the workers when he could go to the
summer resorts where the flirters are,
and accordingly the arguments of such
a man run naturally to sentiment.
One of these says: The devil-to
ADOPT that convenient dramatic figure
is a specialist in the emotions. The
bounding life which humanity enjoys,
in common with all nature, during the
season from seed-time to harvest
affords him a very particular oppor-
tunity, provided he can get the cond1-
tions which he desires. The desired
conditions are supplied on a very large
scale by the narrow streets, ugly brick
walls, dust and aggravating strips OF
dull-colored sky, which go to make up
the city landscape. During the winter
It may be endured. During the sum-
mer it is impossible"
Another advocate on that side de-
clares there is at every summer resort
something which overcomes the devil
so that he cannot stay there and has
to return to town. He says:
Mature Is the eternal inspirer of
curiosity and the prime source of
healthy mental growth. Nature calls
forth unrepressed sentiment Nature
removes Encouragement, which Is only
disenchanted egotism'; and by its
reach. its power, it's perfection, supplies
a new perspective, which makes and
keeps large-hearted way Of life easier
than it was before"
Thus stands the dispute. 1t will be
noted with something of surprise that
, not single disputant in Boston thinks
it worth while to raise the question
whether there be devil or not.
Painters and sculptors have so fire.
Quently ana So ell plldllCdilS
the masculine garb of our time as an
abomination incapable of artistic treat
ment it is interesting to learn from the
high authority of expert tailors that
these complaining folks are talking of
something they know nothing about,
and the pictures they paint of the gar
ments of the time are but caricatures
of the really attractive dress tailors
make for men.
The critic of the London Art Fashion
Journal has reviewed with care the por-
traits exhibited this year at the Royal
Academy, and in his heart he mourns
over what he saw there. THE tailor"
he says, has to study how he can in
troduce effect into the costume of his
customer in such a way as to empha-
size the points of beauty and hide any
features of ugliness that may exist.
In the majority of the portraits to be
seen on the walls of Burlington House
on this occasion we feel that as tailors
we have been grossly libeled. There
| L., Il.