The San Francisco call., 1899-04-30

the circumstance that the recent ponce
raids upon the gambling dens of the
city were made a few days after Po-
lice Commissioner Gunst left town, and
not a few days before. Whether due
to the chance that governs condolences
or to sagacity on the part of the police
officers matters little; the chief thing to
note is the advantage we derive from
it. At present we have the satisfac-
ton of knowing that Nose has went.
while an earlier raid on gambling
rooms might have resulted in his de-
tention.
The difference between the degrees of
activity of the police before and
after the departure of the Gunst
Commissioner is so marked 1t
may possibly be significant of
something. The absence of a Com
missioner may have as much effect
on a torpid police force as the pres
ence of a pill on torpid liver. 1t would
be worth While to make further eX-
pertinent in the matter. Perhaps II
Commissioner TObin were given a leave
of absence beyond the limits of the
State there might be raids on some
other things as we'll as on gambling
rooms At any rate, no harm would
be done were the Supervisors to recon-
mend the Commissioner as proper
person to succeed General Smith as
superintendent of police in the Ladros
Islands.
BY this time it is probable the legis-
lators of the recent session have re-
covered sufficiently from the surprise
caused by the suddenness with which
the signature law dropped into innocu-
Gus desuetude TO be in fit condition
to receive suggestions. 1t is timely
therefore to direct their attention to
the weIl-knOwn fact that the hope of
reward is a much more potent incen-
tive to action than the fear of punish
ment. If they wish to obtain the sig
natory scalps of newspaper men they
should offer a bounty for signatures
equal at least to that offered at one
time for coyote scalps. There can be
little doubt of the success of such
law. Under it's operation everything
would be signed Journalists would
come in from Arizona and Nevada to
sign. Taxpayer" Citizen" ''Veri-
tas." "Vox Populi," "Old Subscriber"
Alas. Poor Yorick" and all the anony
munculi would sign. Even Gage, were
the bounty made equivalent to the
value of sheep, would cheerfully sign
good bills, as we'll as bad ones, and thus
do something to redeem his maladmin>
istration. Let the next signature law
be a bounty bin.
The more the proposed panhandle eX
tension is considered the more general
will be the approval given it. 1t has
indisputable merit, and when carried
out will greatly enhance the beauty and
charm of the city. Only, in the name of
all that is worth naming, let it be
called something other than ''panhan-
die" If the grand avenue of approach
is to be known as panhandle, the
pleasure ground itself should be dubbed
Lick Skillet Park" or POT Walloper
Woods" Let us have harmony of
names A noble highway to a Golden
Gate Park should be itself perked up
with a glittering title and wear
golden name.
Our learned friends, the Egyptolo-
time ago. in exploring an ancient tomb
of the time of the Thothmes dynasty,
they discovered certain hieroglyphics
which, all the experts agree, represent
the war cry of the Egyptian armies Of
that period The intoxication of joy
over the discovery soon turned, how
ever. into the deirium tremens of rage
by reason of differences of opinion as
to the meaning of the cry. Some au-
thorities assert the inscription is Hoo
Ra" and as Hoo is an exclamation OF
devotion, while IRA" is a word used
impartially for God King or country
they insist the old Egyptian battle cry
was a loyal, patriotic and religious
shout, For God, King and Native
land" Other authorities say the hier-
oglyphics mean "Hu-Roo," which
would make a very different kind of
battle cry, for those words signify
nothing of patriotism or religion; their
equivalent in our language being "On
to plunder."
While Egyptologists, intoxicated with
the spirit of their own learning and
made delirious by disputation among
themselves, SO IndJ Iney now see SNAKES
in one anothers boots, may regard the
difference between their translation as
a matter of vital Importance to the
welfare of the world, those Of us who
are more sedate and never have intoXi-
cations of any kind can see in the issue
nothing whatever to fight about. 1t is
rather interesting to learn that the
"hurrah' cry was used in Egypt be-
fore the days of Joseph and therefore
is not, as we supposed. an American
ism bursting forth spontaneously on
the Fourth of July, 1776; but there will
be little attention given to the dispute
as to it's meaning. 1t is probable both
translations are right. There have been
very few armies of invasion since the
world began that did not shout with
an equal fervor Hoo Ra-For God ana
Country" and "Hu- Roo-On to Plum
der" It's a way they have in the army.
IF. however, there be a distinction be-
tween the two, further research will
probably disclose that the ancient
Egyptians shouted "Hoo-Ra" in mill
tary campaigns when they went forth
to die. and "Hu-Roo" in their political
campaigns, when they were out for the
Offices.