The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-27

teers have returned to find the city in
festal array for their welcome; and
from the moment when The Call first
announced to the public the arrival Of
the Sherman off the Golden Gate down
to the closing glories of last night,
everybody in town has had "halcyon
and vociferous time" Visitors from the
interior who witnessed the celebration
and shared in its raptures will be con-
spcuous among their fellow citizens
when they return home by the size Of
their heads and their demand for hats
a little larger than they really ought
to wear Among our own citizens there
will be, of course, no such distinction
of persons, for the heads and the hearts
of all have expanded in unison. We are
all somewhat bigger, brighter and bet
ter than ever before because We know
we have done the right thing in the
right way at the right time and have
sufficient self-appreciation to be proud
of it. Moreover, the end is not yet, for
it is safe to say most folks will no
sooner get out of bed on this day of
rest than they will proceed to have a
frolic for the rest of the day.
There have been in other cities many
greater and more brilliant pageants
than those which during the week have
been displayed on our bay and along
our streets, but there never has been
one in the world where so large a pro-
portion of the whole people took part,
or where the popular ardor and en-
thusiasm were greater. AS a popular
demonstration of honor to brave men
the reception accorded to CALIFORNIA;
heroes has never been surpassed.
The significance Of the dehonstra
ton will not escape the mind of
any thoughtful person. The American
people are not warlike in the ordinary
meaning of the word. They are not
inordinately fond of military glory, nor
have they any aspirations for battles
and conquests. Nevertheless, when
Just cause for war arises the republic
never lacks for volunteers to take up
arms and follow the flag wherever
duty calls. Thousands of those who
thronged the streets to cheer the vol
unteers would as readily have enlisted
to follow them across the sea had the
nation needed them in continuance of
a war for liberty, for justice and for
humanity. The reception given to the
volunteers who in the Philippines
have attested their devotion to the re-
public and their Willingness to give life
itself for their country was therefore
one of fullest sympathy, and the re-
sounding acclamations were expressions
of the deepest and truest as we'll as
the most joyous and jubilant of emo
tons.
Whoever saw Market street in the
glow of it's Examinations must have felt
like taking off his hat to the memory
of the pioneers who planned for the
city in its early days that magnificent
thoroughfare. 1t seemed to have been
ordained prophetically for this partic-
ular occasion, and with the innumer>
able lights, many colored and various
as the rainbow, festooned above 1t and
waIling it in, the great avenue was
more mystically and beautifully gor-
geous than ever was the Sacred Way
that led to the temple of the Capitoline
Jove when adorned for the pomp and
splendor of imperial triumphs.
We have indeed, for once at any rate,
accomplished something artistic and
splendid in the way of street illumina-
ton. There was no evidence any
where of lack of taste or lack of money.
From where the tapering tower of the
ferry depot rose like a shaft of light
against the darkness, to where the
dome of the illuminated City Hall
shone respondent, the glittering lights
were everywhere as multitudinous as
the eye desired. The whole street was,
in fact, like a setting for a grand opera
and formed a fitting stage for the ex-
ultant drama of glorious life that was
enacted upon it.
Before the glow of delight in the
festival dies away and our thoughts
are made dry as dust by the municipal
campaign that impends above us.
something in the way of public thanks
and testimonial should be given to the
members of the executive committee
to whom we are all indebted for the
success of the reception. When the
committee first announced its plans
and asked for $4,000 to carry them out,
the proposition was regar led as an ex-
travagance. Many persons declared
the sum could not be raised, and for
a time the committee had but half
hearted support even from the most
generous. The plans, however, were
well devised. Anything less magnifi-
cent would have aroused less ardor.
The longer the people meditated upon
the subject the more were they pleased
with the brilliancy of the undertaking.
In the end, as is now well known, the
whole people responded to the commit
tees leadership. and we have had a
celebration that will have a national
reputation. Therefore while we are
cheering it is but right there should be
three times three and a tiger for the
executive committee.
Next to the patriotism displayed in
the warmth Of the reception given to
the volunteers the most notable feature
of the festival was the delight of the
people in the beauty of the decorations
and in the freedom of the holiday. We
are clearly an artistic, glad hearted,
pleasure loving community. The crowds
that thronged the streets night after
night were happy and were gay in the
exuberance of their joy in frolic We
q ra NOT of that class of r-I,0