The San Francisco call., 1901-12-26

There are many gymnasia and athletic
schools in the United States. but it is uni
versally conceded that of all these institutions
this is the most complete--the best and the
most comfortable place for work and play in
the whole country. and it is most of all dis
t1nguished by Its equipment OF fresh and salt
water for bathing purposes ard for the stead
fast culture of the sentiment Of personal clean
illness. which is the prototype Of the higher
civilization. No unclean race was ever great
race, and he who regards not his body the
temple of his soul is not fit to possess the one
or perpetuate the other. Four hundred years
ago Francis Bacon in his great work on the
advancement of learning declared that clean
ness of body was ever esteemed TO proceed from
due reverence to God" Two hundred years
later the great Methodist preacher. John Wes-
ley. admonishing his flock, then, 1 fear, quite
inclined to physical self-neglect, II one may
judge by the context of his discourse upon
the subject of dress uttered the memorable
epigram which deserves to be engraved in let
ters of gold upon the face of the wall Of the
Olympic baths; Care Of the body is GER
tainly duty and not sin; cleanliness is in
deed next TO godliness."
And So founding the observation upon this
text, may say that the Olympic Club if
not a church. is very near one and William
Greer Harrison If not a reverend, is all Nthe
same revered.
History of the Company.
This splendid structure. devoted to athletic
training is, as I say. especially endowed. and
if only Lord verulam and the great Methodist
could again cross the boundaries Of death and
visit here they might heartily congratulate
each other that the seed they sowed had come
to a glorious harvest.
l believe II is now about ten years since
the Olympic Salt Water Company was organ
lied. The idea of supplying the public with
cheap salt water bathing. easy of access, was
born of the active brain of William Greer
Harrison To the capital of the corporation
Messrs. John D. Spreekes and Adolph b.
Spreckels were the principal subscribers and
of its shares they have always retained the
vast majority This benefcent corporation ex-
pended in the construction OF its pumping plant
and connections with the great bath house ON
Larkin street more than $500, 600. This es-
tablishment has been an Infinite blessing to
the health Of the public who frequent it and
an unntxed good to the neighborhood. whose
sewers It's exhausted waters perpetuaIly flush
The Olympic Club at about the same time for
certain legal reasons. organized an outside cor
poratton and obtained from the Board of Su-
pervisors a saltwater franchise which it
proposed to transfer to the Olympic Salt Water
Company in consideration of a perpetual SUNNY
Of salt water for bathing purposes But nm
fortunately. it turned out upon careful in
vestigation. that the franchise so offered for
barter carried with it no power to the mr.
chaser to collect tolls for any salt water which
might be sold. The agreement between the two
corporations was then clearly void for want
of consideration or, at least. utterly neffective
and without value, but that discovery made no
difference to John D. SpreckeIs-hfs word vr-as
good his bond. He had promised tba
water to the waiting swimmers Of the Olvnnic
Club and he performed his promise with re-
ligious exactitude, not by way Of sale bur bv
gracious gift. For than seven wears h.
and his associates pumping plant and nine
lines have inhaled the salty glory OF the Pa-
cihc Ocean and exhaled 1t here. in inanitA
freshness, with the saline scent Of the seawsed
upon 1t, and in 1t the vigorous ozone of +be
sea More than 60O,OOO.OOO gallons of ocean
water have, in q constant tide that has Know,
no ebb, been delivered into the great bathing
reservoir Of your gymnasium to your vast gain
but at a personal loss to Mr.. Spreckels and his
brother of more than 500. 600. and this costly
benefaction is assured to you for the future as
long as the salt water company shall exist or
until the bed Of the ocean shall be pumped
try.
1t is indeed most fitting that the Olympic