The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-11-01
A SUNDAY IN SAN FRANCISCO.

A great city so cosmopolitan In 1t
character as is San Francisco spends it
holidays and days of recreation il
countless ways. And the great da.
of pleasure here is Sunday. The on
day in the week when the counties
thousands who live by toll from earl.
morn till late at night can lay asid
life's cares and troubles and each il
their own peculiar way enjoy the da.
of freedom. The modes of enjoymen
are as numerous and varied as the IA
tions representated in this far city h,
the western sea. The Italian, Ger
man, Frenchman, Spaniard, Mexican,
Russian, the Greek, the Turk, tn
Syrian and the Hindoo devotee, pusI
and iostle one another in their hurry
ing progress towards the enjoyment O
their pleasures.
Let us take our stand at the grea
Ferry depot on a Sunday morning.
The cars are discharging their bur
dens of people at its entrance and Gid
ing away for more. These people ar
all bound for the various resorts acros
the bay. A big German picnic ha
been advertised for Shuetzen park
Here comes stout and sturdy Ger
man butcher, contentedly smoking hi
big German pipe. At his side the pa
tient looking little frau and troop
ing behind them in generous profusior
the little Germans. The little girls
arrayed in beruffled white and adorned
with a sufficiency of blue sash. On
their faxen. heads little white hat
with more blue ribbon and forget-me
nots. The little "knabes'' looking a.
uncomfortable as possible in new suits
which they have not yet been permit
ted to transform into dirty and com
Portable costumes. Family after fam.
lily they come, care free, good natured
and supremely happy. And now the
strains of "Die Yacht Am Rhine
presages the coming of the little Ger
man band and the putting, perspiring
musicians devote every energy to their
horns as they proudly march onto the
boat. Then the warning gong rings
and amid hurry and confusion the
last belated German rushes on, picnic
lunch in one hand, baby in the other.
Last, but not least, wagon bearing
a most generous supply of the German
beverage, lager. But we shall see nc
"drunks' for while our German likes
his glass of beer he is albeit temper
ance man.
Hardly have they left when there
come the representatives. of another
nation on pleasure bent and we know
from look of face and sound of voice
that Sunny France" is represented
here. The Cercle Franchise is off for
its annual outing. Perhaps little
more subdued in voice, though inces-
SAINT in speech as the French are, and
little more deliberately dressed and
gowned. But the same happy care
free laughter. And here we see more
of the younger people. Many young
couples of the romantic age. And the
French are a passionate, romantic
people. Francois and Marie off for a
day by themselves, day wherein they
may, as the comedian says, 'sit side
by each" and pay homage to that OBJ
stinate little god, Cupid. For that
same wicked little fellow holds control
alike over the heart of Briton and Ger
man and Gaul. And perhaps pretty
little, dark-eyed Marie will come home
at night tired and weary but with a
new sparkle in her eyes and in her
heart feeling of delicious content
ment, for has not the gallant Francois
asked her the old, old question and
has she not given him her promise
true2 Truly these picnics are great
stamping grounds for Cupid. The
French, too, take their liquid refresh
ments with them but it is the juice of
the sun-kissed California grape that
slakes their thirst and gladdens their
heart. And here again we shall see
no one the worse for drink
And now we turn to leave the ferry,
passing by numerous small family
parties with their lunch baskets, off
to spend the day quietly at Mill Valley
or some other beautiful little valley
spot in the Marin hills, where the
towering pines and great live oaks
throw their shadows by the side of the
gently murmuring brooks. Where the
grass is figured with fern and flower.
The birds sing more joyously. And
the air is sweet and fresh and un-
tainted by smoke and smell of the
great city so near at hand. Those
beautiful little spots which make one
better for having seen them, which
reveal in it's true beauty the handi-
work of the Creator Finally places
which make one think that God gave
all that was and is best and most
beautiful to California. -. :. -
But a. we go our.progress is'stopped
by-a noisy, pushing crowd Consisting
entirely of young people, between the
q oac Of OF obfoop opI fh;rtu Thav k>o