The San Francisco call., 1908-05-10

WV harbor and the busy launches
are bringing their occupants
to and fro. and while the
streets are 5hronged with visitors and
the colors are blowing bravely against
the sky from every street crossing
San Francisco's society can think of
nothing-tak Of nothing-dream Of
nothing bat the fleet. All the months
OF patient waiting are over at last. all
the vague plans have suddenly sprung
into full growth. and all the hazy
dreams are being shamed by the splen-
did reality. A few months ago the
girls of the smart set We're daringly
suggesting that if-if the fleet really
came. then wouldn't it be glorious if
if-Uf again)-Mr. Greenway should
really give ball; and wouldn't it be
too good to be true-if mother should
chsperone some OF US to Monterey, and
there should be another ball at Del
Monte. And wouldn't it be wonderful
to shake hands with Admiral sperry.
and Admiral Thomas. and Cwell. why
not? since we are only supposing) Ad-
miral Evans himself.
And all these things have come to
pass. and have proved even better ana
more delightful than they were in the
dream. They have formed chain of
memories that nothing will ever break
1or California's women. Just as, in her
dark hour. san Francisco reached a
depth that had never been touched in
human experience before, so when the
time came that she could forget her sor-
rows she rose 10 a height of brilliancy
that no city in the world ever ecIipsed.
The courage. the sheer gaIlantry OF it,
have made deep appeal to the vie-
itors here. One navy woman after an
other. looking from the windows of the
big hotels into the streets that are still
SCARED and torn from the fire Of two
years ago. has turned back in amaze
ment 10 the interior view-the hand
somely finished walls. the curtains. the
rugs. the hospitable merry women in
their exquisite frocks and Jewels. It
is amazing TO them-more amazing
perhaps than even the great armada
is to US.
Ten remarkable days In the city,s
social history are ended To-Day, and
there viii be nearly as many more be-
fore we must say a temporary good
by to the feet These days began
Thursday. more than a week ago, when
San Francisco's girls began to pack
their pretty summer clothes for a visit
to Del Monte. They went down in
groups of ten and dozen and scat
tered themselves all over the big hotel
late Thursday afternoon.
There was bunting everywhere and
there was a dull. steady murmur OF
talk that was all of feet. but otherwise
there was nothing to suggest that So
ciety was crossing a great threshold
California. Thursday evening the girls
spent in writing postal cards chow
many thousand postal cards. by the
way. are mailed from Del Monte every
week2) and observing. casually, that
as they didn't know single soul on the
feet they didn't expect to get single
invitation or dance when the ships
came in.
Nevertheless they arose early Friday
morning and went in shivering and
yawning. groups to Monterey. whore
there were crowds even at o'clock.
The ships took every one by surprise
and no one saw them come in unless it
was the guiis Cwho were noncommit
taD, SO that society returned discon-
solate 10 the hotel and ate enormous
breakfasts by way Of consolation.
However. by noon on the same day.
life suddenly began to move fast and
furiously. Launches were going out to
the ships. messages were coming in
from them. whistles and horns were
echoing far and. near. and. best of all.
the sun had come out from the clouds
and the day was perfect That night
the hotel was crowded to the highest
attic room, and the halls and porches
were gay whirlpools Of dainty frocks
and brass buttons. gay laughter and
talk. There were plenty of officers,
both old and famous and young and
susceptible, so that every one was hap
py- The dance at the Monterey Pre-
sidio was so crowded that many of the
girls and boys returned early to Del
Monte and had an impromptu dance
in the art gallery. which is a delight
ful little ballroom This was the evsk-
ing that every one was thoroughly
soaked on the drive home from the
post, and any number of military coats
and any amount OF sympathy were in
demand in consequence.
Saturday was the day Of the dance,