The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-05-03


Miss Gates left the desert with some
thing less than peace in her heart az
the thought OF coming back TO our OWN
superficial civilization The close in-i
tinacy with these children OF the des-
ert had made her somewhat Impatient.
OF the restrictions We have built up
about ourselves. She felt.that we make.
reason, and. IN her diary asks her
self: Have the Arabs and other really
free people spoiled me for our eiviliza-
tion2'
An Odd Journey
From the desert trip to a trip up
the Nile was an easy progression. Srs
found the cost % a ticket quite beyond
her slender means and was IN despair
over her trip when il was suggested
that she go in one OF the native boats.
Of course. nothing could have suited
her better. It was exactly what she
would have chosen. The boat was In
deed. a simple, primitive sort OF craft,
being in fact a floating postof1ce. II
stopped ar every village and gave oUt
the letters In bags and handfuls. This
postmaster general, Saba Pasha. was =
passenger on this special trip, and
through his intertersnce Miss Gates
was almost deprived OF one OF the NOSE
exciting experiences OF an already
varied career
It was at ASsousn. the frontier. OK
Nubia, the goal OF most travellers who
return happily to Cairo, having seen
the hrst cataract.
The large and roomy boat was aban.
doned here and a smaller one with
no accommodations for second class
cabin. was boarded TO- the rest OF the
trip. The postmaster general Informed
Miss Gates that she could go no fur
eli a
first class passage. '.s
But may not take deck passager
she inquired. Ne
The pasta was horror struck, and he
showed il. Certainly not" he an
swered- But he reckoned' this rtnns
termined 10 90 on that boat as a deck
passenger. and she went.
Her arrangements for comfort we're
soon made. A box to sit on. the watsr
proof coat hung up as a screen ons
or two books and her paint box Mss
Gates was triumphant and happy. AZ
night she intended sleeping on the hard
deck, but the pasta. sent her an 01er-
Ing Of a mattress. and the engineer,
who was an Englishr1an. lent her. q
blanket and pillow. Her laundering.
generally such a weighty problem with
tourists, was simply solved. The Nile
served as washtub and her umbrella an
ClOL0eS line. cLe OpcuoO u up u1l6
the dripping garments over - when she
went 70 bed and lot the next morning
there was a sweet fresh change OF
linen, or rather Bingham. waiting her.
Al these years OF her wanderings
Miss Gates kept in touch with. her
friends In a novel way-by means OF
circular letters. She kept three OF
them going all the time having Is
friends on each list
Il think I shall go TO Iceland tomors
row." announced Miss Gates one day
And she did and found there such
wealth OF arctic plants as amply 90
along the edge OF the ice cap she
found poppies that had thrust thslr
little heads up through the snow 20 the
sunlight IN a fashion brave enough TO
send a thrill TO the sentimental heart
II was in 1898, during the financial
panic. that Miss Gates wEg forcs1 -
return 10 America. she had always
wished TO spend her old are On the
Pacific coast choosing il from the world
as the place for ones permanent home.
But duties OF various kinds kept her
IN the east until 1909. For the past
eight years. however. she has lived
quietly IN san Francisco. happy and
satisfied In the memory OF her younger
days. She certainly has crowded more
experiences into her life than the or
binary woman even hears Of And 90
far from family and kindred. this won
derfui woman, student and artist. IS
passing the evening OF her life Far
from those OF her own blood as she
may be. however. she can never be far
from her friends She has them all
over the world. from North cape to
Nubtr. frgm China 70 san Frraciscas