The San Francisco call., 1909-10-20

tillery passed, and then came the shin
ing dragons and Don Gaspar himself.
Passing around two sides of the
square, Californias first governor, of
lcially, who is really Nicolas Covar-
rubias. a Spanish gentleman of Santa
Maria, dismounted before the throne.
and, dofing his feathered hat to the
cheers of the multitude, mounted the
court steps, escorted by Colonel ]. K.
Ritter, commander of the Portola dra-
goons.
P. T. Clay, chairman of the Portola
committee, received Don Gaspar at the
foot of the stairway and escorted him
TO the platform, where he was i'm
mediately introduced to Mayor Taylor.
Don Gaspar de Portola, first COVER
nor of California" said Clay, in pre-
senting the royal discoverer.
Don Gaspar. I salute you,' the
mayor answered. and while Gaspsr
stepped back, hat in hand, the mayor
addressed him and the knot of men
upon the platform, who stood with
barred heads.
THE MEMBERS SALUTATIoN
Governor Gaspar de Portola, on be-
half of the people of San Francisco I
greet you, and I welcome you" the
mayor said. 1T has been a long time
since you looked upon the bay and the
hills surrounding it, and many things
have taken place since then. And Ii
is partly because the time has been SO
long that we greet you and welcome
you-particularly on a day like this,
when the skies favor US with their
brightest blue.
Your coming meant far more i'm
portant thing than the discovery of
the bay alone. That, IL is true, was
an important point in your career, but
more important, was the fact that you
and your party were the first to push
on the paths of civilization into Alta
California.
Where you have been these past I4o
years, your excellency, we do not know
and do not care. You are here to-
day, and that is enough for us. 1t is
surprising to all of us that you appear
so young, and IL must be that you
have found Ponce de Icons fountain
of youth, and drunk deeply Of its
waters.
II presume you have read the Leg
end of Rip Van Winkle, that unfor-
tunate farmer who wandered into the
mountains and there was put to sleep
by fairy magic, to remain asleep for
20 years. After the lapse of that
time he returned to his native village
and found that no one knew him.
There he gave expression to the most
pathetic words man ever voiced. How
soon we are forgotten he said in
sorrow. How far different 1t is with
you, Don Gaspar. So far from no one
knowing you, we all know you. You
are better known now, in fact, than
when you discovered the bay. You,
the discoverer, are rediscovered.
ct now devoives upon me to present
to you the key to the city. You will
see, governor, that 1t is a large key;
but San Franciscans have large hearts
and il takes a big key, indeed, to un-
lock them.
be brief, it will be great and glorious.
welcome awaits you from your merry
subjects"
DON GAsPAR RECEIVES KEY
Don Gaspar received the key and
Immediately responded in Spanish, CIV
ing in impassioned fashion an eloquent
address. Concluding this. he gave the
speech in English.
As the last words died and a roar
of applause swept over those upon the
stand and the Jolly crowd without
which knew not what the spoken words
had been, but applauded because their
humor directed them to be gay, Gov
ernor Giliett arrived painting on the
scene in a light business suit and ap-
parentiy hardly ready TO take part in
any ceremonial
Just got off the train" the governor
painted, but l wouldn't miss this for
million dollars, so I came just as
was"
Glad you got here at alI,'' P. T.
Clay said, and Mayor Taylor led the