The San Francisco call., 1909-10-20
DON GASPAR HAILED
BY MERRY THRONGS
CaIif0rnia's First Governor En-
ters City Escorted by Fight
ing Men of Many Nations
Merry Thousands Pack City's
Streets and Carnival Spirit
Possesses All

American bluejackets. with their little
round canvas hats. We had the rarest
sight OF all, the sight of foreign flags.
the flags of England, Holland, Japan,
Germany and Italy, being carried
through the streets by armed men, and
to all il gave a patriotic thrill of Sc
curity, for the thought was dominant
that only as our honored guests, bent
on celebrating "a victory over the de-
structive forces Of. nature. such as
san Francisco had just won, could a
foreign fag be borne through our
streets at the head of armed men. And
with the American and foreign pro-
fessional lighting men marched the
California citizen soldier and fthe
brightly uniformed lads of the Cali
fornia Greys. And, too. there were the
unique Portola dragons. with their
Furnished cuirasses over their red and
green tunics and with their red helmets
and their glittering halberds, all
mounted on splendid horses. and at
tended by two trumpeters.
Don Gaspar de Portola. governor of
California. followed, his cuirassiers.
There was the JOY of the pageant
there was what converted a Military
parade into a pageant His suit of
brown with golden tights and yellow
boots was a costume of pageantry.
The hero of the day rode a dozen
lengths or so behind his escorting
dragons. History would tell US. if it
were explicit on that point, that when
Portola made his march up the coast
from San Diego, breaking q path
through a formidable wilderness, Cap
tain Portola was in the van. But all
he had 10 do yesterday was to reap the
honors of his earlier prowess.
He was on black horse for the
greater part of the time, though he
changed to his own sorrel Babe" be-
fore approaching the regal dais in
Union square. Like 2 stern governor
who realizes his own worth, the don
wore his black plumed hat The yell
ing thousands doffed their hats to him
IA JUNCTION and the seignior respondee
with a royal wave of his gauntleteds
right hand. He was imperious, yet
grateful for the ovation. 1t was right
that the people should cheer their liege
lord. and he was right ready TO honor
their shouts Of fealty with a grave
salute His weather beaten face was
the face of a warrior his white beard
and hair the crown for conqueror.
Throngs Honor Don Gaspar
And the cheers that greeted him. If
he had been Santa Claus come to town
with a third north pole discovery tale, /
there could not have been more delight
from the populace. Yes, even if he had
been Santa Claus with his reindeer and /
pack. For old Don is sort of Santa
claus. He gave the world the Christ
IT.-.n
cisco an October present of holiday
in the sunshine. And If the great bell |
al Market and Third streets did not |
blaze last night with the glory of
Christmas tree the gift of comparison
does not dwell in this typewriter.
The full value of the Portola festival
may be epitomized in the sentence: 1t
began with solemn religious service
and is to end Saturday night with a
wanton, madly merry carnival Yes
terday the mass was held. In chrono-
logical order il was followed by the
landing of Don Gaspar de Portola at
Mission street wharf, the parade up
Market street, the presentation of the
KEYS Of the city to the governor by the
mayor, the dry drinking of President
Taft's Portoia toast led by Mayor Tay-
Tor, the damper and more spirited
drinking of the toast at the luncheon
given by the Portola festival executive
committee to Don Caspar de Portola
and Queen Vergilia, the fireworks last
evening in Union square, which are to
be duplicated every evening, the re-
ception given by Mayor Taylor and the
Portola committee to the officers of the
visiting warships and the wonderful
illumination of the city during the
evening.
Mass Held in st. Mary's
The mass held in St Mary's cathe-
draI at $3.50 in the morning was at
tended by the city officials and invited
guests. diplomats and officers in their
slittering uniforms and thousands of
devout worshipers who bent the knee
in homage to the cross which always
led the company of friars and dragons
which followed Portola. The Francis
can friars, spiritual descendants in the
holy brotherhood of the cowled priests
who administered 70 the spirit wants
Of the soldiers of Spain, kneeled before
rhe white altar and recited yesterday
the same prayers that Father Juan
Crespi said before the company of
armed men in the wilderness.
When the faithful gathered at the
cathedral in Van Ness avenue the sky
was dark with the heavy clouds of
the ocean storm. The day seemed
spoiled for frolic and festival, but the
benedictions that were said, the thanks
offered in gratitude of the spirit in
stalled within the hearts and souls of |
the citizens, so that they might rebuild
their city out Of the ashes of three
wears ago. the entire offering of the
mass was done IN a spirit of faith and
hope. And the faith was rewarded
When the priest on the high altar
chanted "the mass is finished" the sun
broke through and the windows were
5eweled with the light from above.
While the priests in their rich vest
nents were before the white and gold
and crimson altar Don Casper de Por-
tols was on his gubernatorial barge,
plying up the bay, TO greet his worthy
cohorts.
City Greets Explorer
AS the prototype of our hero of this
week was early on the scene of San
Francisco bay. so yesterday the rein
carnated governor was early at Mission
street wharf. But the city was ready
for him. By that time the sun was
really out and the clouds were but
loiterers, ordered 10 report behind the>
horizon. but loath to go and leave the
festival, which, like unwelcome guests,
they were threatening to spoil direly.
An honorable incident occurred as
Gaspar de Portola strobe down the
gangplank OF his boat. Major Sher-