The San Francisco call., 1909-10-18
DEPICTS NEW CITY
IN CHARMING BOOK
Rufus Steele Writes Pleasingly
of Progress and Peoples of
Reborn Metropolis
Presents Graphic Word Picture
of Conditions Growing Out
of Tragic History

Its vital ardor has made and will
make the city; it is the commanding
language of the city's head and heart
Where-oh, where, between the seven
seas-will you find aonther such peo-
pie; people who rebuild a metropolis
in three years. who smile through dis
aster and never forget to keep busy
a people who will play with you. be
gay with you, or join you in a prayer?"
Thus writes Rufus Steele in his
charming book, The City That Is" 1t
is the conclusion he reaches after re-
citing the glory of former days, the
tribulations of disaster, and the
is the conclusion the reader also must
reach after viewing the captivating
picture the writer presents.
Happily disaster days put a crimp
in some of the frivolities of the town.
says the author, but verify, the wine
of the city's life has lost none of that
flavor of the Arabian Nights, which
was-is-body, sparkle and bead"
The book sketches the days of de-
struction, depicts the vast problems of
rehabilitation, describes the methods
by which the task was accomplished
and then proceeds to tell entertainingly
and with fine appreciation something
of the spirit that pervades the new
city. 1t is an unsurpassed portrayal
done with brush at once delicate and
colorful.
The resurrection of Market street
forms one of the best bits.
APOSTROPHE TO A STREET
There was that about old Market
street that so wrapped itself about the
hearts of the people to whom it be-
longed." runs one paragraph, that
when there was nothing visible left to
represent the vanished glory of the
street save broken pavements and the
rubbish of ruin. there remained a SEN
timental attachment that was strong
enough to inspire the quick and full
salvation of the highway. 1t was pure
sentiment, more than any other con-
sideration, that forced the rededication
of Market street to those same puf-
poses that it had always served and
that brought about its rebuilding with
rapidity which set all building rec
ords at naught."
The special appeal of each distinc-
tive feature of the city is strikingly
set forth, as for example, this about
the bay:
GLORIES OF THE BAY,
ION clear night one may stand
upon the hurricane deck of ferry
boat in midstream and behold pano-
rama that will never be effaced from
his mind Here and there from island
and headland the revolving beacon of a.
lighthouse winks a solemn eye The
ships bespeak their whereabouts in
soft signal of red and green. Overhead
the stars glitter as in the tropics: the
trade wind is sponsor for their eff
fulgence. Berkeley, Oakland and Ala
media are denoted by an unbroken strip
of diamonds, narrowed because the
ground on which these cities stand is
fiat The seven hills of San Francisco
are so covered with twinkling points
of blue white light that they seem like
mountains of black glass mirrowing
and multiplying the stars.
The book comes out appropriately at
this time when San Francisco is about
to celebrate it's resurrection. In keep
ing with the literary merit of the vol
ume is the artistic adornment- The
cover design, the work of Charles w.
Rohrhand, is especially we'll done. 1t
depicts st. Francis studying a map of
the new San Francisco and looking in
vain for the scar which the fire made.
The book is beautifully printed in two
colors and illustrated with full page
half tones of street scenes and new
buildings. 1t is published by A. NJ
Robertson.