The San Francisco call., 1909-12-19


new California, meant forthwith to celebrate
its fourth of July in approved and traditional
style Groups of miners, shop keepers, politicians
and rough garbed generality that had been lettering
r. expectation of the baring began to
move in about the rostrum. The anvs had prefer
Intted their thunderings and had been charged for
simultaneous salute to usher in the ceremony
On the temporary stand drape6 in bunting fresh
and bright as its virgin timbers, the usual ring
Of chairs for the celebrities guarded the speakers
cable An inevitable water pitcher huge and white,
stood forth as the emblem of the occasion. While
the crowd gathering long coated and tall hated
men were climbing the platform, where they took
their with elaborate smiling and chatting
among themselves The band, under the spur of
commendable patSiotisu slid and bumped from
travesty of national air another pausiITg at all
One of the favored circle upon the platform, thin,
deliberate individual with sweeping mustache, whose
expression of chronic soemnty heightened by
long scar his neghbor with the remark that
every other man in the ass seanblage had made
making:
$50 we're goin' to have orator, ehi"
The man addressed was Charles E. Lippincott,
state senator from Yuba county. He short,
heavy and powerful, with sharp black eyes and light
hair. He gave his deliberately, while he
swept the throng in a steady glance: Even The
boys strong for any game that advertses the
presence of woman in Downevle-a real woman
mean"
"Shes certainly snatched them with that talk about
the crystal the mossy rocks, said the other.
Naturally" nodded Lppincott Miss Sarah Pei
let you may be aware, Is of the best temperance
speakers in the country, and than that she's
handsome, and than that she's straight. She
had fourishing division of the Sons of Temperance
In working order before she'd been here two days.
In fact pretty the whole population is either
Son or howiing for adoption"
81 understand the converts certainly strong in
the faith"
a husky Dutchman in from Marysville the other day
who started little racket of his prove the
essential superiority of whisky all other bever-
ages The Sons heard his argument and then held
his head in a tub by way of rebuttal His motion
was lost, he voting to make il unanimous Oh, yes,
Downievillc is temperate all right"
HEARD ABOUT TEvIS
Comm over l heard some talk about Robert
Tevis wantin' to do the oratin' himself Folks
sayin he was crazy when they showed him out for
woman" The SCARED man moved closer and dropped
his voice.
"He had some such notion, but the Sons wouldn't
hear of it. Being somewhat young and somewhat
pushing he had idea it would help him in his
campaign for congress the know nothing ticket"
did they convince him of his error like they did
the Dutchnan?"
Not quite. But they were bound to have Miss
Pellet and Miss Pellet they would have, sprouting
congressman to the contrary notwithstanding They
camed Tevis by giving him the Declaration of Inde-
pendence to read. Here he now"
tall, spare young man, with thin shoulders and
tightly buttoned coat, making his way up the
steps He had removed his hat, showing his high
pale forehead from which the black hair swept back
romanticay. He had a roll of paper in one hand,
and with courteous bows to right and left he ad-
vsnced with dignity to his seat.
The SCARED man inspected the arrival gravely.
"Kind of fond of himself, amt he7
Il imagine he IS rather inclined to take everything
seriously, answered Lppncott with slow smile.
But perhaps that's the result of his political aspira
tions"
The dialogue short at this point by
the celebrities stood up hats in hand turning toward
the steps where young woman appeared escorted by
two efusive citizens wearing monstrous badges. She
nodded brightly IN response to the greeting, and made
her way the chair 'front.' hanked by the speakers
stand and the dominating water pitcher.
Miss Sarah Pellet then counted among the
most successful Temperance lecturers of the country
A close friend of Lucy Stone Blackwell, she had
thrown herself the with the devotion and
vor OF youth and passionate conviction. Not the
least of her triumphs had been the subjection of
Downieville and its instant response to her appeals
If the result due TO her charming personality
the chvalry of the and the audacous novelty
Of her crusade rather than the logic of her propa
ganda it the less tribute and for the
moment, genuine. She almost the first "real'
visit the mining town, and men who had not
such a phenomenon for years had come long
handsome
trim figure.
A final wrench from the band was followed by the
roar OF the anvils which exploded with gratifying
precision and violence leading citizen then stepped
to the edge of the platform stlled the applauding
multitude, and introduced with few eloquent peri
DDS, the Honorable Robert Tevis who will read
20 you that iustrious document which made possible
this glorious anniversary which so fttingly cele-
brate"
The Honorable Robert Tevis" advanced bowing
in acknowledgment of not too hearty reception
His exceeding irritation the obdurate refusal
49, 70 all
program had lowered him in public estimation
Cold of nature, lacking in magnetism, rather proud
and very serious, he not figure at any time to
win and hold such an audience The crowd listened
respectfully, however, while he read the stirring