The San Francisco call., 1909-09-10
GASPARDfPORTOLA
: MADE FICTION FACT
Tribute TO the Man Who Was
the First Governor of
Alta California
An Instrument of Destiny, He
Had the Able Cooperation
of Helpful influence
BY JOHN VANCE CHENEY

makes him a parsonage OF special in
terest apart from the sterling traits
common to the pioneers of all times
and lands Living. as he did, in the
fsteful but noiseless days of pastoral
California. his work was enough.
Probably even the newspaper reporter
OF the present hour would have got
no more out OF him than a sentence or
two from his gisty official communica-
Uions TO his superior. His record is
brief. nevertheless sufficient TO assure
us that Nisitador General GalveZ did
not reach out recklessly when, his
thoughts running northward to win
new treasure for his king. he laid his
, hand on the shoulder of Gaspar de
Portola. In command of the second
land expedition sent from Loreto, he
pushed his difficult way toward the
isles Of gold and precious stones,
farther and farther into the northern
mystery" finally setting foot on our
soil July. 1863. the natal day of Alta
California.
MADE THE FICTION FACT
In an old romance of his race he had
read: know that on the right hand
OF the Indies there is an island called
California, very close to the side of
the terrestrial paradise" He had now
found il, made the fiction fact. and
was about 10 establish his rule over
the first white men to make the new
land their home.
Father Junipero Sierra bears testi-
mOny TO the prophetic phrasing OF the
old tale. the trees in the valley, the
wild vines loaded with grapes, the na-
tive roses, rivaling in scent the roses
OF Csstile-his account OF these in
letter 10 Father Palon, left behind In
san Xavier, IS like a page from the old
predfctive fiction.
Not a great mantle earth has few
such-but strong, brave. kindly man
had come TO begin the civilization to
which the Golden State has risen. An
instrument of destiny, he had the CO.
operation Of helpful influences. An
able and progressive prince sat the
throne OF Spain, while at the first gov
ernors side, ready TO do his bidding,
were some Of the rarer spirits COM
missioned to work the high deeds of
God fearing, faithful and devoted
lives
IN SANITY COMPANY
One can hardly think of Portola
without recalling the blessed shapes of
Fathers Junipero and Palon. Sierra.
that fearless, self-sacrificing and most
heroic man. sainted by the laity of
the world-if overlooked by the
church-was with him when he came;
and on his expedition to San Francisco
bay the man TO whom he oftener
turned was that other follower Of the
cross. the happy hearted Ell Beato.
whom Junipero wished, with his last
thought. TO be buried by.
The Catalan captain of dragons.
{ our first governor, was not long in the
and; but when he returned to report
10 Galvez and the viceroy he had two
years OF wise. progressive and peace
ful rule to his credit, and the united
f7.nv~1 fnf 1-f iaf in 417o
land and his superiors at home. But
little more than a year In upper Cali
fornia, the most of the time in the
saddle. he had been not only the first
European ruler Of our golden shores,
but also a faithful and efficient officer;
his work being crowned-as we are
all proudest just now TO remember-by
the discovery of San Francisco bay.
But 1t is, in very truth, not Portola
whom our country and the world are
asked 10 regard next October, risen and
returned TO the land he lorded in the
long ago; the universal gaze will be
fastened rather on the wonderful city
by the bay which he had the good for
tune first TO look on-the city OF most
romantic history. of unexampled cour-
age, symbolizing at the present hour.
with singular and brilliant fidelity, the
traits Of spirit and character that rise
70 mind al the mention of the name of
Well may the city that has taken the
phenix forever from the realm of fable
and made the fanciful resurrection
plain. naked fact, the city that lay three
short years ago PROSTATE in ashes and
the black smoke OF dire annihilation
and now sits in new and unique beauty
once more on her beautiful hills-weIl
may this city call TO the states OF the
union and TO the kingdoms across the
seas TO come up to the gate of gold and
rejoice with her, sprung again from
temporal death into the fresh and lusty
life of youth, free willed and strong
willed as the winds that blow the shin
ing locks back from her forehead, ra-
disnt as she never was before with the
hsttery of the suns and the solicitous
stars Of night
RESERVED FOR SPECIAL GLORY
Doubt as we may. the godly old monks
who believed so much, and that much
so hard, had the fates at their backs
At. Francis did reserve for his special
glory in the new world the city that
should most honor his name and spread
IL widest down the earth. To one IA
niliar with the history of San Fran
clsco-and who but knows something of
n2-it is easy even in this skeptical
time, 20 believe that II we are watched
over at all by the heavens the barefoot
saint who once made his home in the |
wild and took for his familiars the |
stars OF the sky and the birds and flow |
ers Of the air and ground will smile |
down most benigniy on the Portola fes-
tival, at once mans and natures re- |
5oicing. With St Francis Will look
down the approving spirits OF the thou
sands ot high hearted men of that grand !
caravan which moved from the eastern |
ocean to The ocean west in 1S49.
The heavens smiling and the people |
OF the states and OF far off Kingdoms |
sending their special messengers, the |
Portola festival should form the crown |
ing revelation OF the indomitable will !
the unfiinchfng trust and the resfstless /
might of her chief city and of herself, |
The sovereign state OF California.
The fantastico-contrapun old word |
weaver Of the Weald of Kent builded. |
for once at least. wiser than he knew:
For. as there is but one phenix in the
world, so there is but one tree wherein |
she buildeth."