The San Francisco call., 1909-04-18

CURELY cities have souls. just as
they have climates. In fact their
soul or genius is only spiritual
climate impaired TO them by the
inhabitants. who are in turn subject
10 endless eternal Influences Nature,
situation. pursuits. ancestry and ira
oiuons all add their elements. shap-
fng Us as they viii. Out Of our own
souls IS bred the soul OF our city.
Who has not recognized. though he
may never have analysed. the deep diff
ference between the character Of New
York and New Orleans, Chicago and
San Francisco? 1t is as easy TO cata-
lOgue a few dominant traits in a city
IS in an individual. but to reach the
soul, the unseen springs that produce
what is seen or felt by aIl-thst is not
go easy. Yet hopefully 1 set forth to
search FOR this intangible and elusive
thing, TO dig up out OF memory. obser-
walton and experience shovelsful Of
ore Tor few glints OF gold. L re
solved TO ransack the whole living
structure Of this metropolis for the soul
whose capture would give ease To my
own. Ny right TO do this was. so 10
Epea x. my hirthriEht-
since tne fire there have been many
tan buildings and much tall talk
Though they are not without their
value as mere signs. the soul of a
place can not be found in these Yet
surely the three years of her re-
construction. san Francisco must be
shlc 20 display something of a soul,
somet trIng OF her old soul, perhaps.
sfnr0 is not likely that all Of it
Ief ~sad iu The holocaust. Adversity
-S S.fe TO be good soil for souls.
fess fhan month ago I sat upon
tac st of building taller and more
i.i-n. IDeur than any in our city
Nount amalpais-and spoke with one
elniHrnty distinguished in literature,
onr #-o has drawn more Inspiration
fr.. t'alifornia than any author liv-
iuE rom that noble height we saw
san francisco, a whitish mass. basking
l,eareluily in the afternoon sun. Even
-Ee stolid and rectangular bulk of the
l'airnont bunting our beautiful sky
liue. was almost redeemed. The city
slone vagUe. pearly and immaterial as
dream, II seemed reared by wizards
and fairy folk. Distance and the haze
had turned prose into poetry, reality
into romance. the harsh, raw crudity
OF outline. form and color into some
1ning transhgured with charm and
beauty Yet We remarked upon the
city. and 70 both Of US. clinging close
20 the San Francisco we had known
ir seemed estranged and unsympathetic
and never 10 be reconciled with mem
CRY And yet we felt assured that
time would mellow and make it rich
10 the memories of others, Just as the
haze and the miles made It lovely to
our eyes. The garment which the
queen city wore was painfully new
even the queen was new. but she was
OF the same old stock and spirit.
TX IS only a few weeks a go that Eng
lands venerable ambassador, scholar
and student Of nations stood bare
headed in the Greek theater, the sun
shine warm and blithe on all things
8 turquoise sky overhead, the green
eternal hills and living trees before
him. and a hushed, eXpectant audience
rising tier on tier. Music played. there
were ceremonies, birds perched and
sang on the classic cornices, trees
rustled IN the breeze, the white haired
scholar and diplomat spoke, and the
people listened with eager attention.
he spoke OF what was old and familiar
20 US. yet new and full OF significance
from lips such as his-the glory.