The San Francisco call., 1909-10-05
ART LEAGUE WOULD
HIDE GAUDY SIGNS
Members Petition the Festival
Committee to Conceal East
Street BiIlboards
POrtOla Day Programs Given by
California, Charming and
S0rOsis Clubs

The Portola committee Will be re-
quested by the Outdoor Art league of
the California club TO erect decorated
arches or other concealing features in
East street during the festival in or
der to hide or at least modify the un-
slightly appearance given by the
huge advertisements which greet the
stranger who is coming within the
gates via the ferry. The board of su-
pervisors was asked by the members
OF the league to take steps for the
removal or diminishing of these signs,
but II was announced at the regular
league meeting yesterday that the su-
perVisors were too busy TO do any
thing. So Mrs. Lowell White and Mrs.
George Marsh will approach the Por
tola committee
debate on the subject of the mer-
chant marine service and the advant-
ages and disadvantages of ship sub
sides will be arranged for the near
future in the league.
The members are greatly incensed
al the reports that come from the
country and the smaller towns of the
state as to the action of boards of
town trustees who have cut down
ornamental and shade trees from viii
lage streets and country roads. A
law was passed by the last legislature
providing for the appointment of coun-
~ boards of forestry but this has not
been done in many instances. Letters
Will be sent by the Outdoor Art Leaf que
TO the 81 boards of supervisors of the
state asking that the law be observed
4 request will be made that the Out
door Art league be given charge of one
afternoons reception and program at
the state federation headquarters to
be maintained during Portola week at
the St. Francis hotel
Sings Spanish Ballads
old Spanish Mexican Ballads" was
the subject of an entertaining lecture
by Mrs. Mary Roberts Coolidge yester-
day afternoon at the meeting of Chan
ming auxiliary, Mrs. Coolidge illustrat-
ing her address most charmingly with
songs of the various periods
She began with the BASQUE songs.
which are the Oldest of the Spanish
ballads; going next 10 Basque modified
by the Spanish music; the French
Basque songs; those eff Arragon and
Navarro; the old Castilian; of Anda-
lusia, modified by Moorish influence,
and finally the Spanish gypsy music
with its family oriental characteris-
tics.
Interesting illustrations of Mexican
music, in some instances under the
spell of the Indian music were given:
then Spanish Californian ballad dis
covered and transcribed by H. J. Mccoy,
and. in closing, The Swallow" a mod
ern Mexican song
A delightful feature of the pro-
gram was the sympathetic accompa nj
ment of Miss AIollie Pratt, the pianist.
and her rendering of a fandango and
another spanish dance illustrating the
music of Andalusia
Observe PortoIa Day
Portola dan was observed yesterday
afternoon by the Sorosis club, of which
Mrs. Thomas Haven is the president. at
Century hall with an appropriate pro-
gram.
Zoeth S. Eldredge spoke on "The Ex-
pedition of Portola and Anza, and the
Coloniza ton of California;" and gave
much interesting historical informa
ton Mrs Eli Llewelling read The
Coming Of Portola." the descriptive
poem by Thomas Beadley and there
were Spanish dances by Senorfta Ber-
tita Marburg and Spanish songs by
Senorita Amelia Ferrer
The program was in charge of Mrs.
John H. Robertson and the music of
Mrs. oscar Mansfeldt.