The San Francisco call., 1909-12-16

rejoice to see it emerge after all these
years
we could scarcely think of San
Francisco without thinking of the Pal
ace hotel. No sooner was it destroyed
than the word went from lip to lip
asking whether or not it was going
10 be rebuilt. ] honestly believe that
should the occasion have required the
people of the city would have sub
scribed to make up for any lack neces-
ssry for the rebuilding of the Palace
hotel.
Not long ago the PortoIa sent up a
blast, a paen of praise, but all Of US
feel tonight that with the opening Of
the Palace hotel the whole voice of the
city joins in entire unison in shouts
Of triumph.
When the hotel first opened the city
was on the crest OF wave of excite
ment The life that abounded then
was the life of this hotel. making it
the most unique hostelry in the world" :"
GOVERNOR GILLETT TOAsTMASTER
Governor GiiIett. who was introduced
as toastmaster of the evening, then
read the letters of regrets from those
10 whom the invitations had been eX-
tended. These included one from
President Taft. the members Of his
cabinet, the president of Mexico and
various governors and men of promi-
nence.
buildings Of this kind" said the
governor, 'perpetuate the great things
which have been done and it Is with
feelings of pride that we gather to
celebrate the building Of this magnifi-
cent monument upon which all the
world may gaze.
When the city was startled by the
forces of nature and its people, terror
stricken. fed to the neighboring hills;
when the buildings were wrapped in
flames and laid low in ashes, then, even
then. there sprang the hope OF the city
10 be As from the sheltering hills the
people gaez dupon the desolation where
once had stood their own city there
arose IN their Imagination the vision OF
2 beautiful San Francisco. They saw
like some mirage, the city to be, one in
which the faults of the old would be
eliminated. a greater, better, more mag
nifcent San Francisco.
STARTING WORK ANEW
Thus, with the vision before them,
they turned from the hills, and before
there had been time for the ground TO
cool they stretched forth their hand for
the brick and the iron and the steel,
starting anew to build the city Of their
vision
~Day by day we watched the city
grow We marveled as building after
building erected itself before our
eyes. but none Of all the buildings was
watched with greater and keener in
terest than the Palace hotel This
was 10 be the crowning act the reali-
zation Of. the city seen in a vision
through the smoke and the haze of
the day Of disaster.
Among those who fed to the hills
and who returned ere the ground was
cool was one who has. been the fore
most in the erection OF the magnificent
monument. Colonel kirkpatrick, whom
] now introduce"
KIRKPATRICT<'S SPEECH
Colonel Kirkpatrick said:
Mr.. Toastmaster, chairman and
friends lovers of San Francisco,
builders OF san Francisco. ] salute
you one and all. More than 1000
years ago there was some question
as TO how the walls of a great
city were to be rebuilt. and finally
wise ms said Let each build
before his own doorway" and loi
the whole wall was built.
Go out tnow and look up and
down the streets Of San Francisco.
See how each one, by building on
his own lot, has rebuilt a great
city and then believe. as strong
men have always believed, that
great truths, great thoughts and
great actions are one and the same