The San Francisco call., 1910-09-09

bear on a strip of cotton as the emblem
of their California republic they did
not realize that their picturesque ban
ner would come to wave in it's greatest
profusion over a queen. The merit of
the bear flag party's" cause and the
wisdom of their haphazard statesman
ship are moot points over which histo-
rians and sentimentalists fail to agree
But there is one fact about the bold
excursion of Captain Merritt and his
frontiersmen and pioneers that can not
be denied. They gave to the state that
followed their nation" a thrilling flag,
a bold banner, the clumsy bear under
the red star, and this picturesque
standard of frontier heraldry waved in
the air of San Francisco yesterday, in
the air of the realm of Queen Califor-
MIA as dauntlessly, almost. and quite as
suggestive as the more classic flag of
the United States of America. Edge to
edge the two flags waved over the
throne of Queen California; in amity
and love they cut the sky, the transient
bunting of a reckless enterprise and
the lasting standard of a perfect ma
tion.
CARNIVAL SPIRIT PREVAILS
But philosophy of history did not
trouble the gay throngs on the street
nor the merry dancers last evening in
the great nave of the ferry building
day was subservient to the dominant
idea of how to celebrate that birthday
with the greatest pleasure.
a rare start was made at sunrise.
California's own sun, which is kept
hidden too often from the good people
of San Francisco, was turned over to
the city yesterday and did full duty
from dawn until twilight. Since all of
California is coming to San Francisco
to celebrate the birthday it was only
fitting that the sun should be given
over to the city as a hostage of their
loyalty and in appreciation OF the fun
they are to have.
The sun found wonderful streets
when it crept up from behind the ferry
building and shot a ray toward the
west From the tall staff on the ferry
building floated a magnificent Califor-
MIA bear flag, topped by a national pen
nant, TO. show that the eagle hies nigh
er than the bear can leap.
In Market street the sun found
brilliant avenue of flags and festoons
Pendent over the street were great
American flags and great bear hags
The wash out on the line" effect OF
previous decoration schemes was not
repeated by multiplicity OF small
streamers. Every suspended nag had
dignity and individuality and told in
epitome, alternately, the daring tale OF
the brief Sonoma republic and the
splendid history of the lasting Ameri-
can republic.
Lamp posts and trolley poles, in
routine times dull and rigid, fiared
gracefully yesterday with festoons of
palm and evergreen. Ofice buildings,
emotionless and blank 362 days in the
year, blossomed with flags and the
faces of pretty girls framed in window
box for the friday celebration of Cali
fornia's birth.
At l 80 o'clock yesterday the candi-
date for queen offered herself at the
portals of the city. History and tradi-
ton can never agree on the origin of
its princes and princesses. History
should and shall relate, as it is regular
and reverent, that the maiden who was
to be Queen California fioated into the
city through the Golden gate on a royal
barge, surrounded by her maids in
waiting, and amid a fanfare of brass
alighted on the shores DER which she
was to reign, there to find a splendid
equipment of horse and foot awaiting
10 escort her into the citadel and Sc
cure its capitulation.
WHENCE CAME QUEENs
Scurvy tradition, reckless of fancy
and careless of pomp, might whisper
that it saw a closed carriage dash sur
reptitiously down to Mission street
d
robes alight. 1t is for posterity to de-
eide which account is true. Historians
may be subsidized and legend bearers
may be irreverent. The chronicler may
but recite that promptly at o'clock
the queen elect was in her domain, ap-
preaching her throne through thronged
streets and under arches of gallant
flags.
Showing it's magnanimity, the police
force of the routine government led
the rulers OF the carnival monarchy int
the city. Captain Kelly had all his
mounted men out into line to lead the
parade.
Grand Marshal Angelo J. Rossi was
a color scheme. He was on a mincine
horse of the type officially known as
buckskin, but more of the shade of |
mocha cake filling. His white plume
was sweeping and grand. His purple
sash was as royal as the tint of the
grape, his white saddle cloth was bright |
and glittering. j. Emmett Hayden. his |
chief of staff, and DR.. T. B. w Leland. |
chief aid, were only a shade less !
splendid in their regalia and mounts.