The San Francisco call., 1910-11-20
By Arthur L. Price

Il
postcard from the "bonny. bonny
banks Of Loeb Lomond." OF II
re says: The looh IS not much at the
side Of Tahoe. but It has romantic asso-
Citations and has given Us an Immortal
song. which Is going some"
To read the succinot message was
again 70 regret that California was
not settled IN what might be called tho
ballad age OF literature, when man
and woman. too-lived much out o.
doors and human experience and pes
sion were interviewer with the land
sospe n so many a splendid song and
ballad. Sherwood forest has been per-
petuated in the knowledge OF the Eng
lish race because Il was the abiding
place Of Robin Hood. Robin Hood had
the advantage OF following his trade ct
q time when highway robbery was con-
sidered e commendable occupation,
somewhat analogous 20 the profession
OF brlbe giving today-to be deprecated,
II At all, with a cute wink and mental
reservation BY the time that BlacS
Bart was operating through the nobler
forests Of California the art OF the
hoIdip man had fallen into disrepute.
and when Evans and Sonntag, last OF
their tribe. appeared, even the SYM
pathy for them was a negative and IN
effective quantity.
OF course. romance does not deper
On sin or crime for its appeals. But "
Ience Is q concomitant part OF the ha.-
Iad, and n this age OF ease IL is dim
cult 20 resUrrect that virile form OF art
even for tie sake Of Cslifornia's splen-
6!d scenery. A new basis Of romance
must be found 70 be equal 10 the no
bflftv OF California and to express It.
new writer should develop what will
make the glories OF California and her
people as well known as Du Maurier
made the Latin quarter Of Paris or as
Ibsen has made the immorals OF Nor
way. Bret Harte IN his earlier snort
stories, as concise. passionate and pic
turescue as ballads in prose, inoeiioly
Impressed one side OF the states life on
the mind Of the reading world. Helen
Hunt Jackson. IN Ramona" tragically
aympathetically, sweetly, showed an
other aspect, but her story VIII always
have the defect, to American readers at
least, that IL exalts the Indian race be-
vond our empirical knowledge OF II.
Mrs. Gertrude Atherton IN her agile
stories, the Splendid Idle Forties,'
gave graphic pictures of a most pic
turesuue side of California OF so years
&c. and Frank Norris, IN The Octo-
puSt DreAlAeQ lL6 DIOdQ SpALlL oA AhO
California valleys. Those citations are
strong instances Of the steps in the
right direction. rather are striking ex-
anaples Of the vigorous influence which
California has eXerted upon the minds
and hearts OF writers. Few states IN
the union, none in the west, have de-
veIoped such a literature. But no other
state has the warmth, the color, the
diversity Of California We want liter
ature to be still more deeply inculcated
with the spirit Of CALIFORNIA; romance.
Filled with that desire, It is with hope
that we take up Ernest Peixotto's new
and richly illustrated book, Romantic
California" which has just been pub
Ished by Charles Scribner's Sons. New
York.
Before going further let US under
stand that PeixottO is an artist, was an
artist before he was a writer, and will
be an artist after he has laid aside his
pen. Now the commentary may pro-
ceed.
On FIRST reading Peixotto's work the
Californian may feel a sensation Of
disappointment. II seems not full
enough with news" But that sensa-
tion readily fades when the realization
comes that the book is written not so
mitch for Calffornians, who already
have at least a cursory knowledge Of
the romantic values Of their state, but
has been prepared for strangers, for
fasteners, for Europeans. who would
have no means OF securing such a
knowledge without the aid OF a book
like Peixotto's. The disappointment
would be occasioned by the fact that
lhe work is cursory. But what IL may
lose by being cursory IL more than
makes up by being comprehensive. In
preparing his work. II Peixotto had
5e-oted his PIG pages TO FL Canine
Meal. as he might have done with honor
10 himself and respect TO the subject,
here would not have been a single
sEge left for Bret Hartes country or
he Bohemian club plays or Italy in
California, or the other subjects he has
.aken up IN his sweep through the
uate for the romantic and the pictur-
tsoue Necessarily the several articles
d the book could not be each Of great
ength. The book had to be broad and
tIxetchy TO cover the state, and Peixotto
sas covered the state splendidly in his
hook. II exquisite bits Of romance may
ave been excluded, there has been
included much which can not but
trouse a wide curiosity on the part Of
he reader to learn more OF this won
lerful land OF California
The scope Of the book may be sue
rinctly given by quoting the table OF
contents. IT IS;
Ttalv ia California. The vintage. II.
About the city.
Sketch1nB IN the INFERNO Ndt NgpiCoS
,ofnt and the Monterey peninsula).
Eouvenirs OF the past-L The mission
sells. II El Canine Real (Spain's kings
urghway). III Two old Spanish Call
,ornia towns (the period Of conquest).
through Bret Harte's country.
Little Journeys from San Francisco
p The peninsula II. The region or
ramaipais III The Piedmont hills.
The Farallones.
A midsummer nights entertainment.
In the mountains
Peixotto's work as an artist is known
Z San Francisco, where he was raised
md had his first artistic influences.
Since his novitiate in art he has trav-
led He has already published two
lther books uniform with Romantic
saIifornia--"By Italian Seas" and
Through the French Provinces" all
handsome books. This new work is IL
ustrated with both wash and pen and
nix line drawings. The drawing OF
4 risherman's wharf is a worthy exam
. .le Of the skill OF the artist and his
tgs for the salient picturesqueness Of
Is subject
One OF the purposes Of the book, the
Friter-artist states is to open up new