The San Francisco call., 1910-12-11
GRAY Bird Rules
In Channel Oitu
He's d Big Pelican and
Controls Weather
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call


SANTA BARBARA, Dec. 1O.-When IT
comes TO predicting rain. even though
the drops are falling like hail, no one
IN Santa Barbara viii believe that a
storm is at hand unless Larco's big.
gray pelican is safely tucked away in
the corral in lower State street
Weather bureau! Talk that tommyrot
10 some one who is not wise to the fact
that Alexander McAdie simply reports
the weather which the pelican bringsl
This IS spropos OF IL being what the
Oldest inhabitant designates q dry
season" although there have been sew
eral oownpOurs that looked like rain
10 one whose eyes were not holden by
the mysterious sense that takes its
weather predictions from the bird with
the spoon shaped bill.
Two years ago stranger. sauntering
UP state street from the ocean boule-
ward, noted a huge bird fiuttering ahead
~ him. The impish creature would
pause, look over his shoulder, wait for
the man to come almost within reach
of him, then quicken his gait. alter
nately hopping along window Lodges.
Sidewalk copings and the middle of
the street When at last he turned
into Larco's the tourist followed.
rendering the information: There is
q big, gray bird, that seems to be
wounded, in your yard" He must have
been astounded, for. instead of saying
cordial word Of acknowIedg gment.
LARGO shouted:
Here, Jim, Tom, get the phones busy
and let the weatherman and newspa- :
pers know that Jack is back; then. get
IN those awnings. for the rainIl be on
US by that time" And ii was.
Rain IS what the disgruntled are
prophesying for the first week in jan
uary, to which distant period the avia-
tlon meet at Hope ranch has been post
poned- OF course. the bird has not
been heard from, so there may be no
adequate cause for alarm, still he who
VIII not fly when he may need NOT
blame the pelican If he gets his canva &
wings soaked when he finally goes
aloft
Santa Barbara people never get
enough rain; they seek to surns &c
Washington and oregon, and then tbev
are not satisfied. Just LET the go
shine for week, after downpour Of
g month, and one or another viii
gravely remark, digging his umbrella
Tip into the muddy puddles as he
speaks: "A little rain would do +bs
country whole lot Of good Just now .
And the other-if he has been ,n ~
Channel City for more than one sea
son-will agree fervently. So does as
sociation mold opinion.
Has the restoration Of the old time
soobes improved those picturesque
mansion5N That is what the lovers of
t.42 former times are asking ana ,ba
artists TO a man believe that n bas
been a mistake to practically noaI-a
over the De la Guerra and similar
abodes Of a century. ago. Still tba
Improvement" spirit plays strange
freaks.
The De Ia Guerra, which was bat-
tered by the fingers Of time. stained
by the paint brush OF the years .n5
"a king on curves that were as en,iear-
ing as wrinkles on the beloved face ~
father or mother is now sharn &c -
angle; white as a kalsomine artist
would desire; red and overhanging as
10 tiled roof, and generally Of a new,
ness that prompts the tourist to aslx
sTs that the public library?" Upon the
reply he sinks back on the car and
saws. Don't stop, conductor; thouoht
that it was old" That is the crllx Of
q successful restoration-keepin in
tact the spirit and period Of the orig
Inal building.
There are so many places taken for
q library or the Old Mission in these
degenerate days that the streetcar
conductors put on a resigned air and
answer pleasantly:
NO. madam: that is not the OLD
MisSioni the O4u MISSION u al The end
of the line. as I have told you. That
Is the home Of Mrs. Christian Herter.
4 CAPITALIST Of New York who settled
bere and built that home after an
early Italian design. Do they have
IONS couchant on the steps of that
a pe Of building2 Yes, madam; they
" Don't you see themT'
Just now Trinity Episcopal church is
n luck. Some benefactor. whose name
must not be breathed aloud for fear
hat the listening angels learn too
much. has offered half the sum needed
or a handsome edihce, in considera-