The San Francisco call., 1910-01-01

others it may be remarked in passing
that Charlie is only 81 years old. phys
ically sound and fairly bubbling over
with devotion.
Charles real name used to be Charles
Forrest Curry. That was before he
began to devote his life to holding pub
lie office. This Charles Forrest" de-
parted with the ideals that were given
the hot foot by Higgins. Just Charlie"
he is and even shall be.
Charles Forrest was born in Naper-
vile, ILL.,, in the year of grace 1858.
And the year of grace 1858 was not
such a muffy year for the life devoted,
either. Witness that Theodore Roose-
Welt, Billy Shannon, Jonathan Prentiss
DolIiver. Fred Henshaw and S. Clark
Smith of Bakersfield and the eighth
congressional district formerly known
as sylvester C. Smith, were born in
1858. Others of that crop there were
who have devoted and are still devot-
ing, to wit, Samuel Henry Piles, Jimmy
Frazer. Charlie Dick and Jimmy Nc
Cumber, whose devotion led them to
the United States senate.
The material branch of Charles For
rests family tree fourished at Naper-
Vile But for that and other purely
fortuitous circumstances Charles For
rest would have been born in Wiscon-
sin the registering base for q splendid
galaxy of lives devoted to holding pub
lie Office all over the map, and where
the paternal Curry was devoting part
of his life to holding one of them.
Charles Forrest hastened at the earli-
est practicable moment to join the fam
lily circle at Mineral Point. Wis, at
which point the Curry family circle
intersected Badger state political circles.
In those somnolent days between the
snufing of n. Bonaparte and the igni-
tion of T. Roosevelt, the common school
texts on astronomy generally side
stepped the star of destiny. 1t was a
dimmed luminary in the curriculum Of
the Wisconsin schools where Charles
FORESTS young ideas were taught to
shoot and Charles FORESTS pa collected
the emoIuments and distributed the
patronage incident to his job as super
intendeut.
Charles Forrest dreamed nothing of
the star of destiny. hereditary or Hig-
gins Neither was he then eligible
to the business of deyoting a life to
holding public Office. The Curry fam
ilv removed to Washington In 1873.
Charles Forrest entered the University
of Washington. snapped his fingers at
the star of destiny and lived his ideals
Again the scene of his dreams was
changed. The family home was trans
ferred to San Francisco, in 1876. and
planted in the old thirtysixth district.
which has since become the twenty
ninth and the forty-second.
Financial reverses Jared but failed
to dispel Charles FORESTS dreams and
ideals He went to work in a book
store. For two years he was tutored
by Prof. William Ireland. formerly of
Christ college, Dublin. He managed
also to secure the benefits of the busi-
ness departments of the San Francisco
public schools.
Then Charles Forrest met Higgins.
Higgins trod upon. kicked. manned and
otherwise mussed UP Charles Forests
ideals. The star of destiny blazed
forth Its dazzling beams disclosed a
life not yet devoted to holding public
office, but on the way to the warrant
clerk. The dedication was formally
celebrated in 1856. Charles Forrest
foregathered with other youthful ideal
lists south of Market street and decided
to give Higgins an idealistic swat in
his grossly material political ribs.
The immediate and apparent result of
the swatting was the election of seven
delegates to the legislative convention.
Four of them reported on to Higgins,
and did the other three report to
Charles Forrest? Not on your idealistic
existence They reported on. to Char
lie" Charles Forrest had gone hence
after the ideals. Higgins told Charlie
that Charlie could not go to the leg
isisture. Charlie replied courteousIy.
omit your kidding or the current
idealistic equivalent for that pat say