The San Francisco call., 1910-01-30
"The CITY That Is"
By Rufus Steele. Published by A. NJ. Robert
son, San Francisco. Price 81.

By Rufus Steele. Published by A. NJ Robert
son, San Francisco. Price 81.
We who have lived here in San Fran
cisco since that unforgettable morning
of horror in April, 1906, need to be told
but little of the rebuilding of the city.
Every day has shown us some newly
Of the faith and the spirit Of our west
ern civilization Last April in the
Three Years After number Of the
Sunset magazine an article, appeared
by Rufus Steele entitled The City That
Is" That article has now elaborated
into what may be called a panorama
OF the city as 1t is today.
Mr.. Steele speaks briefly Of the dis
aster, one point being of interest to
early Californians. A few weeks be-
fore the fire one of the first city maps
made in 1858 was reproduced as a curl
osity in a morning paper. This official
map embraced. the city fathers de-
clared, "all the land which the city was
ever likely to occupy for any purpose
whatsoever" When the fire died down
It was found that all that remained of
the city of San Francisco lay almost
exactly outside the boundaries OF that
map made IS years before.
I'm three years $150.000, 900 worth Of
stately buildings had arisen to efface
the scar which the fire made" says Mr.
Steele but, dollars are crude
symbols" The author has succeeded
admirably in giving picture of the
growth and conditions of the city, and
in making his readers see and under
stand how much more than money went
into the building of the city. The vital
ardor was the thing that laid every
~f1Ir 1forE,A l., i
the earthquake and fire, but it was not
1T is real quality. says the au-
thor. TT is neither an impulse nor a
passion, for 1t does not grow cold and
IL does not consume itself. 1t
is a sparkling ignition set in the hearts
of this favored tribe by the western
sea. and it's incense is faith"
The book gives many interesting an
ecdotes connected with the building
and rebuilding of the city and is filled
with illustrations from photographs of
theaters. hotels, streets and some Of
the fine buildings, which will interest
the reader away from here more than
the resident
Mr.. steele speaks of VIII Irwin's
City That Was" that justly celebrated
brochure written from a heart that
loved the old town and could not be
made to believe it would ever be the
"Will Irwin may dry his tears. OF a
truth the things which he meant by
the old San Francisco did notsdie and
are not dead. BY the Market street
parade, by the Poodle Dog. by the wall
pictures at Coppa's, by the Orpheum
gallery, by the honor of Meta. by
Sanguenettfs by the Italian opera, by
Lotta's fountain. by Fillmore street on
Saturday night, by the potent sign of
each of these, the old San Francisco is
very much alive
The book is unusually attractive. and
every San Franciscan will wish a copy
in his library and will find it also
splendid gift book for doubling and
unbelieving far away friends.
THE Bridge Fiend," by Arthur Lor-
ing Bruce, is described by its author as
"a cheerful book for bridge whisters."
It is all of that and more, for 1t will
be read with shrieks of delight by
persons who do not know a heart from
a spade. Mr.. Bruces style is entertain
ing and his anecdotes have been gath
cred from every part of the civilized
globe where bridge is known. This
book belongs on the shelf with the go
or 10 already published on the subject
Most of them are serious and lay down
the laws arbitrarily, but Mr.. Bruce
has no notion of teaching the game, he
only hopes to create in its lovers
sense of humor which they do not seem
to have at present. The book is sure to
become popular (Moffat, Yard & Co,
York \ E