Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-26
(Continued.)


Our sense of our own financial I'M
portance being thus refreshed, we ad-
vanced in rigid military formation to
the bar and took our drinks. Two
million dollars was the amount we had
chosen as representing the value of
our interests. In deciding upon this
figure we considered ourselves very
moderate in refusing to add probable
future increment. 1t might also be
added that we equally neglected to de-
duct present liabilities. Nobody ever
guessed what this mysterious perform
ance Of ours meant, but every one
came to expect 1t and to be amused
by it. In mild way we and our fool
nonkeyshines came to be wen known
institution.
Having nothing else to do, we en-
;cred heartily into the life and pleas
dres of the place, and we met many
III the leading citizens.
From them I heard of the state of
commercial affairs, with its systems
of consignments and auctions, its ru-
mors of fleet clipper ships, its corner
Of the market, it's Cuttings with un-
foreseen cargoes of unexpected vessels
and all the other complex and delicate
adjustments and changes that made
I business so fascinating and so uncer-
! tain. All these men were filed with
! great optimism and an abiding en-
| thusiasm for the future. They talked
| of plank roads, of sewers. of schools,
churches, hospitals, pavements, fills,
the razing of hills, wharves, public
| buildings, water systems, and they
talked Of them so soberly and in such
concrete terms of accomplishment that
the imagination was tricked into ac-
cepting them as solid facts. Often l
| have gone forth from listening to one
of these earnest discussions to look
about me on that wind swept, sand
| blown, fiimsy, dirty, sprawling camp
| they called a city, with its half dozen
magnificent brick buildings that any
New England village could duplicate.
and have laughed wildly until the
tears came over the absurdity of it. 1
was young. l did not know that city
is not bricks, but men; is not fact, but
the vitality of living ideal.
In the town outside we made many
other acquaintances, of all classes OF
society. In 1910 no social stigma, or
very little, attached to any open asso-
citation. Gamblers were respectable
citizens, provided they ran straight
games.
Among the others we came across a
| al Wa ho1 Inl
the wharf. He was engaged. with the
assistance of two men of the Metho-
| dist persuasion, in building church.
The three had themselves cut and
hewed the timbeTs. Mr.. Taylor for
that was his name. explained to me
that, having no money, that seemed
! the only way to get church. He
showed us his own place, little shack
not unlike the others, but inclosed, and
planted with red geraniums, nastur-
tiums and other bright things.
''As far as l know" he told us, with
pride. that is the first garden in San
Francisco"
In the back yard he had inclosed
three chickens, two hens and cock.
81 paid $1S for them" said he.
We looked at each other in startled
astonishment. The sum appeared
trifie eXtravagant considering the just
acknowledged impecuniosity Of the
church. He caught the glance.
Boys" he said quantity, San Fran
cisco is a very lonesome place for the
godly. The hosts of sin are very streng,
and the faithful are very few. Mortal
flesh is weak, and mortal spirit is
prone to black discouragement When
bought those chickens / bought SIS
worth of hope Somehow Sunday morn
ing seems more like the Sabbath with
them clucEing around sleepy and lazy
and full of sun"
We liked him so much that we turn
ed to at odd times and helped him with
his carpenter work. While thus en-
gagged he confided to us shis intention
to preach against gambling the next
Sunday In the Plaza. We stopped ham
mering to consider this.
81 shouldn't il were you," said l..
'The gamblers own. the Plaza, They
are respected by the bulk of the COM
munity, and they won't stand any non
sense. They none of them, think any
thing of shooting man in their places.
l don't think they will stand for it.
am afraid you will be- roughly ham
died."
More likely shot," put in Johnny
bluntly.
'Well, WELL boys, well see." said