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Show The Charm oi The Place. It is said that every Frenchman, no matter v" how far removed, expects to be able some time to go to Paris to live, or that his soul will find lodgings there after death. But outside of Paris we do not believe there Is any other city toward which men have learned to turn, as there, were that turned to San Francisco and its immediate suburbs three weeks ago. It the thought was California, the real point was, after all, San Francisco. There was better food there at less prices than anywhere else; there was the best air of any great city; there were less days that were too hot or too cold than anywhere any-where else; flowers were sweeter there than anywhere any-where else; it was one place where men could do as they pleased and still there was a less proportion pro-portion of wrongdoers than anywhere else. Then the people averaged there better than in any other spot, for the pick of the world made up the old first race, and their buffetings by sea, their toll by land in going there, and their first years when they were, unaided by government and un-cheered un-cheered by the smiles of women, laying the foundations foun-dations of the Golden state, cleared their braln3 and enlarged their hearts until they were not like other people. And It is the same with Iheir descendants, de-scendants, and to thousands and tens of thou- I I sands of people who had no pecuniary Interest in the city the news oi its destruction came as an acute, personal sorrow. When it is said that Oakland is making a struggle to have the new city built on her lands, I all the band who in the states around California have been looking that way for a final home shake their heads, and the look is: "No Oakland in ours." And what can Oakland offer? In the '68 earthquake the center of disturbance was at Hay-woods, Hay-woods, back of Oakland. Then, about all the assets as-sets that thousands have are the lots under tne debris of San Francisco. Why should they give them up and run in debt for lots in Oakland? . Then, while Oakland has no firmer foundation than San Francisco, should a tidal wave ever burst through the Golden Gate it would miss San Francisco, but would move straight upon Oak-i Oak-i land, unless Alcatraz and Goat islands broke Its " " force. The new city will not be at Oakland; the ! old charm is across the bay. |