180 EAST PRUSSIA TO THE GOLDEN GATE 



crushed. Whoever deems this bridge too dangerous is 

 entirely at liberty to choose a roundabout and much 

 longer way to reach his destination. Just imagine our 

 typical German philistine in Sunday attire coming across 

 such a bridge ! How he would give vent to his righteous 

 indignation and growl at the seemingly inexcusable neg- 

 ligence and niggardly parsimoniousness of the munic- 

 ipality, while carefully looking about, fearing that some 

 one might have overheard his unguarded words. But, I 

 assure you, I never have admired the practical side of 

 the American character during my short acquaintance 

 with their means and methods, more than in this very 

 comparison. There is on one side of this strangely orig- 

 inal structure just described, filling its temporary pur- 

 pose, and right alongside of it, the splendidly built Long 

 wharf, which also is there for a purpose, different, of 

 course, from that of its neighbor. 



Should the practical eye of San Francisco's city gov- 

 ernment become officially convinced today that this 

 swinging bridge ought to be replaced by one of fifty feet 

 in width and of more solid frame, thousands of men 

 would be found at work tomorrow and in about a week's 

 time all would be done and nobody would be very much 

 surprised. This, of course, is so different from the good 

 old way of the Fatherland, where, after long and careful 

 debating and consideration, an Honorable City Council 

 would perhaps permit repairs of said bridge, even a rail- 

 ing, while the execution of the municipal edict might 

 drag along for a year. Yes, our people are thorough 

 whenever they undertook a thing, but so slow! 



It is impossible for me to leave the harbor without due 

 mention of the many magnificent vessels, which are here 

 in plain sight. Some of the models before my daily gaze 

 overshadow everything I have seen anywhere thus far. 

 The American clipper has particularly attracted my at- 

 tention; it is a production of the last few years and has 

 not been very long in practical use. The chief object 

 of the ship builders has evidently been to make a record 

 with these new vessels for unequaled rapidity. Every 



