the refined courts of Christendom.

In a way, the story is brutal, and tells a brutal tale in a frankly brutal manner, but it has the redeeming feature of charm, and the maid in the tale is quite lovable, although in some manner a madcap. The hero goes a wooing for another, and finally wins a bride, where he had thought to find an untamable shrew, but he does not get her without hard work and valiant

fighting. The account of the deeds of Gilbert Charrington stirs the blood, and Hilary, the wayward maid, is as alluring as the will-o'-the-wisp. The book is not for the very young. It is not for the hypercritical. It will not suit the superdainty, but it is full of good red blood, and as to times and customs is probably historically true.

A. C. McClurg & Co., Chicago.

THE EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES OF A CALIFORNIA

MUNICIPALITY

By ROLAND HAUGHTREY.

a

While it is true that the city school sys- and, even at this early period, the schools tem of the city of San Jose dates from of San Jose enjoyed a repute for excelthe days of the sixties, it is also true that

lence that spread all over the State of

California. it was practically entirely remodeled since

This was the beginning. In the last the year 1906.

year, 1908-09, four new grammar schools With the building of the new high have been built at a total cost of $200,000. school, following the

following the destruction of San Jose possesses what is probably one the old structure in that year of disaster, of the best High School buildings archicame a new incentive and a new life to tecturally in the State of California, and the people who were devoting their lives this, officered by a faculty that is rated to the spread of a better and a broader one of the very best in the West. The education in the largest city in the beau- new San Jose High School is noble tiful valley of Santa Clara.

structure, peculiarly and fittingly deThe first mention of a High School oc- signed in the Mission style. It is well curs in the minutes of a meeting, minutes lighted and well ventilated. It is pleasof the Board of Education under date of antly situated, the sanitary conditions are December 12, in 1865. This recites that perfect, the equipment is elaborate, and the Superintendent of Schools be in- San Jose makes no idle boast when structed by the Board to purchase five claims one of the finest High Schools in chairs “for the use of the school."

the West. The total number of graduThe High School building, I am told, ates from the High School, to the present was situated at the Fourth street side of time, is 1186. Besides the public instiWashington Square, and consisted of one tutions of learning, San Jose has a State large room. It was a sort of go-as-you- school, one of the Normal schools being please affair, apparently, as no certifi- located here. It is also the location of cates or diplomas were issued to those who many excellent private institutions. In completed their course of study at the the neighboring city of Santa Clara there school, and the course did not cover any is a fine Catholic school for boys, Santa specified length of time.

Clara College, a school which is duly acThere were at the time a number of credited to the State University and to grammar schools housed about the city, Stanford University at Palo Alto.

it

Thomas Knight, within sight of whose farm Portola turned eastward to go the last three miles to his camp on the shores of the bay. Mr. knight is the oldest resident of San Mateo County, having lived in the Portola Valley since 1853.

Mr. Halsey L. Rixford throus a great light on the history of Gaspar de Portolu. Some ingenious individuals have gone so far as to say that this Portola is a myth, and that he did little else than convoy the Fathers of the Church in their quest in the north. It is shown by Mr. Rixford that Portola was more than a simple policeman to the militant brotherhood, and that he was a mighty man of enterprise and withal, gifted with a fine imagination. To Mr. Rixford, the Overland readers, and the public are generally indebted to Prof. Geo. Davidson for many of the facts given, but it is to Mr. Halsey that we are indebted for rendering them available in popular form.-EDITOR OVERLAND MONTHLY.

F SAN FRANCISCO wishes a mis- as sheltered as they had been led to expect. sion, let his port be discovered, and “Therefore,” says Father Francisco Palou, one will be founded.” So replied the “they went forty leagues farther and Visitador General Galvez to Padre

came upon the Puerto de San Francisco Junipero Serra in the year 1768, when Nuestro Padre, * * * In view of this, the latter, consulting him in regard to the what have we to say why Nuestro Padre three establishments projected for Cali- should not wish a mission in his port ?” fornia, asked why there was not “a mis- The first sight of the bay was had on sion for Nuestro Padre San Francisco ?” November 1, 1769. San Diego, San Buenaventura and San The inception of Portola's trip may be Carlos were the names assigned to the mis- directly attributed to over a century and sions, the site of the last being the shore a half of buccaneering ravages on Spanish of Monterey Bay. Gaspar de Portola, the commerce in the Pacific by Sir Francis first Governor of California, commanded Drake, “master thiefe of the unknowne the expedition sent in 1769 from San world,” Cavendish, Dampier, Anson and Blas, Mexico, to found these northern- others, to the seizure of Manila in 1762, most havens of refuge for the followers and the preparations for a scientific exof the Spanish Church and State. Search- pedition under James Cook in 1767, all ing for Monterey Bay in the location as- of which combined in prompting Charles cribed to it in 1602 by the discoverer Viz- III of Spain to issue a proclamation caino, the Portola party found no harbor directing that efficient measures be taken left Velicata the following day. In his company was the Most Reverend Father Fray Junipero Serra, President of the Missions of California, and called "The Venerable.”

When Portola reached San Diego fortyfive days later, with one hundred and sixty-three mules laden with provisions, he found the crews of the vessels in a deplorable state. Scurvy, induced by a diet consisting largely of dried and salt meat, had run riot in the little ships, and of a complement of ninety sailors, conscripts and Indians, only sixteen men remained fit for duty two weeks after. landing. The Governor proposed to load and man the San Carlos, but her skipper refused to undertake the voyage to Monterey because he had hardly any seamen. Portola despatched the San Antonio to report to the Visitador General, in the hope that more men and food would be sent to equip the ships while he was on the way northward.

No vessel, however, reached Monterey unHere one may imagine the brown cowled til the following year. priest and the dragoon stalking ghostily Portola had arrived June 29th. July and looking into the village of Portola 9th he sent the San Antonio south. By just beyond.

July 14th he was again pressing forward.

In the meantime, el comandante had into protect the coast of California against formed himself of the situation, planned invasion by "a foreign nation whose aims the further movements of the vessels and are no wise favorable to the Monarchy.” the land expedition, and assisted at the

Galvez, the Visitador General, left the establishment of the Mission San Diego City of Mexico April 9, 1768, for San de Alcala. All took part in adoring the Blas, to arrange for the setting forth of Holy Cross, the spot of its erection was two expeditions—one by sea, the other by dedicated to the glory of God, the fathers land. The mail boats “San Carlos” and said mass and the assemblage joined in “San Antonio” sailed from the Gulf of the prayers, and Portola, striding over the California, and Portola led the land party ground with drawn sword in hand, slashed up the peninsula. It is over seven hun- trees, earth, grass and the salt water to dred miles long. For weeks he and his show that he took possession of the counmen toiled over the weary wastes in a try by the authority vested in him by body until they reached Velicata. From Pope, King and Viceroy. here forty men of the California Company

Taking one hundred packages of proand thirty Indians were to accompany the visions—leaving the rest for the men at expedition to San Diego, where was to be the mission and trusting to the San Carlos the first of the missions of the Francis- for relief—the newly possessed Governor cang, that blazed the way for the settle- set out with his notable company. It inment of California. Large herds of cattle cluded Captain Don Fernando Rivera y and mules were gathered; provisions were Moncada, Don Miguel Costanso, an engibrought from the neighboring mission of neer of the army, Lieutenant Don Pedro Santa Maria. On March 24th, Don Fer- Fages, Sergeant Jose Francisco de Ortega, nando Rivera y Moncada started with a Padres Juan Crespi and Francisco Gomez, scouting party, and, reduced to a ration seven “soladados voluntarios de la Comof two tortillas a day, they made San pania franca de Cataluna,” twenty-seven Diego on May 14th. Governor Portola “soldados de Cuera” (garrison soldiers,