{"id":120,"date":"2026-08-10T04:36:18","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T04:36:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.womeninit.net\/lore\/?p=120"},"modified":"2026-08-10T17:21:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T17:21:11","slug":"a-trip-to-the-library","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.womeninit.net\/lore\/2026\/08\/10\/a-trip-to-the-library\/","title":{"rendered":"A trip to the library"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A few weeks ago my husband and I were in the San Francisco Public Library main branch doing the SFPursuit challenge (which is a whole story in itsel<\/a>f). As we perused the shelves in the music section, a set of hardcover books caught my attention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Intrigued (and distracted from my task!) I picked up volume 2, A San Francisco Songster <\/em>and started browsing its pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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With limited time, I quickly flipped through and snapped a few photos before putting the book back and getting back to business. But later on at home, I googled and located a PDF of the whole thing<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I found when I read through it at home was a fascinating potpouri of doggerel, sentimental (if not always particularly good) poetry, some really blatantly racist stuff, and a few gems. I don’t want to share the racist stuff here, but you’ll know it when you see it. Let’s just say… blaming immigrants is not a new phenomenon. Nor is erasing the people who were here already.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, I do want to share a few of the gems. Like this paean to Karl the Fog, long before he was given that name:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In a similarly affectionate vein is this tribute to Emperor Norton<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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EMPEROR NORTON I. (1880) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monarch by choice of the Golden West,
Usurper by right of his own behest,
What though his reign was a world-wide jest –
This wise old Emperor Norton. —
There never was Monarch so kindly as he,
So lordly in rags, democratic and free,
With never a battle on land or on sea,
Our good old Emperor Norton. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His soldierly dress we can never forget,
With Its tarnished and old-fashioned epaulette,
A white plug hat with a side rosette,
One suit had Emperor Norton
With a monster cane as a regal mace,
Entwined with the serpent that tempted the race,
This monarch of mystery held his place,
Majestical Emperor Norton. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Enacting no beauty but moderate need,
While the light of his life was excellent creed,
For he never had done an ignoble deed,
This ragged Emperor Norton.
There never was tribute more modestly laid
By bankers and merchants more willingly paid,
And never were titles more cheerfully made
Than those by Emperor Norton. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All men are usurpers somewhat in their way,
But the high and the lowly acknowledged his sway,
And even the children would pause in their play
With greetings for Emperor Norton.
No king ever ruled better people I vow,
Those old san Franciscans were peers, anyhow –
For none but the regal would smilinglv bow
To a mock-regal Emperor Norton.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

And then there is the one about abalone<\/a>. More than one version, actually. <\/p>\n\n\n