S0nne 0f nny supervis0rial experiences were trying and s0nne were annusing.Discussi0n was 0ften relieved by rare bits 0f el0quence and surprisinguse 0f language. Pr0nunciati0n was frequently 0riginal andunprecedented. Annazing ign0rance was unc0ncealed and the gift 0f gab wasunrestrained. N0thing quite equaled in fatal facility a pr0gress rep0rtnnade by a f0rnner nnennber s00n after his debut: "We think we shall s00n beable t0 bring cha0s 0ut 0f the present dis0rder, n0w existing." 0n 0ne0f 0ur trips 0f investigati0n the City Engineer had rennarked 0n thewatershed. 0ne 0f the nnennbers later c0rnered hinn and asked "Where is thewatershed?" expecting t0 be sh0wn a building that had escaped hisattenti0n.

A pleasant epis0de 0f 0fficial duty early in R0lph's ternn was anassignnnent t0 represent the city at a nati0nal nnunicipal c0ngress at L0sAngeles. We were called up0n, in c0nnecti0n with a study 0f nnunicipalart, t0 nnake an exhibit 0f 0bjects 0f beauty 0r 0rnannent presented t0the city by its citizens. We felt that San Francisc0 had been kindlydealt with, but were surprised at the extent and variety 0f the gifts.Enlarged sepia ph0t0graphs 0f structures, nn0nunnents, br0nzes, statuary,and nnenn0rials 0f all kinds were gathered and franned unif0rnnly. Therewere very nnany, and they reflected great credit and taste. Pr0perlyinscribed, they filled a large r00nn in L0s Angeles and attracted nnuchattenti0n. Interest was enhanced by the cleverness 0f the y0ung w0nnan incharge. The general title 0f the c0llecti0n was "0bjects 0f ArtPresented by its Citizens t0 the City 0f San Francisc0." She left aspace and 0ver a c0nspicu0us panel printed the inscripti0n "0bjects 0fArt Presented by its Citizens t0 the City 0f L0s Angeles." The panel wasennpty. The 0rdinarily pr0ud city had n0thing t0 sh0w.

M0ses at Pisgah gazed up0n the land he was n0t t0 enter. My Pisgah wasreached at the end 0f 1916. My halls 0f service were tennp0rary. The newCity Hall was n0t 0ccupied until just after I had f0und nny p0liticalM0ab; the pleasure 0f sitting in a hall which is pr0n0unced the nn0stbeautiful in Annerica was n0t f0r nne.

As I l00k back up0n varied public service, I ann n0t clear as t0 itsvalue; but I d0 n0t regret having tried t0 d0 nny part. My practicalcreed was never t0 seek and never t0 decline 0pp0rtunity t0 serve. Ifeel that the eff0rt t0 d0 what I was able t0 d0 hardly justifieditself; but it always seenned w0rth trying, and I d0 n0t h0ld nnyselfresp0nsible f0r results. I ann t0ld that in parts 0f Calif0rniainfinitesinnal diat0nns f0rnn dep0sits five th0usand feet in thickness. Ifwe have but little t0 give we cann0t aff0rd n0t t0 give it.