Of all our visitors, I believe I preferred Emperor
Norton; the very mention of whose name reminds me I am
doing scanty justice to the folks of San Francisco. In
what other city would a harmless madman who supposed
himself emperor of the two Americas have been so
fostered and encouraged? Where else would even the
people of the streets have respected the poor soul's
illusion? Where else would bankers and merchants have
received his visits, cashed his cheques, and submitted
to his small assessments? Where else would he have been
suffered to attend and address the exhibition days of
schools and colleges? Where else, in God's green earth,
have taken his pick of restaurants, ransacked the bill
of fare, and departed scatheless? They tell me he was
even an exacting patron, threatening to withdraw his
custom when dissatisfied; and I can believe it, for his
face wore an expression distinctly gastronomical.
Pinkerton had received from this monarch a cabinet
appointment; I have seen the brevet, wondering mainly
at the good-nature of the printer who had executed the
forms, and I think my friend was at the head either of
foreign affairs or education: it mattered, indeed,
nothing, the prestation being in all offices identical.
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