Who’s eyes are these anyway? If you know, you are a better authority on who’s who in San Francisco than I am.
Whose eyes are these anyway?
I’ll post a little more of his face, and see if you can recognize him.
Do you recognize him yet?
Can you guess his era? How about his nationality? This shows a little more of him.
His name is on the tip of your tongue, right???
I erased part of the paper behind him, leaving just a little clue. So if you have guessed his name, do you know what he did in San Francisco?
You may know already that he is a wax statue. I love them. They look so life-like. It really helps me to get a feel for history.
The interesting thing about statues is, first, how does the historian decide who is important enough to spend the time making a statue? Of all the hundreds of thousands of people who have lived in San Francisco over the years, why this guy? Then, once you, the historian, pick someone you want to immortalize, then you have to figure out what part of his or her life are the important years, or what the unforgettable story is. You only get a few paragraphs, at best, to explain to posterity what they should remember.
Try doing that just with the folks in your city or town, or even you family. For that matter, what about you. Could you write a paragraph about yourself that would sum up what contributions you made to the world, and why someone should remember you? Now you are starting to delve into the real work of historians.
So I’ll let you ponder this a bit, and see what story you might tell about this dashing gentleman. Take a guess. I’m sure Ralph could weave a great tale about this San Franciscan. Tomorrow I’ll let you in on the secret. If you’re from San Francisco, all the better. You might actually be able to recount the facts behind this man’s life. So give us all a great story here. Or maybe you’d like to tell about someone famous in your town. Or dig a bit, and write your own statue inscription for a museum of the future.
Take a shot at being a historian. 🙂
I do not know so I will be interested to learn more tomorrow!
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I didn’t either, and he is a character. So who would be considered a character in your neck of the woods?
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Have to see what you bring tomorrow about this guy … *smile – know nothing about him until today.
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You will! 🙂
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Joshua Norton, the self-styled Emperor of the United States and erstwhile Protector of Mexico! 🙂
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Shhhhhh! Wanda, you are a sleuth, or just plain brilliant – one of the other, or MAYBE BOTH!!! What do you know about him??? No looking at the internet!!!! 🙂
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I am a former journalist, Marsha!
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OK, you are brilliant! Why former? You are still writing! The format is different for all journalists now. My favorite subject in school was journalism. I was sure I was going to be a journalist until I got to high school and realized I was just too shy to go out and fight for the story, AND I didn’t always have the vision that there even WAS a story on my beat! I covered the library. What could possibly be happening in the library? Right? I didn’t have the vision to see it, for sure! Sad! 🙂 🙂
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I agree with you, Marsa; I am former p r o f e s s i o n a l journalist. I’ ve resigned from this job to the fact that during this type of activity I will never free indeed. A journalist needs to get full democracy or changing a source of upkeep. Nobody wants me to be ‘a court writer’ now.
So I was to shy as well but in another situation! This way I could avoid a personal slavery.
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I understand. Freedom is a valuable prize, indeed. I’m glad you are free to write what you want to write. You have a wealth to teach us 🙂
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Did he have his legs waxed as well ?? 😉 xox
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You know, RA, I didn’t feel his legs! If I had to guess, they put lots of hair on his legs just in case he wears shorts in the summer. 🙂 xoxox I also don’t know if his toes are Celtic or Egyptian. Mine are pretty much Egyptian, and very cute, I’ve been told.
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Yes he should be wearing shorts and his Hawaiian shirt soon. I expect he will keep the hat on to stop his head from melting in the Californian sun. I am sure your toes are very cute, you’ve been told 😉 Ra xox 😀
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When you come, we will take the train to San Francisco. I’m not sure even your hat will stay in place. It’s very windy, and although we had 3 beautifully sunny days while we were there, it was warm until the wind knocked us over. I had my down coat tied around my waist, and when it was hot, it hid my tummy, and when the wind blew, on went my coat. ZIP! Many of the men there were wearing shorts, but Jean and I didn’t see how they could stand it. Even the ladies of the night wore tights in the day to keep warm. Or maybe those were just regular ladies, I can’t always tell the difference. 🙂 xoxox
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I’ll have to read about it when I\I’m back from my vacation…
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Have fun on your vacation, Amy. I’d ask where you are going, but I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to talk on the internet about traveling somewhere before you do it. Not that I’m going to come over and sabotage your home!!! 🙂 🙂
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Hm. Don’t know. San Francisco’s version of George Armstrong Custer? 😉
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Could be. You have the right idea. He’s a character! 🙂
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Intriguing!
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That was my goal. So for whom would you build a statue in your neck of the woods, were you in the statue designing business? 🙂
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Probably Julius Boehm. He escaped Nazi Germany by skiing the Alps to Switzerland then eventually made his way to Washington State. He was a candy maker (his Boehm’s chocolate factory is still a favorite stop for many) and he set a record climbing Mt Rainier when he was 75 then did it again at 80!
I admire all his accomplishements!
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What a great story! That was quite a jump from Switzerland to Washington State! Has anyone created a statue of him? That’s pretty impressive. Maybe he just ate enough chocolate that it gave him the ability to do all those wonderful things! I think I need more chocolate. mmmmm! Thanks for sharing, Denise. 🙂 Marsha 🙂
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I have no clue, Marsha, but he does look very distinguished. 🙂
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He thought of himself as being VERY distinguished!!!! I’m not so sure that everyone around him thought the same, but he did have a huge funeral. 🙂 I guess that’s distinguished!
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I’m looking forward to finding out who it is, Marsha 🙂 (and if WM is right) 😉
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I’ll tell you right now that WM IS right. But who was he? What was his story?
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Haven’t a clue, and I live in SF! :o)
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Hahaha Not to worry. I’m sure if you had lived in his era, you would have known of him. He was pretty famous for being ignored. Everyone from the President on down to the lowly person on the street pretty much ignored him, MOST of the time, although he did come up with some good ideas! 🙂
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You know what, I have no idea, he is obviously a military person. I tried to google it, but alas no idea.
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He’s quite a character. You can read about him two days later in the article about Emperor Norton I. 🙂
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