1'0
COIN
MACHINE
REVIEW
It would have indeed been most unfitting
for the city's most distinguished citizen to
look unkempt as he paraded the streets on
"tours of inspection."
When the Empire's funds were too low
for safety and comfort, His Majesty would
make the rounds collecting "taxes" due to
royal treasure. The contributors consisted
of many of the professional and business
men of San Francisco. They all knew him
well and usually welcomed his periodic
visits. The Emperor had a faculty for arriv-
ing at just the proper time and, likewise,
he left without causing embarrassment or
annoyance to anyone. Taxes amounted
to any sum from a few cents up, and never
did the Emperor strain the good disposi-
tions or the pocketbooks of his loyal
subjects.
Quite often, too, Norton I would set forth
with plans of raising money for the building
of some great "national work," such as a
playground, park or library. After a few
remarks on conditions of the times, he
would present his request for some huge
sum of money. In case the particular citizen
he was calling on did not have that much
money on hand, the Emperor would will-
ingly settle for twenty-five or fifty cents.
For this amount, he would issue state
bonds, payable at some distant date and
bearing five per cent interest.
Once or twice the Emperor had an in•
temational scheme in mind. For the most
part, however, he considered such under•
takings useless. With the advent of the
Mexican trouble, he adopted the additional
title "Protector of Mexico." Later he
dropped this title because, he claimed, "it
is impossible to protect such an unsettled
country."
As the years wore on, the Emperor he•
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came less of an oddity and more of an
accepted part of the city's daily events.
Everyone knew him and liked him. In his
strange way he was always trying to do kind
deeds and help people he considered less
fortunate than himself. Little girls on their
way to school were often presented with
bouquets of roses. More than one small boy
ate ice cream at the Emperor's expense.
Emperor Norton died in action. While on
a "tour of inspection," in the vicinity of
California Street and Grant Avenue, His
Majesty suddenly fell to the sidewalk.
When nearby citizens reached his side he
was dead.
His loyal subjects rose to the occasion.
Over 10,000 people attended his funeral
and viewed his body in state. They were
more than curiosity seekers; they had been
his friends, and his "loyal subjects," and
they mourned his passing.
That the Emperor was more to San Fran-
cisco than a "funny old man," to laugh at
while he lived, has been shown many times
in the half century that has passed. In 1935
a second funeral was held when the body
of the Emperor was removed to a more
fitting burial spot. Twenty thousand people
took part at that occasion.
And there are grandmothers still living
in San Francisco today--once little girls
who received bouquets from the hands of
Emperor Norton - who each year place
wreaths of flowers on his grave. Such is the
greatness of those who treat with kindness
the subjects they have chosen to rule. ♦
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