Among our interesting experiences at Red Cross headquarters was the initiation of Dr. Devine into the habits of the earthquake.  He had come from New York to our assistance.  We were in session and J.S.  Merrill was speaking.  There came a decidedly sharp shake.  An incipient “Oh!” from one of the ladies was smothered.  Mr. Merrill kept steadily on.  When he had concluded and the shock was over he turned to Dr. Devine and remarked:  “Doctor, you look a little pale.  I thought a moment ago you were thinking of going out.”  Dr. Devine wanly smiled as he replied:  “You must excuse me.  Remember that this is my first experience.”

I think I never saw a little thing give so much pleasure as when a man who had been given an old coat that was sent from Mendocino County found in a pocket a quarter of a dollar that some sympathetic philanthropist had slipped in as a surprise.  It seemed a fortune to one who had nothing.  Perhaps a penniless mother who came in with her little girl was equally pleased when she found that some kind woman had sent in a doll that her girl could have.  One of our best citizens, Frederick Dohrmann, was in Germany, his native land, at the time.  He had taken his wife in pursuit of rest and health.  They had received kindly entertainment from many friends, and decided to make some return by a California reception, at the town hostelry.  They ordered a generous dinner.  They thought of the usual wealth of flowers at a California party, and visiting a florist’s display they bought his entire stock.  The invited guests came in large numbers, and the host and hostess made every effort to emphasize their hospitality.  But after they had gone Mr. Dohrmann remarked to his wife:  “I somehow feel that the party has not been a success.  The people did not seem to enjoy themselves as I thought they would.”  The next morning as they sought the breakfast-room they were asked if they had seen the morning papers.  Ordering them they found staring head-lines:  “San Francisco destroyed by an earthquake!” Their guests had seen the billboards on their way to the party, but could not utterly spoil the evening by mentioning it, yet were incapable of merriment.  Mr. Dohrmann and his wife returned at once, and though far from well, he threw himself into the work of restoration, in which no one was more helpful.  The dreadful event, however, revealed much good in human nature.  Helpfulness in the presence of such devastation and suffering might be expected, but honor and integrity after the sharp call of sympathy was over have a deeper meaning.  One of my best customers, the Bancroft-Whitney Company, law publishers, having accounts with lawyers and law-booksellers all over the country, lost not only all their stock and plates but all their books of accounts, and were left without any evidence of what was owing them.  They knew that exclusive of accounts considered doubtful there was due them by customers other than those in San Francisco $175,000.  Their only means of ascertaining the particulars was through those who owed it.  They decided to make it wholly a matter of honor, and sent to the thirty-five thousand lawyers in the United States the following printed circular, which I printed at a hastily assembled temporary printing office across the bay: