_Wherefore this book of fiction by Californian writers? And why itsappeal otherwise than that of obvious esthetic and literary qualities?They who read what follows will know._
_The fund, which the sale of this book is purposed to aid, was plannedby The Spinners soon after the eighteenth of April, 1906, and wasstarted with two hundred dollars from their treasury. To this, Mrs.Gertrude Atherton added another two hundred dollars. Several women'sclubs and private individuals also generously responded, so that nowthere is a thousand dollars to the credit of the fund. A bond has beenbought and the interest from it will be paid to Ina D. Coolbrith, thepoet, and first chosen beneficiary of the fund. The Spinners feelassured that this book will meet with such a ready sale as to makepossible the purchase of several bonds, and so render the accruinginterest a steady source of aid to Miss. Coolbrith._
_All who have read and fallen under the charm of her "Songs from theGolden Gate," or felt the beauty and tenderness of the verses "When theGrass Shall Cover Me," will, without question, unite in making"assurance doubly sure" to such end._
_From the days of the old_ Overland Monthly, _when she worked side byside with Bret Harte and Charles Warren Stoddard, to the present moment,Miss. Coolbrith's name has formed a part of the literary history of SanFrancisco._
_The eighteenth of April, 1906, and the night which followed it, lefther bereft of all literary, and other, treasures; but her poem bearingthe refrain, "Lost city of my love and my desire," rings with the oldgenius, and expresses the feeling of many made desolate by thedestruction of the city which held their most cherished memories._
_When Miss. Coolbrith shall no longer need to be a beneficiary of thefund, it is intended that it shall serve to aid some other writer,artist or musician whose fortunes are at the ebb._
_To the writers, artists and publishers who have so heartily andgenerously made this book possible, The Spinners return unmeasuredthanks._