"n 1867, a policeman named Armand Barbier arrested Norton to commit him to involuntary treatment for a mental disorder.[3] The Emperor's arrest outraged the citizens and sparked scathing editorials in the newspapers. Police Chief Patrick Crowley ordered Norton released and issued a formal apology on behalf of the police force.[10] Crowley wrote "that he had shed no blood; robbed no one; and despoiled no country; which is more than can be said of his fellows in that line."[18] Norton magnanimously granted what he considered an Imperial Pardon to the errant policeman. All police officers of San Francisco thereafter saluted Norton as he passed in the street"
What a gem! I guess this shows how much facets the human condition has. To think that a man calling himself emperor would be tolerated, much less celebrated, in the US is almost as insane as the fact that someone would proclaim himself emperor of the US in the first place.
I took friends of mine on Emperor Norton's Fantastic San Francisco Time Machine [1] sort of as a joke, and it turned out to be an absolutely excellent decision. The Emperor Norton reinterpreter is a passionate history buff, knows a lot about San Francisco history and hidden-in-plain-sight SF landmarks.
I would strongly recommend this walking tour--I did it with people visiting from out of town, but it'd be fun even with only locals.
14 comments
[ 3.5 ms ] story [ 35.2 ms ] thread:D
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7814140
E Clampus Vitus -- http://abc7news.com/archive/7288186/
And Heirs of Norton -- http://www.heirsofnorton.com
There was a movement to have the Bay Bridge renamed the Emperor Norton Bridge -- http://www.emperorsbridge.org
Just amazing.
I would strongly recommend this walking tour--I did it with people visiting from out of town, but it'd be fun even with only locals.
[1] http://www.emperornortontour.com/