The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1885-12-26

l am so deeply impressed with sense OF
my own want of ability fifty TO respond
TO the expectations of my fellow-m mem
beers, in addressing yOa, that would
not have hesitated to resign this honor
to some one more competent than my
self TO do so, to one whose thoughts,
eloqnently expressed, would have i'm
parted delight to yoaF ears and added
lustre to this occasion. But 1 assure
you, gentlemen, no sentences, however
artistically arranged, no periods. how
ever tremendously sounded, no ideas,
however glowingly vanished over with
the most pleasing eolors of rhetorical
art, eonld have the power TO express
how truly proud ard how highly hon
nred feel as having been chosen from
among go many more worthy than my
self as the exponent of the sincere graft
tude of my companions, for the magni-
fcent gift which we have received at
your hands.
We thank you, Mr.. Mayor, and gen.
tlemen OF the Town Council, from the
Utmost depths of our hearts, for this
really princely sSesent We thank you
for this priceless jewel, which, spark
ling outside with dazzling brilliancy,
yet possesses condensed within its
bowels The concentrated force which
one living spark alone is sufficient to
set in motion. We prize it not for its
beauty, nor for its elegance, nor for its
symmetry, although in symmetry, in
elegance and in beauty it stands un-
equaled, as work of genius and of art.
We prize it not for the value that it
has been purchased for in money. We
prize it not for the sole perfection Of
its parts, nor for the truth Of its action;
although, after being brought severely
to the test, it has proven both perfect
and true. But we prize it most as a
protecting shield over our prosperous
and growing city, and as trusty pail
ladium over our homes and families
against unconscious danger All, gen
tlemen, when the oonfding mother and
the innocent little ones at home. are
softly embraced in the arms Of all per-
Yading sleep, and then, the dread alarm
| pierees through the silent hours Of
| night; when men run the streets wild
with terror, rushing crafty and crying
! helplessly for aid. and when already the
| dark volumes of smoke are mounting
up to the sky, signaling the fact of the
impending eonhagration, then we shall
look to 1t to gush forth, as thing of
! life, the foods of life-saving and home
saving element, that is to quench the
ineipient flames and avert an universal
and appalling disaster!
| Again, gentlemen, we are, above all,
proud of this steam Fire Engine, for
the confidence reposed in our Company
by your honorable body, in entrusting
It over to our charge. / but express
here the sentiment Of each and every
individual member OF this Company, IN
saying that you shall never have oeca-
sion TO repent either of your confidence
or libeYality IN this respect We pledge
ourselves here. in the most solemn man
ner, ever 10 be faithful to this great
trust, and we promise that, always
4 ready on the fiery breach, we shall be
prepared, at all times, TO devote oar
efforts and our lives, if need be, for the
safety and protection Of the homes and
lives of our fellow-townsmen.
Ladies' and gentlemen, | consider
that the part assigned me on this oeea-
sion, would be but imperfeetly per-
formed did not turn aside for mo-
ment, to address few words to the
fair aud charming little daughter of our
esteemed Mayor, Miss KATIE MEYER,
whose name is engrayen upon our
steam Fire Engine. By your sweet
name, Miss Katie, shall this beautiful
Engine heneeforth be known. 1t shall
be new source of endearment to US.
Borrowing this sweet Appreciation from
you, the word becomes at once synon-
imous with purity, intelligence, zeal
and devotion. We accept it cheerfully
as emblematic of these precious quail
ties. Purity in motive, intelligence
il direction, zeal in action and deYo-
ton to the great cause We have en-
barked in, shall always be our safest
and surest guides in response TO the
call Of duty. With your name in
scribed here we shall always be in
spired with the recollection that you
stand sponsor to us and to our engine,
md we shall always be moved by the
strongest incentive in the world, to
deeds of yalor and self-saerifee.
Mr. Mayor, it is due, in great part,
to your constant solicitude for the pub
lie welfare and to your sincere attach
ment to your people, that the men wo'
men and children of the city of Lake
Charles now feel that they are compar'
atively safe from one Of those pelledle
calamities that are won't to lay towns
/ and cities in ashes The people Of Lake
Charles owe it 10 your proyident fore
sight. that feeling Of security is per-
: eeptible on all sides; their business
/ stands on q frmer basis; their protts
are increased by proportionate de,
? crease on premiums Of insurance, ano
the permanent rise in the value OF real
4 estate ia another unmistakable symp'
! torn that d future Of unexampled pros
perity lies in store for them. During
The twelve memorable years Of YOU
. ineumbeney 10 office as Mayor OF the
a town Of Lake Charles, the city has
, marched steadily on the road o. pro.
eress and improvement; ~ wealth. ane
9 population il has increased, under your
! | fostering administration until it stand
lunriyaled in Southwestern Louisiana
2 as a monument Of industry, intellgenet
r and public spirit of its inhabitants
q But, Mr.. Mayor, none Of y9gr oinela
7 acts heretofore shall endure like this q
\ imnlortalize your well-aeseryed fame
4 You, and the members ot the A9uncli
lin acquiring this steam FIRE engine
lhave done golu whole duty towards fh'
people, whose Interests you have u
charge, and, for thus act alone, you
3 names shall be enrolled in neyer-fadinl
!. 4 letters ID the grateful remembranes 2
your felIow-citizens.
q MISS KATIE MEYER,s RESPONSE.
Mr.. President, AND Gentlemen Of Lag
: Charles Fire CO. No. =
ell 1 am quite overwhelmed at the high homo
Won have conferred upon me, IL condeseend
q ing 70 name your new aud magnliicent steeu
!, iIre enpine alter one 80 humble and inelg
y niiIieatlt as nyself. However unaeseryed
n NAV be, shall ever keep in grateful relnein
Is ssderstion, Ii my sincere Wishes for you
7 continued success and prosperity, 0otl ~ {
y coronation and as individuals, can, ~ SOU
Il wise repay you for this kind but upmerlte'