Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1886-07-30
A CONTAGIOUS EXAMPLE.
He would do SO Himself IL he
only had a Chance.

only had a Chance.
1t was beautiful day along the
Sierra Madre; the sky was cloudless;
the heat was soft as delicate sleep; the
breeze stole away from the curling waves
Of the shining summer sea. kissed the
boughs of the orange, the lemon and
myrtle, and the blushing cheeks Of
oceans OF ripening grapes, and rocked
the little woodbird in its nest in the
shady romantic canons.
With these Eden elements around and
overhead, the President of the L. A. 4
s. G. v. R. R.. Hon. J. F. Crank, with
a brow like the professor of astronomy
at the National Observatory at WASH
ington, accompanied by the General
Manager of the railway, Mr.. s. P.
Jewett. went forth TO locate the line OF
the railway across the Azusa.D uarte, the
Numbering bed Of the San Gabriel and
the broad rich acres of the Azusa.
After long drive over this fair land
even the exhileration of the beauties of
nature failed to sustain their physical
faculties and they
Began to feel. as well they might,
The keen demands OF appetite"
To satisfy these imperative demands
they sought hacienda not for away and
called tor refreshments. The opulenl
owner received them graciously, as be
receives other strangers, and entertained
them with the best which his well
stocked larder afforded. Finding that
they were strangers in the country he
expatiated on its richness and glories as
ii now is, but furthermore stated that
there was an immediate prospect of the
extension of the l.. A. l. 3. g. v. r. X.
through that section and that when that
should be constructed its flying palaces
would pass hourly to and from Azusa In
90 minutes from the great metropolitan
city of Los Angeles, the trains
meeting midway at Lamanda Park
in the shade Of the outrageous
evergreen oaks. This expectation would
soon be realized and the land over which
they had just trod, that was now selling
at $50 to $50 per acre would be pur-
chased at $500 per acre and covered all
over with trees and vines, fragrant flow
ers, voluptuous gardens, happy homes
OF beauty, comfort and culture, and the
air resound with the laugh of children
and the song Of birds and lovers. 1t is
needless to say that the strangers were
delighted with this picture Of the com.
ing glory of Azusa and listened to the
animated description of the ranchero
with close attention.
After their delicious meal the host
told them that the present railroad stu
alton and prospects reminded him OF
similar time when he lived in Virginia
There was much interest felt in the To-
cation Of railroad. Some wanted il in
one place and some in another, and the
people would meet at the County Court
House, the usual place Of resort in that
State in those days, and discuss the
matter and make wagers on its location.
But one well-to.do, educated farmer in
the vicinity did not hazard opinions at
the Court House or distress himself
about the future line of the road, but
every time when the officials Of the rail-
way company or the engineers came
along that way they were all entertained
at the farmers house with true Virginia
hospitality of the old school-spring
chicken, roast beef, champagne, Monon-
gahels and 'possum being called into
service to minister to their comfort,
without money and without price. The
people thought he was foolish to be so
lavish on these persons who were no
better than they, but he kept his own
counsels and his Astounding hospitality.
In a few months he told his sous and
young men friends who had an ambi-
tion to rise in the world to 60 and buy
certain large portions of the land, loan
ing them money to make a payment.
Soon after the purchase Of these lands
these same officials came again, but came
not alone. They brought with them
men and money and teams and tools and
soon well made railway extended across
the planters land and all the lands Of
the young men who purchased at his
suggestion, and the rise in value made
them all well-to.do for life. The people
who idled about the court house then
saw new light and the power Of hospi-
tally.
In conclusion the ranchero said, II he
only knew the officers Of the coming rail
way he scouid serve them in The same tvdy
as The planter serued the raitwdy OF.
fciais back in Old Virginia.
During the recital of the story the
faces Of Messrs. Crank and Jewett were
emotionless, but when they reached a
point beyond the possible reach Of being
heard at the hacienda the outroar of
laughter was terrific and reverberated
deep into the rocky cafons. Jewett
became unconscious after the first ten
rounds Of laughter, while Mr. Crank was
speechless from his own exertions but
managed to get hold of bottle Of lin
fandel. which was generously applied to
Jewett's face internally. In few min
utes consciousness was restored and he
sang
''carry me back to ole Virginia"
Mr.. Crank Is still hoarse, but is doing
as well as could be expected. When the
genial ranchero Of the Azusa reads the
HKRALD of to-day there will be laugh.
ing match against time in the halls OF
his hacienda.