Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-09-10

We who were of the vast army of
Argonauts look back to that period as
possessing charms that amply repaid us
for all the tolls and privations We en-
dured and the risks which we ran. This
is our habit of thought. There is 8
glamour in the experiences of youth which
age invests with fascination that does
not bear the test of serious examination.
ana when we come to compare the
actualities OF those experiences with the
advantages which the young men of to-
day enjoy in California, we realize how
much better it is to be Native Son than
it was to have been An Aor snaut.
Let us draw the lines of com parisop.
and l will take my own case to illustrate
one side OF the picture. l arrived in
California at the age of nineteen. That
is the time when the mind and the char
acter are in their formative stage when
the softening Influences OF the home
circle and contact with the gentler sex
bring out and educate the refining traits
OF manhood when access to schools and
libraries, and friction with cultivated
intellects, expand and educate the mind.
None OF these advantages were ours.
We were cast into naelstrom of mas
culinity-but very strong and virile
masculinity-in which everyone had to
paddle his own canoe, and get cut Of the
vortex as best he could.
How different is it now with our leu
nesse doree-for you are our golden
youth !" See what advantages you have
over those your seniors possessed. You
have the inestimabie benefits of home
influences. You are surrounded with
the moral forces of established and &C
tive religious societies. You have every
facility for cultivating and perfecting the
talents that are in you. II you incline
to music, the best teachers are at your
service; if you seek the higher educa-
ton, you have an unsurpassed Univer-
sity whose doors are wide open to you.
There is no knowledge within the whole
wide range of human ken that ia not
available to you in this State. You
have churches, lyceums, theaters, libra
ries, conservatories, schools, colleges,
observatories-every conceivable insti-
tuition where the moral and intellectual
attributes OF your nature may be ex-
banded and gratifed. But, above all,
you have what we had not-you have
the companionship of the fair sex-the
soft and tender influences of woman.
Just think of one hundred thousand
young men, with not even second best,
much less best girl, into whose ears to
pour the thoughts that burn in the mas
culine heart bet. cen the ages of 10 and
30! Compare, for a moment, your
boundless wealth of melting beauties to
our sad and lonely situation, with mo
one to love, none to caress," and then
tell us who is to be envied-the young
man OF '49 or the young man of 'S9?
In all that pertains to the moral, in
tellectual and physical welfare of the
human race the young men of today
possess infinite advantages over those
possessed by the young men who came
here in 1849. Indeed, if it were other
wise there would be just reason to des-
pise the Pioneer. His was the duty to
lay broad and deep and strong the foun-
datlons OF new State, 80 that those who
came after him could say: .'Well
done" He found California wilder
ness, and he addressed all his energies
to erecting her into common wealth the
peer of any of her older sisters in all the
attributes that 60 to make up q prosper
GUS and polished community. How we'll
he has succeeded is attested by our
splendidly-bui cities; by our unsur-
passed system of public education; by
our contributions to art and science bv
our wonderful development in all the
material industries; by our teemine
fields, our grspe-laden vineyards, cur
golden.fruited orchards; BY our pho
nomenal wealth and our marvellous farm
PRODUCT ms; by the fact that our State
has become granary and q perennial
garden spot.
To the young men of today would
say: Take up the good work where we
have left off. There is q still greater
future-a higher and prouder destiny
in store for California than that she has
as yet achieved. The million and q
quarter of inhabitants she now has are
but as drop in the bucket to the tenn
ing population she is capable of sustain
ing and which she is destined to have at
no distant period.
Seize your Advantage. Equip your
selves for the matchless opportunities
that are before you. Go steadily forth in
the straight path of duty. Be true to
yourselves and to principle. Exercise
your talents in the direction OF a career
of usefulness. Govern your passions;
restrain your appetites; be temperate in
all things. Let prudence and economy
be linked in you with foresight and
energy, and every one of you may in the
end reap rich harvest and an enduring
reward.
The selection from Virginius by Miss
Cora Foy was one of the best numbers
on the programme. Miss Foy gave the
difficult recitation of the death scene in q
manner that won the plaudits of her
hearers.
She was followed by Professor William
Arend, who gave solo on the saxaphone
solo, with cornet obligato. The selection
was "Alice, Where Art Thou" and was
rendered in 80 pleasing q manner that an
encore was demanded and given.
Ex-Mayor W. H. Workman was called
upon to make the closing address, Hon.
R. F. Del Vale, who had been expected
to speak, not being present Mr.. Work
man said that he was like Mayor Hazard
in one respect, having been born little
too soon to be Native Son. He spoke
Of the early days in this State, and Of the
many trials and fluctuations which the
pioneers had to overcome on the six
months trip which was then required to
reach the Golden State.
President Griffith then announced
dancing in order, and the floor was
cleared, and to the music of the orches-
ira the audience amused themselves I'M
til early this morning.
Officer Wright brought James Kirby
and Willie A lien, aged and years re.