The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-08-20

shortened from ten or twelve hours t
six-from 0 a. m. to 3 D. m,-becaus
every labor saving invention, instead O
serving to still further enrich the lam
owners, Went to tighten the burdens O
life for all mankind,
st. Cecile, as you all know, was one,
an afternoon lodge. Now. the only diff
terence between this and other lodge,
Is that we meet two hours later-at 9 ii
the evening instead Of att. Theatrical
and musical performances being now
given between the hours of $50 and $3.50
actors and musicians are able to attend
lodge in the evening and meet with
their brethren lii other walks of life
me iadles are no longer obliged to wea,
themselves out and spoil their beautiful
complexlons over cooking-stoyes and
wash-tubs, or to reughen their fingers
with ashes, clin5ers and caustic soda.
washing powders, or to burn themselves
up with kerosene oil; for all Numbering
IS now done as if by magic at the public
laundries, hygienic knowledge has be-
come SO widespread and the race has So
gained in vigor that raw food has large
~ taken the place of cooked and tea
ana coffee are no longer a daily neces.
slty; every house has its own electric
light plant and it's own ice machines;
manufacturing and culinary operations
are now conducted by means of water
gas, which is far cheaper than coal Used
to be, and roaring fire is now started
by simply turning gas-cock, which at
once once turns on the gas and ignitts It.
The whisky business has ceased to be
profitable; the old Prohibition party
found out long ago that the chief cause
OF lntemperance was poverty-that
men drank to forget their misery--
but when poverty was abolished there
was comparatively few troubles left
to DC drowned in the flowing
bowl Drunkenness is ROW eonsid.
cred disgrace, because there is nd
excuse for it. Inventions have not nrov-
ed on unmixed blessing, however, for
us Masons, for since the wonderful i'm
provements in flying machines we are
obliged, during our meetings, to have a
tyler at every window.
The beautiful and spacious parks
and commodious dwellings, which dis,
tinguish the east central quarter Of this
island occupy ground once the site OF
wfetched tenement houses, where
decency nor comfort was possible and
where children died like murrian-smit-
ten sheep. The struggle for existence
Is no longer the desperate battle it once
was, In which men grew prematurely
old and sank into the grave before their
time; business and professional jealousy
70 longer array men against each
other; standing armies, SO long u stand=
Ing menace to the peace Of nations, have
been disbanded to engage in peatefui
and the lesson of universal
motherhood set for n ankind one hun
lred and fifty years ago by Brother
Robert Burns has been sn well learned
nat, really, my brethren, | do not see
nat there is much further use for our or.
Ter, except to preserve we'll loved tradi.
ions and to promote sociability."
Mr.. Govan then proceeded to recount
anclful incidents in the past lives of .
lis fellow-members, one of which, he
ald' occurred, as nearly as he could re-
object shortly after Henry George
lad declined nomination for q third
erm as President of the United States.n
lie then concluded his portion of the en-.
by singing an old man com.
song. which he said had been favorite
his fifty or sixty years ago. when "he
little thought that he should live to see
he day when he could sing without the
ecessity of acting" Though he and
ne few friends who had been made
ware OF the Interior purpose of his
ddress had been somewhat apprehen.
I've regarding its reception, they were
9th surprised and gratified at the re.
llt. He was listened to with close at.
entlon throughout, and was congratu.
TIED on all sides for his effort. What
mazed him especially was the
Enthusiasm displayed by many of the
ost conservative and well-to-do of his
'llow-craftsmen, who few years ago
ad been outspokenly and inveterately
opposed to Henry George and all his
orks.
10 freemasons, Odd-Fellows, knights
Pythias and craftsmen generally:
10 thou and do likewise.