The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-10
MERRY ARGoNAUTS.
The Daddies of Our Sons Had an Outing
at El Campo.

The Daddies of Our Sons Had an Outin q
at Eel Campo.
The Pioneers went to Ell Campo yesterday
to have good time, and they had it They
never do anything by halves these hoary-
headed founders of great commonwealth.
Even to their frequent and sometimes rather
exciting pastime of quarreling, they carry
an earnestness that commands certain
amount of rugged respect. But there was
none of this sport yesterday. Everything
was harmony. Peace and good will reigued
everywhere, for the argOnauts were cele-
bratng the States natal day.
There was light sprinkling of Native
Sons c'chickens" in Pioneer vernacularI-
just enough to keep the old boys from be-
coming giddy. Fully 1900 people partei-
patGd, and the occasion was one of perfect
enjoyment The excurs ionists left the t,sI'
at 10 o'clock in the morning, aud were con-
veyed to the selected. cosy retreat for the
days festivities bv the San Francisco and
North Pacific steamer Tiburon. Arriving
one hour later the merry pa rty found the
grounds and pavilion handsomely decorated
with bunting and State and ational EN-
blems.
From the place of landing the Fifth In
fantry n. G. c. Band led the long process
sion TO roOmy pavilion, where brief liter
ary exercises were held. L.. l.. Baker,
President of the society, presided, and after
extending a cordial greeting to all present
introduced Rev. j. A. Benton, VINO invoked
the divine blessing. Willard b. Farwell
then delivered an GRAFTON, reminiscent in
character-an eloquent and thrilling re-
view of an important epoch in the annals
Of California's history.
THOUGHTS REMINISCENT.
Ha tonE his he1rarS hacL- IN tha little
"1 erba Buena cove of 1926 and wildly
pictured the successive steps and stages by
which San Francisco has grown 70 be a
great metropolis. After dwelling at length
upon the many roman ic phases in the city S
history, the speaker concluded as follows
Contrasting the scene which we witness
around us to-day with the picture Of the past,
we nave right 10 rejoce over The work of res
culng his fair land from the dreamy deSuetude
Into which II had thus fallen, and regenerating
1t by lie Infusion OF American enterprise and
American civilization into the marrow of It's ex-
istence. For when we first set foot upon Its
generous soil we found II sui the land OF re-
mote, Isolated, pastoral quetude and decay
thus described by the early naylgators. That
solitude we nave seen become an empire OF
wealth and population, whose iuture-s0 bound
less are lis p0sSibilileS-nO man Is wise enough
TO l0retell; Whose destiny, in its political, social
and commercial relations with all the world, the
human mind may not attempt TO compass.
we found 10 wilderness. but we have lived 10
see II literally bud ana bloom rs the rose We
IOuDu u III pOilllchl CDdOs, we DtilOiu u III lIc
enjoyment Of the most liberal and beDefcient
foim OF government ever devised by the genius
OF man. We found 1t solitude; We have liyed
10 see IL covered with fields, orchards, lowing
herds, lovely homes, prosperous and popul0us
cti,s and towns, Its valleys and hills threaded
with thousands of miles OF railways; It's CONNER
cial relations established upon the broadest
basis with all the civilized world.
Well may we be content that we can leave
such heritage to those who are 10 follow after
US. Well may we rejoice upon each annual re-
turn OF this auspicous day 50 long as we are
permitted TO share IN its festivities. Nor need
We indulge In idle regr' Is that we can look out
only into brief period OF years when this sOlace
and happiness shall be afforded us.
The air Is chill and the day grows late.
And the clouds come in through the Golden Gate.
Freighted with sorrow, heavy with woe
Yet these shapes that cluster dark and low
Tomorrow shall be all aglow
In the weight OF the coming morn these mistS,
Whose weight m vain my heart resfsts,
VIII tighten and shine and soar TO heaven
In their white robes, like souls forgiven;
For heaven is kind and everything,
As wei as winter. has spring.
30 praise to God who brings the day
That shines our regrets aud fears away,
For the blessed end we can watch and walt
While the clouds come In from the Golden Gate.
READING OF POEMS.
After the Grafton came three poems. DR..
Washington Aver read the first, and was
followed by Dr. Benton, who made the au-
dience merry with his ''all-round men OF
49," which proved to be an excellent de-
scription of the early lustler." The title
OF the last piece was Steamer Day." read
by E. f. Cheever. 1t was witty and stirred
the graybeards to uproarious laughter.
a few musical selections closed the exer-
cices in the pavilion and the people then re-
paired to discuss a tempting lunch, spread
out upon long, hower-decked tables under
the cooling shades Of willows. Here they
fingered long over appe;izing yiands, in
dulging the while in song, jest and story.
After lunch the pavilion was cleared for
dancing. but the floor was not given up
entirely to the young.
A hundred argonauts claimed recognition
among the fair sex. and skipped about the
place With an agility which told no stories
of days and night spent in mining bitches
and on quartz ledges. Tie dancing was
kept up until 8 o'clock. and at that hour the
excursionists returned to the city more than
pleased with the day.