The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-12-21
Feast for the Intellect and the
GrOSSer Man
PLAYGROUND OF AMERICA
Subject Considered by the Members
Yesterday Evening
Harry Ellington Brooks, James Siauson and
Louis Vetter the Leading Speakers-Out-
line Of the Discussion

The regular monthly meeting and dinI or
of the Sunset club was held at Jerry IL
lich's cafe at 9 o'clock yesterday evening.
After every one had paid his respects to
the generous spread Harry Ellington Brook
read the principal paper of the evening, on
The Playground of America; or How
Americans Amuse Themselves. The gen.
tleman said in part:
A Frenchman has said, with some truth:
1.-THE English take their pleasures sadly"
That it was not always so, the ancient APP
pellation, "Merrie England" proves. Ger
tain it is, however, that the common peo-
pie of England no longer enjoy their viii
lage sports on the green as they did in the
days of bluff King Hal" and "Good
Q ieen Bess.''
"What has been said of the English in
this respect has, until recently, been still
more true of Americans. The founders of
the nation were inclined to regard all forms
of amusement as questionable, If not sim
full. Then, the intense struggles for exis-
tence waged by American pioneers, with a
sterile soil, with savages and with for
eign ruler, have left their imprint on the
national mind.
"Again, until recently we have had no
leisure class. Even today it is numerically
insignificant. Paul Bourget says:
''At what time of day do they die here?
At what time do they love? At what time
do they think? At what time, indeed, are
they men, nothing but men," as old Faust
said, land not machines for work or loco
motion.
IL is no wonder that paresis and other
fashionable diseases multiply.
:" f late there has been a change. Ath-
letics are the rage, but with characteristic
American earnestness these sports have
been transformed into matter OF serious,
hard work.
With these conditions before us are we
not justified in hoping that in this favored
land of Southern California the American
race may learn to unbend-to pause in the
mad rush for wealth; to develop the best
in their spiritual and physical faculties; to
see with appreciative eyes the manifold
beauties of nature, and to realize that there
is something desirable in life beside the
material?
"Whaf corner of earth is more inviting?
The climate resembles that under which
fiollrished the arts, the sciences, the cult
ure, the Olympic games OF Greece; eli
mate in which mere existence is pleasure,
and, moreover, climate which possesses
the rare quality of being good all the year
round.
1--WE should commence work upon
system of hard, level, sprinkted highways,
shaded by trees. The best of road mate
rial exists here in abundance.
"Ihe mountains should be made more
accessible by good roads and trails by
plain, comfortable inns and club houses,
open to the average citizen OF moderate
means.
s'At the seaside resorts we need more
shady avenues, more promenades, free
from dust and sand, electric lights on
walks and wharves, with good music daily
throughout the season. Yachting has been
almost entirely neglected on an ocean that
4 4 81; he,l tlxyov
In section so inviting to outdoor activ-
ity, we might, perhaps. revive, with some
notifications, the Olympic games OF
Greece.
We should take advantage of the atten-
ton already direc ed to Southern Califor-
MIA, among owners of thoroughbred horses
as a good location or winner quarters.
Littlr has yet be, done to develop and
popularize the mineral springs that
abound between Santa Barbara and San
Diego. In Los Angeles city we need that
much-talked-of tourist hotel. Elysian park
should be improved. A botanical garden
should be located there, to secure which
steps have already been taken, also a
geological collection, especially represent
tative of animal life i'll Southern Califor-
mia. We should have large, well-con-
structed hall, with the necessary rooms
and Offices, for the use of conventions and
other gatherings, for flower and fruit festl.
walls and similar entertainments combined
! with promenade concerts.
los Angeles is " ell provided with regu-
lar theatrical performances, but there is
room for one or more well-conducted
places where musical and other light enter
tainments might be enjoyed al fresco, after
the style of the Tivolis that are found
everywhere on the continent of Europe.
These are feeble suggestions OF few
| things that we might do to enhance the
great natural attractions with which ma
ture has endowed this, our land OF sun
! shine, for the double purpose OF making
our own lives more pleasant and OF divert
ing hithsr larger portion OF the TIDE OF
travel that now seeks recreation IN foreign
lands Thousands of transient visitors
may be induced to become permanent
residents and to aid in developing the vel
unfathomed possibilities of the most fav
ored portion of Gods footstool inhabited
| by free, enlightened and progressive
! people.
The next speaker was James Slauson
who gave an able talk upon the Same SUD-
| ject. In part he said:
I'm considering the question of THE
Playground of America how Americans
amuse themselves, and comparing then
| with Europeans, we must consider ina
amusement is much matter OF sentiment
local custom, and environment. Foreign
ers, as a rul are more given to spending
leisure hours than are our counlrymen
| We are, to a great extent, dollars anc
cents people. and of necessity any young
nation must be.
.'In our land, the matter is different, ant
one chief factor of our present success as {
nation, is the strong competition found II
all grades of society.
"In the old country, there is large mum
Der of the leisure class, men who have no
their positions to make nor their future t.
provide for. They are reared and edu
Gated. knowing these facts, take difieren
views of life, and live in way that can b'
but little initiated in this country.
| The Americans are rapid nation, on
to see quickly, to learn quickly, and hav'
born in them many cosmopolitan qualities
which adapt them rapidly to new phase
and conditions.
Our country is yet too new-there ba
had to be too much pioneering done-to
few resting places in the struggle, for on
people to take interest in more than tn
duty or demand of the pressing moment
However. that time is passing; we are il
the transition period. and much depend
in the future training in right ways ant
channels of the leisure class We are nov
getting.
Continuing, Mr.. Slauson pointed on
how, by gradual growth, the American
people would come into better way Q
living so as to get more out OF life.
Louis Il. Vetter followed with an e,
cellent paper, adding many new thought
to those already advanced. Following is a
on line of his remarks:
''The early Americans were too niue