The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-11
OF Los Angeles and the Sur
rounding Country
THE COURTESIES OF LIFE
And hospitalities Are Dispensed With
an Easy Grace
There Is No Room for Criticism and No Doubt
ss to the Excellent Standard Of
Local Society

1t is doubtful il the Puritan fathers
when they landed on the rocky coast of
New England in Decem Der had a more
difficult task before them of building up
a home than Californians have had in es-
tablishing their rights to be- placed on q
social level with eastern CITIES.
The idea. is prevalent on the Atlantic
coast that as the distance from the east
increases civilization decreases in
tn 9 same ratio and as much ignorance
is displayed in this fact as many foreign
ers smanifest in their knowledge of
America. Queries made today in regard
to society of Los Angeles compared with
that of eastern cities in all probability
would elicit statements detrimental to
our beautiful citv ana it is only those
of the doubling Thomas who have Sc en-
for sthemselyes-who have visited our
homes. experienced the cordial hospital
ity of the west and witnessed the int III.
gence and refinement that pervades these
homes-it is only these people who can
appreciate that we stand on equal
grounds with society CT the east.
The old adobe of long ago has given
place to handsome homes, the Ignorance
s sns be. dignity S by s dsnsS
pendence has lost nothing by the inva-
sion of the stranger from over the Rock
les. the crude society OF long years
ago was never COARSE. women were
gentle and men were courteous.
With this shadow of social ethics to be
buiIded upon, the refining Influence OF
nature itself, and the wealth of the east
ernsr that has been scattered broadcast,
is 1t to be wondered that Los Angeles
mas sprung from The embryo OF Ignorance
to social pinnacle that plight he envied
rather than denounced by the states that
first see the rising sun? AS a matter OF
fact. the mere industry of the country,
that of horticulture. has its 81 bile in
huence on the people, and Los Angeles
and Southern California are void of the
rougher class that often congregate in
the factory towns of the east. Fasteners
have come here to stay and have built
homes of marvellous beauty and furnished
them with an artistic taste that only
people of culture could design and carry
out. The eaudy display of " ealth which
has been credited TO the Californlans has
emerged into tones OF simple elegance.
The mass that have come from the east,
whether to spend money or make 1t, for
establishing their health or mere recre-
alton, have brought the best of eastern
characteristics and none of the deterio-
rating elements.
Schools can rank with any of those CT
eastern cities. The public has access
to a library where all current literature
and magazines can be procured only q
few days later than in New OrK city,
and in the last few years literary clubs
have been organized that are too nu-
merous to mention. Celebrities OF all
Irofes sions visit our city and nowhere are
churches more largely attended than
here, and associa tons have been estab-
lisned and prospered and Los Angeles has
b,eome a center OF music-loving people.
With all these advantages there is added
the warm and cordial hospitality that
has been handed down from our Spanish
predecessors, and the attractions to draw
peopls of education and refinement are
AS strong as the magnetic current that
holds the needle ever pointed to the pole.
The cosmopolitan element of Les An
geles has distri butte society into cliQues
and foim circles OF Chesterlieldian polish
and rigid propireiy. and where the IN ost
exclusive grande DANES OF cities on the
other side of the continent could com e
III touch with those whose family tree
dangIed names from their branches gen.
erations old. From this circle, the per-
sonification of good form, society passes
to differ rent stages, and happy freedom
loving Bohemia has its doors thrown
wide open to its devotees.
For the actual form OF entertaining
nowhere can it be accomplished with
more success or esthetic taste than here
in Southern California, where every
month in the year the soil produces deli
cacies for the table, and the great wealth
of flo xers that grow as if by magic trans
form the interior of tho homes into frag
rant bowers of bneauty, and in the midst
of natures lavish adronment as a
hostess of re6neyment and culture, dis
pensing hospitality with an easy grace.
Los Angeles society maintains as high
a.standard of intelligence and dignity as
is to be met with in the east, but a
warmer and more cordial atmosphere
permeates social functions that is woe
fully lacking and crowded out by the
rigid and unbendins forms of the social
codes of larger cities of the east.
Today California names are conspicu.
Gus among social gatherings Of the most
exclusive society Of the east, and as our
society on this coast becomes better
known there will be 10 room left for
criticism and no question of doubt will
arise as to the equal ii not superior quail
ties OF California society compared with
that of society OF cities in the eastern