The San Francisco call., 1896-04-25

ever, has caused US to change our minds in
this regard, and l know that l voice the senti-
ments of the New York delegation and, be-
Heve, OF every delegation present tonight, in
according TO the Hotel Association OF Southern
California the palm for having outdone any
thing heretofore attempted for the pleasure of
the hotel men of the United States.
There is not perhaps lady or gentleman
among the visitors present who has not looked
forward TO this visit to Southern California as
the fulfllment of a dream-the realization of
q hope and the qualification of desire which
nothing else could satisfy. We who dwell
within the sound of the rush and roar of the
Atlantic, and whose lives partake OF the
stormy nature of that ever surging and restless
ocean, have longed to gaze upon the placid
waters and breathe the balmy breezes OF your
Pacific sea. Accustomed TO the extremes of
heat and cold which characterize our Eastern
climate, we have listened with envious ear to
the equable temperature which prevails along
your coast, and of the semi-tropical products
OF your country.
In accepting the invitation of your commit
tee to visit these golden shores, and witness
with our own eyes that fairy land which was
so graphically described to US by your mimi
table Professor James, we did so in the ex-
pectation OF seeing the garden spot of America.
We were prepared to gaze upon a yeritable
paradise. 1t is, therefore, with intense pleasure
that say to you tonight that the realization
has Ter surpassed our anticlpations, and am
sure that henceforth every one OF us Will feel
deeper pride in our country for having within
our own territory such scenes as we have wit
messed during the week that has just passed;
and so long as memory lasts it will be per-
petual delight to each and all to recall the
names OF Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Redlands,
Riverside, San Diego and Coronado. The
charm which nature has shed over these scenes
is OF itself sufficient to fill the mind of the
traveller with wonder and delight, but to those
who listen to me tonight natures claim upon
our admiration will hold secondary place.
When in the future we look back upon these
golden days, IL will not be the balmy atmos-
phere, the orange groves, not the fragrant
flowers that will appeal to US SO much as the
hnCfN ftn1fr fIot ~
everywhere.
have said that the natural loYeIiness of your
country has exceeded our fondest anticipa-
tions. l may add that the heartiness OF your
greetings, the royalty of your welcome and
the bounteous nature of your hospitality, have
filled our hearts with eternal gratitude. This
is especially true of the ladies OF Southern
California. and l am glad to avail myself of this
opportunity to express on behalf of the New
York delegation thei1 appreciation of the uni
form kindness received by them at the hands
OF these fair women who have literally strewn
our path with flowers.
Mr.. Tanning closed by reading poem,
"The Boys We Left Behind U.s." from
A. c. Foster OF Hotel st. Andrew, New
York City.
The poem pleased all intensely, and yet,
IN one particular line where it related of
pledging the "boys" in bumpers of
Frances vineyards best" its effect upon
the Californlans present was not altogether
agreeable. The trouble was that the East
ern hotel men should have known that
Callfornla's best ought to be good enough
for Americans. 1t was hinted-uuietly to-
e.sure-that the genial guests on their
return home might make the change in
favor of the native article.
Mr.. Lapoint of Boston was called upon
to speak in behalf of the New England
delegation, and he responded as follows:
In rising to respond to your call want at
once to renew my acknowledgment of this re-
peated courtesy, and to express in behalf of the
New England delegation my sense of our obli-
cations to the friends in California for q mag.
nifcent trip. 1t has been one grand ovation
from start to finish, and will remain in our
lives.
To one reared in far off New England, to one
brought up amid the harsh rigors of her eli
mate and familiar with her barren hills and
waste places, the balmy breezes and productive
soil Of this Pacific Slope are not only O reyela
tion but an enchantment.
Go not wonder at your greatness of charac-
ter-at the big men you exhibit in all the ac
tivities of life, in the departments of trade. in
the FIELDS OF enterprise, in the realms of
finance, in all the arts of peace-when see the
room in which they are permitted to grow and
broaden. Nor am / surprised at your wealth
evident not more in your mighty products than
in your bounteous hospitality.
Perhaps no calling in all the range of bust
ness activities has so intimate relation to
the comfort of the community as ours. Ger
tainly none comes into closer touch with tho
travelling public. And to the men and women
who travel, If they travel intelligentlv tho
world owes the largest part of its rapid prog
ress in the things that improve human condi-
tions. To these itnerants we supply a substi-
tute for home-the best substitute the world
can Offer At nominal cost we give safety
and comfort rest and recuperation, the quiet
for which the weary long and the rest that re-
stores their wasted energies and force. We
have to crafty every whim, answer eyerv
need, meet every want, satisfy every taste and
deal with every variety OF disposition We are
blamed for others mistakes and bear other
peoples burdens, have to smile with the heart
ache. and If smitten on one cheek have to turn
the other also-in fact to act if we wished
we had third. We are the guardians of fools
and the defense against knaves, the butt of
the joker and the victims of the law
And yet, gentlemen, we have a right tn he
proud of our position, and to yield to no men
in our regard for our honorable calling.
have no doubt that We shall return from
this outing invigorated in body, stimulated in
tance that divided US will seem lessened; time
and space will be diminished, if not DESTROYED
and our brethren of California will not only he
countrymen, but neighbors and friends
We tender you our parting thanks for all the
courtesies we have received, for all the benefi
we have experienced, for all the memories we
shall carry away to keep green forever In
return l ask for them every blessing a kind
Providence can vouchsafe to an intelligent and
enterprising people.
Acting upon the invitation of Mavor
Sutro about 200 members of the party.
accompanied by their wives, children and
friends, who swelled the number TO about
500, went out to the Cliff House at II
o'clock and enjoyed the sights. Thew
intended to drive out in carriages but the
storm prevented this and thev were
obliged to ride out on the Mayors electric
line. There were about 175 in the main