The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1896-05-25

/ "
time was sharply drawn by numerous
local adaptations at our very doors. The
formation of Oregon from an original two
islands, one along the base of the Blue
mountains and one at the Siskiyous;
tropical rushes found in Dry Hollow.
thirty feet beneath the surface; fresh
water shells found on top of the highest
mountains surrounding The Dalles;
mastodon fossils found south of us; the
the evidences of ancient forests where
now are plains; were among the various
statements of Miss Riddell which
claimed almost breathless attention on
the part of the large audience. The
paper showed much patient research and
study, combining with the Information
gained from book lore the practical evil
dences that are everywhere apparent
around us, if we but use our God-given
sense of eyesight.
Master Edward f.. Jenkins subject
was possibilities of Electricity" an
effort as glowing with life as the subject
under discussion. He pictured the mar
velous strides made since franklin drew
the fret spark of this subtle force from
the clouds to key, ushering in an cleo
trical era of whose possibilities be little
dreamed. In impetuous language the
speaker, after recalling the triumphs al
ready achieved, prophesied inventions
which now seem extravagant, but no
more SO than the phonograph seemed
before its wonderful discovery. Who
can place limit to human genius?
This is the train of thought suggested by
Mr.. Jenkins review of the progress of
electricity.
After beautiful trio cf female voises,
entitled t'Down in the Dewy Dell,'' Miss
Dasie AlIaway read an essay entitled
american Progress" This progress
was made possible primarily by liberty,
which the colonists first demanded.
This induced immigration, invention
and established industries. The first
thing the colonists observed was the
need of education. Never before had
the common people had educational
facilities. As result the 9 O'Clock
school bell today summons eleven and a
half million children. America is pecu-
liarly favored by situation for the un-
interrupted growth of liberty and edu-
cation. We have put oceans between us
and the quarreis of the old world.
America has no titled aristocracy, no
class privileges, free press and free
schools. The essay left an impression of
love for our country and renewed the
determination to preserve our schools as
necessary to the preservation of our
liberties.
The Grafton by Mr.. Homer D. Angel
was a natural continuation of the sub
ject under discussion by Miss Allaway,
CHOW May the United States best main
tain Its National Rights and Dignity ?''
The gospel of peace, the settlement of
international difficulties by arbitration
is far far from the thought of Mr.. Angel.
HIS opening statement was warfare is
the foundation of all nat1ons.'' The
necessity of preparing for war was
shown in the case of China by the late
war with Japan. England presents the
opposite extreme. The land upon
which the sun never sets has principle
of aggression, supported by the most
powerful navy afloat. Since we must
preserve the honor of our nation and be
prepared to resist foreign aggression, it
is an idle thought to desire an abandon
ment of our coast defenses. Attention
was directed to the invasion of our
rivers by the war of 1912. Even at the
present time New York City, the best
defended of American cities, has but
three guns; San Francisco has but one.
The Columbia can be entered without a
show of resistance. The European ma
tions are all thoroughly equipped for
foreshadowed general war, and the
United States should not be idle. The
danger of delay was shown by the length
of time required to construct navy, an
average of three years being required to
furnish a man-of-war. Mr.. Angel has
a manly style of delivery, aggressive like
his subject, and compelled the strictest
attention to his decidedly warlike ora
tion.
A male quartet, "Softly Sleep" fol-
lowed, by four youths with harmonious
voices, when Miss Pearle Butler read an
essay entitled what Is Their Story?'
It was of trees Miss Butler referred, and
she instanced many specific trees of his
tory. Among them were the charter
oak of Hartford, Conn. the elm under
which Washington assumed command
of the army ard 4ha alro 49, -