The herald., 1897-04-02
BONIFACE BANQUETED
PLEASANT SOCIAL AFFAIR AT
SIERRA MADRE VILLA
Proprietor Eder r sceives Congratula-
tions--Address by Hon. Abbot
Kinney--The Response


Madre Villa, was honored by compli-
mentary banquet last evening, given by
the guests and those neighbors living in
the vicinity of the hotel. Covers were
laid for hundred guests, and the dining
hall was beautifully decorated, and
sumptuous menu served. Hon ], q,
Vosburg, in a brief address, stated the
object for which they had come together
and then introduced Mr.. Abbot Kinney,
who, in we'll chosen words, referred to
the good deeds performed by Mr.. Eder
since his advent into this community,
and of the manner in which Mr.. Eder has
endeared himself to the people by his
kindly, courteous manners, and added:
Many years ago the Sierras were
snow-bound. No Southern Pacific then
crossed Arizona and no Santa Fe had
entered the orange belt. Disconnected
in the northern part of the state, was
informed of a beautiful valley and of
delightful resort where l could spend
the ten or fifteen days until the Sierra
would be safe TO travel. The place sug-
gested was this Sierra Madre Villa. l
came with twenty-day return tlcket IN
my pocket, and slept three nights in the
parlor because the house was so full
The Villa was then the most celebrated
place in the county. Every one visited
it. The outlook was lovely, the hotel
was well kept and kept well its guests.
There was charming society which add
ed the finishing touches to the climate,
the view and the table excellent. / came
for ten days and I am here yet, going on
now some seventeen years
"At last we see the old days of jollity
and prosperity returning to the Villa.
Again a charming society is gathered
in our old favorite. Flowers and plants
lend beauty to the place and new pros
perity knocks at the door of hosiery
where 1t was so long at home. And who
has done all this? Why, it is our friend,
the friend of us all, Mr.. Eder! He has
brought the Villa out of the wilderness
and back into the land of promise. They
used to have saying that man might
be jolly good fellow, but that he could
derful combination. He is a jolly fell
low and he can keep a hotel!
Your neighbors, Mr.. Eder, in appre-
citation Of your kindness to them, recog-
nising the pleasure your entertainments
have given and above all applauding
your ability in rehabilitating the attrac-
tions of the Sierra Madre Villa. have
come to you tonight to tell you of these
things. We have written 1t down and
deliver the message upder our hand and
SEAL
To this Mr.. Eder made response as
follows Friends and dNeighbors-Such
tribute as that which you have paid
to me is compliment any man might
we'll be proud of, and confess | am at a
loss as to how I may give expression to
my appreciation of such kindness. 1
certainly am not conscious of having
done more than that which l have con-
ceived to be my duty to those whom it
has been my privilege to entertain, to
my neighbors, and to the estate whom
l have the honor to representa-, how
ever, any word or act of mine has in any
way contributed to the pleasure or COM
fort of any, l am amply repaid in its
knowledge.
Il have often thought since coming
here. how little one knows that which
the future has in store for them. About
year ago my blessed mother handed
to me a letter which she had just re-
ceived, and which had been written at
this place by a lady who was then, and
who, by the way, is now, guest of this
house. 1t depicted the beauties of this
place, and how they were in the midst
of sunshine and shrub and f1ower-ard
l recall how after reading the letter,
and looking from my window to find The
sky gray and bleak and cold-not a
vestige of green to. be seen-snow drift
GU cFOi y W hcie' dutp tiidt JOiAy Cit sOcAt
Jack Frost holding high carnival with
out-I remember what longings / had
that l might some time have the oppor-
tunity to enjoy the scenes so vividly de-
scribed in the letter had just read,
never for a moment dreaming that in a
few short months should find myself
in the very place and the recipient of
your generosity and of your kindness.
"California will always be dear to me-
I had read and had heard a gceat deal
about California. l heard that some
where away across the plains and be-
yond the Rockies was a beautiful
ocean, whose silvery waters glistened
| meath the monday sun, and that back
of the sea was a mighty wall towering
high in the heavens of majestic noun
tains, and between the sea and the
mountains, a beautiful valley. whose
fertility poured forth perfect kaleido-
scope of shrub and plant and flower.
All of these things I have found to be
true-but, better than these, l have
found as charming a people and as de-
lightful associations, as one finds any
where in this wide, wide world.
like California because of her 10y
atty to the sisterhood of states of which
she is a part, and recall, just as we
were about to enter the state, mother
said to me (and I'll never forget her
sweet, tired face): We are long way
from home and those we love best, but
I hope we shall not feel lonely in our
new home'-and I confess l was feeling
/ - l..