The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1901-05-22
Fifty Thousand School Girls
and Boys Cheer the Chief
Executive
RESPONDS IN SHORT SPEECH
Party Was Taken to the Preside and
Viewed Grounds Where Thous-
ands of Soldiers Have Been
Mustered In and Out.

San Francisco, May 21.-The con-
valescence of Mrs. Mckinley is very
rapid and she is fast reeaining her
normal strength. She was able to sit
up today and read the papers. So
marked is her Improvement that 1t is
very probable the Presidential party
will start for Washington Saturday.
If no untoward Developments should
occur it is thought that Mrs. Mckinley
will be able to endure the journey by
that time.
San Francisco May 21.-President Nc
Kinley today reviewed nearly $1,000
school children of this city. Both sides
of Vannesse avenue from jackson to
Market streets were lined with cheering
and enthusiastic children as the PresI-
dent and members of his party and local
officials in carriages were driven from
jackson to Market and back the avenue
to Jackson. The President was the re-
cipient of continuous ovation. Almost
every child had been provided with
good sized American flag. and their
voices and flags were worked in unison.
Each little girl wore white and most
| of them had red sashes Thousands Of
| youngsters had gathered large bouquet.
| which they threw at the President as he
| passed.
President Mckinley rode with his hat
in his hand, bowling and waving hom
| right to left, smiling continually and re-
| ceiving the ovation with evident pride
| and happiness.
| Half way between California and Sac
| ramento streets the Presidents carriages
and the other conveyances came to a
standstil1.
Speech! Speechw rang out along the
avenue, and the children swarmed about
by the thousands. The President spoke
briefly saying in part:
He opoke Briefly.
st desire in single moment to express
the pleasure which has been given to me
to meet the 5000 school children of the
city of San Francisco. 1t has given me
an introduction into the countless homes
of your great city and has permitted me
to witness the sunshine which this vast
number of young people bring to the fire.
sides of the city. I know Of no richer
possession than great scholarship, no
nobler ambition than to obtain it. We
cannot all be great scholars, but we can
all have good scholarship. l want to as
sure you young people that there is moth
Ing so essential to your easy advancement
and success in after life as a good educa-
ton.
IF those of us who have battled In the
rivalries and contentious of busy world
could go back to our youth and school
days, we would embrace cheerfully our
neglected opportunities, and pursue them
with industry and delight. If the testi-
mony of the active men of San Francisco
and of our country speak 1t would be to
lose no opportunity in past youth.
Nothing has given me more pleasure
in my long trip from the Atlantic to the
Pacific than the scene which we have
witnessed here this morning-every child
waving the flag of our faith and our hope
and every little heart filled with love OF
country. Great applause.) What an army
for liberty and union and civilization
why, we have in the public schools of the
United States four-fold more children
than there were people when this gov
ernment was founded: and all of them
proud Of their country, and all of them
revering its institutions, and all of them
meaning that when the time comes for
them to take the responsibilities of ad-
mnistration they will be prepared to do
their duty and pass along this free gov
ernment with ever increasing virtue, in
telligence and patriotism. Enthusiastic
applause) l thank you and wish for all
of you the realization of every worthy
ambition" Great applause).
After reviewing the school children
President Mckinley and party drove to
the Preside.
General Shafter and members of his
staff were on hand to welcome the COM
mander-in-chief and was escorted about
the grounds and shown the camps where
thousands of volunteers going to and
coming from the Philippines have been
quartered as well as the camps Of the
regulars