Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-10-12
MISS GOULD
IN COLORADO

forty saloons and twelve gambling
houses"
The speaker then described graph
ically the transformation OF this lit
tie railroad town when the men were
brought under the influence OF a
Christian organization and made to
feel that their employers had a per-
sonal interest In them. Today there
are no saloons and no gambling hous-
es in Childers.
Charles S. Ward, field secretary or
the International committee, was mex.
introduced.
II am not here tonight to criticize,
but to make a few suggestions" said
Mr.. Ward. "The Young Mems Christ
ian association al large Is worth $780,
600, 900; of this amount 800, 900 is found
in Colorado. The national associa-
ton owns 400 buildings; OF these n
is located in Colorado and that at
Colorado Springs.
yet ! believe that Colorado Is as
much in need of a strong organization
of Christian young men as any other
state. Indeed, under the present Ia
Dor difficulties, it seems to me that
there is more need of such an organ.
ization than in many places.
81 hope that when We return to
Denver, and | believe that that day
will not be long, that we will find
here a handsome, new Y. M. c. A..
building and one of the strongest as
sociations in the land"
Did Miss Gould make a speech?
Yes, but one as sweet and modest
as Is the woman herself. 1t contained
twenty-eight words by actual count.
President Sweet had hoped to pre-
vail on Miss Gould to tell of the work
of the woman's auxiliary of the in
%ternational committee, but she was
simply Mortified at the thought Of adj
dressing a public gathering.
Il cannot make speeches. was her
plea.
But the young m was compell-
ed to speedily in spite of herself.
The audience in the music room was
very %expectant when President Sweet
arose and, taking a huge bunch OF
American Beauty roses in his hands,
turned slightly toward Miss Gould
and said:
In speaking of the honored guest,
| know that no words of mine can add
to the affection in which she is al
ready held by all. Wherever deeds
OF philanthropy or religion are highly
esteemed her name is honored. When
we became involved in our war with
Spain, she at once, with patriotic
spirit, helped the nation to bear the
initial expense of the conflict; when
the soldier boys returned from Cuba
and lay fever-stricken at Montauk
Point, she 1t was who in person Wis
tied the camp and by her generosity
helped to relieve the distress. Alike
in peace and war does she distribute
her means to the help of mankind and
the relief of the suffering. 1t is with
great pleasure that | have the honor
of presenting to Miss Helen Miller
Gould this bouquet of flowers on be-
half of the board of directors of the
Denver association"
Then, slowly Miss Gould arose. In
her hands she held the beautiful
roses. Her face was wreathed in a
charming smile, a glad light was in
her eyes.
Il want to thank you for this bou-
quet and your hearty greetings" she
said in her low, mellow voice. 81
wish ! could make speeches, but |
can't. | can simply say | thank you"
Then Miss Gould vas seated while
the audience warmly %applauded.
One hundred thousand dollars for
a Young Mems Christian association
in Denver. That is the amout which
Mr.. w. Z. Lougee suggests could and
should be raised by the business men
of Denver for this purpose.
"You have beautiful residences,
beautiful streets and beautiful parks
in your city," said he. but nowhere
have / seen a building erected for
the Y. M. C. A.
Il wish the hearts of the people OF
this community could be stirred deep
ly TO their responsibilities toward
their fellow men, so that the men
and women would say, we will do 1t.
We will build in this Queen City OF
the West the strongest Christian as
sociation in the land