Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-16
PATRIOTIC SPEECH
MADE BY ORATOR
ENTHUSIASM AROUSED BY
ADDRESS
Frank C. Tyrrell Defines American
Citizenship" to Members Of the
Union League Club
and Friends

Profuse we're the compliments yes
terday paid the speech made by Frank
@. Tyrrell, the platform orator, at the
monthly dinner given Friday night
by the Union League club. and at the
request of many members of the club
The Herald presents Mr.. TyrrelPs re-
marks practically in full
The title of the address, THE Amer
lean Citizenship" strongly appealed
to those who listened to the orator S
remarks, and because of his intense
patriotism 1t Is subject which Mr..
Tyrrell loves to discuss.
Mr.. Tyrrell also has deep love for
California, which is his native state.
He was born among the redwood for
ests of Humboldt county, but in his
early manhood he went east and for
nearly twenty years he was q resident
of Missouri. While a lifelong Demos
crat, Mr.. Tyrrell believes first in hon
esty in politics, and in Missouri he
took the stump and assisted in the
election Of Governor Joseph Folk
For some time he was connected
with the Ridpath lyceum bureau, then
studied law and was admitted to the
bar Not many months ago he came
to Los Angeles to permanently reside.
He became interested in the non-par-
tisan movement and made number of
speeches in favor of Lee G. Gates and
the non-partlsan city ticket.
His audience Friday night consisted
of nearly a hundred members of the
Union League club and few invited
guests, who, to give vent to the spirit
of patriotism infused by the speaker,
rose and sang two verses of Amer
ica.'
Mr.. Tyrrell's remarks were as fol-
lows
''Mr. President and Gentlemen: 1
assure you that it is not mere COM
monplace courtesy when 1 say that
am delighted to be one of your guests
here tonight. 1t was pleasure to meet
several of your members on my first
visit to the club last week, when
came for luncheon with some friends.
/ found the same brilliant social at
mosphere; the same breezy, broad
gauge spirit that 1 knew in the Cali
fornia of several years ago, though
perhaps you have succeeded in giving
it more exquisite form.
II must congratulate you on the
ability you show to lock up your busi-
ness cares in your shops and stores and
offices and turn from serious matters
to lighter concerns. Men who toll with
the energy of purpose that character
ICES the modern American man of af-
fairs, who work until the perspiration
stands beaded on their brows and the
veins stand out like whipcords, must
relax occasionally or the nervous strain
will exhaust them; the bow must be
unstrung or it will lose it's elasticity;
and yet there are people so strangely
constituted that they seem to consider
it unbecoming and irreverent to in
dulge in any play of fancy or to laugh
heartily at a witticism. Travellers tel
us that there is a whole tribe in far.
away Ceylon called Weddahs, who
never laugh and who have no more
conception Of a joke than & dog.
English Conception of a Joke
Just think what they miss But
there are representatives of this tribe
a good deal nearer home. A gentle
man was travelling once upon a time
with an English friend and in the
course of their journey they came to
a crossroads with the usual sign, in
dicating the number of miles to the
next two. Underneath the waggish
sign painter had scribbled, IF you
can't read, ask the blacksmith across
the way. OF course the American
laughed at the idea of a written no
tice directing a man who can't read
to do anything, but the Englishman
stolidly said, I don't see a blasted
thing to laugh at
Well said the American, You
study it over and you will see some
thing to laugh at
"They continued their journey the
rest of the day, stopped at a hotel
over night and about 8 o'clock of the
afternoon Of the day following the
Englishman commenced to laugh.
What are you laughing att? said
the American.
frlr Af ~
bloomin' sign board joke laughed the
Englisl.man.
oh, you see the point now, do you,
inquired his friend.
Eyes, yes; 1 see the point said the
Englishman.
"'Weli, what is it?'
Why said the Englishman, laugh
ing heartily, suppose the blacksmith
should be away from home:'
Another Joke
'I see some brilliant representatives
of the press here tonight. For their
benefit want to cite another illustra-
tion. At Plymouth day celebration
the orator said in his Introductory re-
mark, The Pilgrim fathers were a very
religious people; Immediately on land
ing they fell upon their knees, an6
shortly after upon the Aborigineesi
The young reporter who was present
smiled and made a hurried memoran-
dunn of the joke. 1t appeared in the
paper the next morning as follows
The orator of the day sprung a bril-.
liant witticism. He said the Pilgrim
fathers were very religious; that i'm.
mediately upon landing they fell upor
their knees and shortly after upon the
saVages.'
"There is no cure for nervous ex,
haustion and no relaxation for ner
vous strain which is any more whole,
some than clean American humor.
I'm speaking to the toast, The
American Citizen, feel at once the
lure and the difhculty of the task. Il
may be we'll to pause a moment anC