The San Francisco call., 1906-12-20
Hale's Words Find Echo.
in Sierra Poets Views
Danger of Prosperity
Found in Evolution
of Our Country

OAKLAND. Dec. 19.-"Preserve US in
this dangerous day of unexampled pros
perity We. Lord God, have borne ad-
versity. give us grace to endure pros
perity.''
SO prayed Edward Everett Hale, the
venerable chaplain of the Senate, at
the recent opening of Congress, and
Joaquin Miller. poet of the Sierras, to-
day at his hillside home back OF Pied
mont said:
There never was breathed prayer
more ferVent. And tears rolled down
the cheeks of more than one Senator
as the solemn petition for grace and
temperance was offered
The East is dangerously prosperous
Money is poured out in rivers, and
every phase of activity is being pushed
ming like a hive with industry, and all
over the land I saw the people well
dressed and well fed"
Such were some of the conclusions
drawn by the grizzled song writer OF
the hills on the day Of his return. att
er spending half a year beyond the
mountains noting the manner of life
led by the people Of that section and
endeaVoring to catch the spirit that
now animates them.
Resuming his observations, the poet
said:
In Washington new buildings. the
like Of which Rome in her glory never
dreamed. are being erected, and two
sumptuous palaces for the accomo-
dation Of members Of the Senate and
the House are nearly completed ct
il is my prophecy Washington will be
sacked and burned again. SO drunk
are the people with the good things OF
life that with the blight of the frost
of adversity a hundred Coxey's armies
viii pour from the cities ready to burn
and slaughter. The President is right
when he asks for powerful army and
navy. but they are needed against no
outside foes. When this tide Of pros
perity turns both will be needed to
save the country from itself
While in Washington 1 proposed a
great exhibition. the greatest ever
known, TO commemorate the centennial
Of the burning of the capital city by
British troops in the war of 1S12-14-
The plan includes the meeting of the
heads and chiefs of all the republics,
and viii be only open to the countries
of the New World l think the idea
viii be carried out on those lines.
i took this tour of the East with
several objects in view. First, to see
the land as it now is, and then I talked
i don't lecture, I talk-at several
cities, including Boston, New York and
lIEIlOu- ludA4S al CO AOA N4AS
publication of my latest works. The
biography OF my parents is the most
important thing I have written in
years. II deals largely with their
pioneer life in the Wabash Valley, and
later in Oregon. It is by no means q
biography of myself. Personally, my
own exploits play but q small part in
the book. The longest poem 1 have
ever produced will be published shortly
by progressive young firm in the city
Of Boston. We haven't arranged for
the title Of the poem yet, nor has the
date Of publication been set
And now" he said, 7 have come
back TO my own house, and glad am !
10 be here. I came back to look out
for my cows and the trees which have
planted. Aside from these, my hands
are empty and am idle. don't know
how long I viii stay here now. Since
my mothers death the place seems SO
lonely"