Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23
BRINGS IDEAS FOR
CIVIC RETIREMENT
JOSEPH MESMER SURPRISED
AT GERMANY
Prominent Angeleno, Returned from
European Trip, Believes Los An
geles Could Learn from
Fatherland

Joseph Mesmer, accompanied by his
yesterday from a European trip which
consumed about a year and in the
course of which Mr.. Mesmer visited
Germany, France, England, Ireland,
Italy, Switzerland and other countries.
In Rome he was received in audience by
the pope. who presented to Aloysius,
Mr.. Mesmers 10-year-old son, silver
medal, and who made the father his
messenger to bear medal to Bishop
Conaty.
On the outward voyage Mr.. and Mrs.
Mesmer were accompanied by their
eldest daughter, Marie Josephine, who,
however, did not return with them
Miss Mesmer was left in Paris to pur-
sue her studies, while her parents con-
tinued their tour. In the French capt.
tai she met Henry Perier, cousin of
Casimir- Perier, formerly president of
France, and a son of Edward Perier
Judge of the department of the Siene.
The two young people fell in love with
each other and, on the return of the
young woman's parents to Paris, were
married. They are now living at %
Rue Bassano, in that city.
Mayor Too Late
A number of Mr.. Mesmer's friends.
including Mayor and Mrs. Harper, Po-
lice Commissioner and Mrs. Anthony
6chwamm, Councilman and Mrs. Bar
ney Healy and others had planned to
board the train on which the traveller
was a passenger at River station and
ride with him into the city. Council
man Healy was to make arrangements
and he misunderstanding the situation,
%ala tho pifV hall that the
train was forty minutes late. Barney
says that ninety-nine times out of a
hundred this would be safe bet. Yes
terday, however, the train was only fif-
teen minutes behind time, and conse-
uuently Mr.. Mesmer had already ar
rived at the Arcade station and was on
his way home before the welcoming
party had reached the north town
stopping place.
AS soon as they had discovered their
mistake the party followed Mr.. Mes
mer to his home at $500 Manitou ave-
nue. where they extended him their
congratulations on his return. In the
party wer Mayor Harper, Mr.. and
Mrs. Anthony Schwamm, Mr.. and Mrs.
Bernard Healy, M. ]. McGarry, Rev.
Raphael Fuhr of St. Joseph's church,
r. r. Werdin, S. P. Clark, Theodore
Froehlinger, Anthony Mesmer, j. G.
Althouse, p Max Kuenrich. George,
John. Edward and Philip Zobelein, 1.
b. Dockweiler, Martin Betkowski John
O'Sullivan, Kaspare Cohn. Richard Ma
loney, Rev. Mr.. McAuliffe of the Sa-
cred Heart parish, John G. Mott, j.
Steere and A. j. Lynch, representing
the Democratic club, and representa-
tives of knights of Columbus, ST. Jo-
seph's and Benedictine societies.
Progress of Germany
The chief impression which Mr.. Mes
ner brought home with him is one OF
amazement at the prosperity and re-
cent progress of Germany. This, he be-
Iieves. is important to the United
States. since Germany's ambitions may
some day run counter to the policies of
this country.
In the kaiser's domain, Mr.. Mesmer
saws. factories are running night and
day. and the entire empire seems to be
enjoying a period of genuine American
prosperity. He was particularly sur
prised at the beauty and cleanliness OF
the German cities, the character OF
public buildings, and the absence of
insanitary tenements and novels.
The feature of municipal buildings
which appealed to him most strongly
IS the entire absence of so-called sky
scrapers, buildings never being more
than six stories in height. This does
away with the architectural 1ncongru-
1ty of a finely built and handsome mod
ern structure of sky-scraping height
with a three or four-story ramshackle
building adjoining it.
German streets he says, are broad
and well kept, while German mun1clpal
officials seem to realize that 1T is their
duty to beautify their cities as we'll as
to govern them well and wisely.
Brings Back Ideas
In this matter of municipal adorn-
ment the kaiser's domain gave Mr..
Mesmer many ideas which may be
formulated later for use in Los Ange-
les Even in the matter of street light
ing he believes that Los Angeles might
well learn lesson from German prac-
tice. Paris is reputed the most beauti-
full city in the world, yet it seems to
have made less lasting impression
upon Mr.. Mesmer than the German
cities.
In Rome, in addition to being re-
ceived by the pope, Mr.. Mesmer called
upon Cardinal Merry del Val, whose
name was prominently considered for
the papacy by the electoral college
which finally selected the present pom
tiff.
Cardinal del Val is a personal friend
both of Bishop Conaty and Joseph Scott
of this city, and he sent kindly re-
membranes to both of them. Mr.. Mes
ner declares the cardinal is the finest
looking man he ever met.
The Mesmer party left Los Angeles
May of last year, and before sailing
for Europe made stops at many cities
of the United States. They went first
TO Seattle, Victoria, Vancouver and Ia
coma, then travelled eastward over the
Canadian Pacific, viewing grander
scenery than they found anywhere on
the other side, to Minneapolis, ST. Paul
and Chicago. The next stop after the
Windy City was at Buffalo and Niaga-