Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-05-28
GETS
ROYAL WELCOME
FRANCIS GIVEN OVATION BY
PUPILS AND FACULTY
POLYTECHNIC HIGH SCHOOL is
SCENE OF REJOICING
Head of Institution Returns from Ex-
tended European Trip Earlier
Than observation-disclosures
the Scholars

"Our big chief has returned" an
nounced Acting Principal W. IA. Dunn
of the Polytechnic high school yester-
dav morning to all the students as
sembled in the school auditorium. "A
tremendous shout burst from the zoOO
voices of the students and faculty as
Principal John H. Francis stepped on
the stage.
The Los Angeles board of education
sent Mr.. Francis on an extended trip
through Europe six months ago for the
purpose of investigating the modern
system of education in the prlnclpal
countries on the continent. Mr. Fran
els was to have been gone one year,
hut as his school was in urgent need
of him he has returned sooner than
was intended.
After the roll call yesterday morn
ing fire drill alarm was sounded and
all the students gathered in the front
of the building on Washington street
to await the arrival of MIR. Francis.
AS his automobile was sighted in Hope
street a large cannon cracker was eX-
ploded to announce the fact Cheers
after cheers were given, and amid the
booming of cannon crackers 'he pltn,
cipal rushed up the steps TO the top
landing, where Joseph Scott was walt
| ing to greet him.
The students then hurried to the au-
ditorium. Vice Principal Dunn ushered
Mr.. Scott and Mr. Francis on the stage
and then announced their chief had re-
| turned. Nothing short of an earth
quake disaster could have silenced the
cheer which followed.
'"rhis is the most cXhilarating mo-
ment [ have experienced said Presi-
dent Scott. when the cheering subsid-
ed. 1--WE wanted Mr.. Francis to stay
abroad for a year." he continued, but
we are not sorry he is back" He COM
plimented the students and the faculty
on their work during the absence of
the "chief" and thanked both for their
cooperation with the board of edu-
cation in the work
Makes Feicitous Address
After several successive cheers for
! Mr.. Francis silence prevailed as the
principal came forward to speak.
Il don't know what to say ne be-
| gan in a most unaffected manner; Ito
say / am glad to be back and proud
of YOU all would only be a common
! place statement. / can't express my
! feelings in words, but of all / have
| seen, of all | have heard, of every
country L have visited, of every race
of man with whom | came in contact;
after all the beauties of the old world,
| it's art, its literature, everything, am
prouder than [ ever was to know | am
an American. l saw the worlds mas
terpieces of art, but to me the beauties
fof the Stars and Stripes on Old Glory
there hanging above you, are greater
by far"
In speaking of European conditions
generally Mr. Francis said in part:
CAS- | went through this country
| from the Pacific to the Atlantic
| thought that war with any foreign ma
! ton must be impossible, but when l
entered Europe my idea was entirely
changed I thought it only a miracle
that war is averted. Everything IN
| Europe is military. Every country is
ready for war and martial training is
| part of the education of the nations.
1.-The Europeans believe us to, be a
monev-mad race. While in England a