Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-12

sters in gymnasium suits, with sturdy
little legs and rounded, firm arms re-
vealed, were in line, and beyond them
two companies of the Triangle Cadet
corps stood at attention, making a
showing of which more regularly or
ganized military companies might have
been proud. At the Pacific hospital and
at the California hospital nurses home
throngs of white gowned women greet
ed the president and his party, while
here and there a pale face was raised
from a cot or a feeble hand was waved
from wheeled chair in greeting.
At Polytechnic high school the presi-
dent was greeted by a great company
of young men bearing banners of pur-
pie and gold and by fanking companies
of white gowned girls waving their
handkerchiefs and flags. Here the pres
ident paused again and made a brief
address, similar to the one with which
he greeted the studyents of the Los
Angeles high school.
Stops at Polytechnic
From this point the paraders swung
around on Flower street and stopped
at the corner of Twentieth street,
where the Polytechnic students had
gathered inside an enclosure and about
a small platform, Whereon stood Prof.
John Francis, principal of the school.
Here President Taft and his immedi-
ate attendants were introduced to the
educator, who turned with a spade in
his hand and said:
"Mr. President: This school, in the
field Of secondary education, stands
for literature, languages and history;
mathematics, music and art; sciences,
industry, commerce and engineering;
the building of vigorous mental, moral
and physical manhood, and for good
citizenship.
Because you, in the broader field
of life, stand for all of these; because
you represent this great nation of
ours as it's esteemed president; be-
cause you are Mr.. William H. Taft,
the Polytechnic high school of Los An
geles keenly appreciates the honor you
confer upon her this day by turning
the first spade of soil dedicated to her
new art building.
AS principal, I am privileged to
hand you this spade made in her
shops, with which, if it please you,
you are to do this service, not alone
for us but for the great cause of pub
lie school education which we repre-
sent"
Receiving the shovel with a pleased
smile the president, bowling to Mr..
Francis and thanking him for his
words, turned to the pupils assembled
in closely packed ranks before him and
said:
Speaks to Pupils
Young people, it is difficult for me
properly to express my feelings to you
on this occasion. | feel deeply the
responsibility that devolves upon me
for / have here an opportunity to add
little mite to further the cause of
education in your city. Technical ed
ucation is of vast importance I am
glad to see here that you do not be-
lieVe the artistic and classical educa-
tiOn is the only sort for women. We
are apt to assume that such lines ap-
peal more strongly with their beauty
and attractiveness to the-shall 1 say
-weaker-no, the more comely and
| beautiful sex
There was a time when I perhaps
should have said the technical and
business education is of the most i'm
portance. But I have lived to see
| this is not true I have lived to learn
that everything God gives us in the
! line of talent should be not only our
pleasure and joy, but our sacred duty
to develop and cultivate. No matter
what your bent, follow it-augment it
with training, and it viii some day be
to you source of pleasure and a re-
lief from sorrow and pain.
You offer me an opportunity to aid
I am glad to have the privilege of en-
ploying. Whatever I can do to Sc
cure to you the benefits of a further
or broader education / will gladly do.
If I can by the act I am about to per-
form increase in any measure your
gratitude to your city, state and coun-
try, I shall feel more than repaid for
pausing with you for this ceremony"
Turns Two Spades of Earth
With these words the president de-
scended the stand inside the enclosure
and there, with the happy young peo-
pie about him. cheering and laughing,
dug the spade deep into the ground
with a hearty lunge that brought
forth an ovation for his spirit To make
sure he had done his work we'll the
president turned a second spadeful,
and then, returning the implement to
Prof. Francis. passed again to the
street and entered his car.
The parade ended without incident
or accident as scheduled at few min