Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-05
DAY OBSERVED QUIETLY
IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY

| Yesterday was observed quietly as
! Independence day, but today viii be
| the occasion of the big noise. AS the
Fourth came on Sunday yesterday was
generally observed by special services.
| family and other gatherings, and ap
propriate sermons at the churches. The
patriotic observance predominated, and
the amusement and noisy essentials to
a sane and quiet Fourth were left un-
til today.
While boys in all parts of the coun-
/ ty could not resist making inroads on
their stores of firecrackers and other
! explosives, there were but three seri-
Gus accidents in Los Angeles. and no
! fires of consequence. The fire depart
ments and ambulance drivers are
/ looking forward to a full days work
! today. A great many people passed
| the day at one of the beaches or at Il
park, where special attractions We're
offered.
Today will see large gatherings at
Central park, Sycamore grove, Chutes
park and other recreation places, with
many programs for special observance
of Independence day. The most i'm
portant of these will be the C. A. r.
campfire at Sycamore grove, in which
other patriotic organizations have been
asked to participate. Labor organiza-
tions will celebrate at Chutes park.
where special attractions have been
pfONlueu Dy Manager Lehigh.
Flags were in evidence throughout
the residence sections yesterday, as
We'll as on the business houses, setting
off in many instances the decorations
already up to welcome the coming
1lks
Mayor Makes Address
Mayor George Alexander made a
strong independence day address in the
evening at the First Christian church.
ha mo NrrY ID
government and higher ideals in civic
life. His address was in part as fol.
! lows:
on this day, the anniversary of
independence, we hear a great deal
about patriotism. The word pa
trlotlsm is used in great many
connections. The word patriot
means one devoted to the welfare
of ones country, or a person who
loves his country and zealously
supports and defends it and it's in
terests.
Some people seem to think that
patriotism is only developed during
times of war; and then only i'm act
ual warfare. But during my life,
While [ have seen many deeds of
heroism and patriotism L have also
seen many noble deeds of real
heroism and real patriotism far
away from the battlefelds, and
where it needed just as much nerve
and firmness as IL ever did to en-
gage in the deadly charge in actual
combat.
In the great rush for wealth that
seems to have taken possession OF
our people during the last twenty
! years, how often do we hear of an
other good man or woman gone
wrong. No one who worships the
dollar can be a good patriot
| person who lives only to gain
wealth or worldly honors or world
ly pleasures has lived in vain. How
much nobler those who did some
thing for humanity. or who devoted
their lives to Gods cause; those of
whom it may be said that the world
was better because they had lived
in it!
Many in Poverty
While our country is the richest
in the world, there are many thou
sands of our people in poverty. If
this is to be remedied it must be
done by our Christian people. In
our own city, of which we all are
proud, we must try to do more for
the poor, the ignorant the vicious
and criminal Jails seldom reform
their occupants; and when human
being of either sex starts on the
downward path very few stop until
they reach the bottom. We need
self-sacrificing patriots to work
among and help reform these poor
creatures; each one of us can and
should do something along these
lines.
There Is another question on
which / wish to say few words,
and that is our civic duties. During
my residence of over twenty years
in this city / have discovered that
the evil and vicious classes are al
Continued Page TwOl