Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-10
RELATES HISTORY
OF Los ANGELES
IN PUEBLO DAYS
Mrs. Stephen ]. RendelI Grows
Reminiscent Over Pioneer
ing In Angel City
HoMESICKNESs NEARLY FATAL
Rains Miracle WHITES the Dusty
Plains, and Bride ForeSeeS
Glowing Future
BY FLORENCE BosARD LAWRENCE

BY FLORENCE BOsARD LAWRENCE
When the first railroad train went
from the Pacific coast to the east side
of the Rockies, forty-t three years ago,
it carried among It's passengers
Stephen j. Kendall who journeyed
eastward to marry and bring to his
western home a beautiful young bride.
So, on the second train which came
west this eastern girl arrived in San
Francisco, then q city Of about 25OO
persons, and after a short visit there
sailed dowa the coast to her new home
in Los Angeles. This city was then
a primitive Spanish pueblo, where not
more than half a dozen American
families resided.
The rosy expectations reused by ro-
mantle stories of the golden west were
not realized by this little bride and
the inconvenience and loneliness to
which she was subjected brought about
n homesickness which was well nigh
fatal
"If I had had to stay another year
1n this little, dusty place, where two
successive years of drouth had killed
every bit of vegetation and where the
dust in the streets and in the air made
life seem hopeless, I believe l should
have died." she said in speaking of
her early experiences.
RAINS CHANGE VIEWS
after a few months, however when
the rains came and | saw the wonder
full results that followed | commenced
to see what possibilities Los Angeles
held. One day in speaking to a friend
said: I wish that [ could live here
for one hundred years. l am confident
that in a century of time this city Of
the west will have grown to be one
of beauty and culture, where the cli-
mate will bring travellers by the thou
sands and residents will throng to
make their homes that they may en-
Joy the constant sunshine, the flowers
and the wonderful ocean breezes.
When she voiced this prophecy Mrs.
Kendall did not dream, nor did any
of her acquaintance think, that today
she would be living here in the midst
of this glory which her own words
had so clearly outlined and which even
the most optimistic of settlers here
then did not dare to credit.
at is today as though I had lived
that full century," said Mrs Kendall.
'In any other country or state the
progress and development would have
at least that time, possibly
much more. California, however, with
its luxury of sunshine, it's wealth of
metal, floral and scenic possibilities,
has outstripped my widest flights of
fancy, and today in less than half the
century l thought would be needed we
find ourselves living in one of the fair
est cities of the world
PRIZES RARE PICTURES
Mrs. Kendall has a we'll developed
interest in matters of historic moment
and has in her collection many rare
pictures Of scenes in the early Los
some of which have been Sc |
cured by The Herald for reproduction,
These pictures show more viVidly than
words can do the almost miraculous
changes which have taken place in the
city.
From the low mission structures of
wood and adobe built in the old Span |
Ish form of the hollow square, to this |
edifices of steel and concrete which |
modern skill and enterprise have
erected along the streets of the city |
Is a far cry Not more has been ac- |
in that respect. however |
than in thousands of other details, |
every one of which go to make d Won- |
1erful city.
1t is a constant qualification to the |
residents of this city that so many |
Of the pioneers are given the priv
.leges of sharing in these wonderful |
Surely, if anything could make it !
worth while to have suffered depr-
lack of social life, removal |
rom intellectual pleasures and all of |
hose things which go 50 far toward |
making up the life of the modern
woman of our civilization, it would
)e the realization today that to some
legree she had been instrumental in
bringing these very pleasures and con-
,eniences to this city.
PIONEER BRIDES BRAVE
If the American woman had not come
vest, if she had not braved the dan
,ers of Indian battles, the inCOnVen-
ences o. travel, the lack of spiritual
md social environment. then there
would have been no need for any Of
hose features of life and the west
would still have been the wilderness it
eemed for so many years.
AS the American woman usually gets
What she wants and as the American
nan has been accua pmCd for many
ears to get for her those things She
esires, it follows that all Los Angeles
resent beauty is due directly TO those
rst brave young brides impelcd by
oVe of husband and love Of adventure
o journey far from the comforts Of
arental homes.
"All the town was over on the other
de of the Jaza," sad Mrs Kendall,
and Mrs. Ola, one of the clevereet
nd most charming Of those women
{ pioneer days wa wont to speak Of
certain piece of property owned by
er husband as Sleepy Hollow be
ause of its remote location and the
eneral air of quiet and poacofumoss
ervading its locality. That property
now occupied by the stores of Mr..
oulter and Mr. Robinson Then !
roadway did not exist at ALL but was
lerely a continuation Of Fort street
rom up on the hill where the old fort
f General Fremont was located. 1t
'as at the exact spot where Mrs.
anning now lives" continued the
oeaker although the Banning home
as not built until comparatively re-
emily. Mr.. Banning took mis- young
'ife to live at WilmingtOu, and il was
lere that their two daughters were !
orn."
PICTURE SHOWS FREMONT
The four women who were among ,
le earliest poneers were Mrs. Rem
an Mrs. Mary Banning, Mrs John
dgar, are still among the most act :
'e and efficient of the workers along !
ub and philanthropic lines Of the !
ty They have preserved their in |
rest in the activities of the world
nd its progress and are Invaluable
the counsels and works Of all those
llngs which would benefit their fel-
w beings. ,
Among the pictures which Mrs. Ran