The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1918-08-01

ufactured right here, which after
much consultation as to the rel
alive merits of noisy VS.. shiny
ones before they soIemnly pur-
chased, our small boys finally got
their outfit and triumphantly bore
it home.
We were trying TO decide which
one of the many invitations we
would accept when our good
friends drove up and bun
died US off, saying they had deci-
ded unon the program, which in
Guided lunch at Hermosa Beach,
bathing at Redondo and a run to
San Pedro to see the launching of
the big ships.
1t was a glorious run to the
beach; the roads crowded with
cars of all descriptions. There
was big Oriental gathering at
Balboa beach and | enjoyed seeing
the cars of slant-eyed celestials, all
gaily attired and looking so RI
dicuIous in their Western best.
They rode in cars, Fords, trailers,
vegetable trucks, those funny egg
nets. like tiny canoes, fastened to
motor cycles, every beaming pa
and ma overlooked with solemn
babies. They never wear hats TO
match the shape of their faces,
nor shoes to match their shutfiing
gait. ard always remind NE of
dolls dressed by inexperienced
hands. Redondo is the famous
moonstone beach where such beau
tiful stones can be picked up, and
then it is more for families and
less for moyie-dolls and prone
naders. Long Beach IS the pref
test of all the beaches, but 1t was
necessary, because of the lolling
around in the sands of chance &C
lquaintances and lovers, to pass all
ordinance forbidding "spooning'
of any sort and now no signs OF
affection are tolerated in public,
and the other day a man was ar
rested for kissing his wife gooJ-
bye as he caught a train.
That reminds me of what Viii
ton Lackye said in one of his witty
satirical speeches when he was
here last week. He is a great fa-
vorite and l enjoyed his Orpheum
skit and found him more highly
colored, melted into his clothes and
Misunderstanding than ever. He
said even Omar would have a hard
time here now despite the wonder
lful Paradise environments
Hoover would take his loaf of
bread, prohibition would get his
| Jug of wine and Long Beach cops
would take care of Thou
The water was so tempting that
the best part OF the time was spent
| in 1t swimming, padding, gather
ling sea shells and sea weeds, and
maybe we didn't enjoy with big
Iappetites the delicious lunch. after
which we strolled down TO the big
concrete wharf to enjoy the band,
merry-eo-round and fireworks,
time fireworks, shot from a can
non on the end of pier, with set
pieces. For instance, there would
be boom and a squirt and the
| American flag would fall with all
sorts of rockets suiuting, and then
all the Allied flags in streamers,
and then another, and Uncle Sam
would float down on a small para
chute; and another would be a
fountain with smoke streamers
reaching clear down to The water,
and so on, one prettier than the
other.
Later the solid stream of cars
started to San Pedro, a pretty
drive thru hills covered with
gardens. where the Japs go on
reaping ard gardening, day in and
day out, whole families picking
berries and grapes, with tiny Japs
helping, the tiniest lying in sort
of screened dog house, easily
moved around with the group, for
the fields are so expansive. All
along the roads are small, artistic
arbors and stands, temptingly
spread with straw and logan ber-
yies. melons, carnations, and, of
course, heaps of aprlc OTIS.
When we reached the harbor,
we saw Independence Day cele-
brated by making history in the
launching Of four great new ships
at high tide, great orange -colored
monsters rising high on their
wooden stays. A big 5Q-piece band
was booming out the kind of music
that makes your heart beat high,
and in a pause you could hear the
blows of sledge hammers dropping
off the supports, and then one snip
began to move, gliding faster and
faster as the daughter of the gen.
eral manageY of the company,
clasping great sheaf of roses,
swung the ribbon-bound bottle of
champagne and broke it over the
bow, saying, Il christen thee
West Grana." As the vessel reach
ed the water, the band played and
every whistle in the harbor blew,
every auto horn footed, people
checred and shouted, and you
never heard such a row.
Four vessels were christened by
four different women-such queer
names, too-West Grana, West
C.ioIo Moe+ T,,I1 opd tho Mono