Imperial Valley press., 1923-03-02

HThere is no question but that
the hand of Destiny points TO the
fact that before long the greatest
civilization the world has ever
known will center in California. -
| Beginning his lecture before the
Ter Thousand Club yesterday after
noon with this emphatic statement,
George Wharton James, world trav.
| oler and noted writer and orator.
entranced his audience for an hour
rs he proceeded to prove his posi-
! ton.
Going back to the very cradle of
civilization, he told of the marvel.
Gus achievements of the Hindus, of
their learning, their art, their liter
ature, which reached heights of per-
fection such as has not been SUR
passed in all the generations of man.
That civilization rose and fell, and
the trend of history westward found
the next great civilization establish
ed in Asia Minor, as the speaker
spoke of the wonders of that great
period, brought to light by explor
ers and established beyond question.
, of doubt by things to be seen by
all who travel that way, the story
became intensely interesting, ths
word pictures most vivid.
GREECE HAS GREAT ERA!
The Sphinx, the pyramids, tho
wonderful temples, the literature
all leaving their influence indelibly
stamped upon the history of the
! world. Westward, again, and a
marvellous civilization was set up in
Greece.
Art, architecture, science, litera-
ture, great and undying, and never
| surpassed. But Greece too, failed in
the last issue, and decay and ruin
/ laid low the once proud nation,
mighty in war and in all that is ma
terial, as well as in intellect.
Rome was the mistress of the
world after that; it's history and
achievements marked great epoch.
In law, in literature, in architec-
ture, in roads leading to every ,coun-
try then known, its civilization has
continued to be tine marvel of the
| ages. But Rome too fell, and then
fOlloyed the Charlamagne ideal, still
| going west, great, too, but passing
as the others. The speaker believes
that Great Britain has reached it's
maximum of power, and is now on
the decline, still great in intellect,
| but the hand of destiny is moving
the seat of power to the United
States, he said.
Already this nation is ahead in
wealth, in resources, in population.
Intellectually, it has not attained
pre- eminence, but in accordance
! with the Claw of God' as the
| speaker reads it, the nation is soon
to take its place as the greatest in
| all particulars, with an art, lit
erature, architecture and all of the
real things of like, distinctive and
mighty
CALIFORNIA is DESTINED
But it was when the speaker pro-
phesied that at the end of it all,
California would harbOr the great
civilization of the west, that the
interest grew tense. Few had
dreamed of the states great posi-
bilities until the picture was spread
before them by one who knows ev-
cry nook and Granny of the great
state; who is acquainted with it's
topography, its coast line, its noun
tains, its climatic conditions, its
marvellous possibilities.
The story of the pioneers who
braved the plains to come so long
q 90, their initiative, their foresight,
their courage, their wisdom-surely
the generations born of such par
ents are destined for something be-
yOnd the ordinary.
DR.. James showed conclusively
that California has already found
alton for wonderful accomplish
ments in its artists, its writer's, its
scientists, its educators. He paid
remarkable tribute to David Starr
Jordon, whom he placed above every
living scientist in the world, as well
as at the top in education. He
named Lowe, whose patents are
used in every pound of ice manu-
factured, in the making of gas, in
aeronautics, in many inventions; OF
Burbank and his marvellous achieve
ments; Bret Hart, Ambrose Bierce,
Mark Twain, who learned much that
made him great as writer in Cal
fOrnia, Edward Markham, John
Muir, and scores of others whose
productions in art and literature
have made them famous even in
their own generation.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY BREAT
1t was tremendous responsibility
he laid upon this people at the close
of his great lecture. To their hands
is to be committed by the Creator,
the last great Occidental civiliza-