Exchange
Byron A. Finney

col. 2

PRELIMINARY SESSION

(Thursday, May 18, 1911, 8:15 p. m., Hotel Maryland)

The preliminary session of the Thirtythird annual conference of the American library association was called to order by Mr. E. L. Conger, of Pasadena, who spoke a few words of welcome and introduced the Rev. Dr. D. F. Fox, of Pasadena, who, in the absence of the mayor, welcomed the conference to the city in a brief, witty and pleasing address.

Dr. Fox said he was sure that all the members were going to like Pasadena and feel that the Crown City was the real crowing glory in the realm of God's wonderful out-of-doors; that all were sure to be favorably impressed with the spirit of progress there displayed, and would be well repaid by a visit to some of the educational institutions in the neighborhood as well as to the famous scenic attractions which he hoped all the delegates would see before they departed; and that when they returned to their homes they would carry with them the best memories of delightful days spent in their beautiful valley.

Following Dr. Fox, Mr. J. W. Wood welcomed the members of the Association in behalf of the board of trustees of the Pasadena public library. He referred with pride to the fact that the people of the city had built their own library building, had bought its books and ably supported it, and that the character of the books read showed Pasadena to be an exceptional center of study and culture. The speaker said that the one note of sadness was the illness of the librarian, Miss N. M. Russ, who had planned and worked for two years for this Conference and now most unfortunately was sick and could only send her message of greeting with the hope that the visit would be pleasant and enjoyable to all.

Mr. L. W. Ripley, president of the California library association, was next introduced and in a few cordial words expressed the welcome of the state association. Mr. Ripley said that the influence left by the Association's visit of twenty years ago had not yet died away and that Californians anticipated from this visit even more benefit and uplift to their state.

Dr. FOX: There is unusual joy and pleasure in connection with the appearance of the next speaker. The response to the greeting, in behalf of the president of the American library association, in the absence of your president, is to be made by Mr. Samuel Swett Green, of Worcester, Massachusetts, who, when your Association met in San Francisco twenty years ago, was the president of the American library association. I have the distinguished honor, ladies and gentlemen, of presenting to you Mr. Green.

Mr. GREEN: Angels' visits, Mr. President, are generally far between. It is with the heartiest gratitude that the members of the American library association thank you for the offers of hospitality which you have made.

It is with extreme regret that we have met in the absence of our president, but perhaps it was wise for him to select, in naming him who should respond, one who had already realized how fully you carried out your promises and how much better a time we had when here before than we had any anticipation of. Twenty years ago representatives of your state met us at the borders of the state. We received a dispatch as we were crossing Nevada, telling us that representatives of libraries and of those interested in libraries, would meet us at Truckee, on the way to Sacramento. Those representatives reached Truckee before we did and were there to receive us. They brought us fresh salmon they had caught the day before in the Sacramento

River. They brought a hamper of quail and a great abundance of the luscious grapes which are in such profusion in this state in the autumn and quantities of the rare and beautiful chrysanthemums which this state has the greatest reason to be proud of.

Our cook took the provisions that were brought and served breakfast in the dining car to the members of the Association and the representatives from Sacramento. We were then taken down to that beautiful city and carried to the capitol, where we were received by one of the officials of the state, and there we found representatives from San Francisco, where the conference was to be held, waiting to escort us from Sacramento to San Francisco.

After receiving profuse hospitality in the greatest city of the state, we started on a journey south. I well remember that sunshiny morning that we came to Pasadena, and that before we had finished our breakfast your representatives were at our sides with a profusion of the fruits and flowers of the season, and with carriages in which you took us on a most interesting drive and then brought us to your beautiful public library building, where we met the assembled representatives of the refinement of the city, who gave us another cordial welcome.

We find, of course, immense changes in California. We have just come here, but we know that we are to expect great changes. Twenty years ago, Pasadena had only a few inhabitants. To-day you have, as has been stated to-night, 30,000 people. Los Angeles had 50,000 inhabitants at that time, but now there are over 300,000. San Francisco has passed through a terrible calamity and is rising in triumph from its troubles. I remember that at certain places where the trains stopped twenty years ago, the citizens were there in their own carriages, driving their own horses, and came to the station and took us about the town and when spontaneously we admired the beauty of everything we saw, they said to us, “You would hardly suppose that only three years ago there was nothing

here but sage brush." No such story, I believe, could be told of the state to-day.

My interest in California is a deep and binding one. I first became acquainted with this locality when I landed here after serving two years before the mast, when, in 1849, I became quite excited over the sudden discovery of gold, and I have watched the progress and growth of the state with great interest ever since. I am afraid we shall find many changes, immense changes, but whatever those changes may be, they cannot alter the beautiful surroundings of Pasadena. They cannot change its delightful climate, and we are finding here, and are sure we shall find while we stay here, that there is no change in the hospitality and hearts of its people.

Dr. FOX: Secretary Utley has a letter which he will read you at this time.

The SECRETARY: You will notice on your programs that the Rev. Dr. Robert J. Burdette was to have been with us to-night. I wish to read you a note from Dr. Burdette, who is in the East, to Mr. Wyer, the president.

My dear Mr. Wyer:

Boston, May 6, 1911.