Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-08-23
A Harvest Feast.

Mr.. and Mrs. 5. NJ. Hoover gave feast
to friends at their farm home yesterday
at noon. Their residence is on the Co.
sumnes river, about two and half miles
beyond Elk Grove. On the bottom lands
of the river they have very extensive hop
fields. Just IN front of one of these, and
back from the stream, and a mile beyond
the farm residence, is some ground little
more elevated than the hop bottoms. Here
grow some fine oaks. One of these rising
hundred feet and more in hight has a
girth three feet from the ground of 194 feet.
At high noon its dense shade covers an area
122 feet in diameter. Beneath the protect
ing foliage of this magnificent monarch Of
oaks the guests were invited to assemble
and dine, as a sort of midsummer feast and
celebration of the suspicious open
ing of the hop harvest, and also
to carry out favorite plan of the
hosts, to have once q year a reunion
of goodly number of their friends. The
reputation of Mr.. and Mrs. Hoover for lib
crafty in their hospitality, and its depth
and sincerity and the high esteem in which
they are held in their community as indus
trious, upright. kindly, charitable, public
spirited and enterprising citizens, made the
occasion of yesterday one of great interest,
and none invited were absent, except such
as are out of the county or i'll, or were de-
tanned BY illness in the family. Of the $50
guests invited 1875 put in prompt appear
ance OF these about ffty-five came from
Sacramento. The tables were loaded with
food in almost endless variety, and such
rich quality, and SO admirably prepared,
that there was nothing. Whatever lacking.
Indeed there was food for twice or thrice
81, - oSsaD,b1ad and ar1ob q aalth
of Jams. iellies, relishes, pastry, delicately
prepared meats, fowls, ETC., as can
not be even recalled in detail.
Besides were served cotfNe and tea,
choice homemade blackberry wine, milk,
fruits, nuts, small pastry, grSat variety of
small fancy dishes, etc. The reputation of
Mrs. Hoover is unsurpassed for. excellence
of housewifery in the preparation of jellies,
Jams, preserves, pickles, relishes, etc. To
these products and her art in cookery the
guests paid especial attention, and the
compliments that rained down upon her
in consequence and the requests for re-
ceipts were almost endless. From the
country were present leading agriculturists,
from the city leading business and pro-
fessional men-all with their wives or
daughters or lady friends. There was
sprinkling of young folks" but the ma
iority were people of middle life. 1t was
broadly representative company; with just
enough of freedom of spirit and just
enough of reserve-that happy medium be-
tween dignity and abandon that gives birth
to genuine sociability. Hon. Christopher
Green presided over the tables with Mrs.
Hoover on his right ]. o. Coleman was
master of ceremonies, and L. A. Burr was
Mr.. Hoovers special assistant. Toasts
were responded to appropriate to the &C.
casion. "Our Hosts" by Judge sc. Den
son; City and Country" DR.. Caples
The Pioneers" George W. Chesley
The Ladies, J. V. Sims; To the Mem
DRY of a Departed Friend" J. o. Coleman;
" Hospitality" ]. A. Woodson "Agricult-
Agricultural Society,"" Christopher
Green THE OCCASION" P. II. Rus
sell. c.. II. Hubbard, C. r. Daugherty,
F. G. Waterhoues, H. Bennett, William NJ.
Lyon, A. II. PoWers.AIr. Coons, Mr.. Wells
and others were called on, but the feast
too much engaged and filled them to per-
nit of response. A. L. Frost, Mrs. Addie
Carter, Mrs. Lyon, Mrs. Frost and Mr..
Lafferty led the company in familiar songs
and Mrs. Carter also sang solos by request
After dinner all hour and half was given
to social mingling and chat, visits to the
hop-houses and group discussion of social
and public topics. AT the last the
guests formed circle hand-in-
hand, with the hosts in the
center, and sang "Auld Lang Syne,
and with cheers for their entertainers pre-
pared to depart, after over and again ex-
the depth of the sincere pleasure they had
enjoyed at the feast. 1t was unique en-
tertainment; one of the most simple and
informal one of the richest in food and
most bounteous of supply; one of the
most beneficial and hearty of meetings be-
tween people of the city and the country,
and of such pleasurable character as will
not likely be forgotten by the participants
to their latest days.