Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-26
a SURPRISE.
A RECEPTION TO MRS. E. b.
CRCCKER YESTERDAY.
How Six Hundred Friends Sur
prised Her on Her Birthday
"A Social Success.

Yesterday was the birthday of Mrs. Z. B.
Croker. 1t was made the occasion for as COM
plete surprise as was ever accomplished. On
Thursday last the ladies' committee of manage
ment of the Loan Exhibition conceived the
idea of surprise for Mrs. Croker on her birth
day. The idea rapidly took form and resolved
into resolution to give her a reception. Prepa-
rations were hastily made and somes $50 notes
of invitation mailed on Saturday, but with no
intention of making the affair exclusive, for in
| no other way than by confidential note could
the secret preparations be kept from the knowl-
edge of the lady to be surprised. Accordingly
word was also given out for general attend
ance. The LADIES request that it be said, there
fore, that it was not intended to have any re-
main away who wished to come, but time was
brief and they Invited all they could Yester-
day, from IL A. N. 10 p NJ, therefore, over 600
citizens who had heard of the wish OF the COM
mlttee called on Mrs. Croker at the Art Gal
lery and congratulated her on the completion of
another year of her useful life, in good health
and with promise of a long life yet before her.
The affair was so conducted and hedged about
with such secrecy that no intimation of it
reached Mrs Croker until hasty message
called her to come into the Art Gallery from her
residence. il being represented that the Gallery
Board of Control desired to meet her on busi-
ness When she stepped into the Gallery she
No>-~N
hail, where she was amazed to find a company
of ladies and gentlemen assembled, who came
forward and offered their hearty congratula
tons on attaining another birthday. She was
almost dumb with surprise, and submitted her
self, in a sort of bewildered state, to the
escort OF the committee, who seated her in
the center of a beautiful half-circle of floral
pieces, and began to present the people sever
ally, who were by this time arriving in large
numbers AT the same time an excellent
orchestra in the rear of the ball began to play
concert selections. Presently Mayor Gregory and
wife arrived. and the Mayor thereafter acted as
master of ceremonies. At half-past II, over 300
people having paid their respects to the lady,
among them large delegation of the Society
of Pioneers, wearing the regalia badge of the
association and led by President Lawson, Mayor
Gregory escorted Mrs. Croker to the main
lower hall, followed by many of the people.
Here tables were spread and Misses Weinrich,
Hughson, Byrnes, Weldon and Gutenberg and
Mrs. George Taylor served a choice light lunch to
the people. In its midst, President Green. of the
Museum Association arose and gave the health
of Sacramento's Lady BOuntiful, the woman
all the people love-" Mayor Gregory, in re-
Spouse, arose and gave the signal for all to
stand, in honor of the toast The upstairs re-
ception was then resumed and others came
down to the lunch room. Three hundred
more people arrived before O'Clock and paid
their respects. The great mass of them were
old residents, and scores of them have known
the good lady for over thirty years
Among the callers were Governor Waterman
and his wife and daughters, Senator Booth
Judge Armstrong, Secretary of State Hendricks
and w. T. Coleman, President Dale of the How
ards, members of the Museum Association. of
the State Board of Agriculture, of the City
Board of Trade. of the Directory of the Old
Ladies' Home, merchants mechanics profess
sional men, several Senators and Assembly
men, and many ladies. There was no formal
ity, no attempt to dress specially for the occa-
sion, but the utmost cordially, simplicity and
sincerity prevailed. The people came from their
business, hat in hand, and congratulated Mrs
Croker heartily, chatted, lunched, listened to
the music, compllmented the lady managers on
their success, and promenaded with each other
through the building without any restraint or
stiffness whatever. The happiness of the good
lady honored could not be doubted. The perfectly
informal and cordial manner of her old friends,
was met on her part by just as frank expression
OF pleasure and acknowledgment of how much
the surprise touched and delighted her The
ladies' committee floral Offering was beautiful
harp, standing six feet in hight Other floral
pieces were few, because SO brief time elapsed
between knowledge of the affair and the hour
of the reception but there were flower pieces
from Mrs. c. H. Cummings, Mrs. L. Mebius
Mrs. L. Elkus, Mrs. C. H Ross Mrs. g. l. Sim
mons. M. J. Dillman, Mrs. F. A. Ebel, Mrs
Spaulding, Mrs. Rosa Moore, Mrs Stafford and a
handsome scent sachet from Miss Geftie Gerrish
There was also presented to Mrs. Croker po-
etical tribute, simple, not fusome, but sincere
by Mrs s. II. Gerrish set to music for the occa-
sion by Mrs. Abbie Genung.
At q quarter past the surprise reception
came to close. 1t was certainly one of the
most successful affairs of the kind ever gotten
up The ladies who originated the scheme were
Mrs. h. K. Hamilton, Chairman; Mrs. c. H.
Cummings Mrs. B. R. Croker Mrs. B. Har
Mrs. J. A. Woodson, Miss Helen Waterman
They were aided by several volunteers, and in
the luncheon department had the assistance of
beyy OF handsome young women.