The record-union., 1891-12-11
A GENUINE SURPRISE.
A social Party surprises Mrs. E.

a SOCIAL rarity surprises Mrs. Il. Is.
Crocker In a Delightful Manner.
One of the most pleasant, genuine and
altogether successful surprise parties
ever given in the city took place last
night at the Art Gallery. 1t was given
under the auspices of the Ladies' Museum
Association, assisted by members of the
California Museum Association, and was
a surprise to Mrs. Margaret Z. Crocker,
for whom the affair was arranged.
The Ladies' Museum Association on
Tuesday resolved to hold a social gather
ing to bid Mrs. Crocker farewell on the
eve Of her departure for the East. The
affair was very quietly arranged, and
kept profound secret from the lady.
About two hundred friends of Mrs.
Crocker, members of the two associations,
and few guests, assembled at the Art
Gallery at O'Clock with band of music
and caterer with plentiful refreshments.
When the ladies had laid aside their
wraps, and all was ready, Mrs. c.. H.
Cummings, escorted by the President of
| the Museum Association, went to Mrs.
! Crocker's residence. and informed her
that she was wanted in the Art Gallery
on an important matter by number Of
old friends.
She was greatly surprised, but said she
would go, and en- route was told that a
couple OF hundred people had gathered to
bid her goodbye. AS she entered the
picture gallery the orchestra in the hall
below played Home Again. The
gathered company welcomed her with
hearty hand shakes, and many of the
pupils Of the School of Design were intro
duced. The Ladies' Committee then pre-
| sented her with beautiful floral piece
standing on a tall easel-a large plaque
of choice flowers with the words, Com
pliments of C. NJ. AZ
The glass doors between the art room
and the picture gallery above had been
removed, and through the opening the
strains of music by the orchestra led by
c. a. Neale, arose sweet and strong. Pres
emily Miss Emma Felter, with Miss Lucy
! Epson as accompanist, sang with deep
! feeling, THE Dearest Spot on Earth to
Me is Home" Soon after, Mrs. a. Bonn
helm, with Miss Amelia BOIL as accom-
panist, sang in fine voice to the flute
obligato of Mr.. Neale, "Star of Love" by
Roubadi.
Meanwhile social converse and greeting
went on in the gallery, and the whole
company felt the perfect freedom Of an
| informal and hOmelike evening call.
There was no stiffness nor ceremony
about 1t, or any cold formality, but a
| hearty, cordial mingling of neghbors
and friends.
Presently luncheon was announced, and
in the School of Design room tables were
/ found spread for all, with efficient serv-
! ice, under the direction of 3. A. Johnson.
! The table to which Mrs. Crocher was es-
| corted was presided over by Mayor Com
! stock. After supper Miss Young, q guest
of Mrs. DR.. Mealand, gave d piano solo
with taste and good execution.
The younger members of the company
! then engaged in dancing, while the eld-
erS looked on, or visited the picture
] llnrjpG mo tho D+'o
! books on the tables in the rotunda, while
! some Of the gentlemen resorted to the
smoking rooms.
Among those present were the daugh-
| ters of Mrs. Croker, Mrs. J. Sloat Fas-
sett of Elmira, n. y, and Mrs. Amy
and several of the relatives of Mrs.
Crocker in this city. The daughters were
! in the secret, and none enjoyed the COM
| plete surprise of the recipient more than
! they.
About IL o'clock the company bade
! Mrs. Crocker farewell, wished her safe
| journey eastward, and expressed the
wish that sne would return to Sacramento
at an early day. She remained until the
last of the company had departed, and
was sensibly moved by the sincere ex-
| pressions Of friendly regard, and the un-
studied manifestations OF respect by her
old friends.
| iAO !dSlIeS IiIdildsluS tllS very success
! ful social event were Mrs. Colonel r. r.
| Hamilton, Mrs. j. w. Armstrong, Mrs.
D. Lubin, Mrs. c. H. Cummings, Mrs.
Judge Blanchard, Mrs. E. c. Jordan,
Mrs. A. Bonnheim, Mrs. II. B. Brecken-
/ field, Mrs. VIM. Ingram, Jr., Mrs. DR.. Mea-
! land and Mrs. Nogeigesang. III aid OF
the occasion B. u. Steinman, President
OF the Capital Gas Company, rendered the
ladies the services of that company in
/ lighting the picture galleries with elec-
! tricity. 1t was done with entire success
! with ten are burners Of high over. I'm
! der the shaded lights the pictures were
seen to excellent advantage.