The herald., 1894-03-18
EMMA ABBOTT'S FATHER HERE.
He Celebrates His 18th Birth
day in This City.
A Reception to the Public and His
Many .Acquaintances.
A Pleasant Affair Last Tuesday, iu
which Many Prominent Persons
Took PArt-An Occasion Not
to Be Forgotten.


Tuesday afternoon and evening was
rendered a reception at the Hotel Ar
gyle, in honor Of the highly esteemed
old gentleman's 77th birthday. In the
afternoon the reception was a public
one, and in the evening only the per-
sonal friends of Mr.. Abbott, and their
acquaintancee. were present.
a fine programme, including vocal
and instrumental music. was rendered,
and several conRratulatory speeches
were made. A dance concluded the
pleasant occasion.
Attorney Rush, in the following re-.
marks, presented Mr.. Abbott with an
elegant gold-headed cane, on behalf of
the guests Of the Argyle:
FRIEND ABBOTT Il have been REQ uest-
ed to say, on behalf of your. friends at
the Argyle, who have become so inti-
mately acquainted with you and who
have been permitted the pleasure of
your society during the last few months,
that we congratulate you upon the at
tainment of the 77th anniversary of
your birth.
We realize that life at it's best is but
an ever changing struggle. That some.
times the beauteous sunshine of pros-
perity beams upon us with ali it's
radiant beauty and fullness, and glad
dens our hearts and brightens our lives
and makes our journey truly pleasant
one. That sometimes the dark clouds
OF adversely gather about us, and, hov-
ering closely around US, compel us to
grope our way in the night OF sorrow
and despair. We realize, too, that be-
fore another year shall have gone the
way OF the ages and you shall pause at
another of life's mile posts, to think for
moment OF the past and contemplate
the future, we will, in all human prob
ability, be scattered far and near. We
earnestly desire, wherever you may be,
that there may ever be in your great big
heart one little place dedicated to
kindly recollection OF your soourn with
US, and that you may ever have with
you some little thing to remind YOU of
US, 80 we have put our heads together,
and, as might be'expected of this COM
pany, raised CAIN" So, wishing you
all the success. all the prosperity, and
all the wealth of the golden sunshine of
contentment that can be crowded into
many peaceful, happy years, we bid you
Godspeed on your journey over life's
tempestuous, billowy, storm-tossed sea
trusting that when the end comes, as
come to US all it must, you may cast an
chor safe in the haven of your hearts
desire. And should we never all meet
again beneath the summer skies in the
beautiful sun-kissed wales of Southern
California, may Almighty God, in His
Infinite wisdom, His boundless mercy
and matchless grace, grant that we may
all meet again In the morning OF eternity,
there to enjoy each others society and
to bask in ths sunlight OF Gods eternal
glory, and forever wander through the
beautilulv valleys, and amid the majestic
mountains Of 3 brighter, better, fairer.
happier land.
Allow me. on behalf of your friends OF
the Argyle, to present you with this cane
as slight token of their love and good
wishes for you.
Ex-Governor Gosper in a few we'll
chosen remarks spoke as follows:
LADIEs AND GENTLEMEN This is a de-
lighttul assembly of sppreciative friends
to commemorate the seventy-seventh
birthday of our old friend Seth Abbott.
That noted singer of ancient days,
David the Psalmist, says: ''The days OF
our years are three score years and ten,
and If by reason of strength they be
fore score years, yet is their strength
labor and sorrow, for it is soon cnt of
and we fly away" You, nv dear
friend, are more than worthy of this
heartfelt testimonial in your own honor.
Aside from the fact of your nearlv four
score years OF noble life; aside from
your long and Rrduous devotion to the
great duties OF life; aside from the fact
that you have pursued an honorable
career you have added to that brilliant
record a further fact of being the pa.
ternal author OF Americas sweetest
singer, and one of the noblest and truest
of her fair daughters. The suddenness
of her early demise intensifies the grieI
we all felt at her death, while it stimu.
lates the keenest gratitude at the pre-.
servation of her worthy father whose
presence with us tonight we so fondly
appreciate.
In the stern economy of nature vou.
my dear friend, cannot hope to lengthen
out many more years of earthly toll
But should your strength and vigor oi
health be still further prolonged, though
you be permitted to round out a suffic.
lent number of years to complete the
patriarchs goal of four score, may it be
your blessed privilege at the expiration
of a we'll spent existence to pass from
your earthly sphere into the sweet com
munion of that lovely daughter whose
spirit form will receive you into the
sacred pursuits of eternal love.
Colonel Zabriskie spoke of the de-
ceased singer, Emma Abbott, in the fol.
lowing tribute:
When the visitor to st. Paul's cathe-
dral in London beholds in detail the
majestic grandeur of this stupendous
temple he is overcome with astonish-
ment and admiring wonder. When he
views the gems of art and @sthetic
beauty which adorn the lovely inches
and elaborate the chaste and forceful
beauty of the classic surroundings, he is
filled with the impulse of poetic inspir-
alton. When he views the sacred pre-
cincts OF the poets corner, the stately
monuments to departed genius, the no.
BILE columns, friezes, cornices and dome,
he is bewildered with the inhnity Of
She was the impersonation of love and