The record-union., 1895-03-01
THE BARREL" DRAPED IN BLACK.
Blessed Are the Dead Who Died in
Berkeley"
Ante Norton Ceremonies of the State
Viticultural Commission
Last Night.

Though the State Viticultural Com
mission died last night at Turner Hall,
no one who was present could for one
moment doubt but that it was an awful
jolly death. After listening to Marcus
d. Boruck's lecture on the Press" both
legislators and newspaper men were
filled with solemn thoughts, but it is safe
to say that before they were through az
sisting at the mOrtuary ceremonies,
they were (many of them) full of more
substantial article.
1t was nearly 10 O'Clock when Colonel
John p. Irish thumped the table with
huge mallet, and uttered a few words of
welcome. In part he said:
My friends, while the Viticultural
Commission passes the wine will also
pass. The occasion is so sober that am
sure no gentleman will think of getting
drunk. Governor Budd will be with US
during the evening, as we'll as real live
Harbor Commissioner, and numerous
other men who would like to be HarbOr
Commissioners. When you get good
hold on q glass, [ advise you to hold on
to 1T, and now let us consider the cere-
monies started"
Then for an instant the silence was
thick enough to cut, when, as if by magic,
the portly form of John Fay, the SEN
ator from North Beach, doomed up along
side the 'bar'P' (Which, by the way, was
tastefully draped, and decorated with red
and white camellias), and then the fun
commenced.
The wine circulated, as did those pres
ent and the table which groaned under a
rich lunch became rapidly lighter.
over the "bar'P was a banner upon
which were the words "Beati Qui in
a inv Il; IL Iolo :.
! appeared, Whom the gods love, die
young" and Eat, drink and be merry,
| Tor tomorrow you may die"
Then from somewhere rang out from a
cornet the mournful notes of The Last
| Rose of Summer" and after they had
died away, causing a last heave TO the
| form OF the commission, an excellent
soloist was presented. who rendered the
! "Old Sexton" in style which saved him
! from lynching.
Then Charles a. Wetmore, once Presi-
| dent OF the commission. introduced Col
onel Irish, who addressed the mourners.
and was, as IS usual with mourners, we'll
received and vigorously applauded.
lie spoke earnestly of the good work
| done by the Fiticultural Commission,
and eXtolled Mr.. Wetmore, who. he
stated, had studied the subject of vintage
as the chemist studies his different ex-
periments.
1t had been the work of the commits
sion to introduce the vintage into the
homes of the State instead Of beer. 1t had
made the wines OF the State known all
over the world, and in high-classed
restaurants in the East he had seen the
| wines made by his friend. Senator Beard
| The laber OF the commission was over,
| but its good results were to follow, and
! he might well close with the words of the
motto over the "bar'P': BLESSED are the
| dead who died in Berke ley."
| Mr.. Wetmore then assembled the plat
| form and called upon Assemblymau
john O'Day of San Francisco. Assem-
! blyman O'Day said he had never been
! guilty OF singing but one song in his
! life, and he forthwith launched into the
'Lather and Shave" The applause was
! uproarious when he concluded.
| ODay's effort was followed by young
man with big red camellia who sang
! Kathleen MavOurneen' in a manner
which brought tears to the eyes of some
| of those who had Joined the festivities at
| an early hour.
After the song, Mr.. Wetmore called for
! the guests to once more gather around
the "bar'l," which invitation was re-
| sponded to by three cheers and a tiger.
Senator Beard was called upon. and
said that while this was a joyful wake it
was sad one. He then proceeded to paw
a glowing tribute to the commission and
| to Mr.. Wetmore. 1t was sad to him to
| know that the commission is no more,
but he was happy to know that its good
work would live and bear fruit
Senator Gesford, when called for said
ne was not a wlne-grower but a Wine
drlDker, and his little county (Napa) was
nlIed with vineyards and wine-cellars.
! he thought that much would be done for
! the cause of temperance when the people
| became educated to drink light wines in
| stead Of beer or whisky. He was reared
he might say, on wine bottle, and his
! people set wine upon the table as was
done in the times of the Savior, when
water was turned into wine. He was not
| often called upon to attend obsequies
such as this, but if they were all con-
| Quoted as was this one be hoped he might
be allowed to attend them many times in
| the future.
Senator Wilmington was the next
speaker, and he was followed by Senator
Simpson and a number OF others, and
until late hour the hall resounded with
mirth and joyousness. and the funeral
obsequies of the State Viticultural Com
mission will be long remem bered by
| those in attendance