The San Francisco call., 1896-06-03

grandmothers, and one of them en-
joys the proud distinction of being
q great great grandmother. Besides,
they are all spirituslsts, which adds to
the novelty. And strange to tell, the
birthdays of three OF these frosty-haired
old ladies agree chronologically.
The affair is to be birthday party,
given by Mrs. Katherine Parrish at her
residence, % Eighth street, 1T being the
anniversary of the day when she and two
of her aged friends, Mrs. H. H. Post and
Mrs. Elizabeth Stone, first started across
the stormy sea of life.
Mrs. Post is the oldest of the trio, hav-
ing passed the eighty-ninth milestone of
her existence in the flesh. Mrs. Stone
has attained the ripe old age OF 85. The
youngest of the three, Mrs Parrish who
gives the party, has had her hair whitened
by the SHOWS of eighty-two winters and
her features softened and lighted up by as
many summers.
But this is not all-there are gong to be
some others of the old ladies' female friends
present to rejoice with them at the happy
state in which they find themselves after
so many years of usefulness. These friends
are themselves years past the allotted age
of man.
For instance there will be present Mrs.
Herring aged 83; Mrs. Vero, aged 76;
Mrs. Susanna Cowden, aged rs, and Mrs.
E. L. York, Mrs. M. L. Churchill, Mrs.
Kenney and Mrs. Nash, all over 70 years
of age.
Nor does this end the list of wonderful
things. Some articles are to brought forth
for this particular occasion that Mrs. Par
rish has treasured up for many years for
just such an occasion. Rare and costly
are they and one, il which the motherly
old lady takes particular, pride,
is the table cover. If it could only
pened many years ago itself. That table
cover is just fifty years old, is of rare
and costly design and has never been
brought forth before except as an exhibit
to few particular friends.
The teacups from which the old ladies
will drink their tea are hand painted and
are over $50 years old. They were brought
over from England many, many years ago
and are highly valued helrlooms.
And then there is tie cake basket, also
the property of Mrs. Parrish. 1t was
brought over from Amsterdam in 1640 by
Peter Claussen, her great-grandfather
Mrs. Parrish was born in Allegheny,
Pa, in 1914, just when the War OF 1872 was
drawing to a close. Though 81 years of
age she is to-day in perfect health, and her
mental faculties are as keen as ever. Not
only does she keep herself informed on
current events, but she keeps herself in
formed on so many that she might almost
be termed walking encyclopedia.
Her life has also been filed with exclt-
ing experiences. Once she was ship
wrecked off the Oregon coast, and after
floating four days and nights on mat
tress was picked up by passing schooner.
Her progeny are numerous. To-day she
has twenty-three great grandchildren and
two great Observation-Disclosures
In 1873 she wrote numerous articles. all
of which were published in The CALL In
belief she is free thinker. and accepts the
spiritualistic cult. Her written produc-
tions have dealt with her beliefs in a
limited way. At present she is engaged in
compiling two books, one on autobio-
graphy and the other dealing with the
laws OF heredity.
On the walls of her apartments are to be
seen many quaint and valuable pictures.
The counterpane on her bed is silken, and
came into her possession sixty-five years
ago, one year after she donned the bridal
costume.
The festivities will begin this afternoon
at 3 o. clock, and will consist of banquet
ing, tea-drinking and recounting the
"reminiscences of bygone days. Among
the invited guests are:
Mrs. M. E. Fair, Mrs. A. E. Kidd. Mrs. +. NJ.
Sulley, Mrs. Lucy Mellor, Mrs. Laura de Force
Miss Louise Sebey, Mrs. w. L. Owen, Mrs Jud-
son Wheeler, Mrs. L. D. Pickford, Mrs. McCord,
Mrs. Lucy Brickoff Mrs. S. w. Butler, Mrs. Har-
riet Hendricks, Mrs. Eloise Manning, Mrs.
Annie Garrick, Mrs. J. NJ. Sloper, Mrs. Ida Jen-
kins.