The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1901-12-15

of the late Judge r. B. Crockett
G. the suffering and unfortunate los,
a friend and California is deprived
of the presence of one of her most non
cred and charitable women. In her heart
true charity. plant divinely nursed
grew and blossomed, and she scattere"
abroad the flowers always with sweet anu
benefcent impulse And in return she
was honored in cher own country to an
. extent to which even few sovereigns nave
attained, and which makes one have
greater faith in the gratitude of human
ity.
Sacramentans. always noted for thelr
pride in their prominent citizens and their
beautiful city, remember as day ever
memorable May G, 1885. On that day took
place a floral festival in celebration OF
the gift by Mrs Croker to the city OF
Sacramento of the magnificent Croker
Art Gallery. This gallery was built by
her husband. Judge Croker, on his re-
turn from Europe, and was just in the
rear of their elegant home at Third and
o streets, which was formerly the old
Hastings place. 1t is full of art treasures
comprised in the gift of Mrs Crocker,
consisting of 700 oil paintings selected by
the Judge abroad and some 1899 selected
studies in portfolios and steel plate col
lections of the most famous galleries of
the world. The richly adorned art school
room and library are now considered as
the center of ora of the best art schools
of the United States. 1t has been of un-
told elevating and educational advantage
to the city of Sacramento. AS a gift it
represented a value of $75O,O0O and was
for the free use of the people for all time
The floral festival which this-gift called
forth from the warm-hearted Sacrament
tans lasted two days and has probably
never been equaled as a season of per-
fur1e and blossom anywhere in the world.
The schools, factories and business houses
Of the city closed and all the churches and
fraternal societies participated in the
event The floral reception to Mrs
Croker and many of the ceremonies were
held in the great Agricultural building of
the State Exposition, which with its glass
walls and cruciform shape lent itself adj
mirably to the bewlderingly beautiful en-
semble of the affair Flowers came not
only from the gardens of Sacramento in
unrivaled profuSion, but from all over the
State in tons of quantity and made into
every conceivable design. When Mrs.
Crocker, in company with picked escort
of ladies, drove to the crystal reception
hall the air was literally filled with roses
and blossoms thrown by double lines OF
school children dressed in white. The hall
itself was divided into aisles of flowers
broken by kiosks, bowers and temples all
made of flowers and capable of holding
many guests. In the center was a gay
Maypole around which danced merrily
hundred or more children. winding it with
gay ribbons as they danced and sang.
Upon dais sat Mrs Croker, surrounded
by retinue of prominent women, and as
5000 school children passed In review be-
fore her each one laid a bouquet before the
dais, until the honored guest, she who al
ways wished to be plain without pomp
and rich without show" sat enthroned
above solid bank of blossoms that over
flowed and entirely surrounded the plat
form.
Fully $1,000 persons filled the pavilion
and Joined in the homage to a benevolent
and kindly woman. A lady of San Fran
cisco who was present describes tho
scene as IAN ovation worthy of queen"
and says that tears came into many eyes
besides those OF the recipient of so much
honor In the evening grand ball was
given. and the Sacramento Society of
California Pioneers presented Mrs.
Croker with -four tablets Of solid gold
and silver, representing epochs in the his
tory Of California.
Mrs. Croker before her marriage was
a Miss Rhodes She was born in Akron,
Ohio, on February %, 1892, Her parents
were of German descent and she was one
of large family Of brothers and sisters.
Her parents died when she was quite
young and her girhood was spent with
a married sister, Mrs. Anna L. Bender.
I'm South RQOd Hare "a Is re-