Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-08-23
SOCIETY.
Mrs. NJ. f. Speers
Happily Surprised.

Mrs. NJ. E. Speers, one of the most
highly esteemed and best revereC
residents of Pine Bluff, was the recip-
lent of beautifully conceived and
happily carried out surprise yester-
day upon the occasion of her 73rd
birthday anniversary. Born in selti-
mental affection, the plan was pro-
NOTED by loved ones Of the lady In
such manner that one delightful sur
prise followed another in such rapid
sequence from the time of the event
being announced until Mrs. Speers
was escorted to a table laden with
remembrances that the amiable lady
was almost overwhelmed with the
display of affection given by her
family connections
Fate aided Mrs. w. H. Langford
who conceived the demonstration, by
leading Mrs. Speers to spend part Of
the week with the family of her son.
John B. Speers, on West Sixth ave
nue.. Mrs. Eangford disclosed the
conspiracy and the conspirators
worked rapidly, with the result that
when the one to be honored return
ed to her home Ga West Fourth ave-
nue. yesterday afternoon She found
the place had been transformed in
to a bower of flowers by the hands
of love and that, excepting four of
her kinspeople, who are out Of the
city, all had gathered to extend fe-
llcitatlons and express the fervent
wish that they might enjoy re-
peafedly for many years more the
happiness of Joining with her in the
Celebration of her birthday anniver-
sary.
When Mrs. Speers recovered from
the delightful surprise, she was es-
corted into the dining room where.
upon beautifullydecorated table
rested an immense birthday cake,
supporting seventythree burning
tapers. The evenness with which the
candles burned was interpreted as
a good omen for the honoree of the
occasion, as indicating that her life
would continue to be one, which, like
the tapers, shed radiance upon all
About the cake were numerous pack
ages, remembrances from Mrs
Speers' kinsmen and kinswomen and
friends, who had been let into the
secret. The cutting Of the birthday
cake was pretty feature of the ev-
ening.
The only four connections of the
family deprived of pleasure by rea-
son of being out of the city are Rol
Lee BYRD and Henrick Byrd, who are
in Ell Paso, Conlin Byrd, in Little
Rock, and Miss Willie Mae Toney
who is visiting in Kentucky.
Those who joined with Mrs. Speer.
in celebrating the day We're Mr.. ant
Mrs. J.Rv Speers and daughter, Mari
eta; Miss Sallie Byrd, Mrs. Ros;
Byrd, Mr.. and Mrs. H. B. Speers an6
little daughter. Juliet; Miss Mamie
Byrd Mr.. and Mrs. r.. L. Byrd, Mis-:
Leinad Byrd, Robert Byrd, Mr.. ant
Mrs. Howell Byrd and Howell, Jr.
Miss Elizabeth Byrd. Mr. and Mrs
w. M. Toney, Misses Mabel. Mary ant
Florence Toney; DR.. and Mrs. J. w
Withers. Mr.. and Mrs. w. H. Lang
ford and son Jack, Mr.. and Mrs. P. p
Byrd, Fl. B. Byrd, Miss Doris Byrd
Mr. and Mrs. Hardy Kilgore and son
Hardy Jr.; Mrs. Conlin Byrd ane
son, Conlia, IT.; Mr.. and Mrs. w
w. Byrd and daughter. Frances
Hardy; Mrs. Ross Moore and daugh
ter, Florence; Miss Nora Byrd. Mr.
and Mrs. ID. B. Byrd and son. d. B.
Jr.; Mr.. and Mrs. L. M. Williams
and children, Mr.. and Mrs. Harr,
Caughman and children, and Frank
Alvin, Newt. j. II. and e. G., Byrd
and John. Morgan, Hartell and Franl
Toney