TJie Banquet at Turnverein Hall. 121 



THE BANQUET AT TURNVEREIN HALL. 



Reference has already been made to the pending banquet to be 

 given the Society on Thursday evening by the ladies of San Jose, 

 and, also, to which Dr. Ridpath, in his accompanying sketch*, will 

 refer to in detail; yet, at the risk of repetition, the Secretary will 

 venture to here allude to some of the features of this recherche 

 affair, which seem to call for special notice. A brief quotation 

 from the San Jose Weekly Times, of January 28, is beautifully de- 

 scriptive of the cards of invitation, which, no doubt, will be pre- 

 served by ever}' guest as souvenirs of this pleasant occasion : 



The invitations issued were intended as souvenirs of the convention as 

 well as passports to the banquet. They are very handsome, all the printing 

 being done in gold. On the front cover is "Welcome to Our Nation's Hor- 

 ticulturists. San Jose, Cahfornia, January 27th, 1888." On the back is rep 

 resented a basket filled with golden fruit. The names of the Committee ot 

 Management are given on the third page, as follows: Mrs. L.J. Watkins, 

 Captain J. H. Barbour, Mrs. S. W. Boring, Mrs. E. 0. Smith, Captain W. T. 

 Adel. The second page of the invitation is adorned with the following 

 poem, written by one of San Jose's most talented ladies: 



A CALIFORNIA ^EAE. 



BY MRS. M. H. FIELD. 



How do we know when the spring has come, 



In this pleasant land by the western sea? 

 Why, the rainy days grow farther apart, 



And the clouds before the north wind flee; 

 The gardens are blue with forget-me-nots. 



And pepper trees scatter their berries red ; 

 The hills with poppies are all aflame. 



And linnets and meadow-larks sing o'erhead. 



How do we know when summer is here? 



The sky is one vast, deep vault of blue, 

 Whence the sun pours down his golden flood 



Unchecked by a cloud the long day through. 

 Grain fields are waving, and orchards bend low, 



Roses and jasmines hold riotous sway, 

 While tents are unfolding on mountain and shore, 



And the life of the campers is blithe and gay. 



'•'See Appendix. 



