270 Beyond the Sierras. 



was splendid. On being ushered into the hall, the banquet tables, r(i\v after 

 ruw, stuod before us. Here it was that the ladies of San Jose did themselves 

 proud, indeed. The guests were admitted to the banquet hall section by 

 section. All were seated at the signal. The perfume of rich flowers was in 

 the air. The tibles were crowned with blossoms. Great lilies rose to their 

 queenly height. Vases were heaped with fruits. All manner of viands were 

 distributed on every hand. Ladies, whose rerined manners were as con.-pic- 

 uous as their executive skill was manifest in the feast, had charge of the 

 various sections, and smiled a welcome to the guests. It has been the good 

 fortune of the writer to be present at several banquets in his life, but it is 

 his deliberate judgment that in the richness of the feast, and the delightful 

 ease with which it was administered, the banquet given by the ladies of San 

 Jos^ to the members of our Society on that genial evening of the 2Gth of 

 January was the richest and most varied that he ever beheld. By this it is 

 not meant to disparage the score of other fea.^its to which we were invited in 

 the cities of California. Each of these had its particular excellence, as, for 

 instance, our delightful banquet under the dome of the Capitol at Sacra- 

 mento, which surpassed in elegance and the exquisite taste displayed in its 

 administration. To each of these I hope to gire its meed of praise, but I say 

 still that for richness and abundance and variety, as well as for its orderly 

 programme and added circumstances, our feast at San Jos<? is entitled to first 

 praise. 



Past prandia sermones. In the American vernacular eating and speaking 

 are correlatives. If7ii/# he is eating your citixen speaks not, but after- 

 ward—then it is he breaks forth into utterance. At this San JoS(5 banquet 

 Mayor Breyfogle, to whom so much of the success of the whole enterprise 

 was due, presided with the grace of a diplomate. After his introductory re- 

 marks President Parker Earle responded for the American Horticultural 

 Society, speaking with that dignity and grace for which his name had already 

 become a proverb. Prof. George Husmann, of Napa, followed with an address 

 on California, and then Judge M. N. Myrick spoke of "Our Visitors," prais- 

 ing us more than we deserved. The toast, "Our Overland Journey," was 

 answered by Secretary William H. Ragan, who sketched the story of our 

 progress by rail across the continent. "The Santu Clara Valley " furnished 

 the theme of an address by Prof. Charles H. Allen, and then the alleged poet 

 of tlie company was called up to read the following verses: 



HORTICULTURE— THEORETICAL AXD PRACTICAL. 



To study much a fact called chemistry, 



To learii earths, acids, tlkiilis am! all, 

 To know all seeiis, and name all bugs you see — 



Is Horticulture Theoretical. 



To reason much about the cause of things, 



To make analyses and classify 

 All buds and bodies, leaves, legs, scales and wings, 



And give them titles tlint may pass for high ; 



