| Muscatine County, Iowa | |
Muscatine Journal & News-Tribune
Centennial Edition
31 May 1940
Section 5 - Page 6, Submitted by Mary M. Elizabeth, August 1, 2012
Varied and Elaborate Were The Gay ’90 Parties
Beautiful Cohn Home Scene of Reception; 250 Friends ReceivedThe social event of the season was the reception given last evening by Mr. and Mrs. S. Cohn and Mr. and Mrs. L. Cohn. It will be memorable in the annals of the social history of Muscatine not only because of the beauty, pleasure and elegance of the affair, but also as one of the largest of its nature. The Journal does not know whether the keen-sighted head of the firm of S. and L. Cohn and his accomplished wife had in mind such an occasion as this reception when they planned and arranged their beautiful home on West Second street., Nevertheless this theory seems plausible and possible to all who could not help but observe the remarkable happy adaptation and harmonization of all the surroundings to such a perfect social occasion as was last evening’s reception.
A Happy Occasion The Messrs. and Madames Cohn received in the archway connecting the hall to the front parlor, and so many were the guests that the time occupied by them in greeting them all was about an hour and a half. Two hundred and fifty is a close estimate of the number present. The writer thinks it is too small. Cultured and prominent people of all parties, creeds and beliefs, and ranging in life’s stages from the earliest inhabitants to young people in their teens, were all happy in the congeniality and universal good nature which the experience and skilled hosts and the charming hostesses inspired.
The never-failing and always enjoyable method of entertainment to an intelligent company, social converse, almost monopolized the attention of all the guests until the announcement of supper, although many delightful thoughts were inspired and much pleasure derived from the very fine music of Eichoff’s orchestra, which occupied a corner of the spacious dining room.
The Menu Varied It was no unskillful exploit to serve to large a company with supper all at the same time, and do it with the celerity, comfort and satisfaction to all concerned, which characterized the interesting part of the reception of last evening. The Tete-a-tete tables were placed in the lower and upper rooms and in spacious halls. There, with a plentiful supply of folding chairs, enabled all to be seated and easy of access to those who waited on the company. Coffee, rolls, turkey, ham, salad, pickles, olives, cake, ice cream, bananas and oranges and more that the writer can’t remember were served in their proper order and so elegantly had they been prepared that the appreciation expressed in so material a manner as was evident to all was the most genuine and hearty.
The immediate occasion of the gathering (though not mentioned in the invitations) was the fact that Mr. S. Cohn had just reached the 50th yearly milestone in life’s progress.
The departure of the guests was delayed until a late hour, the younger portion lingering longest, and when the floors had sufficiently cleared, the entrancing strains of music were utilized in a highly pleasant sense, in waltzes, schottisches, polkas and quadrilles. If there were any guests present who did not hugely enjoy themselves they were the most skilled dissemblers, as the countenances of all reflected a sense of enjoyment of the highest degree and the Journal is sure than they portrayed the truth. – April 10, 1890.
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Target Party Held at McBride Home Mr. and Mrs. Chas. McBride delightfully entertained a number of friends at a target party last evening. A target was set up at one side of the room and after choosing sides each were supplied with a numbe3r of darts which they would throw at the target and were marked according to the number of scores made. It proved to be a highly interesting game, the highest score being made by Mrs. Fred, Tappe, with Dr. C.W. Smith second, and Mrs. G.H. Wiles, third. A delicious repast was served and heartily enjoyed. The evening proved to be a very pleasant one, indeed, the party remaining until a late hour, when they departed with the feeling that a few hours more could not been enjoyably spent. – May 29, 1890.
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For 59 Years The first telephone directory was issued here Aug. 2, 1881, with 54 subscribers and with The Muscatine Journal allotted the same telephone number which it retains today. Of interest are the rules contained in the first directory –
“To call central give the crank on side of bell box one or two sharp turns. When bells are rung back from the central office take down receiver and place it over your best ear and hold it close to the head. Give the operator your name and the number of the party you desire to converse with. Hold your telephone to your ear until you get a reply from the party wanted or notice from the operator at the central office that the party wanted does not answer. When through with conversation the party asking for the connection should signal the central office that they are through by giving the crank one turn. Never take the telephone from your ear while you are in conversation with anybody. When through talking say “Good-Bye” before you hang up your telephone. The telephone office will be operated on Sundays from 9 to 10 in the morning and from 5 to 6 in the evening.”
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On St. Valentine’s Day St. Valentine’s day was observed as usual in Muscatine today, and the mails were overloaded. Instead of the usual comical valentines, those sent out were largely profuse with gilt and cheap poetry. The designs are beautiful. Musical instruments of all kinds are imitated in silk, satin, and plush. Delicate silk fringes, tassels, and zephyrs are artistically blend- views, and various appropriate designs. A cornet in silk, satin ed with hand-painted work. Often these paintings are very fair works of art, representing winter scenes, sea and beach and plush, neatly ensconced in a box, makes a pretty souvenir. Beneath the keys is very often some little saying about “the keys to the tones of my heart,” etc. Banjos, guitars and mandolins predominate. Appropriate sentiments are printed below the strings or on the sounding boards. Other pretty trifles are in silk boats, sometimes sold with a water-lily covered pond, a charming sprite swinging in hammock, a facsimile of the Brooklyn suspension bridge, a representation of a sun shedding its warm rays upon a true heart, and to cap them all, two bull-frogs dancing a fisherman’s hornpipe upon a green plush representation of a frog pond. – Feb. 14, 1890.
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Dedication
All Saints Church DedicatedLast evening was the appointed time for the dedication of that beautiful little place of worship, “All Saints chapel,” on East Hill. The visitation of Bishop Perry was announced for the occasion, but unfortunately la grippe had fastened its unwelcome grip upon him and he was unable to be present, causing no little disappointment to the many who assembled there at 7 o’clock for the purpose of participating in the devotional and dedicatory services. Every seat was occupied, with members of the church and residents of East Hill, all of whom seem anxious to join in the worship. The services were conducted by Rev. E.C. Paget, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, in the usual impressive and very interesting manner.
The rector stated that while the chapel had been erected for services of the Episcopal church, yet he wanted it understood that all were welcome to attend and join the worship and listen to the expounding of the word of God. The church was established for the accommodation of the residents of East Hill and he trusted all would familiarize themselves with the service and thereby better appreciate them. His remarks were of a congratulatory and thankful nature, and sought to impress upon all the thankfulness that should be felt for the manifold blessings thus bestowed.
All seemed to enter into the spirit of the service with a determination to gain all the knowledge possible, and make the services pleasant and profitable in every sense of the word. The organist for the new chapel is Miss Ette Parmelee, who presided at last evening’s services with great efficiency.
The chapel is not a large one, but is quite comfortable and neatly arranged, as has been mentioned on several occasions in our “East Hill Gleaning,” to which our readers may refer for future meetings at this place of worship. – Muscatine Journal, Jan. 7, 1890.
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Last Word in Fads The girls have a new fad. They ask for bright, polished pennies with the gentlemen’s monogram engraved on one side. The little “reds” will now supersede the mutilated dimes which have so long done duty as bracelet bangles. The jingle of the pennies may not be musical as the little bits of silver, but the oddity makes it the go. Designing young women also beg pennies from young men, which they hoard, and when the pile is sufficiently large buy a “memory” bracelet. – April 7, 1890.
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Anniversary Event Observed at Party What a scene of brightness and brilliancy is conveyed in the term “crystal” and how appropriate it seemed that the joyous wedding anniversary celebrated by Mr. and Mrs. James Hannan was a crystal wedding! The pretty home of West Fourth street was an entrancing scene of brilliancy and pleasure last evening and the fifty or more guests present showed by their pleased countenances how much they enjoyed the occasion. Mr. and Mrs. Hannon were remembered very numerously in substantial and elegant tokens of the esteem in which they are held by their friends. Elaborate refreshments of the most appetizing nature were served and it is not necessary to add were appreciated in the manner they deserved. – June 12, 1890.
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W.H. Hoopes Home Scene of Party Too cold! Not a bit for such jolly as wended its way last evening in buggy, carriage and wagonette to the hospitable home of Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Hoopes in response to their cordial invitation to eat supper with them. About 200 guests all told sat down at tete-a-tete tables and occupied the entire available space of the whole first floor of the spacious mansion of the warmhearted host and hostess.
The delicious viands which were then set before the assembled guests did not stay there long. They were not made for that purpose, but the purpose for which they were prepared was amply fulfilled and the praises, many and profuse, which the most exacting epicureans present lavished upon them were certainly merited. It took a good long time to finish as there was a great deal to dispose of and the ride in the cold had whetted each one’s appetite, so that it seemed to be doubled.
After supper a most delightful season was spent in conversation, exchanging of witticisms, etc. The guitar of Mr. Frank Hoopes was brought forth and under the skillful touch of Miss Nell Cox, in connection with the talented lady’s voice, music was evoked, the only fault of which was that there was too little of it.
The island home was cordiality and warmth within, yet the exceeding beauty of the beautiful river scene without tempted many to stand outside entranced at the sight as long as the chilly atmosphere would permit. The rising moon so shed its light upon the bosom of the father of waters that an effect so strange as to be seemingly unnatural was produced. One lady remarked it as being strikingly like the effects in the Mother of Pearl pictures which Cal. Cain sold in Muscatine some months ago.
The guests lingered long before departing and then did so with ill-concealed reluctance. – Muscatine Journal, Jan. 9, 1890.
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