USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 15
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" "There were no formal receptions, no cere- monions calls. Ladies went out from their homes in simple household attire and spent a few hours in friendly conversation with a neighbor. When visits were made in the even-
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ing a number of friends called together and the time was given up to music, dancing, fun and laughter. The younger members never felt any restraint in presence of their elders, although they treated them with the most scrupulons deference and respect. Boys al- ways stood with heads uncovered while speak- ing to old or middle-agd people, even on the street. There was one generous custom dear to the heart of the California boy, and that was the godfather's gift at the christening- gold and silver coins thrown out by the hand- ful and scrambled for by the small boy.
" 'The modes of salutation during the Golden Age were the hearty handshake, when the meeting between friends took place upon the street, un abrazo (an embrace) when within the sacred precincts of home. As I have shown you, simplicity was the rule; forms and cere- monies were unknown. There was no vieing with one and another as to who should stand upon the highest round of the social ladder, but each one extended his hand to help an- other climb to where he stood, so that over all there reigned a spirit of peace and good will. Would that we might stop for a moment in our feverish rush for recognition and posi- tion and breathe in the spirit of the olden time.'
The late Joseph H. Scull, who came here at an early date and who carefully watched the changes that have taken place during the past fifty years, wrote to Mrs. Carroll as follows :
"I regret to say that I will have to dis- appoint you in giving the desired information in regard to social gatherings here during the early '50s. I did not, for a moment, think that such reminiscences would be of any value or interest after the lapse of years, and therefore did not charge my memory with them.
"Nevertheless, assuming that I have your permission to do so, I will jot down some remarks as I go along on the subject in hand. There were very few American women here in those early days, and they were mostly married, so far as I remember ; and American girls, grown to womanhood, were like 'angels' visits, few and far between,' and hence social gatherings were scarce, balls being the chief amusement in vogue, consisting of quadrilles, contra dances, waltzes and Virginia reels, and for variety's sake occasionally an Irish break- down, when some Celtic fellow-citizens were present. Later on the schottische, the polka and the mazurka were introduced. The Cali- fornia girls, as a matter of course, were largely in the majority, but unaccustomed to social gatherings, their only amusement being fan- dangoes, as the California balls were then called. The dances were the contra dance, the
waltz and one or two kinds of jigs; and the music, a guitar, and sometimes two, until the arrival of a Mexican who could scratch on the fiddle enough provincial music to dance by. The fandangoes continued to flourish long after immigration began to pour in."
"As the time passed on, in the early '50s here, the California girls began to adopt Amer- ican methods, especially in balls, and soon be- came adepts in the steps and movements of the new dances mentioned, and were exceed- ing graceful. It is needless to say that los Gringos were not slow in availing themselves of that terpsichorean circumstance; and to in- duce the girls to go to a ball they notified them beforehand that carriages or hacks would be sent for them. So, during the earliest pe- riod, no black-eyed senorita ever went to or from an American ball on foot, but when wo- men began to be plentiful the cavalier car- riages became obsolete.
"It is worthy of remark that at an American ball at that time harmony, good will and the utmost decorum prevailed. Everybody stood on a perfect equality while in the ballroom, and to my certain knowledge there were no invidious distinctions, either expressed or im- plied. An American ball always had the ap- petizing adjunct of a bountiful supper. The music that set "the light fantastic toe" a-going consisted of a fiddle-a fiddle, mark you, not a violin-and later on with a flute accompani- ment. San Jose had not yet risen to the dig- nity of possessing a regular orchestra, but withal an American terpsichorean function was a pleasurable affair to attend.
'This decade was perhaps the most impor- tant in the social history of San Jose, for about this time families-men and women of sterling worth and possessing all the accomplishments necessary to the formation of a solid founda- tion on which to build society-settled in this valley.
"Before this time, however, Mr. and Mrs. James F. Reed, parents of Mrs. John Murphy and Mrs. Mattie Lewis, had arrived here. The Reed home was always the scene of social gatherings, and at one of their large dinner parties it is said that Mrs. Reed paid sixteen dollars apiece for turkeys, and bought all that were to be had.
"During the meeting of the first Legislature 'every house was an inn where all were wel- comed and feasted,' and all through the ses- sion not an evening passed without a large party at some home. Of course, the big ball at the close was the event in San Jose's his- tory. No wonder many belles and beaux of that time still preserve with care and look with pleasure at the white satin invitation which reads :
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"'Washington Birth-Night Ball -- Your com- pany is respectfully solicited at a Ball, to be given at the Capitol, on the evening of the 22d instant, at 712 o'clock p. m., being the 118th Anniversary of the Father of Our Coun- try,' and which was signed by the following committee : Hon. John McDougal, Mr. Bass- ham, Mr. Bidwell, Mr. Broderick, Mr. Cham- berlin, Mr. Crosby, Mr. De la Guerra, Mr. Douglass, Mr. Green, Mr. Hope, Mr. Lippin- cott, Mr. Heydenfeldt, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Val- lejo, Mr. Vermeule, Mr. Woodworth, Mr. Aram, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Bigler, Mr. Brackett, Mr. Bradford, Mr. Brown, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Corey, Mr. Corvarubias, Mr. Craner, Mr. Crit- tenden, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Williams, Hon. Mr. Gray, Hon. Mr. Heath, Hon. Mr. Hughes, Mr. Mckinstry, Mr. Morehead, Mr. Tingley, Mr. Tefft, Mr. Stowel, Mr. Stephens, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Scott, Mr. Perlee, Mr. Moore, Mr. Patter- son, Mr. Randolph, Mr. Ogier, Mr. Walthall, Mr. Watson, Mr. Witherby, Mr. Roman, Mr. Henley, Mr. Houston, G. F. Wymans, Ben Van Scoten, Van Voorhies, Nat. Bennett, H. A. Lyons, F. B. Clement, Chas. White, Col. Jack Hays, Major Ben McCulloch, Major Mike Chevallie, Major James Graham, Gen. Don An- dreas Pico, Antonio M. Pico, Antonio Sunol, John M. Murphy, John Reed, W. H. Eddy, J. D. Hoppe, J. F. Howe, Capt. W. G. Marcy, E. Covington, W. B. Olds, A. W. Luckett, Bela Dexter, Peter Davidson, J. M. Jones, A. Coin- dreau, H. H. Robinson, W. R. Turner, E. H. Sharp, E. Byrne, Caius Ryland. E. Dickey, A. D. Ohr, Fred H. Sandford, F. Lightston. Among the beauties and belles on that mem- orable night were Mrs. John Murphy, Miss Rea Burnett, now Mrs. Wallace: Miss Letitia Burnett, now Mrs. Ryland: Miss Maggie Jones, now Mrs. Josiah Belden ; Miss Laura Jones, who is Mrs. Hunt of Visalia; Miss Juanita Soto, and Miss Marcelline Pico.
"Among the beaux at this time was Norman Bestor, a civil engineer, who made his home, while here, with James F. Reed. He played on the guitar and flute, was a fine singer, and an all-around favorite. Mr. Bestor, in a letter, regrets being unable to give a satisfactory ac- count of the early social functions. He writes : 'During the first Legislature I was in San Jose ; and it was then that I surveyed the 500- acre tract adjacent to the town, belonging to Mr. Reed, and laid off as an addition. Mr. Reed named the streets himself. From 1850 to 1856 I was engaged at the New Almaden quicksilver mines and lived there. During that time I frequently drove to San Jose to attend parties. Some of the society men of the '50s were Ralph Lowe, S. O. Houghton, Drury Malone, J. H. Flickinger, Joseph H. Scull,
Henry B. Alvora, Aleck Moore, D. McDonald and Keat Bascom.'
"In these early days many houses were brought around the Horn and set up on ar- rival. One of these is that of Judge A. L. Rhodes, on the Alameda, and under this hos- pitable roof friends have delighted to gather since the days of 1855. In 1854 Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes came across the plains with a train of fifteen, with Mr. Rhodes as captain. Mrs. Rhodes told me that one evening during the journey a man called and asked if his train of ten men could join forces with them. The man was Jefferson Trimble, brother of the late John Trimble. At Humboldt River they were met by John Trimble, who guided them to this valley, where he had already settled. Miss Ware, afterwards Mrs. John Selby, came with them.
"When Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes moved to the Alameda, their nearest neighbors were Judge and Mrs. Craven P. Hester, who lived where the Clark home now stands. Charming social gatherings were held at the Hester home, and their accomplished daughters. Miss Sallie, afterwards Mrs. Maddock, and Miss Lottie, afterwards Mrs. Phelps, assisted in dispensing generous hospitality.
"Among notable families that came here in 1853 was that of Mr. and Mrs. Coleman Young- er, who arrived after a six months' trip from Missouri. Their house was brought around the Horn, and it is needless to say that as soon as it arrived, with true Southern hospitality it was thrown open and a large party given, when among the guests were: Drury Malone, Tad Robinson, all the state officers, Aleck Moore, Major and Mrs. S. J. Hensley, Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Burnett, Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Wal- lace.
"In speaking of social functions, Mrs. Younger said that in '54 she remembers spend- ing a delightful evening at the home of Don Antonio Sunol, whose hospitality was un- bounded, whose trained Indian servants were the envy of many less fortunate, and whose exquisite table linen, adorned with Spanish drawn work, was the admiration of all. The guests included Mr. and Mrs. Ryland, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace, and Mr. and Mrs. Younger. A large dancing party, given for the benefit of the Presbyterian Church when Rev. Dr. Gar- win was pastor, was among the many enjoy- able functions here. In this the moving spirits were Mrs. Crosby, Mrs. S. J. Hensley, and Miss Lois Bradley.
"Mrs. Maddock has graciously written the following reminiscences of those early times: 'In looking over a journal which I kept when a young girl, I find that almost everything of interest is jotted down. The young married ladies were Mrs. Hensley, Mrs. Belden, Mrs.
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Ryland, Mrs. Wallace, Mrs. John Murphy, Mrs. Yoell, Mrs. Lottie Thompson, Mrs. Fred Appleton, and Mrs. Gertrude Horn, mother of Mrs. Atherton of literary fame. Among the young ladies were Miss Price and her sister, Miss Bettie, now Mrs. John Moore, both noted for their beauty ; Colonel Younger's daughters, Miss Helen and Miss Fanny ; Miss Mary Smith, Miss Yontz, Miss Echols (a beautiful girl), Miss Ellen Skinner and sister, Miss Nel- lie : Miss Mattie Reed, Miss Henrie Bascom (pretty and witty). Miss Lizzie Branham, Miss C. Packwood, Miss Divine (later Mrs. Estee of San Francisco), and pretty Miss Lizzie Mil- ler, now Mrs. Mitchell and living abroad.
"'On July 17, 1858, Mrs. Hensley gave a garden party, when the grounds were lighted with lanterns and supper was served in the summer house. Among those present were : Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Belden, Mr. and Mrs. Ryland, Mr. and Mrs. John Murphy, Mr. and Mrs. Younger, Mr. and Mrs. Appleton, Mr. and Mrs. Yoell, Mrs. Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Archer, Misses Camilla and Betty Price, Miss Divine, Miss Yontz, Miss Holmes of Oregon, Fred Hale, William Matthews, Dr. Chamber- lin, Mr. McGowan, John B. Hewson, Dr. Shaw, William Lewis, Mr. Gregory, Mr. Yontz, Mr. Moultrie, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Davis.
"'On February 3, 1858, Mrs. Fred Appleton gave a fancy dress party at her home on the Alameda. Mrs. Appleton was a dark beauty and charming in manner. She was dressed as a gypsy ; Mrs. Smith as Night; Miss Yontz as Morning; Miss Packwood as Morning Star ; Miss Lily Eschols as Mary, Queen of Scots. Others present were: Misses Bascom, Divine, Thompson, Price and Hester. The gentlemen were: John B. Hewson, William R. Davis, Messrs. Lewis, Gregory, Yontz, William Mat- thews, Hall, Dr. Bell, and others. Miss Lottie Thompson was a Highland lassie and Miss Sallie Hester a flower girl.
"Then we had balls galore at the old State House on the plaza and the City Hall on Mar- ket Street. I remember a large party given by the young men of San Jose in 1865 at the City Hall. At that time others were added to the list of society people: Mrs. William Dick- inson, Mrs. Flora Burnett, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Thornberg, a beautiful woman, and others.'
"In 1858 the Young Men's Social Club was organized and the officers were: S. O. Hough- ton, W. R. Yontz, and W. A. Lewis. The members were: J. B. Hewson, James H. Gardner, George Evans, John M. Sherwood, B. F. Dewey, C. E. Cheney, A. W. Bell, Ralph Lowe, L. P. Peck, W. E. Davis, Joseph Bass- ler, John R. Yontz, John H. Gregory, Alex Beaty, S. Bassler, John Q. Pearl, A. Redman, J. H. Flickinger, John M. Murphy, P. O. Minor, Edmund McGowan, and William Mat-
thews. Below this list was W. H. Travis, teacher of dancing. Mr. Lowe has also the dance programme of the second ball of the Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Society, given at the City Hall. Friday evening, October 21, 1859. The reception committee included James F. Kennedy, John B. Hewson, W. A. Lewis, Patrick Murphy, Colonel Hollister, and Joseph R. Weller. The managers were Cary Peebles, Colonel Younger, R. G. Moody, H. C. Malone, S. J. Hensley, W. A. Bray, L. Prevost, E. S. Chipman, W. Reynolds, and W. T. Wallace. The floor managers were John M. Murphy and H. H. Winchell. The order of dances was promenade march, quadrille, schottische, ma- zurka, polka, waltz, quadrille coquette, High- land schottische, varsovienne, and quadrille march. Then supper and afterward the qua- drille, waltz, polka, schottische, mazurka, Spanish dance, 'Home, Sweet Home.'
"In the home of Adolph Pfister the guest was always sure of a cordial greeting, and din- ners were the favorite form of entertaining, the family seldom enjoying this meal without two or more guests. Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Wil- burn, who came here in the early '50s from their Missouri home, settled on the Alameda, where, with characteristic hospitality, they de- lighted to gather friends around them. Their daughter, Mrs. Givens George, speaking of those times, said: "The first party I attended here was in the '50s and was a dancing party given by Major and Mrs. Hensley. Among the belles and beaux present on that occasion, I remember Miss Sallie Hester, the Misses Price, Miss Mattie Reed, Givens George, Ned McGowan, Fred Hall, Fred Appleton, John Gregory, Jim Maxey, and Captain McKenney.'
"A large and delightful social circle, whose members did not include the votaries of the ballroom, but whose teas, church socials, mite societies and afternoon and evening gatherings were equally enjoyable, was formed by Mr. and Mrs. Donald Mackenzie, Mr. and Mrs. John Piercy, Misses Julia and Lou McCabe, the late Rev. H. C. Benson, Mrs. Benson, Mr. and Mrs. John Selby, Mr. and Mrs. T. Rea, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Flickinger, Mr. and Mrs. John Trimble, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Dr. and Mrs. Caldwell, Mr. and Mrs. William De Hare Boone, and Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Wilcox. Mrs. Piercy often told of the delightful gatherings at the home of Mrs. Mackenzie and that in those times it was the principal place where Presbyterians gathered to spend a social even- ing. About this time Rev. L. Hamilton was pastor of the Presbyterian Church and Mrs. Piercy said that one day the reverend gentle- man called at her residence on Julian Street, where a number of church people were spend- ing the afternoon, and told them of his latest exploit, that of climbing to the top of the high-
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est peak of the Coast Range Mountains, and how in honor of this feat that peak was after- wards known as Mt. Hamilton.
"The social changes in the '60s are aptly de- scribed by a lady who for years was one of San Jose's lovely and amiable girls, afterwards ranking among the charming and affable ma- trons, Mrs. S. O. Houghton, now of Los Angeles :
"'San Jose society between the years 1861- '65, had its social code and its exclusive circles, but it was not governed by iron-clad rules, nor was it hedged with formalities. Its social events were suited to the conditions of an in- telligent, sprightly, pioneer community, whose best physical and mental efforts were devoted to practical schemes and to matters of great public interest, and whose hospitable natures still kept in touch with old home customs and influences. Few of us lived in houses spacious enough to accommodate large numbers of guests, but many delightful teas and sumptu- ous dinners brought genial friends together in- formally. There were also frequent exchanges of visits among families in the evenings. Home talent provided many musical treats, and spell- ing matches for benevolent purposes afforded much amusement to large audiences.
"'All entertainments for church or charity were regarded as social events. Madame Anna Bishop and Mr. and Mrs. Marriner Campbell, of San Francisco, occasionally favored us with concerts, which always brought out the most appreciative people. Our younger members had also their horseback rides, picnics, driving and dancing parties.
"'It was not yet the custom to have these courtesies and merrymakings chronicled in the newspapers, nor were brides in those days en- riched with wedding presents. Day weddings were usually followed with dinners to relatives and intimate friends of contracting parties, and night weddings frequently ended with dances at the 'hall,' which was decorated with ever- greens for the occasion.
"'An annual ball was given by each of the following organizations: Firemen, Odd Fel- lows, Masons, and Military Companies. Arm- ory Hall was tastefully festooned for these events with evergreens, flowers and flags. The refreshments served were elaborate and the music furnished was excellent. February twenty-second, July fourth, Thanksgiving night, and New Year's eve were the dates se- lected for these brilliant reunions, which re- ceived the recognition and moral support of the best people in the community. As the membership roll of the first named organiza- tion formed largely the lists of the others, most of the husbands, brothers, and beaux ap- peared in different uniforms on each occasion.
" 'The married ladies who, as spectators and chaperons, gave tone and dignity to these fes- tal scenes, were costumed in silks, satins, and velvets, high at the neck and with long sleeves, trimmed with laces and narrow velvet ribbon. They wore white gloves and carried lace handkerchiefs and handsome fans. Their or- naments were garnet and coral "sets," or neck- laces of gold, with pendant crosses jeweled with pearls and diamonds. Brides wore their bridal robes and ornaments, and young ladies were gowned in delicate shades of tarletans, swiss, and grenadines. Many of their skirts were tucked nearly to the waist. The bodices were low at the neck and had short puffed sleeves daintily trimmed with lace and satin ribbon. They also wore white gloves, and flowers in their hair. Gold necklaces with lockets attached were their only ornaments. Dancing began as early as eight o'clock in the evening, and those who did not wish to see the peep of day went home before the programme was finished.'
"No home was more hospitable, nor none opened its doors more frequently to guests than the one presided over by Major and Mrs. W. W. McCoy, on the Alameda. Here dinners and dances were an almost every-day occur- rence. An elaborate dinner was given in honor of Hon. T. A. and Mrs. Hendricks, when the future Vice-President of the United States was touring the state in the early '60s. Mr. and Mrs. McCoy were assisted by their beautiful and accomplished daughters, Miss Nannie and Miss Fannie. The guests, besides Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks, were : Dr. and Mrs. Bascom, Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Wallace, Colonel and Mrs. Younger, Dr. Marcus Chamblin.'
"Following is a charming letter from Mrs. Fitzgerald: 'On receiving a letter asking for some brief account of some party I attended in San Jose in bygone years, my mind at once reverted to the wedding of two of Governor Burnett's children, somewhere near 1860. Miss Sallie Burnett was married to Mr. Fran- cis Poe, of Maryland. I think, and Mr. Arm- stead Burnett to Miss Flora Johnson. Miss Burnett's bridesmaids were her cousin, Miss Mollie Smith, and Miss Maggie Branham, afterwards Mrs. Ogier. I do not remember who were their groomsmen, but those of the other couple were Mr. James Johnson, uncle of the bride, and Mr. James Whitney, and the bridesmaids were Miss Lou Johnson and Miss Fannie McCoy.
"'There was a large party on the night of the wedding in Governor Burnett's old home and the elaborate supper was served in an un- finished house which Mrs. C. T. Ryland was then building in her father's yard. Next day the bridal party attended a dinner given by Dr. and Mrs. Johnson, and on the evening
-
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following Colonel and Mrs. Younger gave a large party in their honor. Other entertain- ments followed, and at the end of a week's festivities in San Jose the party, with parents and friends, went to San Francisco. There was no railroad then, and we were driven in car- riages to Alviso, where we took the boat to the city. There we attended a reception giv- en by Miss Page and had a good time general- ly for several days after. Mrs. Poe lived but six months after her marriage, and Mr. Arm- stead Burnett only a year and a half. Mr. Poe went East and was killed during the Civil War, and Mrs. Burnett, some time after the death of her husband, married Mr. Will Hes- ter. Miss Lou Johnson is now Mrs. Dick- inson, and Miss Mollie Smith married a gen- tleman of the same name. San Jose was a very pleasant place in those days. It was still early enough for the gentlemen to greatly outnumber the ladies, so beaux were abundant, and the girls made much of. There were some beautiful Spanish and Mexican girls, too, some of whose names I forget. I remember the Misses Pico and Sunol, however.'
"In writing of these times, Dr. Chamblin said that he had very pleasant recollections of his many old time friends in San Jose and of the many enjoyable social affairs he attend- ed here in the early sixties at the home of Major and Mrs. W. W. McCoy, Judge and Mrs. W. T. Wallace, Colonel and Mrs. Cole- man Younger, and several others, all of whom were noted for their southern hospitality.
"The home of Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Belden, which stood where the Hotel Vendome now is, was the scene of many balls, musicales, and dinners. Among them a sumptuous dinner, followed by a dance, was given in the sixties in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Delos Cole, who had just been married. In speaking of this a guest, who was present, said: 'A hand- somer bride it would have been hard to find than was Mrs. Cole, and no wonder she was the central figure that night at the Belden party. Her beautiful neck, shoulders, and arms and her sweet face made, indeed, a per- fect picture.'
"Mr. and Mrs. Norman Porter, and Dr. and Mrs. Knox were among the people who selected San Jose for their home, and in 1863 they settled here and soon occupied prominent places in society.
"A few years later Dr. Chas. G. Ames, a Unitarian divine, made monthly trips to Santa Cruz to deliver lectures, and at the close of the season the Unity Society sprang into ex- istence. Among the active members of the popular society, that for nearly fourteen years gave the most enjoyable entertainments ever known here were Mrs. Laura J. Watkins, Mr. and Mrs. M. Leavenworth, Mr. and Mrs. C. 7
T. Settle, Mr. and Mrs. Ashley, Mr. and Mrs. Gould, Levi Goodrich, J. J. Owen, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. G. Blaine, Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Herrmann and Mrs. Sarah J. Knox."
The historian will here interrupt Mrs. Carroll's account by relating a story in which Rev. Mr. Ames and William T. Wallace figured. Wallace was a pioneer member of the San Jose bar, and a leader in so- ciety. In the sixties he was elected Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court. Ames was not a politician and made but few speeches, but these were something out of the ordinary. He was one of the brightest men, intellectually the country has ever produced. He saved the day for the Republican party in 1872 when George C. Gorham was the lead- ing Republican orator of the state. As a de- bater Gorham had no superior on the stump, and when joint discussions were the rule he was an enemy to be feared. Late in the cam- paign a joint meeting in San Jose was ar- ranged, the speakers to be Gorham for the Republicans and Judge William T. Wallace for the Democrats. Wallace was then in his prime and one of the most eloquent and ef- fective orators on the Coast. A large stand was erected on Santa Clara street in front of the Auzerais House and an immense crowd, comprising people from all parts of the coun- ty was in attendance when the hour of discussion arrived. At the last moment con- sternation reigned in the rooms of the Repub- lican County Central Committee. Gorham had missed his train and could not be present. Without him the meeting would be a Demo- cratic walkover and the Republican party of Santa Clara County would receive a blow that would be felt for years.
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