ON last evening the beautifully decorated parlors of Mrs. E. S. Davis on Orange street, were filled to overflowing with musical people and others, exclusively the Christian Scientist friends of Mr. and Mrs. George Ellsworth Holmes, Chicago. Among those who contributed to the songs of the evening were Mr. Holmes, Mr. and Mrs. Priestley Hall, Mrs. Monroe, F. W. Richardson and Mr. and Mrs. R. H. French, with Mrs. Lucy Loud as pianist. The occasion was in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Holmes, Christian Scientists, who have been visiting Riverside temporarily for a short time, and who will leave in a few days for their home in the East, whence they soon depart for Europe, where Mr. Holmes expects to spend some years in his profession in which he has attained an eminence as soloist rarely equaled and not excelled by any singer in this country. The evening's entertainment was beautifully and fittingly closed by the unexpected presentation of a beautifully bound volume of Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures. The presentation was made in the following words by Dr. A. A. Suleer, briefly and feelingly responded to by Mr. Holmes:—
"Strange we never prize the music
Till the sweet-voiced bird has flown;
Strange that we should slight the violets
Till the lovely flowers are gone."
"This sentiment has doubtless at some time echoed through almost every human heart; and in each of our individual experiences there is some lingering regret which we long to express, but there is no ear to listen. So now, at the close of this evening's pleasant entertainment, and upon the eve of Mr. Holmes' departure for scenes in other lands and under other skies, I desire, on behalf of his many Scientist friends of Riverside, to express, in some measure at least their sincere thanks for the beautiful songs he has so generously, so kindly and so grandly sung for them during his brief sojourn among us. And in testimony of their high appreciation of him and his fearless defense of the Truth, I have the honor, also in behalf of his friends, to present him with this little book, which has been sent to the world to break the darkness and point humanity toward the dawn. It matters not where you may chance to open its pages it is like opening the petals of a rose, whence sweet fragrance is emitted. But it needs no eulogy, no introduction from me, for the little book is none other than Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker G. Eddy. And this presentation is made with the fond hope and belief, that the little guiding orb of truth, after having lighted our brother's pathway successfully through foreign lands may give him safe conduct back to kith and kin, and native home, under our best loved American skies, and some day we trust to the fragrant groves of lovely Riverside."— Riverside (Cal.), Daily Press
