Logan County KS Archives News....."Surprised!" {birthday party for Mrs. W. R. BENHAM} December 8, 1887 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Cic. Stetter TimeTraveler303@aol.com February 17, 2008, 8:32 pm The Winona Clipper, Winona, Kansas; December 8, 1887 December 8, 1887 SURPRISED! Monday evening: according to preconcerted arrangements, the many friends of Mrs. W. R. BENHAM assembled at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. BENHAM in large numbers until the little house was uncomfortably packed with friends of the family who came there to surprise Mrs. BENHAM, it being her 61st birthday. By previous arrangements, the pleasant old lady had been coyed away to a neighbors house in the country to spend the early part of the evening and it was arranged for her to return home about 8 o'clock. Everything worked charmingly and an elegant hanging lamp had been suspended from the ceiling and lighted, a present from the guests, besides a beautiful plush photograph album, a present from the husband, adorned the center table. There were other little presents of which your reporter did not learn the doners (sic) name which we will not mention. As the hour of eight o'clock approached, the guests, all feeling very guilty in perpetrating such a joke on the mistress of the house, besides the guilt of taking absolute possession of her home during her absence, tearing down the beds and taking them out of the way and such like, awaited in the sitting room with abated breath, the arrival of Mrs. BENHAM, who unknowingly did not disappoint the crowd and to describe her surprise upon entering the house would be impossible. She was completely overcome and she ran around shaking hands first with this one and that one as though she were but sixteen instead of sixty-one. She admitted she was somewhat excited and that the affair was a complete surprise. After this some of the thoughtful lady friends, it was evident, had come prepared, and presently the cake, peaches and apples began to be distributed to the guests, and then the company assembled in groups and knots and passed a pleasant evening, some in conversation, some around the table at whist and some in an adjoining room playing blind man's buff. Along towards 11 o'clock the crowd gradually began growing smaller and guests taking their leave who all expressed themselves having an enjoyable time and wishing Mrs. BENHAM many birth days and surprise parties. ________________ Source: The Winona CLIPPER, Winona, Logan County, Kansas; Thursday, December 8, 1887; Volume 1 No. 2, page 1 column 4. Microfilm available at Oakley Public Library (Logan County, Kansas); filmed by/for Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka, Kansas. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/logan/newspapers/surprise323nw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ksfiles/ File size: 3.1 Kb