Tag: William Henry Drummond

At Home Friday Evening

Published on by Isabella Alden2 Comments

Busy Isabella! Even after her husband retired from the ministry and Isabella retired from teaching, they both remained active in the Presbyterian church.

They moved to Palo Alto, California (you can read more about their new home here) and quickly joined their local congregation.

And since Isabella was a long-time member of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, she also joined that organization’s local chapter.

Black and white photograph from 1910 of women, men , and one little girl posing outdoors for photograph. Five women are seated; two of whom hold a banner that reads "W. C. T. U." Behind them stand eight men and women. The little girl sits on the ground in front and also holds a small banner that reads "WCTU."
Woman’s Christian Temperance Union chapter members about 1910

On Friday, November 20, 1908 Isabella hosted an “At Home” for her fellow W.C.T.U. members.

The event was a new spin on an old point of etiquette. For generations society ladies typically designated one afternoon a week where they were “at home” to receive callers.

Illustration from about 1908 of two ladies dressed in bonnets and gloves with parasols seated in a parlor, conversing with a third woman in a gown from the same period.
Paying Calls.

Some ladies even had cards printed up which they handed out to acquaintances or left at the homes of other women to let them know what day they were invited to call.

A printed card (about the size of a modern business card) that reads: At Home Thursdays, May eleventh and eighteenth, from three until six and from eight until ten, 38 Sumner Street, Dorchester.
An undated “At Home” card. Credit: Boston Public Library.

For this event Isabella did the same thing, but instead of inviting people to drop by for an hour or so of conversation, she devised an entire program of meaningful entertainment that lasted well into the evening hours.

There were vocal solos and talks by ministers on the subject of temperance. Isabella’s son Raymond read a selection of popular poems by William Henry Drummond.

Side by side black and white photographs of Raymond Alden and William Henry Drummond

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Isabella gave a talk, and several of the San Francisco Bay area’s leading citizens and ministers also provided entertainment and food for thought.

Illustration of a white, four-layer cake with white icing on a plate with one slice removed. On a smaller plate is the slice. Both plates rest on a white embroidered doily on a dark-colored table top.

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After the program, Isabella served “dainty refreshments.”

Illustration of various desserts on plates on a table, including a slice of cake with strawberries on top, a square piece of cake with whipped cream and fruit, and a molded gelatin with slices of pineapple and cherries arranged on the surface.

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And it was all reported the following week in one of the local newspapers:

Newspaper article: The Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Palo Alto gave an At Home Friday evening at the residence of Mrs. R. G. Alden, 425 Embarcadero road, the guests of honor being the pastors of the city, the School Trustees and teachers. An interesting program was given as follows: Irish selections, Miss Ruth Lakin; vocal solo, Miss Adele Gilbert; Drummond's poems, Professor R. M. Alden; poem of Robert Burns, Rev. Mr. Moody; and talks by Mrs. Alden, J. C. Templeton, Mrs. E. G. Greene, W. E. Vail, and Rev. H. W. Davis. Mrs. J. C. Templeton presided. Dainty refreshments were served late in the evening.
San Jose Mercury News, November 23, 1908.

Busy Isabella certainly knew how to throw a party, didn’t she?

Does Isabella’s “At Home” sound like something you’d like to attend?

Which part of the evening entertainment do you think you would enjoy the most?