After congratulations a programme was given followed by a banquet. Many happy speeches of compliment were made and I gave them in return a short sketch of my musical life. At the close of the recital we reluctantly separated after greatly enjoying the unusual opportunity of celebrating two golden jubilees of one life on the same day. Words are inadequate to express my gratitude to all who were factors in making this one of the greatest days I ever experienced. It seemed that everybody was a friend. The newspapers vied with each other in their write-ups of the occasion. The _Call_, _Tribune_, _Chronicle_, _Enquirer_, _Saturday Night_, _Berkeley Gazette_, _Santa Cruz Surf_, _Examiner_, _Benicia Era_, the Stockton and Sacramento papers all ran full articles and pictures in my honor. At this late day I tender my sincere thanks for favors and kindly criticisms, from time immemorial. [Illustration: Pen sketch of Mrs. Blake-Alverson by Richard Partington, made on the occasion of the semi-centenary of her career as a public singer, June 12, 1896. Mrs. Alverson at this time was sixty years of age.] CHAPTER TWELVE CAMILLA URSO'S FESTIVAL, 1873. MADAME ANNA BISHOP. THE LORING CLUB. ALFRED WILKIE, FRANK GILDER, D.P. HUGHES One of the most difficult tasks in writing my memoirs is the choice of the most important happenings in a busy life. There are so many things to speak of it is hard to know where to begin. I cannot begin with a more appropriate event than the Fourth of July celebration which took place in 1869, with William Seward, Secretary of State, in one of the boxes of the California theater. Alex Austin, Esq., was president of the day and called the assemblage to order. The programme was as follows: Prayer by Rev. H.D. Lathrop. Music by the orchestra. Reading of the Declaration of Independence by Lawrence Barrett, Esq. God Bless our Glorious Land (written for the Fourth of July, 1869, by our friend Sam Booth). Full chorus, George T. Evans, leader. Poem by R.C. Hopkins, Esq., read by John McCulloch, Esq. Music, orchestra. Vocal music, Gloria in Excelsis, Mozart. Oration by Henry E. Highton, Esq. Song, Star Spangled Banner. Full chorus from the Handel and Haydn Society and quartette composed of Mrs. S.D. Mayer, soprano; Mrs. M.R. Blake, contralto; Mr. S.D. Mayer, tenor; Walter C. Campbell, bass. Music, orchestra. In 1868 we were visited by the Lyster Opera company from Australia, which gave a season of ten operas at the old Metropolitan Theater on Montgomery street. They brought with them a goodly company of artists. Henry Squires, _tenor_ W.F. Baker, _tenor_ Armes Beaumont, _tenor_ Lucy Escott, _soprano_ Geraldine Warden, _mezzo-soprano_ Mrs. Ada King, _contralto_ Mr. Sutcliff, _baritone_ LOCAL SINGERS Sig. Roncovieri, _tenor_ Mr. Nathanson, _bass_ Mrs. M.R. Blake, _contralto_ Mrs. Cameron, _soprano_