The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-12-29

ANV OA08A ASAAA0s 0Wssx - 800 oU0A -
which nged Sunday night, the wires ars
not in working coalition, and ~ are
therefore without report this morning.
COMHODORe vANDEnDnLr,s 1or..
DEN WBDD1N0s
fFron ne New Yerk Tnbsns, Dee. sotAl
On Saturday evening Commodore Van.
derbilt's golden wedding was celebnted
at his residence, No. 10 Washington
place, and never, it is safe to say, has m
occasion Of tie kind come of more salts.
factorily. This distinguished couple were
married in 1913, when the gentleman was
sged nineteen and the lady . year younger.
A family of thirteen children have blessed
their union, twelve of whom are now liv-
ing TO rejoin in the fftieth anniversary
of their parents Wedding day.
Since that quiet marriage day, when
this happy couple commenced life with
nothing but youth. singular personal
beauty, mutual affection and indomitabls
energy as their portion, they have had
career of success almost unparalleled
Slowly at first, but afterward with signal
ability, they have attained reputation,
wealth, and that power which wealth and
wonderful energy combined, have render
ed second to that of no private citizen in
our country; and in all this time God has
SO blessed them in their home that death
has taken but one child from their hearth
stone. Three sons and nine daughters,
eight sons-in- law and two daughters-in-
law, thirtytwo grand. children and two
great-grand-children were almost all pre-
sent at this Golden Wedding. Beside
these, Jacob H. Vanderbilt, ESQ., broth
er Of the Commodore, was present, and
three younger sisters, with whole bevy
of nieces and nephews on both sides,
which nearly filled the spacious home
stead with splendid company, each of
whom was akin to the Others. Beyond
these. very few invited guests we're pres.
ent; among them, Mrs. Christopher Colt
and a very lovely young daughter, Of
Hartford, 1pnnecticut, with one or two
old friends of the family living in this
city.
AT seven o'clock P. N. the guests were
assembled, and passed out from the dress
ing-rooms into a spacious chamber, in
which all the bridal presents were depos.
tied. There profusion of bracelets,
portemonnaies, gold plate, exquisiteIy
carved chess-men, superbly bound Bibles,
brooches, and feminine ornaments of
every kind, made the whole table one
blaze of gold.
The Commodore's princely gift TO his
matron bride occupied the centre of the
table. II was a miniature propeller of
pure gold, fashioned after the Roanoke.
and manufactured in Europe expressly
for this occasion. 1t is twenty inches
long and Eve wide, with exauisi,elv
wrought revolving towers. which filed
the room with fairy music whenever the
delicate machinery was set 10 motion.
Near this grand ceutre gift was a su-
perb dressing case mounted with gold
and lined with purple. All its contents
were of pure gold, engraved with the
family cypher. This noble present was
the gift of VIM. H. Vanderbilt, the eldest
son to his parents.
Next to this was a portmonuaie and
card-cass of gold most beautifully en-
graved, to which was attached a massive
gold chain, the present of Cornelius Van.
derbilt, jr., the second son to his mother
Close BY the dressing case, lying on it's
cushion of glowing velvet, was another
object of peculiar interest, present from
one of the daughters. 1t was a superb
bracelet, which contained the mineature
likeness of Captain George Vanderbilt Of
the United States Army, the Youngest and
only unmarried son. The absence of this
young gentleman from the family festival
rendered imperative by illness, was the
only shadow Of gloom cast upon it.
After viewing these golden presents
devoted to the matron bride, collection
of gold-headed canes, driving whine
mounted in some costly manner. and 9th.
er articles fit for masculine use-all offer.
llngs Of affection to the Commodore-un.
derwent inspection, when the guests de.
scended TO the drawing rooms,
There the scene was beautiful. In ona
room the chandeliers threw food Of lioht
on the superb carpets and golden damssk
OF the furniture. A marble bnst of ~.
Commodore stood in one corner. and an
exquisite statue of Tells son OCCUPIED
place opposite Close by this statue stood
a marble table, almost completely covered
by broad plateau of the most FRAGRANT
flowers. In the center was a white altar
OF Japonicas, set in perfect mass of
heiiotrope. Arching each end of the cen.
ter design was circle absolutely embroid.
cred with tiny flowers, which formed the
words Golden Wedding" and beyond |
that was a border of the most fragrant
blossoms that could be brought together
which filed the drawing.rooms with Their
delicious perfume. Baskets and vases IF
howers were scattered thickly over eyerv
table and unoccupied space in the two
rooms. The bankruptcies were aelov
with them, and every breath of air v.s
laden with their sweetness.
From this room you looked into .notb
er, where the azure hue of the furnitnre
harmonIzed beautifully with the objects
Just described, in which the bust Of Mrs.
Vanderbilt. by Hart, was a prominent.
object. Beyond that again, Won oh,.;nsS
gllmpses ofs pretty boudoir, from vh;ch
m ~ Al