The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-11-16
aaahrille Mniun.
WIZ. CAMERON 8 CO., Puhlisherr.
THURsDAY. NOvEMBER ls. lsss.


y
E0rshippers a. that OF Hymen, who /
crowned with roses, and hOnOred with spark
ling libations by both young men ans
maidens. No chapters Of the Holy Scrip
d lures seem invested with such beauty q
those which tell Of the nuptials Of Rache
and Jacob, who served 1viee seven veaFi
that he might wed his true love; Of Ruth
the pure heroine ofthe most charming pa,
taral song u the ORIENT; Of Isaac, whe
walked forth at eyen-tide and met his
beautiful Rebecca. Even Moore, the bril-
liant but tickle amatOry bard, in 3 sober
moment pr0nOunce5 it a bliss beyond all that
, the minstrel hath told:
When Two that are linked in o1e heavenly tie.
with orogs never changing aad hears sever
Love on al through lls and love OF IN they die -
It's net often that the silken marriage.
tie, gathering strength day by day, be-
comes, BY the magic touch Of half q CEN
tury, transmitted into pure gold. Few
couples live through ifty years Of msrried
life TO see what is politically called the
GOLDEN WEDDING. The custom of eelebra-
ting this anniversary is Of German origin,
aud such occasions are observed by that
slngulsrly practical, poetic and romantic
people with great ceremony.
golden wedding was celebrated yester-
day evening by Col Robert H. McEEen and
4 10
and most esteemed citizens, at their resi-
deuce on Spruce street. A large family con-
nection, and great eOncourse of their
friends, young and old, shared in the festiv-
ties Of the evening, and made il most Joy
tul and happy occasion. Asthis is probably
the first golden wedding which has ever
been celebrated in this place, our readers
Will read brief sketch of the venerable
parties and the occasion with interest:
Col. Robert H. McEWen was born in Wash
ingtOn county, East Tennessee, near Jones'
boro. His father was a Firginian, and a
surgeon in the Army Of the Revolution. Az
Ter merchandising for seven years in Kings
ton, IN 1918 he served as Regimenial Quar-
ternaster Of Col. John Browns regiment,
and was present a. the famous battle Of the
Horse Shoe, on the 9th Of March, 1914.
After the war he removed to Fayetteville,
where he married Miss Hettie NJ. Kennedy,
Of Lincoln county, November IA, 1915 With
her he celebrated his golden wedding yes
| terday evening. Aft5r merchandising for
| lev years, he was elected Superintendent cf
Common Schools, and since that time has
esrried on one Of the largest collecting agen-
cies in the city.
For thirty-iye years be has acted as one
Of the elders in the First Presbyterian
| church Of this place, commencing his Office
under Rev. ObRdish Jennings, whose sshes
have for many years been reposing in the |
old city cemetery, along with multiudes of
Col. McEwen's early associates.
Mrs. BETTE McEWen was born in David |
son county in 1895. She was the daughter |
Of Robert and Esther Kennedy, a worthy |
Scotch Irish couple, from whom she inhef- |
tied more than ordinary share Of that /
trmness snd moral courage for which that |
remarkable people are noted. The national |
flag which waved solitary, yet dauntless /
and defiant as some lonely eagle, over her /
chamber during the reign OF rebellion in |
Nashville, has already won a national repu-
tation and been celebrated in song. Il was /
not in the spirit Of bravado that the starry /
banner was thus chung on the outer WALL
when the mad cry Of rebellion ragged /
throughout the city but it was in a heroic
devotion TO principle and a solemn sense Of
duty, which JOhn Knox himself would
have been proud 10 own.
The old homes ead-a plain, but spacious
and subslant al mansion-was Yesterday
thronged with e large connection children
and grandchildren were there, and brought
back TO memory msny an hour Of JOY aud
of sorrow, Of pleasure, and Of pain, whose
shadowy fpecireB came forth from the
tomb Of a departed half-century, like the
recollection Of vivid vision Of the night
The youthful merry making, the social
gathering, the meeting and the parting,
the trysting hour and the marriage festival,
and scenes of sill great solemnity-all
h0vered like winged spirits around the walls
Of that old family mansion. One was re-
minded Of Longfeilow's exquisite lines:
From that chamber arrayed in white
IN bfide stepped forth on her wedding night
There, In thaI silent room below
The deal lay 10 bis shr0ud of snow,
Aud nthe bush that allowed the PRAYER
Was heard the Old clock on the stair,
FO ever never,
ReYer-ioreFer.
There groups Of merry children played,
There youths and maidens dreaming strAyed
o precious hoursi golden prime,
And affiuence Of Love and Time
Even ~ the miser counts his rold,
Those hours the anceut time-pieee told
These were the sacred associations and
memories Of the household within whose
precincts the strangers foot may not irreve-
rently intrude Without what wonderful
changes bad been wrought within the de-
parted half century When our venerable
friends settled in Nashville, its population | !
wss scarcely four Thousand souls, and what
is now a teeIniDg city was a nero village
street A few years prior to that time the !
noted DR.. Samuel Doak, the step-father Of
Col McEwen, founder Of Washington Col
leRe, in East Ieni s3see, and its President
for forty years, used 10 preach in his log i
church, with his rifle at his side ready for {
use, for Indians were numerous and dis !
posed 70 keep up a war Of races. The Doc /
tor was q fine shot, and probably killed as
many Indians as he converted, although he
was pious, able and acceptable preacher.
Since those days Of the pioneers, HashVilie I
has built one Of the most costly and elegant '
State Houses in the Union, shook ike a {
volcano with the throes Of q gigantic re- !
bellion, aud has grown to q city Of forty !
people.
THE WEDDING GUESTS
Began to assemble early in the evening, the
cards Of invitation being from six O'Clock J
til twelve. At seven over three hundred
persons had arrived-gray haired seniors
and venerable matrons, gallant gentlemen /
and danes OF queen presence, and so en-
through all ages, down T. the merry grand
children who scampered hither and thither !
amid the brillisnt current; delighted az the .
uDWonted merrimeut. The beauty Of the .
city snd surrounding country, and that Of ,,
several neighbOring towns, wss present, :
with dazzling representation in graceful
and elegant costume. The Feast OF Roses, !
recorded in Lslla Rookh, did not sParfls
with brighter efiulgence. II We had some ,
kind Demorest at our elbow, We would ike
10 write Of
isThe sasn-velysts. MORE antiques, and laces sad
illusions,
like al t1e IasnhoWa since tle uoodI cruehed % Y
One grand confusion. G
The bright throng ell repaired % give
their heartfelt congratulatlons 20 the bridal !
couple who were " the observed OF all OBJ !
servers" The bride, whom Heaven hsa
favored with an elasticity aid health which 1
many Of her Juniors might envy, was rooed
In rich and elegant white satlnS trimmed \
~ I
rith : wreath Of orange blossoms adorned 2
her brow. The bridegroom, a noble repre-
sentative Of the "fne old gentleman Of the
,I3ep time" welcomed his friends with his
accustomed gsnisl greeting. Il was the
Golden Wedding Of tW0 spirits whom the
6erv trials Of hity years has made geld
.hrics-refned. A s1mpruous supper wss
spr I'd for the guests, who honored the mar
80 feast with al possible attention. Dur ?
M The evening the fine military bsnds Of =
Colonel Iunis' regiment performed mum I
ber Of appropriate airs IN exqaiaite style
vi inar5ropfiate VS. the familiar SIR which =
: ne touching song q the Scottish bard;
srohn Audeaso1, ny %, Jehn,
Wacfrnl "a the hiI tlEeihar,
g srf many cheerfll day. John,
we've had zith ore alotter- q
No. ~ nsust tofter doEn, John, a
Ruf had DO haad vel 81,
And sleep together 90 ne ioot,
John Andersons my lo-
A very agreeable feature Of the festival
~ : nt,7, Der 81 5eautiiul presents, sent in
bv relatives and friends- We ieil the scene
Il late hour, wishing cur venerable friends I.
! saecsssiau Of golden dsys 70 the eiose q
49, usrf,il. bonarahle snd Well-spsnt lives,
lad = colder wedding - al who were pres !
mt At the festival. a
Tn. widow Of q eclebrntsd musician had .
.uscribea npon bis monuments "He has
-ope s-here his music ean only be excellsd-'' .
fhs widow Of = pyrotechnist aaE this, and 1