Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-09-04

Mr.. AND MRS. TwIcHELL's SILVER We'd
DING.-A number of the friends of Hon. Ginery
Twichell and wife decided to surprise them on
the twenty-tifth anniversary of their marriage.
Gov. ClaAin taking the lead, a note was sent to
them, accompanied by valuable testimonials OF
the friendship of hosts of warm friends. The
surprise was more complete and unique from
the fact that this friend only appeared by letter.
Mr.. and Mrs. Twichell count among their
friends very many persons in this vicinity who
know that no silver wedding gifts were ever
more worthily disposed. The following is a
copy of the letter which was signed by the
friendly givers:-
To the Hon. Gineru TioicheU-Sir: There are
periods in the life of every man, the recurrence
of which is calculated 70 awaken anew his own
sensibilities and to excite the interest and SYM
patty of his friends. Among these none are
marked with deeper interest than the day of his
birth and that of his marriage. The purposes
of the one for usefulness and honor are well
nigh incomplete without the aid of the other;
and when, as in your case, they are coincident
they have a double claim TO the congratulations
and good wishes of friends, if they are assured,
as we have been, that the duties of a citizen, as
well as of a husband and father have been
faithfully performed. To yourself, and TO her
WHO IOT twenty-five years HdS oudIcu Win lOu
the varied experiences of busy life, cheering
you in its difficulties and counselng you in its
needs, we beg to make this interesting anniver-
sary an occasion for rendering our cordial SYM
pathies, while we ask you to accept the some
what more substantial token which we here
with offer of our high personal regards as friends
and fellow citiZens.
We have all watched with generous and CRATE
full pride your progress in achieving honorable
distinction. For in it we have seen an iluStra-
tion of the excellence of the institutions under
which we live, and the rewards they hold out
to honorable purpose and earnest cndeavor. In
the light of these the interest associated with
ones birth in the capacity which is thereby
| promised of future usefulness and honor, and
not the circumstance of place or the names or
| titles by which his parentaSe may be distin-
guished. Under providence it becomes the OPP
portunity for attaining independent of these,
the true dignity of complete manhood.
Those of us who, by early associations. are
reminded with how little beyond that opportu-
nifty you were favored in starting in career
which has been marked with signal success,
there is an added pleasure in joining with those
who, with briefer acquaintance, desire to ex-
| press their appreciation of the claims you have
| upon the confidence and respect of your fellow
| citizens.
| In recognizing these the public have vindica-
ted their capacity for sell-government, and gives
us new assurance that honesty, intelligence
| ana IQellY are among the QUALITIES 10 uc SOUGHT
for in the selection OfthOse who are to represent
them in the administration of the affairs of the
| government.
With renewed assurances of respect and es-
| teen, and Of our best wishes for your future
| prosperity and success, we subscribe ourselves
| your friends and obedient servants.
(Signed) WILLIAM CLAFLIN and others.
| BosToN, Aug. 26, 1871.
This drew the following response from Mr..
and Mrs. Twichell
To our valued friends, William Clahn and
Others
While sitting quietly in our home this morn
ing, rejecting and cOnversing on the twenty
fifth anniversary of our married life, on its lows
| and SORROWS, the changes in our family, and the
| great public events which have marked this
| lapse of time, we were surprised by the arrival
of Howard clock, in a case of fine proportions
| and workmanship; before this could be placed
| in position TO remind us, by every motion of
its pendulum, of the friends from whom it
| came, we were again surprised by the arrival of
box bearing the marks, "FrOm Gov. Wash
| burn and other friends" on opening we found
it contained a service of silver, consisting of a
pitcher and salver with two gOblets, wrought
| with admirable skill into beautiful works of art,
| together with four dozen spoons and dozen
of forks, made by Bigelow, Kennard & Co., of
| pure silver, and neatly marked 1886 Aug. %,
| 1871" Nor was this all. Six hundred and
| sixty-nine dollars in money, including one hun
| dred shining silver pieces, stamped with the date
of this anniversary, and accompanied by a
beautiful volume containing the letter and auto
graphs, which have for us value far above sill
yer and gold.
What have we done that you should load us
| with obligations we can never repay? IT'S true,
| this is my siXtieth anniversary of my birthday,
| and we have been married twenty-five years
without quarreling with each other or our neigh.
bors.
Silver weddings, we know, often bring friend.
| ly expressions and gifts, but in our case we had
flor domestic reasOns) decided to keep the occa.
sion profound secret; how it was known out
side of our immediate family does not appear
This fact makes these valuable testimonials the
more precious and significant. Your kind and
voluntary expression of regard sinks SO deer
into our hearts that we cannot command appro
pirate words to express our own grateful
pleasure.
Among the names Of the donors we find old
and valued friends of earlier days, together
with those of later years; the letter and auto
graphs will be proud memento for our chi!
dren.
For all these hattering tokens of friendship
please accept the sincere and earnest thanks OF
your grateful and happy friends.
MIR. and Mrs G. TwICHEIL
BROOKIINF Aup 9R 1871