New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-23
A SILVER WEDDING.
THE PRESIDENTS FETE DAY.

AND THEIR EDUCATION
lFRon THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT TRIBUSE.l
LONG BRANCH, Aug. 22.-Twenty-five years
ago to-day lat O'Clock the evening IN the City of St.
Louis, Capt ulysses 3. Grant was married 10 julia
Boggs Dent--rO cards Tonight tAey celebrated in
quiet, becoming manner the silver anniversary Of that
happy eyent-no cards. The sensitive deli
sacy OF tne nanny and the especial distaste
u Mrs. Grant for pabIic comment and remark,
prevented the family from celebrating the they
would have been clad do had they been in private
life There WERE therefore, formal invita-
ton issued and the often xpresseo desire OF the
President that no presents should be offered him ca this
occasion. The Presidents cottage therefore tonight
opened lite doors TO very few those whose are
daily on the fashionable drive by the ocean 1t was
ct first decioed that the occasion should be
commemorated in party TO which many hundred
were to be invited, but a variety of reasons
prevented The affection OF the President in the
loss OF his ther was the principal for changing
the arrangement and the fact OF the serious anx
ious Illness OF mrs Grants sather made the change APP
propriate ana becoming The family also naturally
shrank from an ostenatous celebration Of the anniyer
sary and 40 the observance of the anetest carae
The President and his daughter and two sons re-
turned about noon to-day from their faguipg Journey
through the Eastern Mountains trip Mrs. Grant was
unable to ake or account OF her being required
with her father The President, however, although
much fatlgued ana worn by his fortnights peasuring
was in excellent spirits tonight and received the con.
gratulations and compliments o. those present with
unusual good nature aud zest
There we're few present who recalled the day OF the
wedding, Is years ago-a day bright with Sunshine
when simple Capt Grant was married to plain Julia
Dent. Not one Of the large company present at the
marriage but thought that the life OF the former would
be nothing bat the lazy. indolent,.. Pleading
existence OF regular army officer in
time Of peace, and that the latter would be
nothing but the amiabe. unpretending, frugal, and
simplehearted helpmeet Of IA poor and obscure man.
Mrs Grant, even as girl, known for her strong
character. lhaye IL from Of her schoOlmates that
when she girl she was very shrinking and Diff
dent away from her fathers roof, and that she
appreciated at her worth until acqUantanceship had
rpened into friendship She only appreciated by
those who knew her well.
The arsJ meeting Of the young couple, who this
moment ripe in middle age looking back period
OF twenty-five years OF happy married hfe-a life
checkercd by yicissitudcs than ordinarily fall 10
the lot OF man. life of poverty and wealth, Of the
lowest obscurity aud the highest fame but throughout
life sof domestic happiness-the first meeting OF
these two was at the house Of Col o'Tallon,
in St. Louis, where Miss Dent was guest.
The introduction was made by Mr.. Hazlett,
a classmate OF Grant, both OF whom at that time
leuenants in the army The rest is the old story
that married people always tell Gen. Grant, after his
graduation, ordered to Jefferson Barracks then
several miles outside of St. Louis and but three miles
The farm was very large. the house, my informant
expressed It, "was full Of rooms" being large
and capaeious, and there was always in
those old days OF Slavery an army of
servants about the house. 1t the most hOsptable
place in the whole country around and was never with
ont guests Mr.. Dent in aluont circumstance, for
in those years it not needed that should be
worth from to a hundred millions in order to be
rich. HIS wife liked company and was Of the
old order of hou5ekeepers, who knew what
was going on, and had plenty Of leisure There
was a troop OF young men and young girls, sons and
daughters, and it was known everywhere that White
Haven Farm was a good place to goto. Lieut. Grant
was frequent visitor, for he was always welcome on
account Of his intimacy with Fred Dent his classmate
who is now the LeuenantColone OF the 4th Artillery
stationed at NewLOndon The latter was never ordered
10 Fort Jefferson and never met Grant from the
time Of their graduation until after his marriage. al
though their close friendship has never been broken
The betTothal OF tle young couple, about whom TINS
hSspabie ~ nahsn &C whte Haven farm
which. by tho way, now belongs 10 Gen. Grant,
rev the whole extent OF which is about thousand
acres Soon the engagement, the young officer Of
infantry ordered TO NatcMtoches La TIE Mexican
war during which Grant his epaulets as Captain.
soon followed and it did not possible for the young
cCupir be married until lsis-ye years Of engage
ment "a lesson OF constancy rarely taught.
The marriage occurred AT Mr. Dents city residence on
Four,hst ST. Louis at about o'clock In the evening
The house commodiOus for those days, and was
filled 10 overlooking with guests who represented the
best people in St. Louis Tde ceremony performed
by the Rev. Dr. Linn, Methodist The groonen were
Cadmus Wilcox, army officer, who, by the way was
general officer IN the army ana
LOUIS. who, strangely enough also went INTO the Con
sedeTae or S now I'VE Yesrs o Tae 5rdesds
were Nellie Dent sister of tho BRIDE VINO Is now Mrs.
sharpe Of Washington, Salle Waker,a daughter OIL an
OLD army officer, and Julia Boggs' relative VI the
family. -. ~. - ,,o.o,
m sacketPs Harbor, n. Y, and it was here that
the young couple began their housekeeping. IL was
modest enough this beginning for the quarters were
furnished by the Government, and the present Mistress
of the White House. whom courtesy Gas ths FIRST Lady
keeping in Government barrdek They hyed
moiesiiy, sometimes win one servant ana ana
happy for all that for Gen. Grant has always been
domestic man. fond Of bis own enas az nd hncams
9SGuainted with G. W Ford, now of ST. LOUIS and an
intimacy sprung up which mas never Peen DTCen
With tho President that Mr.. Ford ne was |
9Th Inc promise OF promotion. aud If Mr.. Delano ever
does his country the service To get GUY OF me ONCE
there is little doubt that Mr.. Ford would I'LL bis place
Mr. and Mrs. Grant continued at Sacketts HarDOr over
a wear when he Ordered to CaIliOrnla. sue |
on account Of delicate health, was unable 10 en-,
fstber,s home Their frat child, Frederick Dent Grant
now Second LeuteDaDt OF the 4th Cayay' pu tepO %,
LieutenantCOlone was born soon AFTER IN isoo, at
10 saIne house in st. Louis where his parents
, ,Here married Grant renamed IN California q
years and then left the . service b an wife .A9
ali that time Mr. Dent at this time gave Grant por-
tinn a White Haven farm, anu ne began 10 iho to nc
~ farmer living with his wifes parents until house
conld be built on the land he had so easily ae
onired Farming was sealed DOCK % MN,
III although he worked hard " he could not get
the hang Of IT," as my informant expressed himself
=, main Mr. Grant traded OF his farm Tor mousse ana
In, In 81 Louis and opened real estate ana correcting
hnsIness He found that he knew less oil TINS than Oh
,~n,ng and he was again denied success AT thls time
d. fnund something defective In the Ie 10 the Town
nroperty, ana the trade was canceied. % no tOoh
fack 1Is farm, which lie now owns AS Is
Vel known, Mr. Grant never prOspered IN any
nnsiuess ana he had some dscourdgins lines lie ana
~ family were often with hs father, Jesse Grant, a
iethe Ohio, and also with her father IL was al MS
f'thers house Bethel that Mr.. Grants second chiid
ITiy..e & Grant it, born, IN lsh2 He goes Dy inc