Smyrna times., 1873-09-03
MiSceIIUWe 10 e Gus.
A Silver Wedding.

LONG BRANCH, Aug. - 2-Twenty-f five years
ago to-day, at s o clock in the evening, in the
City of st. Louis, Capt. Ulysses S. Grant was
married to Julia Boggs Dent-no cards.
Tonight they celebrated in quiet, becoming
manner the silver anniversary Of that happy
event-nO cards. The sensitive delicacy of the
family, and the especial distaste of Mrs. Grant
for public comment and remark, prevented the
family from celebrating the event as they
would have been glad to do had they been in
private life. There were, therefore, no formal
cards Of invitation issued, and it was the often.
expressed desire of the President that no
presents should be offered him on this occa i.
sion. The Presidents cottage, therefore,
tonight, opened its doors to very few save
those whose faces are daily seen on the
| fashionable drive by the ocean.
There were few present who recalled the day
OF the wedding, 25 years agO-a day bright
with sunshine, when simple Capt. Grant was
married to plain j ulla Dent. Not one of the
large company present at the marriage but
thought that the life of the former would be
nothing but the lazy, indolent, ploddng exist.
ence OF regular army officer in time of peace,
and that the latter would be nothing but the
amiable,. unpretending, frugal, and simple
hearted helpmeet of poor and obscure man.
Mrs. Grant, even as girl, was known for her
strong character. L have it from one of her
schOolmates that when she was girl she was
very shrinking and diffident away from her
fathers roof, and that she was not appreciated
at her worth until mountaineering had
ripened into friendship. She was only appre.
clated by those who knew her well.
The first meeting of the young couple, who
are at this moment, ripe in middle age, looking
back over a period of twenty five years of
happy married life-a life checkered by more
vicissitudes than ordinarily fall to the lot of
man, life OF poverty and wealth. of the lowest
obscurity and the highest fame, but, through
out, a life of domestic happiness first
meeting OF these two was at the house of Col
OFallon, in ST. Louis, where Miss Dent was
guest. The introduction was made by Mr..
Hazett, classmate of Grant, both of whom,
at that time were lieutenants in the army
The rest is the same old story that married
people always tell. Gen. Grant, after his
graduation, was ordered to Jefferson Barracks,
then several miles outside of st. Louis and out
three miles from White Haven, the country
residence of Mr.. Dent. The farm was very
large, the house, as my informant expressed it.
was full OF rooms, being large and spacious,
and there was always in those old days of
Slavery an army of servants about the house.
1t was the most hospitabls place in the whole
country around, and was never without guests.
Mr.. Dent was in atfiuent circumstances, for in
those years it was not needed that mansshould
DO worth from one to a hundred millions in order
to be rich. His wife liked company and was
OF the old order Of hOusekeepers, who knew
what was going on, aud had plenty of leisure.
There was troop of young men and young
girls, sons and daughters, and it was known
everywhere that White Haven Farm was a
good place to go to- Lieut.. Grant was q
frequent visitor, for he was always welcome
on account of his intimacy with Fred.