The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-08-26
THE PRESIDENTS SILVER
WEDDING.

Ulysses s, Grant was married TO Julia
BorCs 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 invi-
tstion issued, and It was the oftcn.cxprGss.
ed desire Of the President that no presents
should be offered him on this occasion.
The Presidents cottage, therefore, to-
night, opened its doors TO very few save
those whose faces are daily seen on the
fashionable drive by the ocean. Il was
at first decided that the occasion should
be cOmmemorated in party to which
many hundred were 10 be invited, but q
variety Of reasons prevented. The recent
afFlction OF the President in the loss OF
his father was the principal cause for
changing the arrangement and the fact
OF the serious and anxious illness OF Mrs.
Grants father made the change appro'
pirate and becoming. The family also
naturally shrank from an OstGntatious
celebration Of the anniversary, and so the
observance was Of the quietest character.
The President and his daug liter and two
sons returned about noon to-day from
their Iatiguing journey through the East
ern Mountains, a trip Mrs Grant was I'm.
able 10 take on account Of her presence
being required with her father. The Pres.
ident, however, although much fatigued
and worn BY his iortnights pleasuring,
was In excellent spirits tonight, and re-
ceived the congratulations and compli-
ments Of those preaent with unusual good
nature and zest
There were few present who recalled
the day Of tho wedding, twenty-five years
ago-a day bright with sunshine, when
simple Captain Grant was married to
plain Julia Dent. Not one Of the large
company present at the marriage but
thought that the lie Of the former would
be nothing but the lazy, indolent, plOd.
ding existence Of regular army officer
| in time ofpeace, and that the latter would
be nothing bat the smiable, unpretendiDg,
frugal and simple. hearted helpmeet Of a
poor and obscure man. Mrs. Giant, even
as a girl, was known for her strong char
acter. Ihavei It from one Of her school.
mates that when she was girl she was
very shrinking and diflident away from
her fathers roof, and that she was not ap,
preciated at her worth until acquaint-
anceship had ripened into friendship. She
was only appreciated by those who knew
her well.
The first meeting Of the young couple,
9hn are at this moment ripe in middle
age, looking UaCA W.. - rasiod Of tveu-
ty.fye years Of happy married lile-a lie
checkered by more vicissitudes than ordi'
uarily fall to the lot Of man, a life Of pow.
erty and wealth, of the lowest obsCurity
and the highest fame, but, throughout a
life Of domestic happines.-the first meet
ing Of these two was at tho house Of Col
OFallon, In ST. Louis, where Miss Dent
was guest The introduction was made
by Mr.. Hszlett, classmste OF Grant,
both OF whom at that time were lieuten.
ants In the army. The rest is the same
old story that married people always tell.
Gen. Grant, after his graduation, was or.
dered 10 Jefferson Barracks, then several
miles outside OF st. Louis and but three
miles from White Haven, the country resi-.
Gence OF Mr.. Dent The farm was very
large, the house, as my informant OK.
pressed il, was full OF rooms" being large
and capacious, and there was always in
those old days Of slavery an army OF ser
wants about the house. II was the most
hospitable place IN the whole country
around, and was never without guests.
MIR. Dent was in afluent cirCum-
stance, for in those years it was
not reeded that q man should be
worth IRON one 10 a hundred millions in
order TO be rich. His wife liked company
and was OF the old order Of houSeEeepers,
who knew what was going on, and had
plenty OF leisure. There was troop oil
young men and young girls, sons and
daughters, and it was known everywhere
that White Haven farm was good place
TO go TO. Lieut.. Grant was frequent Wis.
itor, for he was always welcome on &C.
count Of his intimacy with Fred. Dent,
his classmate, who Is now the Lieutenant
Colonel OF the 4th Artillery, stationed at
New London, The latter was never or
dered to Fort Jefferson and never met
Grant from the time OF their graduation
until aIlcr his marriage, although their
close friendship has never been broken.
The bctrOthal OF the young couple, about
whom this sketch is written, occurred in
1913, at this same old hospitable mlnsion
at White Haven FArm-a isrm which, by
the way, now belongs to Gen. Grant, and
Is one OF the most valuable in the country,
the whole extent Of which is about q
thousand acres. Soon after the engage.
ment, the young officer OF infantry was
ordered TO Natchitoches, La. The Mex.
lean war, during which Grant won his
epaulcts as Captain, soon followed, and i!
did not seem possible iOr the young
couple 10 DO married until 1S4S-tiveI
years of engagement!-a lesson Of con-
stSncy rarely taught
The marriage occurred at Mr.. Dents
city residence on Fourth street, St Louis,
at about O'Clock in the evening. The
house was commodious for those days,
and was filed TO overlooking with guests
who represented the best people IN st.
Louis. The ceremony was performed by
the Rev. DR.. Linn, Methodist. The
groomsmen were Cadmus Wilcox, an ar.
my officer, who, by the way, was after.
ward general officer in the Confederate
army, and now lives in Baltimore; Der.
nard Pralte, u citizen OF st. Louis, who,
strangely enough, also went into the Con.
tederate army, roW living in Augusta, and
Sidney Smith, who died several years ago.
The bridesmaids were Nellie Dent, sister
OF the bride, who is now Mrs. Sharpe o.
Washington, Sallie Walker, daughter Of
an old army officer, and Julia Boggs, a
relative Of the family.
Atter the marriage Capt. Grant was or
dered 10 Sacketts Hsrb0r, N. Y, and it
was here that the young couple began
their housekeeping. 1t was modest
enough, this beginning; for the quarters