The Placer herald., 1873-11-08
SILVER WEDDING.
Auburn, Nov. 6, 1873.

given by the Auburn Brass Band was the finest
thing that had ever happened in Auburn. and
up to that date We believe it was; but it was
destined to reign queen Of entertainments in the
memory of Auburntes but a short time, for
here comes along the celebration of the twenty
fifth anniversary of the wedding day of Mr.
and Mrs. c. j. Swan, and snatches the laures
from the band celebration, and is now hailed
by all as the Chief of Good Times. 1t was
| surprise, and grand one too-it even surprised
those who got it up. Mr.. and Mrs. Swans
eldest daughter, young lady of eighteen, con-
spired with her grandmother to give ma and pa
| a surprise last Saturday evening, as that was
the twenty-ffth anniversary of their wedding
day. and this is how they did it. The young
lady was despatched to invite all the friends OF
| the family to meet at a neighbors on Saturday
evening preparatory to rushing in and
prising her parents household, while grandma
made herself busy among the immediate neigh
bors, making arrangements to do the cooking
| away from the house so as to detract suspicion.
All worked charmngly and when the evening
came, such an immense crowd of happy ladies
and gentlemen embracing the best families in
town, as assembled at said neighbors house, we
never before in this town on the occasion
of any private party, and from the numerous
articles of silver ware which various ones
brought along, it was clear that they had not
been unmindful of the event which they had
met to celebrate. The band WAS there with
their instruments, and when all ready and
| the word given to march, they took the lead.
nd On NJ nj
stand just outside the garden gate and broke
the surprise by playing appropriate piece Of
music while the crowd passed in to the aston
shment, might almost say bewilderment Of
the unsuspecting Mr. and Mrs. Swan and their
smaller children. The band kept playing. and
the crowd kept passing in, forcing their way
from one department to another until every
room on the first floor of the house was filled
with standing friends of Mr.. and Mrs. Swan,
each representing living monument of the
high regard and esteem in which this estmabe
couple and their family are held by the good
people of Auburn and Placer county--for many
were there from other places. This unsus-
pected, unceremonious visit of most every
body frcm everywhere at the same time, would
seem surprise enough for one evening, but the
greatest was yet to come. The surprised
couple were ingeniousy retained in one room
until all the silver ware to be presented on the
occasion had been nicely arranged on n large
table in the centre of the parlor, when they
were invited in. What they thought and how
they felt, on beholding the glitterng inaid
silver, profusely spread before them, is not ours
to know, but it was evident from their emo
tons, their sense of gratitude came near over
coming them. AS they came forward, Mr..
w. G. Norton. who had been selected to make
the presentation remarked as follows:
Mr.. c. j. SWAN AND WTE;-
Your friends have unceremonously gathered
here tonight to celebrate with you, the twenty
fifth anniversary of yonr marriage. They have
come with hearts filled with gladness and Joy
that you have lived to this day, "the
gladdest of the year, and that so many Of
Heavens richest blessings have been showered
npon you. twenty-five years ago, in the fresh
ness of youth and in the full vigor of manhood
and womanhood, you stood at the altar and
plghted your faith, each to the other and with
one purpose and one heart, embarked on life's
sea together, to sail on and on until the Master
clled you home Twenty-Five years! How long
and yet how short it seems? Long when we
| think of it's struggles, cares and sorrows.
Short, when we drink in its joys, and bask
| again in the sunshine of its early lore. Life,
at best is checkered scene. Clouds will come
as well as sunshine; but with you we are happy
| to think as we look into your glad faces tos
night that the sunshine of "home Joys" hns
kissed your brow oftener than the clouds OF
discomfort have rested upon them. And now.
your friends re]olcug with you in this, that the
brightest dreams of your earlier years have been
| fully realized and wishing to present to you
some token of their regards and high appre-
- orth and f,ia dc
or husband and wife, have brought these bright
offerings for you, being the tittest gifts they
could bestow on this, your 'Sllver Wedding
day" And in their name, and for them, with
the warmest wishes for your future welfare and
prosperity, now present them to you. You
will prize them, l know not so much for their
intrinsic worth as for the spirit in which they are
given. And at each recurring year, as you and
your children brighter jewels than these, gather
around the Family Board. may the faces of all
in the circle be bright as this polished silver.
And may such years of joy come, and come
again, until your lives rounded and COM
plete. Aye, until You have reached and pass
ed your golden wedding day, and finally, when
the silver cord is loosed, and the golden bowl is
broken, may some kind seraph watt your spirits
home
To these remarks Mr.. Swan attempted to re
ply, but choking with grateful emotion, he
could but thank his numerous friends for their
handsome tokens of regard, and called on Judge
T. B. Reardan TO make further remarks. Judge
Reardan's remarks were appropriate and
pointed and after he concluded a prayer was
offered by the Rev. e. E. Dodge, which closed
Misrepresentation ceremonies.
The presents consisted of a handsome silver
frnged, zephyr worked sofa cushion with trade
dollar ingenously worked in each corner, from
Mrs. Moore, mother OF Mrs. Swan; of one half
dozen teaspoons and two napkin rings. by Mr..
and Mrs. Haskell, of Goshen, Indiana; of one
butter and one fruit knife, from Mr.. and Mrs.
Smith, of Toledo Ohio; Of one butter bowl from
Mrs. Walkup and Miss Lytle, Of Auburn; of
v,;n Ia nd