National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1878-02-23
Something New Under the sun,

EoHtthHE new Nln.
Not thousand miles from the aristocratic
vicinity Of "The Circle" occurred novel
celebration last night, called, by way of va
ricty, "A vegetable wedding" Everybody
knows about the customary anniversaries the
cotton wedding ut the end of the first year
indicative that n wcll-Icgulatrd husband has
by that time learned in popular slang to cot
ton to his spouse ut two yraH the paper
wedding ut three the leather; at five tho
wooden; at seven the WOODEN; ut
ten the tin: ut twelve the silk and
linen; at fifteen the crystal; at twenty
the china and at twenty-five the silver we'd
ding. If, in these degenerate days of frequent
divorces, the couple, having been true to their
marriage VOWS through Il quarter of q century,
are fairly entitled to the expensive gifts inn
piled by way of reward. From this time for
ward the tokens of esteem grow more and
more valuable. When the thrtieth anniversary
is reached the pair are presented with pearls, at
the fOrteth with rubies, and at the fltieth
comes the glorious golden wedding. Beyond
that time the aged couple are left to enjoy
their previous gifts in peace. IT. however, by
any possibility they live to see their seventy
fifth anniversary, they are presented with the
rarest gifts attainable at the celebration Of
their diamond wedding. Beyond this tho
imagination cannot go, for before another
decade rolls round the longest life is over and
the next anniversary must DO celebrated in
heaven Somebody should circulate petition
to have this system Of gifts reversed for surely
the silver the china, and the crystal are more
needed the earlier years of housekeeping and
pearls and other precious stones would be vastly
more becoming to youth and beauty than to
the aged granddame. But to return to GUY
vegetable wedding 1t was the
ELEVENTH ANNIVERSARY
of the aristocratic couple in question, and as
this especial epoch in life matrimonial seems
to have heretofore been neglected and signal
lied by no special celebration, several friends
determined to invent one for the emergency,
and, for want of a better title, christened II as
aforesaid, 1t was u surprise to the honored
principals, and at precisely the witching hour
of eight the bell Of their palatial mansion was
violently rung, and the American citizen Of.
African descent who answered the emphatic
summons was scarf mos to def, Us he
afterward expressed it, by the advent of
large party, who, by simultaneous and conf
certed action, took the house by storm. Each
of the raiders carried mysterious
looking package which they proceeded to de-
post upon the dining-roOm table, and when
opened displayed a rare and unique collection
of wedding gifts-all, as the name of the cele-
bration would imply, being purely vegeta-
BILE" Squash, onions, carrots, turnips, apples.
corn, and other products of the soil that would
have delighted the eye Of q Granger wcro
pressed into the service, and wrought into
elegant specimens of bric-abrac and articles
of reriH and usefulness. mammoth squash,
ingeniOusly converted into cuSpadOr, and
lined with silver Tor rather tin'toill, was dcdi-
Gated by the following rhymes, said to have
been produced by the inspired muse OF
Michigan's sweet singer
A-Kus-PA-DooR.
FIJI II and squash II, then make 1t into pies:
But do not eat too heartily or II Will surely rise.
il i really mcmcuto Of the day we celebrate,
Tho If rightly cooked, Il is very good TO wt:
50 Ise II for the present in any way you choose,
And after save the picces-thcy are too good ~ losc
In the collection was magnificent nccR,
lace Of onions. with brilliant cross Of cram
berries attached, both of which possessed tho
virtue of declaring their own genuincncss he
yund the possibility of q doubt. Jcwclry Of
this sort cannot well be cOunterfcited, for like
amber 1t speaks for Itself. 4 cup and saucer,
wrought from turnps, were perfect enough to
deserve place among the choicest collection Of
ceramics; napkin-ringS, each one carrot fine
and Ornamcntcd with ribbons: bouquets Of
vegetable flowers, bracelets pendant, &c, with
object settings, and other articles too nuluCr-
Gus to mention, made u goodly array. When
the first surprise and exchange Of congratulate
tiuns were oErr music aud dancing filled tho
happy hours ill past the time when grave.
yards yawn =" aud the twelfth year OF counubial
felicity Lad been ushcrcd in
Evening dresses of satin just imported arc
trimmed with swans down aud fur.
Short fur capcs edged with lace are worn
over COaks,
Plume and pals blue is a striking combina-
ton for costumes, also violet and salmon.
White English Grape is u llvOrite material
for trimming bridal dresses.
Collar, and cuhs OF black thread are worm
by elderly ladies.