The Portland daily press., 1880-01-05
FRYEBURG.
An Antiquarian Levee-and Golden
Wedding.

On New Years Eve delightful entertain
ment combining the above attractions, was
given at the vestry of the Congregational
Church; and in spite of the driving storm and
the bitterness of the coolest day of winter,
there was we'll filled house. After an hours
social interview, all were invited to the dining
room, where on the tables covered with the
snowy linen of our mothers and lighted with
candles, were spread all the well known dishes
of our fathers, served in the ancient ware of
century ago. The capacious vessels of earth
ern and iron resisted the attacks of even
second tablefull, and kept in reserve some
thing for the next days charitable distribu-
ton. The dinner, or supper-to some both
rolled into one-was followed by the singing OF
old psalms and tunes, accompanied by piano,
and orchestral band. At the close of the mu-
steal entertainment, Mr.. and Mrs John s.
Webster were escorted to the platform and
seated under the golden legend 1S29-1S79,
which told the story of fifty years of married
life: and then and there surrounded by their
five sons and sons in law with their wives, all
coming for the occasion from their homes in
Ohio, Massachusetts, and Maine-the two re-
naming couples not being able to leave their
more distant homes in Pennsylvania and Ne
braska. After an address from Rev. DR.. Ma
son, appropriately reviewing the past, and al
luding to those prospects for the future which
are alone attractive to those who have passed
their three score and ten-Prof c. B. Ruggles
of Cleveland Ohio, in behalf of his wife and
the other members Of the family, gave an
affectionate greeting to their beloved parents
and concluded by presenting them with purse
of 500 in gold. Poems from absent friends
were read by T. C. Shirley Esq. and also let
tiers from Drs. w. T. Souther of Worcester,
and S. G. Gordon of your city, the latter gen
tleman sending gold ring in memory OF old
neighborhood. No marriage services were per-
formed out of Difference to the venerable pair,
who preferred the remembrance OF the old
rite with all its tender associations; to keep up
the illusion however, slices Of wedding cake
were literally dispensed.
The antiquarian costumes displayed were in
excellent taste, made up of the brocades, dam
asks, laces and calicoes of the ante-revolution-
airy period which are the ladies' delight while
ruffles, breeches, long stockings and silver
buckles decorated the persons of the gentle
men. The powdered locks OF sundry falr NAL
dens received general admiration-unless we
obligingly except those ladies to whose hair
nature had already lent silver grace. On the
tables of the reception room, were laid rare
books of the 18th and 18th centuries, an auto
graph letter of Washington, old china, silver
and pewter ware. Continental money, Queen
Elizabeth sixpence, coin of Constantine, satin
slippers with pointed toes, samplers and house
wives.
The proceeds of the evening are to be devot-
ed to the publication of a Church Manual,
which will soon be given to the press
The young folks remained after the close OF
the exercises, to watch regretfully the depar-
ture of the old year with so many mis-spent OPP
portunities, and to welcome the new year with
stronger faith in themselves and the future.