The Press., 1885-01-15
LOCAL ropIcs-PEss,D AND seIssokED,
A BRILLIANT CRYSTAL WEDDING.

BRILLIANT CRYSTAL WEDDING
 The handsome little cottage ognce, which constitutes the residence of Mir. and Mrs. Summer Lincoln Fairfield, nee Carew, in West Stafford, was the scene of a brilliant social gathering on the evening of Tues day, Jan. 9th, the fifteenth anniversary of their marriage. Although the weather was very indictment, and the darkness near ly impenetrable, guests poured in in cou- ples and threes to the number of forty or more, and the resources If the cottage were taxed from parlor to attic for their accommodation. Mir. and Mrs. Fairfield were totally taken by surprise, and their astonishment, as couple after couple ar- rived and no explanation of the affair was given, furnished the materials for many a delft ga1lusion. Presently, however, the brides sister, Mrs. Merrill D. Blodpett. who, ably seconded by Mrs. Lizzie A. Hitchcock, a niece of the groom, had been mainly instrumental in bringing the af fair about, reminded the astonished couple that they had been married exactly fifteen years to day, and that, according to the etiquette made and provided for such oc- cssions, their crystal wedding ought to be eele ebrated without further preparation. As if by magic, tables were set, viands discovert d, and the host and hostess did the Inequalities of the occasion with a courtesy, grace, and heartiness of welcome that soon put the guests at their ease, and elicited many compliment The gather ing was composed largely of the relatives of the ffteen-years married couple, and the 1T friends and neighbors-young and old, grave and gay. At the proper iunc lure in the festivities, Mir. Merrill D. Blod- gett, brother -inlaw of the pair, made a brief and witty address of congratulation. to which Mr Fairfield responded with . felicity hardly to be expected in ono taken so completely by surprise
 There were many elegant presents, ap- propriate to anniversary, which the guests had managed to smuggle in from their car riages and deposit on the center table, These consisted of handsome silver and glass articles, among the most admired of which was a tall cake-basket. A pair of slippers elegantly embroidered and mag niticent scarf were among the triaes pre- sented to the groom while the bride was fittingly remembered with gifts of equal sumptuousnes and beauty, and handsome present of cash from the brides father and other immediate relatives, though less ad-. mlred, perhaps, than the silver and crys tai, will not prove less serviceable as the years pass by. A pretty glass tapkard dedicated to the baby, which. by the way. has not yet arrived, deserves to be noted aS unique Tn purpose and witty in purport
 In replying to the address of coDgratu- lation, the groom rendered his heartiest and warmest thanks, on behalf of the bride as well as himself, to the friends and rela- tlyes who had so unexpectedly remember ed them-not forgetting, even in the fur ry of the moment, to include the many ab- sent ones who had expected to participate, but had forgone the pleasure of doing SO In consequence of the darkness and in clemency of the evening. The groom's mother, a venerable old lady of eighty. two, revived the memories of her youth in the merriment of the anniversary.