The record-union., 1891-06-08

had great admiration for the genius of
the person who had been able to take two
such common names as Smith and
Brown, and by q happy combination of
them construct name so outrageously
uncommon. Laughter. That person
must have been one of uncommon genius,
for he had displayed the good sense-a
quality SO often lacking in men of
genius-to put Smith before Brown. It
wouldn't have been nearly so euphoneous
had he made it Brown Smith, and besides
that it would have been intrenching too
closely upon the blacksmiths. Laughter. ]
CIhis was as near as the scribe could
catch the words. for just at that moment
school of caterpillars, bent on voyage
of discovery, had caused a young lady in
front OF him to execute Il highland fling,
which distracted his attention from the
orator.
Mr.. Mills said he had hoped there
would be several orators present to enter
tain the guests, and the latter laughed
when he added that he saw none but him
self and Mr.. Estee. He had understood
that Judge John Hunt would be there,
but it appeared that that gentleman was
breasting the waves at Monterey, while
Mrs. Hunt was at her home stemming
the currents.
A little stage business was thrown in at
this point. The orator thoughtfUlly
paused long enough 20 give his hearers
an opportunity To ''catch On' TO the joke
and when they did they fairly screamed
When the noise subsidized Mr.. Mills
added: Il told Judge Hunt would say
this" at which there was another
outburst.
However, when an address is
to be delivered, requiring no, in
telIectual effort. / am perfectly at
home-like my friend Estee." An
other roar, during which several of
the ladies improved the opportunity to
throttle few caterpillars.
The speaker said he started out in life
as newspaper man, and was now Il
real estate agent He rojoiced III the
comforting conviction that he embraced
the modesty characteristic of both profess
sions. His hearers did not laugh at this
they simply looked at one another in
open-eyed establishment.
In early life,' said the speaker,
smith Brown was noted for his good
Judgment in the selection OF horses, but
when we look at that charming woman
at his side, and think of what she has
been to him since he was a boy, we must
give him credit for being "a far better
judge of a woman than he is of a horse"
LApplause and laughter.
After indulging in number of pleas
St4liA iSS Htb ILS GA lIJliSG "a Tic IlOSL ana
hostess, himself, and others OF the guests
present, Mr.. Mills concluded his pre-
tatory remarks with a very eloquent and
touching reference to that event in the
lives of Mr.. and Mrs. Brown which had
crowned a full half-ceutury Of wcGded
happiness.
\ DAUGHTERS TRIBUTE.
He then gave, as the first regular toast,
Father and Mother" and called upon
Mrs. Frances Edgerton (daughter) to re-
spond Mrs. Edgerton said:
Dear Father, Mother ana Friends. At first
when l was informed that the honor of re-
spending 10 the principal tcast on this occa-
SION was 10 be cGnierred upon me, felt some
To whether | should accept or decline.
The ceremonials attending feasts Of State
and banGuets in celebration OF great events
or as compliment TO distinguished individu-
ais, have III all time been monopoliZed by
men. have never even been present ON one
OF these occasions to observe and catch by
imitation the art of post-pIanGial oratory. /
have been told on good authority that the re-
SponSe 20 the first toast is the post of honor i'll
the programme of ceremonies, and accepting
this view OF the case, il is perhaps my first
duty 10 thank my friends for having con-
fcrIed this honor upon me.
am told, further, that af,er all else has been
AT nded 10, al occasion lor rejoicing, al!
thoUght interpretive of the Ccuson u
sugge ston Of su 5ject or of theme have been
worn thr adbare it is usual TO raise the hilar-
ity TO its climax by proposing toast to THE
Ladies'" I am further informed that Ii e re-
sponse TO this toast is usually COM
mitted 10 the Wittiest wag at the festive
board, and thai ii is the bounGen duty
O. this masculine Wit lot to disappoint
expectation that the toast The ladies'
is the text Tor the funniest speech of
the evening. And so a moments hcsitancv
fitted across my mind when / II izcd tn; t
the request which had been pref Fl, d invaded
the royal prerogatives OF mon; that since ban
quets by tradition and history had been occa-
sions in which the name OF woman appeared
only 10 excite mirth and intensity TcVelry a
woman in the role Ct res Donding to q toast
and that in the post of honor, would be an
innovation so much al war with tradition and
custom as TO endanger the tranquility OF So
ciety. But the sentiment which challenges my
attention, the health of my honoTed father
and mother. as they stand to-day or the high
pinnacle OF fifty years OF maTred happiness,
is one which appeals 10 every feeling OF rev
erence and at G lion in my nature
| have nothing to say To them or to YOU
my friends, which would be in the nature OF a
new revelation OF the love which | have felt
for them, and there are no words / might en-
pioy which would reveal to them any greater
wealth OF reverence and gratitude in my
heart. All these things they have known
from my infancy. and standing by their side
to-day on this the hftieth anniveTsary Of their
wedding thousand memories SYcetlv as
ISOLATED with childhood wOmanhOOd and
home crowd upon me for expression.
l have said that feasts and banQuets are
made in celebration OF great events or in
i1ODOF OF EGtat DdilleS. ENeRIS great
proportion TO the blessings they have con-
fcrred upon mankind, and men are CiStin-
gushcd GniY by noble actions. ! cannot CON
ceiNe of an occasion more worthy OF cepl,ra-
ton than the completion OF Il half century
OF welded hupfiness. Whatever of success
may have attended thclife OF any man or any
woman; whatever OF honor at the hands o.
men may have crowned their achievements:
whatever blessings OF prosperity NAV have
been wrung by them from iate. ffty years OF
welded hapis sness is OF ltSeI the climax or
sFrf. of ATsIf Ha4F F.g
into which this experience has come even
though they may have been passed in op-
security, may justly be proclaimed successful,
prosperous and honorable.
To recount ali the reflections TO which this
happy event Civ e rise wouid be to exhaust
the richest Vocabulary of eoluence The
happy days OF my years rise TO the mind like
myradS OF stars, or Ike shining drops OF dew
glttering in the morning sun: they cannot be
enunelSitei /, tbeir joys cannot be recounted
their happiness cannot be proclaimed They
belong 10 those experiences of tne heart 10
which the tongue G uInot give utterance l
viii not essay the ia TX OF their express ion but
rather ADOPT tie lesson OF the peel who said:
strive not TO tell tie whole, the poet in his
Must intimate the whole and tell the smallest
part.
'The young moons crescent disc its perfect
circle tells
The INFINITE within arts bounded outline
dwellS.
"Ofevery noble work the Silent part is best:
OF all expression, that which cannot be ex-
pressed"
My friends, improve the opportunity OF
responding 10 a least 10 thank you for your
presence, and your manifestation Of sympa-
thy with the joys of this occasion. We have
nos called you here to-day for the purpose of
iadulging IN solemn "reminiscences We ask
you to be happy III the present. There is not
cloud of regret in the clear sky OF our re-
joicine to-day. Let us rather he thankful for
the past than indulge in regrets that the
years are gone. Indeed they are not gone
They live in tnc present and they have LETT TO
us ouly legacy OF sweet memory and happy
rejoicings in the ever living now