New-York tribune., 1891-05-17
A CURIOUS UEDDING PRESENT.
DID THE OLD MERCHANT WISH TO REBuKE HIS


DAUGHTER OR WAS 1T HIS SIMPLICITY
"There was fine old gentleman in this clty-ho
died not many months ago-who from the humoeSt
beginnings made his way steadily up TO commercial
fame and immense wealth. all by the manufacture
Of soap" said NewYorker the other day. " and with
all his wealth and prosperity, he never forgot how
poor man feels lost any of his consideration for tho
rights Of others. Pride pufed him up nor mado
him ashamed Of his business his early history.
He was proud of the purity and excellence OF his
soap, and the secret of his his rivals lay
in the fact that he invented several processes for
cheapening the manufacture OF that article. and his
great factory In this city full Of machinery Of his
own Invention and manufacture. lie made one ample
fortune solely out of paentng the ideas Of his fertile
bran ard several Others by selling the MANUFACTURES
he ives thus able to turn ont.
His wife was intensely purse proud as he was
simple, though her origin as humble his own,
and her daughter took after her. This child married
well, as they By, that Is, young swell about
town, proposed 10 her account of the great wealth
he knew she would inherit IL. When the engagement
settled the daughter and mother asked the old
man what he was going to do in the way Of setting
the young people up I'm life.
Here they up against unexpected snag
The old boy would give nothing in the way Of dowry
He thought the bridegroom should support his wife
unaided, till her fathers will gave her share Of his
estate The utmost he could be prevailed upon 20 do
wes to give his daughter wedding present Nhat
this would be he steadfasty refused say just them
On the wedding day, however. his gift to the bride
was the deed for a handsome house in fashionable
street. completely furnished in costly style from top 10
bottom.
The bridal tour had all been arranged. so no stop
made by the happy pair TO examine the new
house. All through the honeymoon they talked OF the
pleasure they would have IN going over the house e%-
amning the pictures and pate and entertaining ther
friends In IT, Great the delight with which they
entered their new home their return. The carpets
were velvet the hangngs OF silk and lace the furniture
hand carved, the pictures old masters the linen OF tho
finest and sllverplate was everywhere, even In tho
kitchen.
"The bridegroom delighted but the brides
checks were crimson, and her eyes flashed irs that
tears could not quench. Everywhere she looked she
saw familiar objects that fled her with rage. Snach
Ing heavy silver salver from the table. she showed
10 her husband, engraved on IL INFINITELY but with
elaborate detail. the representation OF bar OF soap
with her fathers wcllmown trade mark on IL.
"This queer crest was everywhere about the h0uS,
worked into carved furniture IN the linen and
hangngs, and painted the carriage and stamped
on the harness which were presented with the house.
II the old mans greatest pride. that trade marx
and what IL stood for but whether he had II put his
daughters things out Of sheer simplicity OF heart, or
whether he Intended II rebuke to her foolish PRIDE
| never found out