The Press., 1897-04-15
ADDRESS OF HON. EDWARD E. FULLER.

We have gathered here this afternoon to do honor to a worthy couple, in the celebration of an event which very few of the inhabitants of this world of ours are permitted to celebrate; and incidentally, to do honor to our town, in its having been for half a century and more, their home and abiding place.
 Fifty years ago last Sunday, in the neighboring town of Ellington, two young people of this town, endowed with those rich gifts, health, hope, and ambition, were united in marriage. For fifty years they have lived among us, loved and hon. ored by all. Children have been born to them, who, have in their turn gone forth to take their places in the labors and hon. ors of the world, while grandchildren have for many years gladdened and kept in perennial summer their hearts and lives.
 The origin of the golden wedding anni- versary celebration is, as far as I have been able to discover, shrouded in ob- scurity. It seems to have had no formal origin or cultivation, but like Topsy ''it just growed."
 The word "home'' has, because of it's associations, become one of the sweetest and tenderest words in the English lan- guage. Many years ago an opera was written It has been very rarely, if ever, sung. Its name even, Is known to but few yet one simple melody and the accompany ing words, which it contained. "Home, Sweet Home," are known all over the civ ilized world; and because of writing them the name of John Howard Payne is a household word, held in perpetual remem. brance; while few years since, his dust was borne across the ocean, from its grave in far-off northern Africa, to lie in state in the Pantheon at our Nations capi. tol, that it might rest at last, in the land which he 90 we'll loved and served, his own "Home, Sweet Home." Had Robert Burns written nothing but "Auld Lang Syne," his name would still have beer immortal; while songs like "The Old Oaken Bucket" and "Annie Laurie, have touched responsive chord in every heart Longfellow says:
 Each mans chimney Is his golden mile
 stone;
 Is the central point, from which he meas
 ures every distance
 Through the gateways of the world around him."
 Different nations, Ike different individ uals, put varying degrees of value upol home and family. France, perhaps, o all civilized nations, puts the least valu' upon them, there being no word in tn French language corresponding to our olt Saxon word "home." Germany, per haps, puts as much value on them as an, nation. while the Germans are, possibly more given to celebrating events and oc casions of importance than other nations especially those events relating to hom and the fatherland, and to this fact W l are indebted, I imagine, for the origin o the golden celebration of the wedding day This event is celebrated by the Germa peasants with simple festivities, the brid wearing golden crown, and the groom golden buckle.
 It is one of the ambitions of the averag individual, to accomplish that which t the majority of his fellows is impossible Think, then, how few of those here pres ent, will, even under the most favorabl conditions, ever be able to celebrate thei golden wedding anniversary.
 ''Let him not boast who puts his armor or As he who takes it of, the battle done"
 What different aspect does life pre- sent to us when looking backward throug the memories of time, to that which presents when looking forward throug the buoyant and imaginative vision of ez pectant youth. "Is memory as strong a expectancy? fruition as hunger grat tude as desire?"
 "Time has laid his hand
 Upon thy heart, gently, not smiting 1t, But as harper lays his open palm
 Upon his harp, to deaden its vibrations.
 There is, if may SO phrase it, retro spective inspiration in a golden weddin