The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-01-11
This is the Anniversary of. Capt.
and Mrs. j. H. Fowler.
Captain Fowler Discourses Briefly
But Interestingly on the
Change in Times.
AND THE CUSTOMS TODAY

Captain Joe Fowler is one of the
few citizens who fully appreciate the
difference between the present time
and 40 years ago Today is the ami
versary-the 49th-of his marriage.
The ceremony was performed at Smith
land, KY, and was q very elaborate
affair, and strictly in keeping with
that time, although Captain Fowler
himself admits it would appear some
what out of date to the present gener-
alton.
"You see," explained Captain Fow-
Ter today, "I'll never forget my we'd
ding day. worked on the wharfboat
at Smithland then. came to Paducah
some times, and then returned to
Observation-Disclosures Watts. Given
& Co., for whom 1 worked, preferred.
At noon on my wedding day, 40 years
ago, quit work. There was . colored
barber ct Smithland who fixed young
fellows up when they married, and /
was told the proper thing to do was to
turn myself over to him. This belief
he shared. and although if I had
known as much before as did when
he got through with mel should have
never submitted.
,sUa d;do,t h.va arv hath tubs IL,
those days in Smithland. and neither
was there any of this perfumed soap
you see nowadays. We used COM
mon wash tub and lye soap-lye soap
mixed with meal bran. When meal
was sifted they saved the bran and put
it into the soap That is, they did all
this in Smithland.
$50 it was in common wash tub
that this oolored factotum operated on
me, and IL was steamboat brush and
common I've soap that he used on me.
l was over six feet tall, but was very
thin. Therefore when that fellow got
through with ne was as red as a lob
ster and in places where my skin fitted
pretty tight over my bones, he thought
lessly took skin and all. didn't miss
it, however, until put on my clothes.
That's the reason my wedding day
will always remain gr cen in my mem
ory as q very uncomfortable affair.
"That evening we had the wedding.
1t was quite a swell affair, and six
people stood up with us. 1t took place
at the home of my brother in law, and
the next night we had at my own
home AN Unfair They don't have
them 'infairs' these days, but they
had to come 40 years ago, and mine
was one to be long remembered.
81 guess such ways wouldn't suit
the folks who have grown up in late
years, sighed Captain Joe, "but they
will always have tend er place in the
hearts of us old people. l go back
now and think with a great deal Of
pleasure of those happy days-and yet
I'm not so old, declared the captain.
1t is somewhat pathetic to realize
that Captain Fowler is the last CT his
family and his wife is the last of hers.
Forty-ni years ago today, when
they were married, she had mother
and six brothers. and he had father
and four brothers. Today not one,
including the six attendants at the
wedding, is alive.
Captain and Mrs. Fowler will not
formally celebrate the anniversary this
year, but with their family and friends
look forward with great deal OF
pleasure to the golden wedding next
year, II both are spared and enjoy
their present good health, which ev'
cry body in Paducah hopes they will
do.