Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-28
A GOLDEN WEDDING
MIR. AND MRS BAILEY CELE
BRATE THEIR Anniversary.
Fellow Residents in Takoma Park
Present Handsome Gift to
the Couple.

4Hc spacious reSlQeuCe OF dr. ana MiS
George H. Bailey. on Carroll avenue, Ia
koma Park, Nd, was the scene last even
Ing of a brilliant reception. in honor of
their golden wedding anniversary which
occurred Sunday. The hours OF the recep-
ton were from 1880 to 1890. and during that
period several hundred guests gathered to
extend congratulations to this happy couple.
The interior of the Bailey home presented
a charming appearance. In the parlor,
where the reception took place long stream
ers OF gold were festooned from the cor
ners of the room to the center, beneath
which hung handsome golden bell, where
the receiving party stood and received their
guests. Potted plants and flowers of golden
hue were used to complete the effect. In
the library and supper room, where re-
freshments were served, the same decora-
tive idea of gold was carried out, while
greens and palms Were used in profusion.
Those who assisted in receiving the
guests, in addition to Mr. and Mrs. Bailey,
were Mr.. and Mrs. C. Weston Bailey and
son Kenneth, Mr.. and Mrs. William NJ.
Bailey and son Howard and daughter Mar
garet Bailey, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore +.
Bailey and Mr.. George II. Bailey of New
ark, N. J.; Mrs George r. McManus and
daughter Ruth of Stoughton, Wis; Mrs.
Charles L. Bailey of Waterbury, Conn, ana
Miss Ella c. and Miss Mabel F. Bailey of
Takoma Park, children and grandchildren
of Mr.. and Mrs. Bailey.
A pleasant surprise of the evening was
the presentation. of a handsome leather
purse. filed with gold. to Mr.. and Mrs.
Bailey a token of the esteem in which
they are held by their host of friends in
Takoma Park. Col. G.. c. Knfffin made the
presentation speech. handsomely gilded
panel containing the names of the con-
tributors, the work of Mr.. Ben G.. Davis,
town clerk of Takoma, together with
large bouquet of flowers, accompanied the
purse.
$3.50 Back Fifty Years.
Colonel Knifin, in presenting the gift,
said:
{. with fifty years between you and your
well-kept wedding vow you may well pause
and take a retrospective view of the voy-
age you have made across the sea of mat
rimony.
1T is given to few to have so successful
a voyage, for that storms must arise
and clouds obscure the sun. Joy and sor-
row, success and disappointment are the
lot of all who join hands in youth and set
sail for the further shore, be it far or near;
but thrice happy they who take love for a
pilot and cling to him through all the vicis-
situdes of a protracted voyage Yours has
been an ideal married life. Throned in each
others love the years have passed silently
by, and quickly that but for the pres
ence of your stalwart sons and affectionate
daughters you could hardly believe that
half century has passed away since the
happy day of your union.
There is no race suicide in marriage
like yours. The value of your contribution
to the good of your country, to society. II
the church, cannot be measured by the
standard set by society leaders, for dollars
form no part of the equation. The next
generation and all that are to follow away
into the dim vista of the future years shall
call you blessed.
How much you have to be thankful for
in the love and watchful care of your chill
dren even you do not know. Their sweet
presence has frightened so many otherwise
a ri have regard
their ministrations as a part of your lives.
1T was SO natural that the sweet faces
of the little ones should shine upon you, one
by one, in those early years of your voyage
that you have never stopped to think what
you would do without them. Two, grown
to manhood and womanhood, have in the
flower of their youth preceded you to the
land of the blessed immortals, and even
this is not an unmixed sorrow, for they
will be there to stretch out glad hands of
welcome from the farther shore.
'And so we your neighbors and friends,
with hearts warmed by the recollection of
your many acts of kindness and sympathy,
and wishing you many more years of an
ideal married life, beg to present to you
this slight testimonial of our sincere affec-
ton
Appreciative Response.
Mr. Bailey, after the surprise, responded
in brief manner, extending his thanks
and best wishes to all present and to the
townspeople who had displayed their 10y
atty and respect for himself and his wife
during their residence in Takoma Park,
which had covered a period of nearly
twenty years.
Tho guests were served in the supper
room by Miss Ruth McManus, Miss Mar
garet Bailey and Miss Edith Burrell. On
the second floor were displayed the many
handsome and valuable presents which Mr..
and Mrs. Bailey received. Among them
was a large gold vase, presented by the
employees of the District engineer depart
ment, where Mr. Bailey has been connected
since 1878; gold napkin ring and solid
silver salad spoon with gold bowl, which
was presented to Mr. Bailey's father and
mother ON the occasion of their golden
wedding anniversary in Newton, Mass,
July 80, 1865. sent by Mr.. Bailey's sister.
Miss Susan j. Bailey, residing at the old
homestead in Newton. Owing to their age
Miss Bailey and Mr.. William H. Bailey,
brother of Mr.. Bailey, of New York city,
were unable to be present at the reception.
A family reunion took place yesterday aft
ernoon, when the children and grandchil-
dren were all gathered together for the
first time, at dinner in honor of the occa-
sion. The Sunday school class of Miss
Mabel Bailey of the Takoma Presbyterian
Church attended in body at the reception.