The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-09-13
GOLDEN WEDDING
Of MR.. AND MRS.
{. N. VAIL
Well Known Couple Have Been
Married Fifty Years.
CELEBRATED LAST MIGHT
About Sixty Friends of Couple Gath
cred at the Neighborhood House
in Their Honor.

About sixty of the friends and rela-
tiyes of Mr.. and Mrs. Edward nj. Vail
gathered at Neighborhood house, Ben
nington Falls, last evening to cele-
brate Mr.. and Mrs Wallis golden
wedding anniversary.
The bride and groom of fifty years
received their guests in front OF
bank of asparagus and golden rod.
Bowls of asters and gladiolias COM
pleted the decorations.
Miss Florence l.. Mosher acted as
usher Mrs. Harry G. Armstrong sang
Silver Threads Among the Gold"
with piano accompaniment by Miss
Geneva Armstrong. Mrs. Armstrong
and Miss Kathryn Durham also rem
dered a duet large share of the
the orchestral music furnished by
three of Mr.. and Mrs. Walls younger
friends, Eugene Shea, Jr., William
Shea, and Miss Bessie Shea.
A poem written for the occasion by
Mrs. Ella F. c. Mosher, was effec-
lively read by Mrs. Harry NJ. Dun
ham.
At the close of this program Fred
c. Martin, in behalf of the guests, pre-
scented the couple with fifty dollars
in gold Mr. Martins words of pre-
sentation were well chosen. Mr.. Vail
responded in very happy manner
and expressed the gratitude of him
self and Mrs. Vial. They also re-
ceived fifty dollars in gold from mem
bers of their family and several in
dividual gifts.
The refreshments were served by
Misses Bessie Haynes. Susan Robin
son, Jessie Robinson, and Kathryn
Durham, who wore aprons of yellow
crepe paper Mrs. ]. Walter Vail pre-
sided at the punch bowl. Slices of
wedding cake, wrapped in gilt paper,
were distributed among the guests.
The out of town guests included
Augustus NJ Walbridge of Brooklyn.
Mrs. j. Walter Vail of Springfield.
Mass, and Miss Blanche c. Vail of
Troy.
Mr.. and Mrs. Vail were married in
New York September -, 1862. The
ceremony was performed by Rev. ].
]. Jones in Mariners church. They
have three sons and six grandchll-
dren
The affair was planned and carried
out entirely by neighbors and friends,
thus relieving Mr.. and Mrs. Vail of
any OF the work and anxiety.
Those who had the work in charge
met with a ready response and
hearty cooperation on the part of
all of whom they requested help, and
it was due to this fact that the affair
was such gratifying success.
The poem written by Mrs Mosher
was as follows:
In the busy distant city,
Fifty years ago today,
Two hearts beat in happy union,
When they heard the preacher say
as he joined their hands together.
Il pronounce you man and wife"
The path before seemed strewn with
roses
And their hearts with JOY were rife.
AS they started on the journey
Love kept ever by their side.
He proud and stalwart bridegroom,
She a fair and happy bride,
All! how strange and yet how
blessed
That the rosy tints of dawn
Cast their glimmer through the
shadows
That must come as we press on.
So they came along the highway,
Now ani then they plucked a flower.
Little children God had given
To make bright each passing hour.
There were friends and neighbors
with them
As they came along each mile,
And their lives were made the bright
By her kindly words and smile.
And his ever ready helpfulness
To a neighbor in their need,
Has made the pathway brighter,
BY many a kindly deed.
He never signs in vain regret
When disappointments come nigh.
He only waves his hand and smiles.
He knows that they'll pass by.
And II he chances to miss a car.
He never mourns for that,
But stops and treats his neighbors
To many a pleasant chat.
And so together they went on,
Mid storm and sunshine, smiles and
tears:
A little grandchild came anon,
To sweeter make the shortening
years.
Fifty years to walk together,
Side by side; oh blessed life.
Harki comes echoing down the path
way,
Il pronounce you man and wife"
AS friends and kinsfolk now We greet