Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-08-22
Husband and wife Fifty Years.

Judge and Mrs. o. w. Roop ten
dered them a dinner at the New
Willard. 1t was the fftieth ami
yersary of their wedding. About
thirty persons, old and young,
partook of the feast spread before
them. And it was a feast-sump-
enticing and excellently
served. Don't ask me. please, to
enumerate the good things that
did furnish forth the dinner; space
is lacking, and, beside, to do SO
would only excite, not satisfy, the
of the flesh. The tables
were beautifully decorated with
golden-rod and all the usual APP
purtenances. At one O'Clock the
dining room was thrown open to
the guests, and in a trice the chairs
were occupied-the two parties
seated at the head of
''the groaning board" The viands
were deity served, and, for thirty
minutes or SO we all did let appe-
tite make amends to the stomach
for it's fasting-light hearts and
genial converse presaging good
digestion. At the conclusion of
the meal, the speaker chosen for
the festival better choice ought
have been made-endeavored to
voice the thoughts opposite to the
occasion. They were, as nearly
as | can remember, expressed as
follows:
"About one week ago, my friend,
Mr.. j. V. Webb, honored and
pleased me with an invitation to
this Golden Wedding. But his
supplementary command carried
terror to my SOUL was set down
for a speech! Now, I latter me,
there are some things that | can do
Indifferent well-the setting up and
printing of an address, for in
stance-but to stand up, the OBJ
served of all observers, and bring
to my command thoughts and the
words to express them, was al
ways beyond me. Therefore you,
my friends, l hope will kindly ov-
erlook it that I have set down in
formal order the thoughts that
have come to me in this connec-
ton. They are, even at that, strag-
Cling and disconnected, but it is
hardly necessary that | make the
averment that sincerity and good
will attend my poor, mentally
stinted verbal tribute. 1t hath one
merit, however-that of brevity.
"The golden wedding! The crown
wrought of fifty years of marital
happiness! How favored of the
gods are they upon whose brows
this crown is fitted. Day by day,
week by week, month by month,
year by year, it has been fashion
ed by love and gemmed by fideli-
ty-a too rare product of passing
time. Its metal has been tried and
purified in the fires of struggle and
affection which beset human ex-
istence, and Furnished by endur-
ing affection.
s'Fifty years! Think of the events
the incidents, the blessings and
misfortunes which mark their
course! More than a whole gen.
Grafton has made it's entrance and
exit, governments have been es-
tablished and destroyed, the old
world we knew has gone and q
new has taken it's place; but
through all this stretch of time
have walked side by side in thu
even tenor of their way the twair
whom we this evening are assem.
bled to honor and to congratulate
Blest, indeed, are they'll The con.
nubial tie, when happily assum'
ed, makes the twain one,and thrice
blest are they who tread the down
hill of life still hand-in-hand, sus
tanned by the mutual love which
gave them in the heyday of exist
ence courage, hope and purpose
The revered husband and wifi
who this day round out their hal
century of welded life have no
slept away that life son fowerJ
beds of ease," but have ~cheerfully
and continuously responded to TIN
calls of duty. They have been la
borers in the vineyard, and have
been thereby ennobled, earninI
deserved rest and comfort for tn,
evening Of their days. Labor, In
deed, confers honor on its devotee
more to be valued than the knight
ly title given by the accolade Q
kings in We olden time. SIN tn
sweat of thy brow shalt thou ca
bread" was never a curse, but {
blessing. From it all good haI
come; without it all that give!
worthiness to life is lost.
That labor conquers all, has long been sale
By sages skilled the truth TO know,
But It's a conqueror whose onward tread
No footprints leaves of blood and woe.
Its pea ceful banner, proudly borne on hig'
And blazed with hard fought battles VOL
No fear Of wrong inspires, nor fires the ey,
With thoughts Of deeds in anger done,
1t conquers all, but blessings strew its wa.
Like flowers on the verdant lea;
Before it fly gaunt Want and Sorrow gray,
And all the hosts Of misery!
While teaching useful cunning to the hand
The wounded heart its soothings cure;
1t strengthens man to all assaults withstand.
To every fated hurt endure!
$50 our friends whom we deligl
to honor on this occasion, find
after a life of effort and accom-
plishment, that though the rewar
may not always come quickly,
cometh surely. May their yeal
yet be many, and each succeedin
milestone on their journey mark
twelvemonth of increasing enjoy
ment and felicity.
ssIn conclusion, it is with gre
A