Putnam patriot., 1916-03-10
GOLDEN WEDDING
Charles W. Grosyenor and Wife Receive
Congratulations
Grosveuor-van der Liam Nuptiais Add TO
importance of Occasion

en- Wedding on March I, with an in.
/ formal reception from four to six, at
! the home of their daughter, Louise
Payson Grosvenor.
Al the same place at 4 o'clock their
daughter, Miss Louise p. Grosvenor
was married to William van der Laan
of The Hague.
| No one in the community is better
/ known or better loved than Mr.. and
| Mrs. Grosvenor, and throng of up
wards of two hundred people came to
/ pay their respects and congratulate
the bride and groom of fifty years.
| Both Mr. aad Mrs. Grosvenor are
natives of Pomfret, both are Of families
associated with the very beginning of
the community, which celebrated lis
| two HUNDRED ami versafY In 1914, both
have been residents of the town since
their birth.
! Mr.. GrOsvenor served his country in
| the War of the Rebellion, he was
wounded and, rs d result of his wounds
and Of continued exposure and privn-
ton he suffered injuries to his health
which he has felt during his long and
useful life. On the other hand, he was
not of strong physique when he enter
ed the mr., was of tubercular tendency
and would doubtless have met the fate
of many New Englanders of that peri
cd, and died of consumption in early
manhood, but for the very exposure
from which he derived minor ills. In
any event constitution, which at
seventy-seven withstands ills from
which many a younger man would
succumb, shows stamina rare in this
day and generation.
From 'S6 to 1877, Mr.. Grosvenor re-
presented Pomfret in the State Senate
and from '97 TO so he served as State
Senator. Thus, TO his town, TO his
state, to his country, and to world Of
friends, this veteran has proved HIM
self loyal throughout life of useful
ness and pleasure. In this day Of
feminism, one pauses for the right
word in which TO pay tribute to the
silent partner in this long career,
hesitates and concludes that il is best
left unspokeu but eioquently alive in
the heart of every one OF that world of
friends.
Weddings fifty years ago in Pomfret
were not attended with the pomp ana
ceremony of today. Mrs. GFosvenor's
"reminiscences. of her wedding on March
7, 1866, contrast strangely with the
setting which surrounded the couple
March 7th, 1916. On that occasion the
young bride, in small frame house,
awaited the coming of the groom, who,
with his brother Benjamin Grosvenor,
spent the day until O'Clock the we'd
ding was to be at 6-felling trees In the
wood. The wedding gifts were but
those things essential TO the setting up
of a home, and were for the greater
part, spared-and no doubt with
sacrifice-from the BRIDES household.
Today the happy couple, who do not
live in their own house, because il is
too large and spacious to be comfort
able, are surrounded with everything
that makes for comfort and pleasure;
while on this occasion gifts were law
ished upon them by young and old,
rich and poor-tokens of love and es-
TEEN and gratitude from the whole
countryside.
Many and beautiful were the gifts
received by the distinguished couple.
MIR. Beadle, in most felicitous
speech proffered golden tribute from
many friends. To this speech Mr..
Grosvenor responded in few we'll
chosen words; but for brevity and
eloquence ombined he was all but
outshone by his bride of fifty years,
who proclaiming that despite the fact
that silence is golden, said that her
loving appreciation of her lifelong
friends, must have expression.
The browning event of the occasion
preceded 1t, and proved that, even
fifty, years after, weddings may be
simple and transformations affairs.
The engagement OF Miss Louise p.
Grosvenor to Mr.. Willem van der
Liam OF The Hague, Holland, which
was announced some weeks ago, cul-
minated in their marriage at o'clock,
and new congratulations became the
order of the hour. The Rev. FL. A.
Beadle otficiated. The ring service
was used, Mr.. Grosvenor's great
grandson, Grosvenor Proctor, with
Master Benjamin Grosvenor, 3rd,
aged respectively three and five, were
conspicuous for their keen interest in
the AFT air.
This came as complete surprise
to the guests who had assem- bled to do
honor to the bride and groom OF half
a century, and who were now called
upon 10 add best wishes for joy and
pros perity 10 their daughter at the be-
ginning las they had just spoken con-
gratuiations TO the parents nearing
the end) of welded life.
Mr.. van der Liam, A Hollander, has
been for the past three years in
America; part of the time, resident in
Pomfret, where they Will live for the
/ fairs Of the town, where they are be-
; loved by all who know them.