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THE SOTMNTON TRIBUNE-FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1002.
33
552
heir
Golden
Wedding
1902
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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM CONNELL, 1552.
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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM CONNELL, 1902.
Hon. and Mrs. William Connell Celebrate
the
.j.
Anniversary of Their Marriage!
Fir
ieth
GOLDEN WEDDING DAYS,
notwithstanding the declar
ation ot the statisticians that
human life is growing longer,
arc not so frequent that they
fail to be the subject of much interest
and many felicitations. The present
generation will doubtless celebrate still
fewer of these glad anniversaries, owing
to the increasing custom of marrying
later in life.
Thus to participate in the festivities
which mark the end of half a century
of union in marriage is to have a mem
ory delightful to cherish. It means
something to a community when there
are those among its chief citizens who
from time to time malte such an event
a valued part of its history. The vital
ity and the permanence contributed to
a young and unformed city by such
rchldents through much of this long
period, are dldicult to conceive in ade
quate proportions.
Today.amld the congratulations wiiich
are showered from all sides on two
such representatives of Hcranton. the
thoughtful will pause to gaze down
that far vista of the years and marvel
at the swift virions they present.
The two central figures, standing in
the same hlmplioity that has ever char
acterized their attitude all the way,
might have stepped out of a fairy tale,
so wonderful is the transformation
from the environment of the boy nnd
girl who, hand in hand, went forth into
the world with hope for their only her
itage, to the palace of the present,
where they have come into their own
because the'.- efforts won It from tlte
oracle of Fate. It Is a pretty fniry tale
and the fairies have been industry, per
severance, generosity and, most of all,
sweetness of heart, defying the wither
ing blight of ago and care.
The young man walked out of Evan
gellne's land of poetry and sons to a
spot where sordid and unlovely condl.
tions prevailed, but the glrl-brlde of his
youth gloritled the weno then as now,
when she stood at his side with the
snows of time just lightly touching her
head, but with the same dewy softness
of eye ami the sanio gentle expression
that lias always illumined her face.
They say, the ones who knew her long
ago, that she was surpassingly fair as
a girl, and surely tho years have been
kind, and surely it is worth while to bo
good, and gentle, and great of heart
and tender)! mercy, so that when tho
afternoon of llfo draws on, the beauty
of youth will not bo missed as it melts
into tho beauty which kind deeds nnd
unselfish thoughts give to tho houl's
mirror.
Tho man who received Ills friends, last
night in celebration of his Golden "Wed
ding Day, has been heard to bay that
to Uie ficnllo little ludy at his sldo Is
due the credit fur tlte beginnings of his
fortune, It was she who saved tho first
dollar from ids limited income a tiny
gold dollar and in that early estab.
llstunent of capital was formed tho re
solve to glvo a tltho uway to the church
or to charity, Her generosity of spirit
lias continued through the hair century
vanished, nnd no smallest part of her
acts of kindness could be numbered.
Congressman and Mrs. Connell must
have felt that this was indeed a climax
to their llfty years, as they greeted
their multitude of friends last night,
who cumo from far and near to offer
congratulations, it must have been a
satisfaction to reuch such a climax
with still the iecrcpltudo of ago and
.mentality ufur $ff, and the Interest in
life ns vivid and sweet as when they
began it together. Certainly no two
people ever were the lecipients of good
wishes more sincere and affectionate.
P.
Host of
Well Wishers.
THE golden wedding nnnlveisury of
Congressman and Jlrs. "William
Connell will live long in the an
nals of Scranton's social events. Never
before was there such a throng assem
bled at a private house, and never be
fore was a home honored by such a rep
resentative gathering.
From S till 10 o'clock hundreds of car
riages, bearing well-wishing friends,
rolled up to the front entrance, and
contributed their quota to the throng.
It is estimated that fully a thousand
persons came and went during the
three hours. Despite the temporary ad
dition to tho west w ing, the spacious
home was taxed 'to its capacity.
As the guests left their carriages,
they walked through a canopied way
to the main hall and thence to the sec
ond floor, where the cloak rooms were
located. After being relieved of their
coats and wraps, they weie shown
through the front guest chamber, wlieie
the presents wete displayed. Then they
were at liberty to fall Into the line that'
for more than two hours passed In and
out of the front drawing-room to meet
and greet the bride and groom.
Jlr. Connell stood at the head of the
receiving line. At his left was Mrs.
Connell. Further on were their daugh
ters, daughters-in-law, sons and sons-in-law,
and some of the older of tho
grandchildren.
After extending congratulations, the
guests scattered about the rooms and
on the staircases, enjoying the feast of
loveliness that the decorators had pie
pared, while listening to the choice
music of twelve of Bauer's men, sta
tioned In the upper corridor.
It was intended that all the guests
should be served refreshments in the
main and temporary dining rooms, but
so large was the attendance that sev
eral other rooms had to be utilized for
this purpose.
The luncheon was an elaborate ex
position of the caterer's art. It was
prepared and served by Pursscll, of
New York. The menu was:
" llotiilloii.
(i.ili fjicii .1 li 1'luir.
I.uli-UT .1 l.i Nrulmn;.
1'uiiiM.it.lo WHO-. SurelbuMsl Millets.
C'liiiKiu hal.ul. Fin cle Mei lc.
Mixed himlufi-liti.
(i.ill.uiliiiu a-iiicc.
lMlc (lc fiU j;i
As.s,mful t.il.ps,,
rainy iu1 intin. Ul-iuit Uulinc.
lVtila fullM. fruits Kl .
Cafe. ('.iff fiiiiipc. OiiUismi?.
'.(llt. Llinfi'Llldll-s.
It xas 10 o'clock betoic the guests
began to withdraxv and nigh onto mid
night before the last bade adieu. Mr.
and Mis. Connell were so thoroughly
delighted with it all that they could not
feel any fatigue that might have come
upon them. They were, to the last, the
liveliest couple In the throng.
The Decorations.
THE elegant residence, at the cor
ner of Clay avenue and Vine
street, formed a succession of
pictures last night which have
novel' been equalled In this city.
Tho floral decoiatlons were lav
ish beyond description, and' the ar
rangement of details reached a rare
perfection. The iccoption' room in its
delicate coloring Is always a beautiful
and stately apartment, but it xx'as n
boner ot (lowers on this occasion. An
umbrella of yellow roses and lilies of
the valley was spread above the bride
and groom in the bay window.
The .scheme or color was chielly
yellow. Hundreds of jonquils framed
doorways and windows. Thousands
of valley lilies fringed the tall
pier iilasses and mantel. From tho
chandelier were festooned ropes of sml
lcix, xxhich almost hid the ceiling in a
green canopy. Yellow liberty Mitin rib
bon, in rosettes and hows, added to the
general effect.
The Turkish mom was decorated en
tirely iu red, With ferns for a back
ground. I'oinscUeus in rich luxuriance
starred every available space, and the
crimson light from Oriental lamps
heightened the richness of lone.
The mahogany panelling of the library
was almost concealed by countless
ferns. It was a veritable bower in tho
lovely green that enshrined it. No other
color was employed.
The dining room, richly paneled in
mahogany, was a chef d'oeuvor of taste.
The center piece of the table was a
floral mass, in which were hundreds of
mauve orchids. Delicate asparagus
vine, roses and ferns formed tho re
mainder of the decorations. The beau
ty of the table xx-as still further en
hanced by artistically displayed
mounds of fruits and confections.
The .staircase xx-ns most picturesque
xvlth Annunciation lilies, the balus
trade being concealed by ropes ot
green. The music room gloxved xith
red roses.
Rut the chief tilunmh of the (loriht's
art was in the annex, xvliich xviis elect
ed adjoining and Inclosing the Clay
avenue porch. Thatched thickly xxith
evergreens from ground to roof, It xns
a dream of Christmas-tide from with
out and within. Myriads of electric
lights made it brilliant as day, and ade
quate steam heating made it coinfoit
ablo. The walls and celling xverc entirely
covered In gold-colored cloth. Over this
xvas woven a web of Florida smilnx
that charmed the eye 'from every point
of view. Still more profuse were huge
golden chrysanthemums, hiding the
pillurs and filling corners. The floor
xvas crashed, and dainty lace curtains
draped the windows. This huge room
xvas l cached from the side hall veranda
and also by a covered passagexvay lead
ing to the kitchen.
Invariably when an expression of
admiration for the beauty of the scene
came to Mrs. Connell's ears, she would
take a delight and pride in telling that
It xvas done by a Scranton woman,
Mrs. Muir of the firm of Marvin &
Mulr.
,
Renewed,
Their Vows.
PJtKVIOL'S to the general reception
a charming little ceremony took
place iu the drawing room. Mr.
and Mis. Connell, surrounded by their
childien and grandchildren, stood be
neath the (lower umbrella, xvlth the
two youngest members of the big
household, little Eleanor Connell,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred E.
Council, and Donald, the son of Mr.
and Mrs. C. W. Fulton. Hex-. C. M.
Glflin, D. I)., of Elm Park church.
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Hon.
and
i
Mrs.
William
Connell
Their
Children
and
stepped within the circle formed by the
relatives and x-ery few guests, and
made a happy little speech, In which
he said:
"I xx'as reading, before I came, a.
book on the 'Rights of Mnn.' and xx-as
surprised to (hid one xx-as not named
the right to marry. This privilege
"William and Annie exercised on Jan. L
18!2, and joined hands and hearts for
life. I xvas not at the xveddlng for sev
eral reasons: First, I was too far
away; second, I xvas not Invited, and
third, like some of tho children, I xx-as
not expected on such occasions.
"The attendants on that occasion, t
understand, have passed on to tho ma
jority." The pastor gave a divine blessing
on the banns that have joined the hap
py company of tho skies, and con
tinuing, said:
"It xvas about this time in the even
ing when the stars came forth to
brighten the sky and the moon ns tho
queen shoxx-ers her silvery sheen to
add loveliness to the landscape. In
these llfty years past this pair have
known vicissitudes and xvon victories.
In ex-erythlng that William has been
or done, tho xvlfe by his side has been
a. valuable aid.
"I think it seemly before the throngs
from without crowd the house that tho
family should as a household express ,
their thanks to God for sparing fath
er and mother to give their light and
love up to this happy hour. I count it
a good fortune that I am permitted to
voice the gladness of this smiling
group. I also am delighted to express
the esteem of Elm Tark church of
which you have been loyal members
for so long a time. Why should xvp not
be happy in the smile of that kind
Providence which has brought us up
to tills bright moment?
"Hut, dear friends, you are no doubt
prepared In tho better understanding of
tho vows than you hnd xvhen you as
sumed them first, to declare your de
votion during the remainder ot your
days. I therefore ask William and
Annie 'Do you renexv the marital cov
enant assumed by you Jan. 2, 1S52V "
The bride nnd groom mado Instan
taneous responses and Dr. Giffln of
fered a brief prayer, and then Mr.
Connell leaned over his wife and said
softly, "I crown her my queen a3 well
ns my xvlfe," and placed on her brow
a diamond tiara studded xvlth many
gems. It xvas a complete surprise not
only to Mrs. Connell, but tho family.
Among the guests xx-as one who hail
xvltnessed the real ceremony llfty years
ago. Siiq xx-as Mrs. jsaac ninur.
Ilazloton. xvhoso beauty oven inl
-anced ago Is marked.
Mrs. connell wore a black yl
gown cut severely plain, and trjnj
xvlth rose point. She xvoro nniqngl
er ornaments a uiamonu neart a
bv her children.
Mrs. J. 8. MuAnultX xyaa: air!
a beautiful gown of black til
lace qx'er xvhlte set (n xvltji rnl
lions of point lave, jcwoneu,,
pearls and silver. Her, jexvps,
diamonds and torhuolses, '
Mrs, J, li. Connell xvoro an olaboil
gown "f white point d'alencon, x-l
roses for a garniture, and clan)i
ornaments. ,
Mrs. A. B. Connell's gown was
olegant one of xvhlto cloth, richly oil
hroldered. Klio xvoro ornaments oi n
monds and pearls.
Mrs, W. A. Connell xvoro a mousse
Ilno and lace In black nnd xvhlto, xvlth
diamond ornaments.
Mrs. C, W. Fulton xyas attired- '"
black lace elaborately spang'lejl'Jn Jet
and silver, She w'oro dlambiijl anil
pearl ornaments,
Mrs, C, I. QoniipJI's gown xvas of
heavy white tflplre, wt)i entre deux ot
real lace and fan Elating of not and
garniture of pink roses, u))u djnmond
ornaments. . ,,,, ,'..
Miss Jessie Dlinmlck, ( thp, eldest
granddaughter, xvas elwn'iliisly n(
tlred In u gown of embroidered red
chiffon, xvlth many small rullles and
applique lace bortliu.
Miss Anna MoAnulty's gown wast of
xvhlto moutiselinn and Valenciennes
lace,, .exquisitely fashioned.
., .Little. Gladys Janet Council mm
Luoilo. Connell .xx-oro vhito laco frocks,
ICcnliimcd ou Vagt i.
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