Clay County MO Archives News.....Crystal Wedding August 11, 1882 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/mofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ronald J. Reid rreid21@cox.net February 16, 2008, 5:15 pm The Liberty Tribune August 11, 1882 The Liberty Tribune, Clay Co., MO., Aug 11, 1882, page 2: Crystal Wedding. Moscow, Mo., Aug. 2nd, 1882. Editor Tribune: - If you will behave yourself for a few minutes, I will tell you all about what took place at Mr. J.F. Whitaker’s on Tuesday evening, Aug. 1st. It was not a corn-shucking, nor a quilting, nor a log-rolling, nor a hog- killing, but a very pleasant entertainment, called a Crystal Wedding, Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker have been married fifteen years on that day. At about 5 o’clock p.m., I entered Mrs. Whitaker’s dining-room, and oh! what a lovely sight there presented itself. There were Mrs. Dilley – a pretty young widow from Westport – and Miss Emma Wilson, one of Kansas City’s fair daughters, flying around putting the finishing touches to the table for the coming supper. In describing the table I cannot hope to do it justice, since I could hardly see it for those two ladies; not that they were so large, for they are quite small, but for some peculiar reason, which I have not time now to explain, my eyes would wander from it. Still I am bold enough to give it a trial. On each end of the table stood a beautiful bouquet of choicest flowers, whose delightful odor cast a sweet influence on all who came near. Candies, Jellies, preserves, fruits of various kinds and cakes of the finest quality occupied conspicuous places upon it. Yes, certainly there were dishes of a more substantial nature, and plenty of them, too, but they were content to stay in the background. We will now step into the parlor. See what a fine display of glassware on that large center-table yonder! Those beautiful glass objects are presents to Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker, from their many friends whom you see assembled here. The guests take their places around the table, with the bride and groom at the head, and “Big Feet” makes the presentation speech, but the less said about that the better. Mr. Whitaker, the groom, replies very pointedly, thanking his friends for the honor they had conferred on himself and wife. What do you think of the bride and groom? Do you not think that she looks young and pretty? I think John looks well, too, considering the tough time he has had this summer. You must remember that he was bitten by a snake and kicked across the Missouri River at Harlem by a mule, not long since. He bore up bravely under the trying ordeal, and came out with flying colors. Now for a list of the gifts and the names of those from whom they came: Mrs. Hector Reid, a beautiful cut-glass fruit stand; Mrs. Thos. B. Rogers, a fine butter dish; Mr. Thos. B. Rogers, a celery stand; MR. and Mrs. Haldeman, of Kansas City, a pair of choice fruit stands; Mr. Lewis Mastin, a pickle dish. Oh, Lewis! Lewis! why did you think of a pickle dish? Was it because you were thinking of love? Did you anticipate falling in love with that pretty little? Kansas City Miss whom you met that night? All right, you are excusable then. Mrs. Jno. Neal, a pair of lovely Bohemian glass vases; Miss Emma Wilson, a pair of cut-glass salt stands; Mrs. W.T. Mills, of Kansas City, a very costly cake stand; Mrs. Dilley, an oil painting, her own work, executed to resemble glass, an original design. Mrs. D. is a No. 1 artist. Mrs. Thos. Prather, a set of sauce dishes, with handles – quite a welcome gift. A complete water set, of the finest cut glass, and very pretty, too, from Drs. Shafer and Snell. A large decanter, filled to the brim with good old apple brandy, and two nice little glasses to keep it company, from Mr. Thos. Carr to the groom. Tom is a good one and very lively. We were indebted to him for most of the fun of the occasion. Mr. Trib., please do not understand me to say that we got all the fun out of that decanter. Sammy Osgood presented MR. Whitaker with a giant beer glass. A spanking nice cake stand, from Mrs. Thos. Carr. Mrs. W.A. Gilham, f Kansas City, gave a water pitcher and a three-horned sauce dish. Little Eddie Gilham’s gift was a pretty little jelly dish. A valuable fruit stand, from Mrs. J.S. Branham, a very intelligent lady of Kansas City. Mr. and Mrs. Dick Van Horn and Mr. and Mrs. W.T. Osgood, also of Kansas City, presented a most ingenious gift. It was a dozen panoramic goblets, exhibiting tropical scenery. Mrs. J.T. Welden, another Kansas City beauty, a pair of Grecian glass celery stands. The list is completed. If I have omitted anything, I have committed a blunder for which there is no excuse. The supper was excellent, everybody praised the cooking, and all ate with a relish that showed beyond a doubt that no one had left his appetite at home. There was plenty and to spare. The bride’s cake was good to look upon, but still better chew upon. Mrs. Whitaker cut off large slice of her cake and John poured out about a pint of his good old apple brandy and they were given to me to deliver at the Tribune office, but before I got half way to Liberty I yielded to a desire to try them, and soon cake and brandy were no more. When all had eaten their fill and thing had been put to rights, the musician, Mr. Foster, took his seat and began to fiddle away on some dancing tunes, and soon a part of the gay company were kicking the dust out of the carpet. The dance lasted until three in the morning. If you could have seen John swing the ladies around it would have been quite a treat to you. The affair was very enjoyable, and all present seemed to pass the time very pleasantly. Yours in faith, Big Feet. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/clay/newspapers/crystalw234gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mofiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb