The wedding march was played and your mother and I descended the stairs to the living room, when the Rev. Harris H. Gregg greeted us and after a few beautiful and appropriate remarks asked the Lord’s blessing for our future years. We then ascended the steps to the dais and were seated before the company. Then some gay old-time music was played and the little children walked up and curtsied to us. They were followed by the other grandchildren and our children, who came up and greeted us. Just then the entire gathering came forward, all throwing golden confetti, laughing and chatting and showering us with gold, congratulations and good wishes.

Many old friends whom we had not seen for years were there. Some said they had never attended a ceremony where there were so many smiles and tears intermingled. Refreshments were served and all drank our health. The musicians played all the old songs they knew and old and young gathered about and sang. Finally they played the “Virginia Reel” and I danced until I was forbidden. Then the young kept up the dancing while the old-timers gathered in corners and “reminisced.”
The accompanying photograph of the Golden Wedding party was taken on the lawn.

The following excerpt is from the St. Louis Globe-Democrat:
“The reception given by Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Matthews, Monday, in celebration of their Golden Wedding anniversary, was most interesting inasmuch as it brought together an unusually large number of the older generation and all the members of their own family of which four generations were present.

The house was beautifully decorated. At four o’clock the strains of the wedding march were heard and Mr. and Mrs. Matthews’ children and their children’s children entered the library which was beautifully decorated with yellow chrysanthemums and palms, and took their places according to their ages, the littlest ones all carrying old-fashioned bouquets of yellow roses.
The bride and bridegroom of half a century ago entered and walked to the end of the room to a dais which was set in a bower of flowers.

Mrs. Matthews wore an exquisite gown of black and carried a bouquet of bride’s roses fashioned after a little round, tight nosegays that she carried when a girl. It was arranged in a silver holder which she had used at her wedding.

When they were seated the children presented their bouquets and bowing, filed out of the room, the older ones following, then the guests, most of whom were relatives and friends of a lifetime, congratulated them.

All during the afternoon an orchestra played songs that had been the fashion fifty years ago.

Before leaving every guest was given a little gilt cornucopia filled with gold confetti with which they pelted the bride and bridegroom, covering them with a shower of gold.