Sketcher.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 388, 15 October 1903, Page 7

Sketcher.

DIAMOND WEDPINGS. «3P« GOLDENT wedding (the 50tb KhK|© anniversary) is celebrated in the ShuK tho TJii'ed Kingdom alinoßt every week (»tates the 'Daily Mail'); but ia proportion to population very tew ccuples indeed have tie privilege of celebrating 60 years of wedded life, aid it is, of course, rarer still to hear of a Happy pair who have journeyed together for 70 years Only in one instance, and that not in England, is it officially recorded that a couple have celebrated the 90bh anniversary of their nuptials. These old people live, or did live at the time of the census, in a little Norweiyan village. Although, diamond weddings are not very Bumercui in this country, there are probably more of such celebrations in England than on the Continent, for the averege duration of marriage ia the United Kingdom ie fairly high in proportion to population .Russia with her huge population comes first with an average marriage duration of 30 years; England second with 07 years; France and Germany third with 2(5 years. In February of last year it was annour cid in the' Times' that one married couple had just c debrated their 70th year in wedlock, and this fact suggested an it <j ury elsewhere as to whether such lengthy unions were becoming more frequent. It was suggested at the time that the number of diamond weddings was decreasing; but examination of sucb records as are available neither proves nor dispnvas this. Last year six diamond waddings were announced in the 'Times,' as well as 47 golden weddings and the 70th anniversary already alluded to. The previous year yielded 4 ' diamond' announcements, one announcement of the celebration of the 69th year in wedlock, and 47 golden weddings. Five years previously only 1 diamond wedding was announced and 51 golden weddings. Fifty years ago net one diamond wedding celebration was discovered, and no golden weddings were announced, though even in thoae days, of t ourse, many a couple must have celebrated their 50 ih year of wedded life together. . -■■;■■•■-•■-'

The absence of announcement cannot ! meaa that such celebrations did not occur. The instinct to advertise the fact was not Iso strong perhape. It certainly 8 ems fashionable nowadays for wives and husbands to ju"; a notice in the newspapers whenever they reach the various landmarks of wedded life. Silver weddings are almost as common as blackberries; but very extensive research revealed only one accouncement of a ' pearl' wedding anniversary. According to the announcement in the 'Times,' a'peail'wedding is celebrated on the fortieth anniversary of the nuptials. Quite the most important diamond wedding anniversary likely to be announced this year is that of a Grand Dusal pair c!osely connected with our Koyal Family. The diamond wedding of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of MecklenburgSfcrelitz, which will be celebrated on 28 ;h June, will be one of tbe most important events this year in the calendar of the Eaglish Boyal Family, o£ whic\ the Gratd Dachess is always called by the King the ' doyenne.' The venerable Princess was present at the coronations of William IV-, and Queen Victoria, as well as at the great ceremony of last year, when by his Majesty's special desire she occupied as nearly as possible the same place L as en the previous occasions.

l'he marriage of .the illustrious couple was solemnised at the chapel in Buckingham Palace—a vary rare oacurrence, which was repeated ia the cases cf King Edward's daughters;

ENGLAND'S 'LOST PEOPLE' Lb the present time 200 people are wanted by the London police in connection with criminal procet dings, and of that number 40 are known to havs escaped abroad. Fifty murderers • are * still at large. Throughout the country boards of guardians are energetically looking for 1500 husbands, and rewards amounting to nearly .£3OOO have been offered for information likely to lexd to arrests. About 300 mothers lave disappeared, Weaving children chargeable to the ratespayers of the country, d The (fficial searches for missing people, ,however. by no means repreaeat cue extent of the 'mystery mania,' Private ir qiiry agents are now hunting for 5000 people who have mysteriously vanished from varuu? pavts of the country. Sjm9 ranging from ,£25 to £6OOO are waiting to be paid to many of them when fjund. Ninety per sent, of the missing people are described aa cf dark complexion. So far this year, 50 married women have disappeared, compared whh 20 during the corresponding period of last year, The police have bean informed that a gang of foreigners is at work decoying children, and it is significant that during the firs* q larter of the year 55 boys and girls were reported as lost. Several members of well known families iave disappeared within the last few months. An (finer of the British Army has bfen missing since last Juno. Special detectives were sent regardless of cost to all parts of tke world, but as the relatives, co maintain secrecy, would only supply initials and no name; the sea*ch has been pursued under great difficulty.—' Daily Miil.'