A GOLDEN WEDDING.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1873, 4 January 1875, Page 3

A GOLDEN WEDDING.

I was present on the 26th of last month at a very interesting spectacle, the celebration of a gulden.> wedding. :■ No doubt the names of Mr and Mrs S. C. Hall are familiar to all our readers, and held in respect among thep. The venerable couple, who are still active, indefatigable members of the literary community—Mrs..S. C. Hall writes for many hours every day, and Mr Hall is editor of the Art Journal, and engaged in much-.literary'work besides—live'at Kensington, in a beautiful littlevUlaj which ,is-quite ,a.museum of art! Every inch of the walls is covered with valuable paintings, ; engravings, drawings, portraits,' and carvings. The rooms are -full, of works of art, and reminiscences of the living and the dead who are. or have been famous in art and literature for more than half a century. Many a long career has been witnessed from its beginning to. its close by Mr and Mrs S. C. Hall, and they still take the liveliest interest in every debutant in the world of letters. At this bijou villa — where one, looks from * multitude of rich, rare, curious objects, to almost every one of which a story, ©r at least an association, attaches, out oil a lovely little garden, cultivated and tended with the most skilful care—one meets everybody who is at once famous, and re-

spectable'in. "the literary world. Not llie * smallest soupgon of Bohernianisni is ever to bamet with there. One listens to charming conversation, hears delicious music, >and is presented to the.'celebrities of the present day, and of days gone past, for .Mr and Mrs S. C. Hail are constantly surrounded by their old friends—a number which is sadly thinoed of late. On the recent joyful occasion they all rallied .round the happyi beloved, honoured old couple. I could not have believed it would hare been possible to bring together such an assemblage in London in September, when the desolation of town .is at its emptiest. But every one who Vas in Loiadon flocked to Avenue Villa, and numbers who where not came up to tow.! fortKejp)|f|oseof|*r||enting theig cbngratulitioysl and goMvwWcte.i ITm announcements were interesting to listen to, as a long list of distinguished names wero passed on through the crowd to the " Golden Bride," who stood with her snowy-haired /VGplden Bridegroom, 1' inpte ce'ntreof alkr&l^if in^-rooiTi, an^. redeivecPlier gu'esls*witb? 4 dignified atad* serious simplicity which'was--singularly ■attractive and touching to behold. The church, the law, physic, the beau monde, painting, music, science, and literature were aIL i-jepresente^ there^--.aod in.Avery^ instanW one ould see "that re^al and; w-aM feeling had prompted the visit of congratulation, not"the i'-tnerd icoxtrlesy of conyenence. A delightful concert had been arranged, without the- knowledge of Mr -and Mrs 8. 0; Hall, by Mr; Wilbye Coopei'Tanof Isbnie idisinfguiihM^M'fistes/ and when they arrived, quite unexpectedly, and a beautifully printed programme of (Several appropriate pieces of music was distributed among the company, We ■genej,ral pleasure and approval was enthusiastic. •Theperforinancb wtfs of firsfrrai&merit, and enthusiastically applauded. Mr and Mrs 1 Hall* bdth wear tmit^eircswpnderfullp well, and they are as bright and charming companions as tone 1 could* wish to have. Mrs Hall was magnificently dressed in rich white silk, trimmed with crimson velvet and,splendid point d'Alencpn lace, with golden drnaiiients/a'gdldfdnVa gold-' trimmed bouquet,, aad a head-dress composed of 'white lrice itiid gold leaves. The house was transformed into a complete bower of flowers—Bouquet after bouquet came .tumbling; in J; .JivtiX they^ had to^be takeii'awa^ on trEys'and in ba^ets; anE !the jardinieres and vases had all been ] filled since morning". "Of course the lady authors mustered, .strong^ as was fitting, they owe"d-'"such"n6mVge''t6*'tn'eir"«^6»B c. j Several distinguished visitors had come and gone before larrived, and I found in the •throng ;of,"; those^pres.en± r Jiiss s ,lngelQ Wi JfisiiAikenßlortrig^l^pWewMXJjfosit land, Mrs Mayo. (Ihe-cleyer young lady who writes under tn'ei name of Edward Garrett), Lady Hardy, Miss Hardy, Mrs Macquoid, and Mrs Cashel ffoey. To each guesti^as give^a illuminated by Marcus Ward,'of Belfast, om. which photographs of Mr and Mrs Si .C. Hall look out from golden wreaths; and a smaller one,--on-which is printed a Jbeautiful poem addressed byyMr -Han^to^Tiis~~wlfe on;"the "fimetl anniversary of their wedding-day. It was a b^^fiil-^^tA€O lTFbfhQl4^t3»£'&(t|^il) weeded pair, who have'neveir had a clqttd upon the happiness -of their married -life, surrounded by^so many friends, and. re c ? e f iying v Jheir •. , v he,ar^-f elt con- ! granulation^ f"on .^ "an 'L' 6c6asibn r • wßich I is afforded, by late to, but ? .f9W of the, 1 chflxlreS bf num^iy. !^^bmmi^e^ias i been formed of spyeral gentlemen of disj.tinction, preSidei'bVer:b iy:Lb'rd Shaftesbury, for the purpose of presenting a 'tes^hnp,niai^to_Mr;and f ;Mrs:^ C t Hal], ; Mr' ■ ''' Maftin, y Mt.fway. j.^eafl^rson; r and many others interesting' 1 tliemselves in this project and. it js^;hppe^ and expected'that Ihe testimbriial willbba very handsome offering.,.,. J3"aU lias^edited the' &ft; ■^Jburnal for' 30 J years, and his services have been acknowledged by the town of Birmingham, where art manufacI tures have been: largely benefitted by his i exertions, by the presentation of a beautiful collection of gilt plate, of exquisite 'design.-^— La4y> correspondent of Australasian. ,"' • ":'J _!' l' ■'■ '■:'': : \ l "*y ' ;-