This section is from the book "Hill's Manual Of Social And Business Forms: A Guide To Correct Writing", by Thos. E. Hill. Also available from Amazon: Hill's Manual Of Social And Business Forms: The How-To-Do-Everything Book Of Victorian America.
FASHION has established the custom, of late years, of celebrating certain anniversaries of the marriage, these being named as follows:
The celebration at the expiration of the first year is called the cotton wedding; at two years comes the paper; at three, the leather; at the close of five years comes the wooden; at the seventh anniversary the friends assemble with the WOOL-EN, and at ten years comes the tin. At twelve years the silk and fine linen; at fifteen the crystal wedding. At twenty, the friends gather with their china, and at twenty-five the married couple, that have been true to their vows for a quarter of a century, are rewarded with silver gifts. From this time forward, the tokens of esteem become rapidly more valuable. At the thirtieth anniversary, they are presented with pearls; at the fortieth, come the rubies; and at the fiftieth, occurs the celebration of a glorious golden wedding. Beyond that time the aged couple are allowed to enjoy their many gifts in peace. If, however, by any possibility they reach the seventy-fifth anniversary, they are presented with the rarest gifts to be obtained, at the celebration of their diamond wedding.
In issuing the invitations for celebrating these anniversaries, it is customary to print them on a material emblematical of the occasion. Thus, thin wood, leather, cloth, tin-foil, silk, silver and gold paper, and other materials are brought into use.
Of course, those who accept of such an invitation, and partake of the hospitalities of the host and hostess, are expected to contribute to the collection of gifts that will grace the occasion.
The form of invitation for such an anniversary is represented in the following :
Invitation to the Crystal Wedding.
Invitation to the Silver Wedding.
Invitation to the China Wedding.
Invitation to the Golden Wedding.
 
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