GOLD, SILVER AND OTHER WEDDINGS. ASHION 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 wOOLEN, 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 Notes of Invitation to Parties AND ELSEWHERE. OTES of invitation to a large party are usually printed and displayed in a style similar to the annexed, being always worded in the third person. If written, and among intimate friends, a more familiar style may be adopted. Invitations should be written or printed upon a whole sheet of small note-paper, and should be issued at least a week before the time appointed for the party, so that, if necessary, a suitable dress may be obtained. For a costume ball or masquerade, two weeks is the usual time allowed for preparation. The letters R. S. V. P. are sometimes put at the end of a note. They stand for the French phrase, "Répondez s'il vous plaît"-an answer, if you please. It is better, however, when an answer is particularly desired, to say, "An answer will oblige." It is courtesy to reply promptly to a note of invitation requesting an answer. If no reply is requested and you send no regrets, it is understood that you accept the invitation. Send invitations to persons in your own city or neighborhood, by your own messenger. It is regarded a violation of etiquette to send them by mail. Invitation to an Intimate Friend. Mrs. Langford may write to her intimate friend, Miss Burling, as follows: |