nent Irish Nationalist member of the English Parliament, and other distinguished speakers have been invited to deliver addresses. Governor Lowden has issued a special proclamation, calling attention to Lincoln's birthday and recommending its observance. DR. AND MRS. J. F. SNYDER OBSERVE THE SIXTYTHIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR MARRIAGE. Sixty-three years of wedded life has been the remarkable good fortune of Dr. John F. Snyder and his estimable wife, who quietly observed the anniversary of their marriage on September 27, 1917. The marriage of Dr. Snyder and his young bride, Anna E. Sanders, was a social event of importance in Bolivar, Mo., September 27, 1854, the bride's father, Landon N. Sanders, having invited the entire county and environs to the festivities, and all were entertained with the lavish hospitality of ante-bellum days. Both Dr. and Mrs. Snyder are native Illinoisans, aged, respectively, 87 and 80 years, and have been residents of Virginia, Ill., since the sixties. Dr Snyder retired some time ago, after a long and successful medical practice, and has devoted his leisure to literary pursuits. He has earned a wide reputation as an authority on matters pertaining to Illinois history, archaeology and kindred subjects, and has been a prolific writer along these lines. Dr. Snyder was one of the founders of the Illinois State Historical Society, served as its first vice president, succeeding Judge Beckwith as president the second year, and is still a contributor to its publications. He has also represented his district in the State Legislature. Advanced age has not impaired his faculties, and he takes a vital interest in the stirring events of this history-making epoch. Mrs. Snyder is frail in health, but nevertheless is actively engaged in knitting for the comfort of the country's defenders. Dr. and Mrs. Snyder are spending their remaining days in a comfortable home on the site occupied by them for nearly half a century, surrounded by old friends and many new ones, whose congratulations on this unusual anniversary were hearty and sincere. MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM H. BRYDGES OBSERVE THEIR GOLDEN WEDDING. Mr. and Mrs. William H. Brydges celebrated their golden wedding anniversary Thursday, December 20, 1917, at Elgin, Illinois. No formal invitations were issued, but all their friends were welcome on that day between the hours of 2 and 4 o'clock in the afternoon and 7 and 10 o'clock in the evening. It was the wish of Mr. and Mrs. Brydges that no presents be brought. The celebration was held in the home in which Mr. and Mrs. Brydges were married, the home in which their two children were born and in which their silver wedding anniversary was observed. Mr. Brydges was born in England. Being left an orphan, he came to this country with his grandparents when 9 years of age. He was a soldier in the Civil War; a former principal both of the Elgin Academy and Elgin high school and superintendent of the Elgin city schools. He has served as teacher or supervisor of schools in six other counties of Illinois and in Racine, Wisconsin, and for the past eighteen years as assistant county superintendent of schools. He is a member of the Congregational Church, the Grand Army, the Masonic fraternity, the Eastern Star, the Elgin Scientific Society, the Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association the State and National Teachers' Associations and the Illinois State Historical Society. Mr. Brydges was in the city council for six years and on the board of supervisors for eight years. Mrs. Brydges, before her marriage, was Miss Ellen A. Smith of Ohio, and came to Illinois with her parents when she was 5 years old. She is a member of the Congregational Church, the Woman's Relief Corps, the Eastern Star and other patriotic and social organizations. Perhaps no couple in Elgin is better known than Mr. and Mrs. Brydges. Ralph S. Brydges of 431 Prairie Street, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Brydges, is in charge of the record department of the sixth division of the railway mail service of the United States, with his office in the Federal building of Chicago. Carl K. Brydges is in the engineering department of the Chicago Telephone Company of Chicago and makes his home in that city. William H. and Ellen Smith Brydges, who fifty years ago were married in the Roswell Smith Homestead in Division Street, amid the white and green of bridal festivity, now, after all the changing years, amid the gold and scarlet of fiftieth anniversary time and the Yuletide, greeted their friends and received felicitations in the same old home. Very nearly 150 friends took time from the busiest week of the busiest year in many to respond to the invitation to informal reception between the afternoon hours of 2 and 4 o'clock and in the evening from 7 to 10 o'clock to call and extend congratulation. Before the evening reception and previous to the installation of officers of Monitor Lodge, A. F. and A. M., members marched together to the home of Mr. Brydges, their chaplain, paid their compliments to him and Mrs. Brydges. With their regards, George W. Hinsdell presented the two with fifty American Beauty roses. Members of the Elgin Scientific Society came in a body to offer their good wishes. Gifts of flowers and gold arrived at intervals during the day, and before the end of the evening the twinings and hangings of ground pine and holly were only a part of the lovely decoration, for flowers bloomed everywhere. In the dining room golden narcissi made adornment, and when guests were served the refreshment of coffee, sandwiches, cakes and candies, each was given a tiny American flag. There was music in the afternoon by Miss Edith Pearson of Geneva and in the evening Miss Marchie Hines gave a reading. Victrola music entertained both afternoon and evening. The G. A. R., W. R. C., O. E. S., Friendly Circle and other organizations of which Mr. and Mrs. Brydges are faithful and active members, were represented in the gifts of flowers and gold. Mrs. Ralph S. Brydges, Mrs. Earl Brydges of Chicago, Mrs. Jennie Morrill, Miss Cora Verity of Park Ridge and Mrs. Retta Avery assisted in receiving and in serving. |