NORE SHORE TRBRERZE 
Mr. and Mrs. George Forster Allen 
| Celebrate their Golden Wedding 
Mr. GEORGE F. ALLEN. 
The honor of celebrating the golden 
anniversary of one’s wedding, after 
half a century of wedded life, is ac- 
corded to but very few, yet Mr. and 
Mrs. George Forster Allen celebrated 
that event at their Manchester home 
yesterday, when they were the recip- 
ients of hosts of congratulatious. 
They had made no extensive plans 
for the event, other than to announce 
informally they would be at home yes- 
terday, and the manner in which they 
were overwhelmed during the day with 
the congratulations of friends and rel- 
atives, who called, bespoke in no small 
degree the esteem in which the couple 
is held. 
More than 150 people called, many 
of whom were from out of town. 
From three to five in the afternoon 
Mr. and Mrs. Allen received, and from 
seven to nine in the evening. 
Dressed in the same grey silk gown 
in which she was wed fifty years ago 
in her New Hampshire home, Mrs. 
Allen stood beside her husband, and 
the two received their friends. The 
rooms were very tastily decked in 
flowers and green, and many vases of 
beautiful flowers were p.aced around 
the room. Behind the couple was a 
card on which was printed ‘1855 — 
1905.” 
Among those present was Henry 
C. Leach, a brother of Mr. Allen, who 
stood with him at the wedding fifty 
years ago. Mrs. Mary Hooper Kim- 
ball, the bridesmaid, was kept away 
because of illness, but she remem- 
bered the couple by presenting them, 
through her brother, with a handsome 
birthday cake. 
years. 
Mrs. GEORGE F. ALLEN. 
Mr. and Mrs. Allen were married at 
Mrs. Allen’s home in New Boston, 
N.H., by Rev. Mr. Richardson, of 
Goffstown, June 16, 1855, and they 
have made their home in Manchester 
ever since. Both have been very 
active, especially in church work, 
until within the past few years. 
Mr. Allen was born in Manchester, 
Sept. 10, 1826, and has spent practi- 
cally all his days here. His first con- 
nection in business was in April, 1849, 
when he received the appointment as 
postmaster at a salary of $300, and 
when the mails were brought over the 
road by stage. He served under the 
Taylor and Fillmore administrations 
and a short time under Pierce. 
In 1852 he engaged in the grocery 
and dry goods business, but retired 
seven years later by reason of ill 
health. From 1862 to 1868 he was on 
the board of selectmen, serving also 
as town Clerk. 
He started in the dry goods, boot 
and shoe and gents’ furnishing goods 
business in 1858, and has continued 
up to the present time. 
Mr. Allen has the remarkable record 
of having served as clerk and treasurer 
of the Congregational church for 37 
He was also secretary and 
treasurer of the Manchester Lyceum 
Library association, and remained such 
until the present library was founded. 
Perhaps one of the pleasantest con- 
nections of Mr. Allen’s life is and has 
been with the Elder Brethren organ- 
ization, of which he was the prime 
mover, and of which since its inception 
he has been president. 
Mrs. Allen was Miss Arabella Mc- 
25 
Collom, a descendant of one of New 
Hampshire's best known families. She 
has always been interested in church 
work, and has been an active member 
of the Ladies’ Sewing circle, Mission- 
ary society and King’s Daughters. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Allen stood up 
well under the stress yesterday The 
event is certainly one they will’ never 
forget. Everything was very success- 
fully conducted. 
Among those who assisted in mak- 
ing the affair a success were Mr. and 
Mrs. Osborne Leach, Miss Edith 
Kimball of Auburndale, Miss Martha 
Knight, Mrs. C. E. Bell and others. 
Mrs. J. A. Lodge poured, and Misses 
Kate Ashley and Ruth. Blaisdell 
served refreshments. 
Among those present from out of 
town were : 
Edward W. Hooper, Newton Centre; 
Susan Cheever Gould, Mr. and Mrs. E. P. 
Tenney, Abbie C. Hitchcock and Anna E. 
Proctor, Boston; Edith Trask Kimball, Au- 
burndale; Mr. and Mrs. Henry R. Leach, 
Henry C. Leach, Mr. and Mrs. D. B. Kim- 
ball and Mrs. Walter L. Harris, Salem; Mrs. 
Charles H. Trask, Lincoln; Anna L. Jenks, 
Melrose Highlands; Mrs. A. A. Smith, At- 
tiGAaNeys 
LINES 
Inscribed to Mr. and Mrs. George Forster Allen 
On their Golden Wedding, June 16, 1905. 
Full fifty years have run their round 
Since first in wedlock’s fetters, 
A youth and maid bethought themselves 
To imitate their betters. 
For ever since the world began, 
And Eve was joined to Adam, 
A maid will dream of.her true love, 
A man will seek his madam. 
In vain is all your best advice, 
And wasted all your warning, 
For hearts are light and hopes are bright 
In life’s unclouded morning. 
The love that smiled upon their youth, 
Each year has grown maturer ; 
Faith in each other, trust in God, 
Has dearer grown and surer. 
Dame Fortune, still a fickle jade, 
Whose smiles and frowns are shifty, 
Has played her coquetry with them, 
Till wedded years count fifty, 
And here tonight with hearts still light, 
And old-time friends around them, 
To God they raise their song of praise, 
Who with His love has crowned them. 
How years have sped since they were wed, 
We need not pause to reckon; 
The past is dead and lapped in lead, 
Faith, hope and love still beckon,— 
Still beckon to the blessed goal 
Toward which we all are tending, 
The heavenly goal in which the soul 
Finds love with glory blending. 
So for the years that yet remain, 
May Fortune’s smile be on them, 
And earth’s serenest joys be theirs, 
Till Heaven at length has won them, 
—JosEPH A. TORREY. 
Miss Barbara Higginson will sail 
next Tuesday, June 20, in company 
with relatives, to spend the summer 
abroad. 
