And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. --Gen., 1,31.
Once again was the hospitable home of the Sinsabaugh family at Melrose the scene of merriment and good cheer last night, when its owners received their friends who came to offer congratulations on their having completed half a century of married life. From the moment the cannon boomed forth its welcome to the guests, who arrived on the special car at 6:35 o’clock, till the last notes of Doring’s orchestra died away, the company enjoyed hospitality such as only Mr. and Mrs. George W. Sinsabaugh know how to offer. It is fifty years since they were married and settled in business in Troy, and last night, as they stood in their spacious parlors, and aided by their children, received the congratulations of their numerous friends, they seemed as bright and happy as when they first started in their married life. The friends who went to Melrose last night were ushered into rooms brilliantly lighted and nicely trimmed with crepe paper, in yellow and white, while chrysanthemums formed a large part of the decorations. Mr. and Mrs. Sinsabaugh were assisted in receiving by Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Sinsabaugh and Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Sliter. The ushers were David B. Plum, E. P. Stickney, E. Jay Kemp, C. E. Gardner, Gifford Lee, and Mr. and Mrs. Sinsabaugh’s grandson, C. C. Sliter. The orchestra stationed at the head of the stairs discoursed sweet music as the guests offered their congratulations to the worthy couple and went into the back parlor to admire the beautiful presents. These included over $300 in gold, two gold-lined silver bonbon dishes, three gold salad spoons and forks, one set of which was a gift of the ushers, a beautiful vase, some fine Dresden china, a solid gold cake knife, and a prayer book, with a unique bookmark, fitted with gold mountings, one of which bore the dates ‘’1845-1895’’, besides many other articles of value. Among the donors of the many and beautiful gifts the names of the following appeared: Edward Murphy, Jr., William Kemp, D. W. Coon, J. S. Saunders, Mrs. Fred. Kendrick, Ralph Hudson, James Roff, Howard S. Kennedy, Thomas H. Magill and George Gardiner.
The anniversary supper was served in the dining room by efficient waiters, and while the older generation was thus engaged the younger people quickly cleared the parlors and, yielding to the tempting strains of the orchestra, were soon dancing to the music of a two-step. The scene in the family sitting room, at the left of the hall, was beautiful. A coal fire was burning cheerfully in the grate, while about it were gathered in easy chairs the oldest of the friends, who, with faces suffused with glad smiles, were enjoying the occasion in a quiet and reminiscent manner. It is safe to say that never has the house which has been the scene of so many jolly festivities been filled with so much kindly feeling as it was last night. Out in Mr. Sinsabaugh’s ‘’office’’, where the smoke from the good cigars was so thick that it was with difficulty the door could be forced open, the host became reminiscent and told how he started in his business career early in life, having, as his friends thought, too much individuality to work under any one, and so generously aided by friends, whom he seems never to have lacked, he started business in a small way for himself and soon acquired a reputation which placed him at the head of his calling in this city, until his very name is synonym for hospitality. There was a tinge of sadness in his voice as he remarked that he would never have another chance to entertain his friends on a fiftieth anniversary.
It was 9 o’clock when the majority of the guests began to look at their watches and say farewell to the ‘’bride and groom’’, as the venerable couple facetiously styled themselves. With the older heads out of the way, youth and merriment held sway in the hospitable rooms to the strains of Doring’s orchestra until midnight, greatly to the delight of Mr. and Mrs. Sinsabaugh whose youth.........
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