You know the summertime routine: Dads, Grads, and maybe a
few weddings in June, lots of fireworks and barbecues in July, followed by
vacations through whatever point in August signals your hometown’s return to
school and sanity at the end of the season.
Right in the middle of summer heat is not the time anyone
would expect to catch the flu. However, just before leaving on another research
trip, that is indeed what I managed to do. Having a rather bland outlook on
productive work of any kind for the last several days, I thought maybe today
might be an opportune time to pull out a little fanciful item I found among the
papers of Agnes Tully Stevens.
The card, folded in half, is roughly the size of an index
card. On its cover it bears the title, “The Wedding of Rose Flower.”
Thinking at first glance that this might be a memento from
Agnes’ son’s wedding to an Ohio Flowers family, I took a look inside to
discover the questions I’ve reprinted below—obviously a diversion for a young
ladies’ event: a bridal shower.
The back cover showed only the printer’s credit:
Dunwell & Ford – Stationery – Chicago
Checking online for any historical reference for that
particular enterprise, I found numerous auction web sites mentioning a 1904
pocket calendar produced by this company, as well as an entry in a directory of printers from 1918. However, the time frame extends well before those
dates, as I discovered with this entry for a Mr. Ford from the 1905 edition of Who’s Who in Chicago:
FORD, George Wilson, stationer; b. Oswego, N. Y., May 31, 1851; s. Asa R. and Mary A. (Nickles) Ford; ed. public schools of Oswego, N. Y.; m. Chicago, 1879, Minnie M. Cherry; 1 daughter: Mary Cherry. Began in stationery and engraving business in Oswego, N. Y., 1867-9; came to Chicago; since 1876 partner in firm of Dunwell & Ford.
Since 1876? That broadens the horizons considerably. This
little pamphlet is more likely the keepsake not from the festivities of the
Stevens-Flowers wedding—or any of the in-laws thereof—but of Agnes’ own wedding, a little over one hundred years ago, to William Stevens.
1. To what
nationality and type did the bride belong?
American Beauty
2. What was the
disposition and name of her husband?
Sweet William
3. What was his
object in marrying her?
Marigold
4. How did he
propose?
Aster
5. To whom did
she refer him when he asked for her hand?
Poppy
6. What time
was the wedding?
Four O’clock
7. Who
performed the marriage ceremony?
Jack in the Pulpit
8. What did the
organist play before the wedding march?
Narcissus
9. How many
came to the wedding?
Phlox
10. What were the
names of her two bridesmaids?
Pansy + Violet
11. What was the
color of their gowns?
Heliotrope
12. What flowers
did they carry?
Lilacs
13. Who was the
maid of honor?
Margarite
14. What color
did the little flower girl wear and what was her name?
Blue Bell
15. What did the
bride wear in her hair?
Orange Blossoms
16. What flower
did she carry?
Lily of the Valley
17. What did the
groom wear the night before his wedding for
the last time?
Bachelor Button
18. How was the
house decorated?
With Flags + Palms
19. What did they
throw after the carriage?
Ladies Slipper
20. Where did
they go on their wedding journey?
Magnolia
21. What was the
condition of the mother at the close of the
ceremony?
Bleeding Heart
22. What were the
groom’s parting words at their first separation?
Forget me not
23. How did she
feel when he returned?
Hearteases
24. What was the
manner of her greeting?
Tulips
25. What favorite
bon bon did he bring her?
Butter cup
26. How did the
bride rule her husband?
Golden Rod
Someone both knew the names of a lot of flowers as well as some really bad puns!!
ReplyDeleteI hope you are feeling better.
I'll agree with you there, Iggy...they are pretty pathetic puns. And thank you! I am feeling better.
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