CHAB. GODFREY LELAND, Chairman, REV. WM. H. FURNESS,
WILLIAM V. MoKEAN, FRANCIS WELLS,
PROF. HENRY COPPICE, R. MEADE BACHE,
GEORGE 11. BORER,
CRAIG BIDDLE,
THE FAIR MOVEMENT IN THE LOYAL
STATES.—No. S.
the boston fair. —[Another Account.]
U. S. Sanitary Commission. 1
N. E. Women’s Auxiliary Association. >
No. 18 West Street, Boston, June 7, ’64. J
C. J. Stille, Esq. —Dear Sir: In reply to
Mr. Blatchford’s statement to me, of your
plan for a history which should embody that
of all the Sanitary Fairs, I told him, that re
specting ours in Boston, there is very little to
be said, but that little I should be happy to
say. My time is so fully occupied that I have
been unable to write earlier, and I shall beg
the favor of you, that my name shall not be
mentioned in connection with the few items I
may communicate.
The Fair originated, and was carried for
ward in our quiet, staid, New England way,
being entirely simple in its organization, and
almost noiseless in preparation. At a meet
ing of the Finanoe Committee of the New Eng
land Women’s Auxiliary Association, on the
11th of May, 1863, the Fair was suggested,
not as the best, but as an effective way of rais
ing funds for the purpose of the Commission.
It was voted, that it be announced in the daily
journals, that it was proposed to hold suoh a
Fair in Boston in the ensuing autumn. This
announcement, signed by all the members of
the Finance Committee, was made in the fol
lowing terms in the Boston papers of the 19th
May, and was the only notice, or circular of
any kind, ever printed, except a repetition of
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE :
GENTLEMEN.
ASA I. FISH,
CEPHAS G. CHILDS.
PHILADELPHIA, MONDAY, JUNE 13.
the same on June Bth, with the list of names
of Managers annexed:
“ The Finance Committee of the New Eng
land Women’s Branch of the Sanitary Com
mission, desire to call the attention of the pub
lic, to a Fair for the benefit of that Association,
whioh is to be held in Boston, early in the en
suing autumn.
“It is confidently believed that for an object
so dear to the hgarts of all New England wo
men, it will be possible to secure such general
and efficient effort as to render it even more
attractive and successful than the Bunker
Hill Fair, of days gone by.
“As the work of supplying needful articles
for the use of our soldiers is now most success
fully carried on, (especially by country towns
in New England) the subscribers earnestly
hope and desire that the regular labors of
friends of the Commission may not be in any
way interrupted by efforts to respond to this
new call, which is addressed especially to
those who may not yet have lent their aid to
the cause, and in the hope, that by suggesting
a variety of work, not only no needle will
now be idle in New England, but that many
other talents and may thus
be called into action to further the great ob
ject in view.”
The Finance Committee appointed from its
number four ladies and two gentlemen, who,
inviting the assistance of two others, selected
the gentlemen who should be invited to act as
managers, and ladies who should be solicited
to take charge of tables. This was the only
Committee ever appointed, and the names of
its members never appeared in print.
It was decided to hold the Fair in the Boston
Musio Hall, the largest building in the city, of
MRS. ROBERT M. HOOPER,
MRS. E. S. RANDOLPH,
MRS. WILLIAM S. PHILLIPS,
MRS. THOMAS P. JAMES,
MRS. PIIEBE M. CLAPP,
easy and agreeable access. It proved, how
ever, to be much too small for our purpose; but
in our doubt and distrust of the interest’we
could command, we never entertained the idea
for a moment of erecting a building for our
purpose. It was decided that twenty-four
tables could be placed in the hall. One was
assigned to each town in the vicinity of Boston
that signified a wish to be represented at the
Fair; the remainder, after assigning one as a
flower table and one as a “donation table,”
were placed in charge of ladies of Boston, who
had accepted our invitations to take them.
And there ended the work of preparation for
the Fair so far as any committee was con
cerned.
No subscriptions were ever solicited, and no
expenses were ever incurred. Two rules were
made and quietly mentioned to ladies when in
vited to take charge of tables: that no article
should be received for sale upon commission,
but that at the opening of the Fair, every ar
ticle should belong unqualifiedly to the table
upon which it was placed. 2d. That nothing
should be sold by raffle, of less value than
$2O, and if, after being placed in raffle a
purchaser should be found, each should be
withdrawn. Each lady had the entire respon
sibility of supplying the table over which she
presided. By the kindness of Mr. Secretary
Chasb, articles imported for the Fair came in
free of duty, giving a large profit upon goods
so provided.
It was voted to expend nothing in decora-
L ADIES
! MISS SARAH F. CUYLER,
MISS ANNA M. LEA,
MISS GRACE KIERNAN.
MISS LAURA HOOPER,
MISS DELIMA BLAIS.