CIIAS. GODFREY I, ELAND, Ciiaibhav, william v, mckean, PROF. lIENItY COl'l’fE, GEORGE 11. BORER, CRAIG BIDDLE, THE FAIR MOVEMENT IN THE LOYAL STATES.—No. 2, THE CHICAGO FAIR TTAVING, in our first number, presented the gcnernl features of the “Fair move ment,” let us now return to the principal sub ject of these sketches, the several “Fairs” themselves. The constant stream which had flowed to the army during two years and a half, embracing, as has been said, articles of more than seven millions in money value, had, of course, some what drained the natural source of supply, the homes of the country. This exhaustion was first felt in the West; not only because the contributions in kind from that part of the country had been most munificent, but also because the reserve stock was there, necessa rily, more limited. At this juncture, it be came necessary to adopt some expedient, not only to keep up the regular supply which had hitherto been sent forward, but also largely to add to those supplies, in view of a prospective increasing demand. It should have been stated that the work of gathering in these supplies by means of the Aid Societies had been from the first exclusive ly in the hands of the women of the country. The Sanitary Commission was merely the recipient of their contributions, and the al moner of their bounty when it was received. It had nothing to do (beyond mere suggestion EDITORIAL COMMITTEE: GENTLEMEN, REV. AVAL IF. FURNESS, FRANCIS AVER US, R. MEADE RACIIE, ASA I. FISH, ! CEPHAS G. CHILDS PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, JUNE 0 and advice) vvith the mode by Avliich these contributions reached its depository. During the Summer of 1803 it occurred to some of those ladies who had been zealous co-workers with the Sanitary Commission from the begin ning that a grand “ Fair,” to be held at Chicago, and so organized as to enlist the patriotic and benevolent feeling of the whole Northwest in its favor, might be made a means of replenishing the exhausted stock of the Commission at that point. To two ladies of Chicago (Mrs. A. IT. lloof. and Mrs. D. P. Livermore) belongs the distinguished honor not only of originating the idea of Sanitary Fairs, but of so successfully organizing and conducting tho “Great Northwestern Fair” in that city, as to stimulate by their example thousands of their own sex in other cities, who, guided by their experience, have since achieved such wonderful results for the benefit of the soldier by similar enterprises. These ladies, associating with them a large number of others who had been the presiding officers of the more important aid societies in the Northwestern States, issued a circular calling a convention of all those interested in Army Relief, to be held at Chicago, on the Ist of September, 1863. This convention was largely attended, and most enthusiastic in its approval of the contemplated Fair. By it the plan for conducting it was definitely adopted, and all the machinery of committees and offi cers arranged. It was determined to make a strong effort to produce a grand demonstration PUBLISHING COMMITTEE MRS. RORERT M. HOOPER, MRS. E. S. RANDOLPH, MRS. AVILLIAM M. PHILLIPS, AIRS. THOMAS P. .TAMES, AIRS. PIIEIIE M. CLAPP, LADIES AIISS SARAH F. CTYT.KR, AIISS ANNA M. LEA, AIISS GRACE KIERNAN AIISS LAURA HOOPER, AIISS DLI.IMA lII.AIS of loyalty and sympathy for the soldier. Mrs. Hole and Mrs. Livermore visited towns by scores, to awaken interest where special effort was needed, and in every principal place ill the Northwest “Fair Meetings” were held, which resulted in handsome pledges to the Fair, that, were more than fulfilled. The whole population of the five States was roused to a state of excitement, which culminated in tho splendid inaugural pageant at Chicago, at the opening of the Fair, on the twenty-seventh of October last. This pageant is described by those who saw it as “a sight such as had never been before seen in the West oil any occasion,” and as probably a more magnificent spectacle than was ever presented even in the streets of the Umpire City itself. The proces sion, nearly three miles long, was made up of country wagons, vehicles laden with supplies for the soldiers, of civic orders, and military organizations both horse and foot. From the earliest dawn of the day, the heart of the mighty city was awake, and long before eight o’clock the streets Avere thronged with people/ Citizens hurried excitedly to and fro, and country women, with their children, came in early in the morning, w ith colors tied to their bridles, and decorating their Aragons, and with miniature flags and banners on their horses’ heads. From the house-tops, from the public buildings, was displayed the glorious flag of liberty. By nine o’clock the city was in a roar: the vast hum of multitudinous voices filled the atmosphere. Drums beat in all parts
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