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