of its success. Ocular proof must be afforded,
which would place its perfection beyond dis
pute. Indeed, lam authorized to offer you the
very best place in the Fair, the most promi
nent and conspicuous position, if you can make
good your title to what you claim, by flying
through the air from Schraalenburgh to our
Fair in Logan Square, in Philadelphia. Do
this and your name will be immortal. Unless
proof like this be offered, we must decline to
receive at the Fair a Flying Machine that can-
not fly.
Hoping to hear of your success, if not to
I remain, yours, &c.,
Horace Howard Fcrness,
FAIRINGS.
At length the solemn days of preparation are
ended, and the veiled glories of Logan Square
open to the searching gaze of the eager pub
lic. Not yet, however, has the vulgar eye of
the “common herd” rested upon the marvelous
wonders of the place, for only those privil
eged ones, who held in hand the “ open se
same” of a two dollar ticket, could partake of
the original beauty and freshness of the great
exhibition on the first day. So the hungry,
gaping crowd gathered around the outer gates
and peered wistfully through the iron bars to
catch a glimpse of the splendor within, while
a large detail of that essentially American ele
ment, “ small boy,” did voluntary picket duty
wherever a neighboring fence offered a
transitory perch. Tuesday afternoon the in
cessant human tide rushed from all avenues of
the city in the direction of this last great
wonder.
Once fairly inside the charmed gates, and
a spell of enchantment seemed to pervade the
place. Up and down the long corridors poured
the never-ending stream of active life. The
low murmur of voices rose on the air, laden
with the perfume of a thousand flowers.
Dazzling draperies in national colors lined the
walls, beautiful fabrics and articles of varied
manufacture loaded the tables on every side,
and the ladies reigned supreme over all. The
ladies! dear, delightful creatures, how they
did possess and pervade every nook and corner
of the place. Rosy faces, wreathed in smiles,
beamed invitingly behind the counters, dainty
fingers toyed with ribbons and laces, and
bright, bewitching eyes gleamed saucily out
from every sheltering pillar, bush or flower.
Very charming they were, (though very un
conscious they appeared, (in their neat white
waists with gaily oolored scarfs. The “ presi
ding angels” of one department wore tiny
muslin caps with trimmings of lovely blue,
little fluttering, fairy-like creations, half girl
ish, half womanly, sending palpitations to the
masculine heart, which obstinately refused to
OUB ID-A-I XiY Pabe.
be comforted. About the fair group gathered
the fascinated occupants of broadcloth, in a
crowd so dense as to be almost impenetrable.
But I should not in these days do justice to
the ladies should I neglect especial mention of
the “coiffures.” In fact, the manner in
which the feminine head is developing into
hair, recently, is positively alarming. “Alps
on 'Alps arise ” in the present mountainous
style of arrangements for this “crowning
glory ” of womanhood. Rippling waves,
forced into unnatural channels by cruel crimp
ing pins, are tressed up high above the brow,
and at the back depends a stupendous “ cata
ract,” or at the least, a moderate “ waterfall.”
Of course that original developments of natural
scenery were not wanting at the Fair. Coif
fures I saw which seemed the embodiment of
the dying agonies of a race of defunct hair
dressers, but the most remarkable development
of this art was achieved by a young lady of light
complexion in an entirely successful represen
tation of that state of “ untrammeled nature ”
usually acquired by wearing tresses which
have been undisturbed by comb or brush for
three consecutive weeks.
Secretary.
But to return to the Fair. In the depart
ment of Arms and Trophies, the warning pla
card, “hands off,” was everywhere conspicu
ous, and so, of course, many a man, as he passed
along, tried his knuckles gently on the great
cannon, essayed to lift the heavy iron balls,
laid his fore-finger cautiously on gilt sword
handles, and raised the little sand-bag which
completed the northeast corner of the minia
ture fort, until the white muslin of the latter
was turned to blackness by contact with pollu
ting fingers. In vain I tried to force an en
trance into the coveted Floral department. The
stout youth who guarded the portal, eminently
fitted for his post, with Spartan firmness de
nied the potency of my season ticket until the
opening exercises should be concluded. So I
pocketed my chagrin and my card, and beat
an inglorious retreat to the Union avenue.
High up in the regions of air, (very bad air,)
a manly figure, with outstretched arms, was
just discernible, and the occasional accents of
a “ still small voice” reached our ears, borne
above the ceaseless hum of conversation.
There was a burst of martial music—an omi
nous silence—a startling crash—a concluding
cheer—and the “Great Central Fair ’’was
open. Nutmeg.
THE COST OF SANITARY SUPPLIES TWO
YEARS AGO AND NOW.
Of every $lOO,OOO worth of supplies sent
by the Sanitary Commission to tho army two
years ago, $90,000 worth came directly from
the people, without any money cost to the
Commission.
At the present time, of every $lOO,OOO worth
of supplies sent by the Sanitary Commission
to the army, at least $BO,OOO worth must be
bought with ready money. This condition of
things arises from the fact that the homes
themselves, by constant giving from material
on hand, have become exhausted, and the peo
ple, who have contributed so largely to the
“Sanitary Fairs,” feel much less called upon
than heretofore to go outside of their homes
and purchase material.
Hence, assuming that during the coming six
months the Commission find occasion for dis
tributing an amount of goods equal to that
distributed last year, in the corresponding
term of time, the money derived from all the
Fairs, will do no more than carry the Commis
sion through the coming summer.
TO THE EDITOR.
Sir :— I ask your advice on a literary sub
ject. lam writing a poem in praise of the
greatest General the war has produced, and
as I have no weak partiality for any man, and
only desire to please the public, I am obliged
to make such changes that it really worries
me exceedingly. My poem originally began
in September, 1801, thus:
Oh! George B. McClellan,
That great little man,
.Is marching on Richmond
As fust as he can !
After a while I changed it to :
Oh! George B. McClellan,
That great little man,
lie holds hack from Richmond
As hard as lie can.
I Lad before long'to make another variation:
Oh! General Burnside,
Thou very big man,
Our Lincoln will keep thee
As long as he can !
Before I could get to my second stanza, I
found the first would not do, and I wrote:
Oh! lighting Joe Hooker,
That fine dashing man,
He’ll drive all before him,
For that is his plan.
In a few weeks it was all over with him,
and now I am stuck between two great men,
who have really, beyond doubt, distinguished
themselves.
Which shall I celebrate ? Shall I say
Oh! Gettysburgh Meade,
That modest, brave man,
He came, saw and conquered,
The Rebels all ran.
Or
Oh! great U. S. Grant,
That wonderful man,
He’ll crush the rebellion,
I say that ho can.
Now you see, I have through the whole war,
stuck at the first stanza. You must allow it
to be a striking and extraordinary one. Pray
help me to settle on my hero, that I may come
to a conclusion by the time peace is pro-
Calliopb Smith.
claimed.
TJRINTED by Rjngwalt & Brown, 111 & 113 South 4th
Street, Philadelphia, for the Great Central Fair in
aid of the United States Sanitary Commission.