TO PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
Proudest of all earth’s thrones
Is his who rules by a free people's choice;
Who, midst fierce party strife and battle groans
Hears, ever rising in harmonious tones,
A grateful people's voice.
Steadfast in thee we trust,
Tried as no man was ever tried before;
God made thoemerciful—God keep thee just!
Be true!—and triumph over all thou must;
God bless thee evermore!
Great Central Fair, June 10,15G4.
M OVI GREAT CESTHAL Fill.
TIIE PRESIDENT’S VISIT.
The visit of our worthy President, on Thurs
day last, in company with Mrs. Lincoln and
General Lew Wallace, was an event in the his
tory of the Fair, and the occasion will not soon
be forgotten by those who were fortunate
enough to be present.
A dense crowd of people assembled in Union
avenue to greet the Chief Magistrate of the
nation, and the scene at the moment the Presi
dent entered the eastern door, as witnessed
from the music gallery was one of striking
magnificence. Beneath the waving banners
and flags of all nations was the surging mass
of ladies and gentlemen, all decked in their
holiday attire, and all bent upon a view of the
President. Mr. Lincoln’s form towered far
above the heads of the people, and at every
turn he was saluted with the hearty cheers ot
those present. Tiny flags were waved by tiny
hands; handkerchiefs and fans did duty with
those of larger growth, hats were whirled high
in air, and, altogether, the like of the spectacle
has never been witnessed before in Philadel
phia.
Mr. Lincoln was received by John Welsh,
Esq., in behalf of the Committee, and after a
vain attempt to form a passage through the
crowd, the President and his suite were escor
ted to the committee room, while arrangements
were made to clear the way for a more com
fortable view of the buildings and their con
tents. Mayor Henry and Chief Buggies su
perintended the police arrangements, and after
an hour’s absence Mr. Henry returned and
was saluted by Mr. Lincoln, who was ready to
start, with the query: “ Well, what do the
engineers report?” As the report was satis
factory the tour was resumed and completed
with more satisfaction than at the first trial,
although the pressure was still far from agree
able.
Mrs. Lincoln, who was in charge of the la
dies, reached the building before Mr. Lincoln
did and had a better opportunity to inspect the
goods and decorations. She left on the West
Philadelphia stand a beautiful Japanese flower
stand.
Otje DaiFare.
Hon. Edward Everett visited the Fair in the
morning without any knowledge of the Presi
dent’s contemplated visit, and he formed in
the afternoon one of the distinguished guests,
with Governor Cannon, of Delaware.
The inspection over, the President and his
suite, were token to the banquet room of the
Committee, where a cold collation was spread.
At the close of this, the health of the Presi
dent was proposed by Mr. Welsh, and in re
sponse, Mr. Lincoln made one of his charac
teristic speeches. His announcement that the
war had been accepted in the line of restoring
the national authority over all the national do
main, that with the help of God, it was pro
posed to fight it out on that lino if it took three
years more, was received with such enthusi
asm as is rarely accorded to a public speaker,
lion. Edward Everett, Gov. Cannon, and
General Wallace,were called upon for speeches,
and their responses were in keeping with the
occasion,
On behalf of the Ladies of the Committee
on Medals, Ex-Gov. Pollock, presented the
President with a Silver Medal, struck in com
memoration of his visit to the Great Central
Fair.
The entertainment was not closed until after
the buildings were illuminated, and before
leaving, the President and his party had an
opportunity of witnessing the brilliant effect
produced at night. On Friday morning Mrs.
Lincoln was escorted to the Art Gallery, where
she was able to fully inspect the collection
of paintings.
The whole affair passed off with credit to
all concerned.
The Fair was crowded yesterday, as usual,
all was merry, and the work went bravely on.
We continue our notices of the most noticea
ble features of the great display, beginning
with the Department of Art:
THE ART GALLERY, NO. 2.
One of the finest pictures in the collection
which has been gathered together in the Art
Gallery of the Great Central Fair, is Ilasen
clever’s Workingmen’s Petition, deposited for
exhibition by Mr. Ferdinand J. Dreer. The
picture represents the meeting of the town
council, or a body of German burgomasters,
during tho troublous times of 1848. A win
dow in the rear is open, and through the case
ment a mass meeting in full career, with a
popular orator haranguing the people, can be
distinctly seen. A delegation of this demo
cratic gathering has entered the apartment,
represented in the foreground, and they are
about to present a petition to the official gen
tlemen, demanding a recognition of their polit
ical rights.
The artist thoroughly understood the sub
ject he undertook to illustrate. The half
abashed, half-defiant air of the workingmen,
who have taken so bold a step as to petition
the powers that are, is finely portrayed,
while the artist hits off to the life the
amazement and concern with which the officials
present look upon a movement which threatens
such disastrous consequences to the ancient
order of things, where one class was con
sidered born to serve uncomplainingly, while
another class claimed the right to rule with
out question. The city councilman, or bur
gomasters, in one group, are finely presented
by the artist. There are countenances among
them that plainly indicate the anxiety of
their wearers concerning the new order of
things, while the fat, beery old burgher in the
foreground, who is wiping the perspiration
from his brow, and puffing off his amazement
at the unwonted scene, is a fine fogyish offset
to the progressive Young Gcrmnnyism of tho
wiry and bearded workingmen, who so sud
denly find themselves in such unaccustomed
company. Like all of Ilasenclever’s pictures,
this splendid work is complete in every detail,
every figure being a study, and the whole
forming a group as lifelike as though it had
been photographed from the reality.
No. 68 in the collection, a fine picture by C.
Von Wille, entitled The Bone of Contention,
and the property of Mr. Joseph Harrison, Jr.,
is an exquisite work of art. Two dogs are
represented in the act of fighting for a bone,
and the picture is so life-like and natural, that
we almost expect to hear the angry snarling of
the canines who are struggling so fiercely for
the prize which lies beside them. As a picture
of genuine animated nature, this work has
no superior in the collection.
Ilaseltine’s picture of the Seven Mountains
is an exceedingly fine painting. Tho coloring
is managed with great skill and effect, and the
toning is exquisite.
No. 302 on the Catalogue, which is denomi
nated “ the Light House, coast of Holland,” is
a capital picture. It represents a beacon-light
upon the sea coast, with a man mounted upon
a ladder and in the act of trimming the lamp
in the lantern. The artist has managed his
sea and sky with consummate skill, and he has
not forgotten to pay due attention to the nose
and countenances of the man whom he has in
troduced in his picture.
“Franklin Before the Privy Council,” is a
picture that will always command attention.
In it Schussele, the artist, has represented the
“Printer Philosopher,” before the Magnates
of England, when the question of Colonial
rights and Colonial grievances was beginning
to attract the attention of tho “Lords and
Commons,” and when “ Agent Franklin” was
summoned to Saint James, to be questioned
concerning American affairs. The artist has
made a decided hit in the Portraiture of the
Lightning-tamer, and of the free and easy
looking lords and ladies before whom he has
been called.
“ Day Dreams,” by Couture, will commend
itself to all lovers of the really truthful and