OHAS. GODFREY LELAND, Chairman, BET. WM. H. FURNESS,
WILLIAM. T. MoKEAN, FRANCIS WELLS,
PROF. HENRT COPPfiH, R. MEADE BACHE,
GEOROE H. BORER, ASA I. FISH,
CRAIG BIDDLE, CEPHAS G. CHILDS.
No. 11.
THE FAIR XOYEMRHT 111 THE LOYAL
STATES.—Ho. 11.
THE GREAT CENTRAL FAIR AT PHILADELPHIA.
TT was hardly to be expected that Philadelphia
should escape the general oontagion whioh
had extended into other parts of the country.
No city, as is well known, has been more con
spicuous than this, for devotion to the cause of
the soldier, or for contributions to his relief,
by means of organizations of all kinds. The
Sanitary Commission has had, for a long time,
an active and flourishing agency here, whioh,
during the last two years, has collected more
than one hundred and twenty thousand dollars,
contributed exclusively by our citizens, besides
maintaining a depot of army supplies under the
charge of the ladies, whioh has gathered in
from this State, and the surrounding States,
an immense quantity of supplies, which have
been sent forward to the Army of the Potomac.
The Executive Committee of the Philadelphia
Associates were well satisfied with the regular
normal and steady supply of money and goods
to the Depository under their charge. The mass
of the people here needed no further stimulus
or excitement to oontinue their liberalityty.
But there was an outside pressure in this mat
ter whioh they did not feel at liberty to resist;
and, besides, it is sometimes true that “you
might as well be out of the world as out of the
fashion.” The “ Union Leaugue, ”a, most im
portant and influential body here, took the
lead by passing resolutions, on the 11th of
EDITOBIAL COMMITTEE:
GENTLEMEN.
PHILADELPHIA, MONDAY, JUNE 20.
January, 1864, requesting the Philadelphia
Associates of the Commission, to hold, in this
city, a fair, for the same objects whioh had
been attended with so great a success in other
plaoes, and pledging the support of its mem
bers to the enterprise. This action seemed to
meet with such general favor in the community,
that the Executive Committee of the Associates
had no alternative but to set to work, at once,
and in earnest, to organize a plan of opera
tions.
It was, by resolution of January 22, 1864,
determined by them to hold a Pair in the
month of June in aid of the Oeneral National
Treasury of the Commission, and, in order to
effect that object an Executive Committee of
gentlemen, to whose management the whole
enterprise should be confided, seemed, after
the experience gained at other Fairs, to be the
best plan. The most important thing in this
plan, at the outset, and the one most anxiously
considered by the Associates, was the selection
of the Chairman of the Executive Committee,
or, in other words, the administrative head of
the Fair. They were most fortunate in induc
ing John Welsh, Esq., to take that position, a
gentleman whose name in this community has
the guarantee of the suocess of any enterprise
requiring energy, ability, and zeal for its pro
secution. From the hour in whioh he accepted
the office, to the present, he has devoted his
eminent abilities to the prosecution of the
work with characteristic determination and
spirit. Difficulties of a formidable kind have
been met with at every stage in the proseou
ladies.
MRS. ROBERT M. HOOPER, MISS SARAH F. CUTLER,
MRS. B. S. RANDOLPH, MISS ANNA M. LEA,
MRS. WILLIAM S. PHILLIPS, MISS GRACE KIERNAN.
MRS. THOMAS P. JAMES, MISS LAURA HOOPER,
MRS. PHEBE M. CLAPP, MISS DELIMA BLAIS.
tion of so novel' an undertaking, but they
have been also fully overcome by a combina
tion of energy, tact, and thorough devotion to
the cause on the part of the Chairman of the
Executive Committee, as to excite the wonder
and admiration of those who know best the
secret history of the enterprise. If the Fair
should prove a great success, it is certainly no
disparagement to the important services ren
dered by others, to say that the result will be
mainly due to the admirable direction of its
Chief Executive officer.
The Executive Committee of the Great Cen
tral Fair is composed of twenty-four members,
who have had the general management of the
undertaking. They appointed nearly one
hundred Chairmen of Committees, representing
every branch of industry and art. Organiza
tions auxiliary to this committee were ap
pointed by the authorities of New Jersey and
Delaware, each of which States has a special
department, and is to be oreditcd with its
contributions to the general fund. The Ladies’
Committees which correspond with those of the
gentlemen as far as practicable, were selected
by a ladies’ committee of organization, ap
pointed by the Executive Committee. One of
the distinguishing features of this Fair is that
its management is more under the control of
gentlemen than any one which has preceded it.
It is no part of our duty to chronicle here
either a description of the Fair buildings, or
of the riches that they contain. That agree
able task we leave to our oolleagues, but we
cannot dose this imperfect sketch of the origin