The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-01-15
From The American Daily Advertiser.
Ca;rs.-Fairs -

Mr.. PoULsoN.--We are glad to see at
least one warning voice against those
growing evils called Ladies' Fairs, told
in much good temper and grave good
sense, by yonr correspon jent Ii. in your
paper of the 9Th ult Will you suffer
one other structure, by another hand,
who is equally the friend of true religion
sound morals, and heavenly Charity
1t may help to strengthen the purposes
of those who are not yet wholly gone o.
yer to the new system Of money-begging
and may present a seasonable check Of
prudence TO those who have too thought
lessly given them their full sanction and
support
Such as we have sometimes seen tho
representations of those fairs, as occa-
sionalIy portrayed in the public prints by
their own friends, we could not forbear
TO think, $50 did not st. Paul ~ 1t
seemed to us too much like Bunyan's
VANITY FAIR" where all manner of
lures and contryances were to be
brought into requisition, to win stealthlIy
the ready money Of the bewi,ched bach
elors and dandy beauX. 1t has been
used too often as contrivauce to blend
amusement, parade, fashion, and reIig-
ion, together--as a means to outwit and
cheat those whose hearts and lives i'll ac-
corded with the personal duties Of piety,
to the help of Christianity. 1t seems an
art, by which lhose who never contribute
a cent to subserve The cause Of God, by
direct means, give, nevertheless, profuse-
ly to fair faces and sweet lips all which
is demanded.'
1t is indeed painful to he thus plain, to
deal so frankly concerning those fair
charmers who thus give to Fairs almost
all their attractions. think, however,
am warranted in these seemingly caus-
tic remarks. oy the showing other own
friends. Take the following as facts,
viz -
AT the ladies' fair at Boston, poetic
article, sold at high price by the ladies
themselves, thus spoke oul to the be-
witched gentlemen, viz -
"inprimis, because it is n lady's behest,
And what Knight ere refused a iady'S re.
quest?-
You see am honest; have nothing thats
cheap:
One resolve have made a rich harvest III
reap,
So offer you all--dye, even some trash
And ask, in return, for your cash Sir, your
cash. !"
In your own paper, Mr.. PoulsoE, o
d few days past, one Of the friends o
the Fairs caused the reprint of another
poetic article, intended 10 help the Fair.
just now got up in our city--it reads:-
"Oh haste and patronze the Fair,
'Tis your imperiouS duty
Haste to our Fair, ye beaux who prize,
Your city's reputation;
Haste, if you'd win from ladies' eyes,
A glance of APPRECIATION
We've all that you,hful praise can wake
We've all that age can pleasure"
The good people who give their sane
,ion and support to all these stirring ap.
pcals to the Imagination and fancy of
light minds aud vain hearts, are hardly
aware, while they do it, how very much
they expose themselves to the taunts and
rcproaches of erayer and more consde.
rate persons, We are really concerned
for the sacredness and sanctity of relig-
ION itself, in these matters. We are n.
fraid twill eventually y. tend to "wound it
in the house of its friends" for "religior
dishonored in its exterior and outward
form, makes prGudicc take deeper root,
confirmed 6y aoh0t it SECS ~ / shall con.
clude with touch of that kind of rotor,
and rcproof, which the occasion is bu,
too we'll calculated toprcduce. Iwould
not willingly grieve or offend, and "more
in pity than in anger" l here add the
true counterpart Of the picture-,o wit
"Fls true, the ccnsoriouS will say, It's vice
10 wheedle the young and the simple en-,
! ticc--
Sell valuelcss thing at monstrous ad,
vance,