The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-10-26
Close Of the Great Fair or tho American
Institute, nt Castle Garden.

of them among the ancient Greeks and Romans.
The early mode in which goods were bsught and
sold was by periodical fairs. Shops and stores in
cities were then unknown I; they of much later
origin. We read, in Caesars Commentaries, Of
merchants resorting to various places In Gaul, from
Rome, and other countries, who earned their
goods, to expose them for sale at the fairs. Thus,
in ancient times, merchants were great travellers,
and the news and political intelligence, as to the
state of any country or people, was almost entirely
made known by them only, when printing and
newspapers were unknown. Thus, we read again,
in Caesar, that, preparatory to his expedition into
Britain he enquirsd OF the merchants what sort OF
a people they were-what sort of ports or harbors
they had and it was from them he obtained all
the intelligence with which he was furnished be-
fore he made his descent upon that then unknown,
but since famous island, progenitrlx OF race o.
enterprsing Yankees.
Fairs, or periodical annual assemblsges of mer-
chants of all kinds, and of buyers of all kinds, at
one regular place, for the purchase and sale of
goods OF all kinds are, believe especially OF Orr
entail origin No doubt the lshmielitIsh merchants
to whom his cruel brothers sold Joseph, were going
TO some great annual fair in Egypt tor the modern
system of consgnees and retail store-keepers was
unknown for many ages afterwards. Ambulatory
merchants and periodical fairs still prevalent
in the East, among a people who love to retain,
unchanged, their primitive customs:
In modern Europe, the Eastern fashion OF fairs
came early into use during the teudal ages they
were the only means by which the great families
supplied themselves, for the year, with what their
households required. At the regular fairs, which
were regularly held all over the country they were
in the habit Of laying IN their stores OF all sorts OF
things, for all sorts OF things were there to be met
with. In those times fairs were OF so much ma
tional and popular Importance that, like the public
ihey served for periods of chronological computa-
ton, and people were in the constant habit OF da-
ting events from the time Of or before the time OF,
such and such far. The fairs in Europe were al
ways great public holiday, and ia process OF time
they became The signal for the assemblage of ali
SORTS of people, and professors and professions
The mountebapk retalled his nostrums, the Jug
gler exhibited his feats, the dancer displayed his
agility, the play-actor brought forward his drama,
while the merchant sold his wares and the
huckster his goods. In England, especially, where
the common people are passionately attached Cor.
till OF late years, were) TO their ancient customs
and privileges. these old fairs are still kept up
periodically, at different places throughout the
United Kingdoms.
But while the framework is kept up, the orr
gnal intention of them is mostly lost and they are
now merely periodical assemblages Of booths and
people, for the purpose of theatrical exhibitions and
other amusements and the merchandise is chiefly
confined TO the merchandise OF gingerbread, toys,
and articles for the amusement OF the younger Por-
ton of the community. AT these times, all chill
dren regularly expect their "falring," which Is
some toy or present 10 be brought them from the
fair and the village belle expects her rustic beau
not TO forget her ON this solemn occasion. Every
body knows the old ballad
"Oh, dear, what can the matter be
Johnnys 70 long at the fair
He promised to buy me ribbon
To tie up my bonnie brown hair"
Those ancient fairs were under no management
Of directors or committees; the people, merchants
and all, ocked thllher by the force OF long custom,
end IT was more than bis kingdom was worth for
the monarch, or any other power, TO think OF pre-
venting them.
At every fair there was regular ertemperaneous
court Of law called the I" Pie poudre Court" OF
which Blackstone makes mention, IN his "Com.
mentaIiss;" and here were judged, summarily, all
the offences which were committed IN the fair, and
here all the disputes were adudicated which arose
between the merchants, the buyers, or others.
Some Of these old mercantile fairs still kept up,
chiefly in Yorkshire, In England, where the cloth
manufacturers still resort, AS IN ancient tunes, TO
the regular cloth fairs, to sell the proceeds OF their
manufactures; and IN some parts OF Germany,
where, among others, the great annual fair Of
LEIPZIG is It'll kept up, and IL the resort oil mer-
chants from all parts OF the world
But In America, new world, we nave new
habits and have dropped and forgotten the old
feuda habts Of the old world. In this country.
all of late years. the periodical fun and rOlic OF
the fair were totally unknown. The staid, steady,
solemn habits OF the original settlers repudiaied
eltogether these essemblaRes of the world, In
which oil the world, young and old. met together
10 laugh and enjoy fun and froic, eat gingerbread
nutr and buy toys and rattles for the children. In
America only two species OF fairs are known, both
Of them Of recent origin, viz; the Ladies', or the
Religious Far, and the Exhibition, or Fair, such
as that of the American Institute, which has Just
closed its interesting period for the present year.
These, our fairs, are a quasi imitation OF their
more ancient predecessors but are, IN fact as I'M
LIKE their parents as We OF the present day are
unlike our fathers who preceded us
The beautiful and Interesting exhibition OF the
great Fair Of the American Institute was closed
Yesterday, In a very importing and interesting man
usr n ter "a ia chi
a blaze of rockets and fireworks worthy the
occasion.
Ara o'clock, p. NJ, every preparation having
been made, and the several committees and Judges
having, with great impariialiiy, and, we believe,
with strict honesty Of judgment, made thar
decisions rs to the merits OF the several
articles exhibited, his Honor, Judge Meigs,
csme fonh from the grand committee room,
AIMED with the books OF Judgment, in which
the fate OF the several competitors was de-
cded upon. An anxious crowd gathered below
the tribunal from which the Judge was about 70
read the judgments of the several committees, and
pronounce the happy names OF those who were to
be the recipients Of the rewards and honors OF the
institution. II was fitting that Judge should pro-
rounce those judgments; but u was an arduous
task, as the list was long, and would nil good
sized octave volume. Accordingly the Judge read
ont the names from the omnous book which he
held in his hand, standing beneath an archway, or
tIiumphal arch, composed OF long stalks OF Indian
corn, appropriate embloms OF American toll and
industry, end significant, tso, OF the ultimate OBJ
ject of oil our toll and industry, nsmely-bread.
Under this enblcmatcal throne the Judge read
forth with stentorlan voiee the several awards,
TIL, at lest overcome with the fatigue Of his exer-
ticns he was obliged TO call to his aid an assistant
10 conclude the long list.
Meantime, while an anxious group below the
corn-stsk throne listened to the judgments OF Ria
dsmenihus, the yast srca Of the saloons and gall
leries was filled with an insttentive crowd OF PEG
pie of ell eyes end sexes, roaming about and admir-
irs the splendid products ON eIhibluon, uncon-
scious Of the anxious ordeal which was gong on
from the tribunal of decision.
The above interesting ceremony occupied con-
siderable time; after which, at half past o'clock,
the reading was suspended for the still more nte-
resting ceremony Of the delivery Of the closing ora
ton by General Tsmadge, the President Of the To-
stitutc.
General Tsmedge, accompanied by the Off GERS,
directors, and members Of the Institute, assembled
the platform, while Bloomfeld'sbrass band, placed
in the opposite gallery, executed IN fine style, a
variety Of national airs. AS the General took his