The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1860-04-07
COlOred Orphan Asylum Fair i'm
Brooklyn.


cent hilarity The long-contemplated Col
ored Orphan Asylum Fair took place there,
and necessarily brought together all the
elite and fashion of this portion of the An
glo-African world, and much of the Anglo
American in the bargain. 1t was one of
the gayest and most elegant assemblages,
perhaps, ever witnessed in the vicinity of
New York. Everybody seemed pleased
with themselves and with each other, and
everybody seemed bent on making Judi
cious outlay of their money for some little
article or articles, so neatly and artistically
gotten up by the lady managers, to suit
the tastes of the most practical or the most
fastidiops. These articles were freely pur-
chased, and freely distributed or carefully
appropriated.
In speaking of the assemblage,a gentle
man remarked that it was really the finest
he had ever seen. Another said that he
believed it to be next to impossible for
any intelligent white person to have min
gled freely in the gathering for an even
ing, joining in their social amusements and
their intelligent conversations, and come
out with any prejudice against color. II
WISH" said another, shat the entire white
population. could, by some means, this
night see this people. They would go
from hence Invested of most, if not all, of
their foolish prejudices. We know nothing
of the best side of this people and the rap
id progress they are making" "What a
splendid company !" said lady. care
these the colored people we are in the daily
habit of seeing2"
Such are but few of the many like ex-
pressions which fell from the lips of the
while the fair was in
progress. The room, the chief hall of the
Montague buildings, on Court street, is
spacious, and was elegantly lighted, the
brilliancy of which was never more finely
brought out than on this occasion, upon
the lady table-tenders and their young sat
tellites, who were continually revolving
around them. One noticeable fact we may
mention, without, we hope, having fastened
upon US the charge of invidiousness. It was
that the Brooklyn branch of the managers
were all decked in pretty calico gowns, all,
or nearl y all, of the same stripe, giving
thereby most picturesque effect, and not
unfrequently placing one in an awkward
fix. We more than once found ourself
bowling and oggling to one lady, when we
our efforts at politeness for some
other lady. So also of othef gentlemen
we know Of, much to the amusement of
the ladies themselves and an occasional
green-eyed gentleman bystanders. In
deed, one gentleman not ENORMOUSLY bent,
paid very particular after ton to lis own
wife for some me 1ents before he discovered
the fact.
The various stands bore inscriptions,
which informed the visitors from whence
they hailed. On one side, and in very
conspicuous place, we noticed the ladies of
New York City, while opposite, and equal
ly prominent, were the ladies of Brooklyn,
and then of Brooklyn E. D. We also no.
ticed table of very beautiful articles bear
ing the inscription of Troy, and another of
Oberlin, Ohio. And then there were the
young ladies, all looking so charming and
nice; and then there was the first direct
ress, and the second, and the third, and SO
on, and the committee, all as busy as the
most industrious of bees; and the treasur-
er, seated beside neat little table sur
rounded with choice flowers, with an auto
graph book, and quite pile before her;
and the little secretary, too, passing to and
fro, with an eye, we suppose, to the funds.
And this brings us to the main feature
of the whole affair. Perhaps no one fair
ever held in the vicinity of New York by
our people ever realized, in so short a time,
if at all, so fine profit to the bencfciaries.
From all we have been able to gather, the
figures stand somewhat as follows:
Total proceeds of fair and exhibition, S1,4O0
expenditures. Observation-Disclosures 800
Net proceeds ............. 81, 100
1t is pleasing to mention that Downing
sent over, for the sole benefit of the work
ing company, a beautiful supply Of his best
fried oysters, chickens celery, &C.; Bag
well, of Wall street, an equal quantity of
picked oysters, while Roselle and Barns
well kept the fair in supply of the same
without charge.
In conclusion, we congratulate ourselves
and the public upon the results of the fair
and the fact that we have women among
us able readily to accomplish so much. 1t
is impossible to estimate at this point the
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