Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-09-03
yavtlvastpru Fair for Sanitary gOmmissfon,

comforts and necesSaries for the sick and
wounde>I Of our army, has suggested to the
loval women Of the North many and various
devices for the raising of funds. Every city,
town and village has had its fair, festival,
party, picnic, excursion, concert, &c, which
have netted more or less to the cause OF hos
pital relief, according to the population Of
the place, and the amount OF energy and
patriotism employed On the occasion.
The need OF money for this sacred purpose
still continues. Our brave men are still
wrestling with the southern rebellion, which,
though oftentimes beaten back, Is not yet
subdued; and the hospitals made vacant by
death or recovery, are speedily reilled by
new faces, whom disease has rendered pallid,
and new forms, shattered by gunshOt or sa-
bre stroke. We must still continue TO pour
down sanitary supplies for the comfort and
care of our suffering soldiers, whose well be-
ing lies near the heart Of all loyal men and
women. We must still continue to exercise
our ingenuity for the supply OF funds, since
the most valuable sanitary supplies can only
be obtained with money.
This continued need of money has suggest
ed to many OF the active and patriotic women
of the Northwest the necessity of holding
grand Northwestern Fair in the fall for the
benefit of the Sanitary Commission. After
IL correspondence % llCdIlN lNO 4iIOI1ILo WIN
some of the principal Aid Societies and Union
Leagues of the Northwest, aided in many in
stances by personal interviews, it has been
decided to hold a Northwestern Fair in Chi
cago during the last week of October and the
first of November, the proceeds to be deyot
ed to the relief of our sick and suffering sol
diers. Assurances have been received that
the States of Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin,
Iowa and Minnesota will generally join in
this project, and substantial offers Of aid
have been profered by leading persons in
these States. 4 mass meeting OF ladies has
already been held in Chicago at Bryan Hall,
when an Executive Committee of sixteen la
dies was appointed, to make such arrange
ments for the holding of the Fair in this city
| as might be necessary. 1t was also decided
to call convention of delegates from the
Aid Societies and Union Leagues OF the
above mentioned States, which snail meet in
Chicago, at Bryan Hall, September lst at 10
O'Clock 4. NJ, to make necessary arrange
ments for the Fair, which shall be alike
agreeable to all parties. The Order OF Good
Templars an extensive temperance organiza-
ton, which has rendered very efficient help
to the Sanitary Commission, by donations Of
money and supplies, generously volunteer
their aid in this enterprise, and are included
in this call. Every Aid Society and Union
League, and every lodge of Good Templars i'll
the Northwest, is therefore hereby requested
to represent itself in that Convention, to be
held September 1st, by at least one lady del
egate, elected from its members. As there
are over two thousand of these organizations,
it will be necessary for each one to pay the
expenses of its own delegate which will be
but small tax on each single society, but in
the aggregate, would be heavy for any one
organization. On Wednesday, September
I'd, at o'clock ?. NJ, public meeting Of
the ladies of Chicago will be held at the
same place, when the programme Of the Fair,
as decided on by the Convention, will be an
nounced, and such Committees as are neces-
sary to the successful progress Of the Fair,
will then be chosen. Various plans for the
Fair have already been proposed and dis
cussed, but nothing can definitely be agreed
upon until the session of the approaching
Convention.
Already great enthusiasm is manifested
concerning the Fair. \ piano, two or three
first class sewing machines, a knitting ma
chine, washing machines, wringing machines,
a safe, cabinet ware, Oil paintings, wax work,
| and variety of lesser articles are already
! offered US. We tOreSeG thus early, that no
hall of the city will be able to accommodate
the Fair and the Executive Committee are
| taking steps to secure some unoccupied no.
| tel, or recently finished block of buildings
| which can be fitted up for its accommodations
| The affair has greatly increased in magnitude
| since it was first discussed, until it
promises to eclipse any occasion of the kind
| ever before held in the Northwest. 1t is
| hoped and expected that gifts Of all kinds
will be donated. Anything rare useful, GU
rlOus or elegant IN nature or art is solicited,
and it is greatly desired that the Fair shall be
! indebted to the handiwork Of men as well as
of women, for its enriching.
1t is also proposed to gather large collec-
| ton of relics and mement0S Of the present
war, for cabinet which shall be sold at the
Fair to the highest bidder. Persons, therefore,
who possess relies of the battle field, memen-
tos OF persons and places made historic by this
war, or any of the thousand specimens or GU
riosities which have found their way to the
North from the sear of war; during its progress,
are invited to donate them for the furnishing
Of this cabinet. AS the cabinet case will be
| given in Chicago, it is requested that all such
articles be sent to the Chicago Sanitary Com
mission, labeled with the name and residence
of the donor, and with brief history of the
article donated. Its receipt will be immc-
diately acknowledged by letter.
1t is also proposed that a series of dinners
be given on four or FIVE days Of each week
of the Fair, for the Increasing of the funds
These dinners feature of all Chicago
Fairs The materials for the dinners are fur
nished gratuitously by the ladies of the city
in great abundance, exqusitely cooked, and
of the best quality. So ample are our ar
rangements for this inevitable accessory to
all Fairs held in Chicago, that from 1000 to
| 1900 gentlemen who ordinarily dine down
town at restaurants or eating douses, are
dined daily during the progress Of weeks
fair, as elegantly and comfortably as in their
own homes. Our country friends can aid US
in these dinners by donations of poultry, eggs,
vegetables, fruit, cream, butter, cheese, &c.
During the evenings of the Fair, it is pro-
posed to hold a series of entertainments of
the most brilliant character Concerts, tab
leauX, pantomine, lectures, &C., are already
discussed, and in some instances are in an in
cipient stage Of progress. Nothing that the
talent and ingenuity Of the Northwest can
devise will be lacking to render the evening
| entertainments elegant and recherche.
1t is hoped that S25, 900 will be the net re-
ceipts of this great festaI occasion. Is this
expecting too much? Not if the united
Northwest lend willing and active hands and
generous hearts to the work At a simple
ice-cream and strawberry festival given re-
Gently, almost impromptu, by few ladies of
Chicago, for the benefit of the Soldiers Home,
over 81 900 was made, where there was almost
nothing to sell, and only the cause to attract
Is it indulging extravagant and unwarrantable
expectations to hope that twenty-five times
that amount will be realized by a Fair of the
great North west, which will be enriched by
the offerings of five States, and will have
accessory to it all that art, talent, taste, skill,