The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-12-25
CORRESPONDENCE.


Mn. EDITOR Were you ut the Fair In THU
city last week! Ifnot, was. and viii! tell yor
something about It, and II you think my 40.
count of Il would interest your readers, why,
give Il Q place In your columns. And now
call to mind that your inyariable order to cor.
respondents Is, "Bs Short" 80 will give but
hasty glance at the many beautiful objects o.
interest, though 1t would be much easier te
write than not to write.
Scarcely stopping TO notice the passage-wsy
TO the Hall, so tastefully covered with flags and
50 brilliantly lighted. We hastsned to the int.
rior, which presented splendid appearance
being gaily decorated with festoons Of red
white and blue. gilt stars. and fags-some o.
them, alas rent and blackened In many z
hard. fought battle sad reminders Of the terri
BILE scenes In which many Of our dear ones have
30 bravey given up their lives. On every sidt
were tables literally loaded with articles bott
useful and ornamental bright colored worst
eds and beads in every form Of beauty into
which Il is possible for them to be made, jewel
~, articles of dress, dolls, books, vases, statu.
airy, paintings-in fact, almost everything from
the smallest toy to steam fre-engine. In thu
centre of the hall was the New Hampshire and
Vermont table, which excited much admiration
on account OF the abundance and beauty OF the
contributions. Eve looked in vain for any
contribution from Maine. Can you tell me
why your State was not represented The
table furnished by the State Prison convict:
drew much attention, aud the various articles
were skilfully aud handsomely wrought. Ia
front OF the Organ the Sanitary Commission
had pitched tent, in which, by paying ~
cents, one could see the numerous trophies TAX
en- from the rebels. Front OF the balconies
were hung the pictures contributed 70 very
generously by New England artists, which nd.
ded much TO the beauty Of the hall, as we'll az
TO the proceeds Of the sales. A large proper.
ton of the fancy articles were imported express
" for the Fair, among which was doll which
could be made to open and shut her eyes, say
papa and mamma. and cry quite naturally q
cradle valued at SIS, the gift Of an English 10
DIV: mantle sent from Constantinople, wrought
in silks and gold by the Sultan's emboiderer
and such multitude OF other elegant articles,
that to enumerate them would be q hopeless
task.
Price ranged high, money was plenty, and
trade brisk, although, rs this was Monday
evening, the articles sold were not allowed to
be taken from the tables until the next day
We saw lady pay $500 for toy chamber
set. another Sac, 90 for a small doll; but most
of the articles Of more than S20,0 in value
were disposed of by rattle. We have since
learned that the ten sheep sent by New Ilamp-
shire man, thus sold, brought 100000; n sim
liar lot subsequently brought $4,000; the
steam fire engine, also N. Hampshire gift,
$4,000, 90, and other things IN proportion.
What interested US still more than all these,
was the curiosity room, to which another %
cents gained us admittance. Here was Wash
ington's saddle, his cane, and the knives and
forks used by him while his headquarters were
ut Cambridge; small cabinet, brought over in
the Mayfower by John Alden; o wash.bowl
t.. h,,n s,th In
1880; the coat worn by Benz. Franklin when
he signed the Treaty in Paris in IT'S; piece
of silver brocade, q portion Of the wedding
dress OF Martha Washington; the tea-service
last used by Maria Antoinette; bean-pod
about two feet long, sent from Africa by DR..
Livingston; a bronze urn from China, known
BY the inscription on the inside to be more than
1000 years old, originally used for wine at
marriage feasts, but more recently for the
burning of incense in Buddhist temple; pic
ture from France, easily taken at short dis
tance for nice steel engraving, representing
several men with perfect distinctness OF ex-
preston, but only tcopen of black and white
silk, showing to what great perfection the art
of weaving has arrived in that country; many
of the original manuscripts Of Edmund Burke (;
one of Burns poems in his own handwriting,
corrected and interlined by him; the signature
of johannes Milton; many very ancient
coins; piece Of mosaic from the walls Of AL
hambra; and many other interesting relics
which have not space to mention.
At half past 7, Gov. Andrew and staff and
Gov. Gilmore and staff entered the hall, and
then the immense green curtain slowly descend.
ed, disclosing to view, amidst great applause,
that magnificent work Of art, the great Organ,
which is the wonder and admiration of all who
have seen il. l cannot attempt description.
but know Of no better way to get an idea OF
II without seeing IL, than to take DR.. Holmes
description Of il, and compare 1t closely with
the picture Of It given in Harper's Weekly OF
Dec. 18th.
Having previously secured reserved seat
VIC were glad now to sit and watch the brilliant
moving panorama below us, and listen to tho
music Of the organ. Mr.. Morgan the eminent
organist OF Grace Church, New York, per-
formed, in n mastery manner, q choice pro-
grammc, and we thought this part Of the en-
tertainment alone was well worth the price OF
admission. At one time the tones were so soft
and sweet that we closed our eyes and easily
imagined ourself listening on summers day
TO the lazy hum and buzz Of insects, and the
twitter and trill of birds. Then the scene
changed as the volume of sound increased, and
we were standing by the sea.shore, and the roar
Of mighty waters, mingled with thunder, grew
ever louder and louder, nearer, and more pow
erful, until we seemed to be lifted aud upborne
by those surgng waves Of sound. We could
have listened hours without ever thought OF
WEAKNESS, but soon after ten the entertainment
closed. and all this was among the things Of the
past, yet long to be remembered.
My letter is already long, so will only add,
what all the friends of the soldier will be
pleased to know, that II is thought the whole
proceeds OF the Fair will amount to nearly one
hundred thousand dollars. ANXIOUS.