Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-11-12

Home fer Disabled ssamsn and MapiKAs.
The propriety OF recognising, In some pIbkd
msnner and by some permanent memcTtal.
says the Boston Journal, the gallant services
and numerous needs Of the bra We seamen snd
marines Of our navy has been Acknowledged.
But since that memorable day when, with
eolors fyipg and brave men at ner guns, the
Inflated Cumberland went down, and ths
Congress was wrapped in flames by the hoe
ehot Of the Merrimac-when, too, In her turns
sns rebel msrrmac, is.sins 1nd M,;ns :nsssea. .nc
services and those needs have more than ever
deserved some at reward. From these con.
siderations Of justice and benevolenee arose In
the minds Of a num Der Of our prominent mer-
chants and business men the idea Of establish
ing Home for Disabled Seaman and Marines
OF the Naval Service" When 1t is recollestsd
mat our navy has increased during the present
war war nom force Of ninety vessels, manned BY
f,ooo seamen, to three dred and thirty -se ven
We. ve.seis, AIMED by more than $4,000 men. ana
Of construction will swell the number 70 AZ
least $1,000, the magnitude and importance OF
the movement wiil In some degree be realised.
To aid In the Accomplishment OF this moet
praisewcrthy design, 1t was decided bY the
Managing Committee to hold q "Nation al SAIL
ors' Fair in this city during the present month.
The Boston Theater was secured for the pur.
pose, and the Far was opened on Wednesday
evening with appropriate ceremonies, ana
on q scale of grandeur commensurate with
the result 10 which it is intended TO contrib
ute.
The inaugural address was delivered by the
Hon. Alexander Rice, who alluded in clog quent
terms 10 the services of our sailors, and the
necessity OF providing an asylum for them. On
concluding his remarks he said 1t WAS hoped
that we might he honored with the presence Of
some Of the high executive officers OF the Gov
ernment; hut for reasons which will be appA-
rent to every one. that is impossible have
the honor to receive, however, telsgrsphic dis
patches from two Of them. The first is from
the President of the United States. IGrea, ap-
plapse.1 1t is as follows
WASHINGTON, November s-To the naso-
ging Committee Of the Sailors Fair at Boston
Allow me 20 wish you great success. With the
old fame of the navy, made brighter in the
present war, you cannot tail. / name none
lest wrong others by omission. To all, from
Rear Admiral to honest Jack, 1 tender O na-
tions adm miration and gratitude.
"a. LINCOLN"
IL oud applause
l have also another dispatch frem the Presi-
dent. II happened that the generous owner OF
the nam moth OK "General Grant" had pres
entsd him to the President OF the United
States, the gift to take effect on the sth OF No
vember, 1864. [Lauehter.] In the dispatch
the President, after alluding to the donation,
says
81 present the mammoth OK to the Sailors
Fair as contribution" TApplause, folio wed
by three cheers for the PresideDtl
The other telegram which have is from the
Secretary OF the Navy. It is as follows:
"WAsHINGToN, Nov. 8, 1S6i.-To the Man
aging Com nlittee of the Sailors Fair, Boston.-It
is crafty ing to know that, while renem berisg
the soldiers, there are those who forge. not the
sailors. I cannot doubt that your fair for the
benefit Of this deserving but neglected class,
who cheerfully encounter ocean hardships and
dangers, and fearlessly peril their lives in
battle for their country, will he successful; and
ana confident it must have, IN every respect
a beneficial influence. NV best wishes are
with you in your noble efforts.
"GIDKON WRLLBs,
"Secretary Of the Navy"
[Applause.l
Hon. Edward Everett spoke OF the weakness
of the naval arm of the service at the COM
mencement of the war, and OF its marvellous
increase during the past four years. He clssed
by besef ching his hearers to aid with their
bounty the noble women who were endeavor-
ing to found for poor Jack, what he needs
and most deserves, cheerful, comfortable
home.
Hon. Robert q. Winthrop. Hon. Richard H.
Dana, jr., Hon. Richard rockingham, and
Hon. John P. Hale, OF New Hampshire, fol-
lowed in speeches OF similar tenor, which were
tull of eIoquence and feeling, and which seemed
to meet the hearty endorse m ent of the audi.
ence. Capt. Winslow, of the Kearsarge, and
Capt. Worden, who commanded the original
Monitor, were present, and the former made
few brief remarks, thanking the citizens OF
Boston for their kindness to himself and crew