The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-04-24
THE Great Fair..

\ The pelting rain Of last evening did nst pre-
vent very large attendance of ladies and
gentlemen at the City Hall to witness the
opening of the Great Fair for the benefit of
the widows and orphans of deceased soldiers.
The Hall was exceedingly well filed, the at
tendance being much larger than any one an
ticipated.aa .atta-s 4.er 'e- a-
4 The Hall is handsomely decorated and pIe-
sents a very fine appearance. There is good
taste displayed here, and everything is very
appropriate to the cause for which the Fair
was got up. liina ia 7tt'
The table in the great Hall are ten in num-
Der, and such a display of beautiful articles
has never before been witnessed in this city.
To attempt TO enumerate them would be use
Jess. Indeed we should not know where to
stop If we began, so rich and varied as well
as numerous are the articles. We can only
Hall without fail. se--.>S-----e
In addition to these tables there are in the
great Hall candy booth, lemonade fount, a
Floral bower for the sale of boquets, Post
office, and Floral kaleidoscope. These var-
Gus booths were thrOnged, and will be so dur
ing the week.
The Reception Room is under the charge of
Mrs. VIM. H. Green and is devoted to the sale
of articles donated to the Fair.
A Skating Rink is in the North Eastern
Room, and it is great curiosity and should
be seen by every one.
At half past seven o'clock last evening, the
Fair was opened. The Portland Band led by
Chandler played some of their splendid music.
| Then came beautiful tableaux Our Fallen
| Heroes" 1t was finely got up and received
| great applause.
After a short recess the curtain of the stage
was raised and disclosed Major Gen. Chamber
lain with some members of the Executive
Committee of the Fair. the rear of the stage
being filled with ladies.
Col. Charles b. Merrill then came forward
and said, in substance: -
Ladies and Gentlemen-At the commence
| ment and during the war, when our citizens
went forth as soldiers to battle for their coun-
| try, the people of Portland pledged themselves
70 take care OF their families. In fIlfilment of
that pledge this Fair has been got up, and
| now have the honor of introducing to you the
| first citizen soldier of Maine, Maj. Gen. Cham
| berlain. ,. o. -a2a A4 9eist.sa '.s ll
| Gen. Chamberlain was received with hearty
cheers, the band playing, Hail to the Chiefp
/ Of the address, We will not now speak at
1 length. We had designed to publish sketch
| Of the Grafton, but having heard it, we cannot
feel satisfied to withhold any part. A verba-
| Jim report will appear tomorrow. 1t was a
| matter OF regret tnat many eager listeners
| could with difficulty distinguish The words OF
| the orator, almost drowned by the senseless
| and indecorous chatter which resounded
through the hall. Thoughtless and uninten-
! tional as the indecorum was, 1t was neverthe-
less inexcusable. Our young people ought to
know, that it is a serious breach of civility to
invite a man to speak and withhold the cour-
tesy of quiet attention to his words. Yet we
/ can assure Gen. Chamberlain that thousand
listeners hung upon his words, and we prom
Use him FIVE thousand readers by tomorrow.
The Fair will be open at 2 o'clock this after
noon and at O'Clock this evening for visiters.
In the evening the pantomime of Uncle Toms
Cabin will be performed by the Abyssinian
Circle. !s at 'l