The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-10-12

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of the suffering people of the stricken
South. The great fair for this pur-
pose was opened in that city on last
Wednesday night, and would CONT
ME for several days. The attendance
for the past two days was immense,
the number OF the visitors, on the
second day, being estimated at from
$1,000 to 100000 We subjoin be
low IN extract from an article in the
ST Louis RepuJlicaa:
Nothing in the history Of st. Louis
can compare with the grand and sig
nal triumph OF this great enterprise.
1t commenced in weakness, with a
Thousand bad prcjudices to battle
against. Although its objects were
the highest and holiest known in the
language of carth-thc succor Of help
less widows and orphans, madc such
by the events of q terrible war-yet
many shranl from its liberal and
open ospouS;l, while another at
tempted to cast odium upon the whCle
project, because the effort was in favor
of Il people that were lately in arms
against the Government. The latter,
however, compose 4 lean and mean
minority Of u great-hearted people,
and the magnificent popular demon
stration Of last night is a terrible re-
buke to the whole race Of political
and social Pharisccs.
The whole community seemed IN
tent upon being present at the inau-
gIration Of the great festival The
passcrs on every avenue leading to
the locality of the fair, all seemed
going i'll one direction, and for hours
the anxious multitude clustered in
the front and upon the steps OF the
fair building. and struggled for ad-
mission within It's portals Many la-
Dies, with their escorts, became dis
couragcd ut the continued pressure,
and, although provided with tickets,
abandoned their purpose of entering
for the time, and retired from the
crowd. We cannot estimate numbers,
but feel sure that two buildings like
the immense one occupied by the
fair toall have been we'll filled, if
the entrance TO each had been easily
accessible The moral influence of
this fair is its grandcst feature. For
above its more charity-thc succor it
can bring TO the helpless and home
lcss-will be its re-uniting power
upon the whole mass Of the people
who may contribute towards its sue
cess. Betteraud more powerful than
thousand sermons upon Christian
charity Will hc the practical lessons
Of love and forbcarance drawn from
this noble enterprise. Families that
have been separated for years by poll
tical telds have already struck hands
III peace over this altar dedicated to
God and humanity. 1t will prove to
be the scene and occasion OF glo-
rious reunion of thousands OF hearts
that have been estranged or cmbit
tered by the painful events OF the last
FIVE years.
The first effect upon the spectator,
on entering tEc fair cditicc, ut night,
is Il kind OF bcwildcring splcndor,
that ahsorbs his faculties in wonder
and leaves him but little chance Of
analyZing the details of the beauty
and glare that beams from every side.
Before he enters, he thinks OF no.
thing but an immense pile of brick
and mortar constructed for some COM
mcrcial purpose. Once within the
doors, and Il thousand brilliant lights
flash upon ten thousand objects OF
beauty. He Is lost and bcwildcrcu
with the scenes Of enchantment, that
remind him only OF tabled palaces,
inhabited by nymphs and fairies.
Hours upon hours may be spent in
analyZing and classifying the details
Of this wonderful consummation of
art and skill, and still the observer
will come away with the conviction
that half It's wonders have not been
seen.
The fair is held in the building OF
the st. Louis Warehouse Company,
situated on Chateau avenue, bounded
East by Fifth street, South by Cha
tcau avenue, West by Sixth street,
and North by Papin street. The
building occupies the whole block,
and is 260 feet long by 14O wide, two
stories high, and is constructed Of
solid masonry, with u centre wall
through the middle, running the en-
tire length, in which there are three
large arches. In the second story Of
the immense building the fair is held.
Ex-Congressman (Judgc) Oldham,
Of Texas, is III Cordova, Mexico,
| @.,I. 10. I