The Portland daily press., 1866-03-01
Freedman's Fair-Third Day


The rush continues, and we now clearly see
that all the misgivings about City Hall were
without foundation. While the City Building
was going up the cry was loud and long that
it was too spacious, covered too much ground,
cost too much; the hall was altogether too
spacious; never would be filled; the managers
were too extravagant in their notions, and our
citizens were to be terribly taxed for the ex-
treme folly and extravaganza of certain men
who are never satisfied. But how stands the
matter now? What man so blind as now to
say that our hall is too spacious? No one
opens his mouth in that direction. The COM
plant is all the other way. The cry now is,
our hall is not large enough, and the rush to
the Freedmen's Fair intensifies the cry, and
proves the foresight and intelligence of those
who have had the management and control Of
it. .-...-. .......
A gentleman at our elbow suggests the pro-
priety, and even the necessity, of raising the
proscenium so as to open the space beneath
which would seat some five or six hundred
persons. Some have feared that such raising
would injure the acoustic properties of the
hall, but we can't see it in that light We give
our friends suggestion to our readers a. a text
for future discussion on the subject. Our city
Is growing and we must enlarge our borders.
But to the Fair which now engrosses the at
tention Of our people. We see no abatement
in the interest felt in this benevolent enter
prise. They come, and the cry is still they
come. Loyal hearts still beat, and their pull
sations are for the down-trodden and oppress-
ed of our country. Additions are still being
made to the Fair. and the iberalty of the peo-
pie knows no diminution. 1t promises to ex-
coed the most sanguine expectations of its pro-
jectors. We will now finish up our account
of the picture gallery according to promise
This room draws large crowds, and all who
visit it go away perfectly satisfied with the ex-
hibition.
No. 81 is painting representing Early Au-
tumn" by II. d. Brown of orr city, We'con-
slider this one of the finest pictures in the
room. The old dilapidated mill still standing
up the brook which flows down over its rocky
bed is perfectly natural, and shows clearly
enough that the artist has been there himself
and trusted no agent. The White Mountains
seen in the distance are skilfully drawn, and
soft atmosphere rests upon them. The cattle
going down to the brook to drink is a lifelike
scene But we have not space for a more ex-
tended description. ..-,.
No. 81 represents Niagara Falls by CARMEN
ike, and fine representation it is.
No. A is cattle piece in coming storm
by Bispham. The cattle and sheep are terri
fed and one bullock stands on an eminence,
head up, gazing at the dark wild clouds and
threatening storm. He snuffs the danger and
is preparing to escape it. 1t is very fine pic
ture of such scene. ~. t.aa.rs
No. 81 is Cascade by Miss NJ. Beckett of
this city. 1t is beautiful painting and reflects
much credit on the skill and taste of the fair
artist.
No. Ga is a view of Norway in this State by
Miss 81. True. This is fine landscape view,
and very truly represents the sandy plains Of
Norway and the mountains In the distance
The fair artist may well be proud of her pic
ture. eti
No. go is cattle piece by P. 81. Hinkley.-
Cows and sheep are lying down and one noble
bullock is standing with outstretched neck
and uplifted head looking away to some dis
tant object. The painting is beautiful one
and attracts much attention. Critics might
say the cattle are too sleek and handsome, as
ifthe artist attempted to adorn nature, task
not easily performed. .re-.
No. is the representation of storm by
Hummer. The artist has done well, and the
storm with its dark clouds and darling thun-
derbolts look terrible as brush and paint can
make. But storm on the prairie Is not 50
easily painted. We remember. Ole Bull at
tempted to give some idea of an outstretched
prairie by the music of his violin, but on hear
ing the music we confess we gained but little
knowledge of prairie solitude. The grandeur
of the ocean and the storms of the prairie are
beyond the powers of the pencil to describe,
and surely the violin, although the master in
strument, cannot send forth music which will
represent the solitude of the wide spread prai-
RE.
No. IS contains three women, two of whom
are listening to story which the third one is
telling, with manifest interest and anxiety
The story-teller has dropped in with her heart
full and sits down and unburthens it to the
ladies of the house who are too anxious to
hear. She places the thumb of her left hand
on the foreinger of her right, just as natural
as life, to give more emphasis and deeper in
terest to her story. These women are finely
should like to own it, for the design is good
and the execution admirable. 1t is by j. Car
olus. @
No. IS is view of the White Mountains by
Miss M. Beckett. This painting is very fine
perhaps some snarling critic might say too
fine, finer than nature herself. The water in
the river Is as smooth as a mirror and reflects
the blue sky. The atmosphere is softer tn an
a summers breeze, and the haze on the noun
tains is more delicate than the gossamers web.
The touches of the fair artists pencil are in
deed delicate and fine, but after all, the grand
old mountains are touched with holder hand
and appear natural. On the whole we think
this painting is good and shows that the fair
artist has much taste and skill. ~
No. ~ is scene on Saco river by Miss II.
Woodbury., and most artistically is it painted.
1t is really fine picture, and affords good EVIL
dence that Miss Woodbury. has love for the
beautiful in nature, and genius to show it on
the canvass.
@ No. II represents scene on the Andros-
cogsin, river upon whose banks are many
beautiful SCIENCES. This painting is by Miss j.
Ii. Haley, and its merits are acknowledged by
all who have seen it. The picture would grace
the walls of any gentleman's parlor. We are
pleased with the opportunity to speak of these
fair artists of our city in terms of praise, for
surely thew deserve it. To view the beauties |