Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-21
ORPHAN FESTIVAL.
Delightful AttractiOns-Tastefui Deco
raGIons-A worthy Object and Pleas
nnt SocInI EnierfRinmenI.

Delightful AttracfiOus-Tastefu Deco
ratIoos-A worthy object and Pleas
ant Social Entertainments.
Some days since the managers of the
Protestant Orphan Asylum announced that
they would give festival at Masonic Hall
foz the benefit Of their institution on
Thursday and Friday evenings the 18th
and 10th inst. Pursuant to this an
nouncement the ladies Of our city, whose
generous readiness to respond to the ap-
peals Of charity, and refined taste in the
preparations for such occasions, are scarce
ly equaied anywhere, went to work az only
noble and lovely Southern woman can for
the event.
Several considerations have been adraw-
back upon the success Of the festival.
Chief among these were the failure to an
nounce il sooner, and the stringency of
the times. The festival closed last night.
A brief hour spent there afforded rs de-
lightful entertainment, and we are sure
that if our citizens had known the social
pleaseniries of the occasion, and APP
preciated the noble objects the mana.
gers had in view, the hall would
have been filled TO repletion, as it
deserved TO be. The hall was most taste
fully decorated with festoous, evergreens
and floral offerings, so natural that they
seemed almost TO exhale the perfumes of
Araby the blest" The display on enter
ing the hall was really brilliant, and re-
hected great credit on the ladies having it
in charge. Ii was like entering the en-
chanting scenery ofthe glorious old Orient
where
They talk in flowers
And they tell in garland their loves and cares;
And each blossom that blooms in the garden
bowers,
On its leaves mystic language bears"
But there was more than blossoms there
the scene touched ms like poetry Insocial
and refined enjoyment we're lovely ladies
who moved amid the surroundings or
grouped about the tables like very angels
Of mercy, az they were TO help food with
sunshine the lone chambers of some
orphaned heart. How lovely they looked
last night as their pure, warm hearts
glowed with the inspiration of the good
they were aiming to do. These ladies so
tastefuily arrayed for the occasion, seemed
more beautiful, if possible, from the noble
impulses of the evening.
Their beauty enchanted heaven,
Aud had they lived before the siege of Troy,
Helen. whose beauty summoned Greece to arms,
Had not been named in HOmer's Illiad,-
Their names had been in every line he wrote"
Gallant young men were there too, lend
ing interest TO the occasion. The tables
were most tastefully spread and supplied
with the most excellent substantially and
rich delicacies. The table of Mrs. VIM.
Cooper was very attractive, and laden with
the most delicious viands and fruits. On
this table we noticed painting by Miss
Joey Elliston, a young Miss, that would
have done credit 10 an Older artist. The
tables Of Mrs. w. b. Cooper and Mrs
Porter could not have been excelled in
the taste of their arrangement, OF the
richness Of their contents. All the tables
and all the displays were truly superb
The christmas Tree" of Mrs Wharton
was in its way perfect as an exhibition o.
taste in decoration.
All the surroundings were eminently
attractive, and presented an occasion fol
pure enjoyment that can be found in M
other sort Of assemblages. 1t was in truth
a festival, where the joys of doing gooC
played around the heart and frightened
up each face like CLEANS of sunshine