The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-06-14
The Fair of the Qaeen of PsussIa.
Translated for the Cincinnati Commercial f.om the II,



The Fair of the Qaeen of PsussIa.
Translated for the Cncnrau Commercial fom the Haus
freund.
Fairs for benevolent purposes, which have been
so long in vogue in England and America, were
not introduced 10 the social circles of Berlin until
about five years ago. AT that time the ladies OF
the court and the corps d{plOmdti9ue opened
fair for TIE benefit of the Catholic orphan
asylums, in the large concert hall of the ROYAL
Theater; next followed the famous fair which the
Crown Pr ncess Victoria opened in her apart.
ments, in the palace of her husband. for the
widows and orphans of the war of 1866 and
which, TO her utmost joy, netted, in course of a
Few days, the handsome sum of 5000, which
was sent to the trustees appointed for that pur-
pose; and, recently the fair arranged BY Queen
Augusta, for the benefit OF the poor people of
East Prussia. 1t is not the multitude of gifts con-
rIbuted to these fairs. nor their value, but the
arrangement of the whole, the place where and
the persons by whom the gifts are sold, that form
the chief attractions of these fairs and exert the
charm that causes so many people to spend so
much money for the benevolent purpose for
which the fairs are held.
The utmost pains were taken to render the
queens fair as attractive as possible, and the
most brilliant success crowned the praiseworthy
undertaking.
Iuasmuch as the apartments at the palace now
inhabited by the king and queen were not suit.
GENTLY large for the purpose, the committee of
ladies whom Queen Augusta had requested to as
sst herin getting up tie fair, resolved to hold it
in The famous pictures gallery of the old royal
palace. No sooner had the queen announced
Rat such fair was to take place for the benefit
OF The East Prussians, and that contributions
would be acceptable, than such a number of
gifts poured IN from all quarters, so valuable. so
beautiful and tasteful, that the ladies stated Joy
fully that their expectations had been more than
surpassed. Sixty ladies belonging TO the circles
Of the highest aristocracy and the hGute finance
offered their services as saesWomen; the leading
Al
eIsRah and u Se ali
and a most efficient organization was effected.
Now the host Of court uphOlsters, painters and
decorators took the field; they worked day and
night, and there arose, as If cOniured up by
nj gician's wand on the western wall of the royal
picture gallery, row of oanOpied tents OF pur-
ple-cOlored silk supported by gilded lances, and
IN whose rear appeared the magnificent treasures
Of the picture gallery, which impaired to the
whole an aspect than which nothing more gOr-
geous and, wIthal, tasteful and artistic could be
Imagined.
But the long row of tents, of which there were
no less than nineteen, insufficient to hold all
the gifts which had been contributed to the fair,
and so tbele we're thirty-four additional stands
erected on the side Of the windows, and the
beautiful kiosk contributed by the painters of
Berlin YVES removed to the Tefreshment room,
and an snte-room was filed with the furniture and
carpets which were to be sold for the benefit OF
the fair.
The display of the articles showed that not only
"a,
giftb to the fair. All the branches of German art
and industry, in all parts Of the fatherlsnd we're
represented, wooden and cotton goods, articles OF
fashion and trinkets. utensils made OF all sorts OF
metals, China aud glass, hardware, leather goods,
works OF art, articles of Cirtt in endless variety
we're piled up on the stands. The ante-roOm,
a very large hall, Is We said before, contained
the furniture and carpets in the adjoining room
were 70 be seen refreshment stands, where pretty
girls oficiated as barmaids, the queen sending
70 afaD1a
Of the choicest delicacies generous wines and
all sorts of beverages. Opposite these stands
vas the kiosk, which we have mentioned al
ready-a semi-circulaT tent supported by slender
gilded pillars, and in the background of which
were to be seen five pantings-BOrussa painted
by Mcneil, in the middle, and on both sides, 10
tour groups the other provinces of the kingdom
fastening to the assistance of BOrussia.
Adjoining this room was the picture gallery,
with the tents and stand which we have already
described. The row Of purple baldachins richly
decorated with gold, and contrasting charmingly
with The splendid paintings behind them, the
many beautiful aud noble ladies trying to per
suade the crowd TO purchase, the incessant thrOng
in the gorgeous roOms-sll this presented q spec
tsCle of the most impressive kind, especially upon
those who called TO mind the noble purpose for
which these stirring scenes had been brought
about. The wittiest ladies were placed n charge
Of the stands containing the least valuable goods,
but their merry salies always attracted the crowd,
and they man aged TO sell as much as their sisters
at their more valuable stands. There was, e5pe.
c.ally one young lady whose amusing replies was
a constant source of amusement for the Dystand-
ers and who was more literally patrOnizsd than
any OF her fair colleagues. She was never az a
loss for striking reply, and she managed TO dis
pose Of Der stock Of goods at enormous prices and
with WOLdPTful rapidity. An old gentleman, who
was quite fascinated By her, took heart and asked
her:
d Tell me if you sell kisses too.n
'Of course replied the young lady.
'What is the price Of your kissesW
"A hundred dollars apiece, cash IN advance"
Here are a hundred dollars" said The aged
adcrer OF the lady.
Bot instead Of the kiss he expected, he saw, to
his dismay. that the young lady kissed her little
white hands with her charming lips to him, amid
the loud cheers Of the bystanders, and then took
the hVBCred dollars as cOoily as II she had sold
something at q very low price.
No less fortunate was her fair neighbOr, Of
whom the Turkish ambassador bought a small
bust Of the queen, for which he paid her five hun'
bred Fredericks dor. Under those circumstances
third needed not to be very angry with Baron
Won Rothschild, who paid her-OHe gold piece for
her photograph. FHty.two thousand dollars
were taken in in six days; the lottery yielded
probably as much more. So crowded were the
rooms every evening that oftentmes admiitance
bad 10 be refused 10 large numbers Of persons,
ard the repeated attempts TO prevent the halls
from being over.orovded by raising the price Of
admission failed entirely of its purpose.