The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-01
THE FErE CHAMPETRE AND TOUR
NAMENT AT THE FAIR GROUNDS.

THE FErE CHAMPETRE AND TOUR
NAMENT AT THE FAIR GROUNDS.
/ For some days past the town has been talking
about the grand entertainment to come off shortly
at the Fair Grounds; everybody has known
little about it, but nobody has known all about it
it therefore affords pleasure to be able to tell
our readers something of what il is to be.
To begin at the beginning. The enterprise had
its inception at a meeting of the Ladies' Benevo-
lent Society, held on the goth inst, whereat it
was proposed to hold some sort of an entertain
| ment for the benefit of that association. After
some discussion, however, it was resolved that
" in order to secure the greater success of the
enterprise, and to give grander proportions to
the entertainment" the cooperation of other
benevolent associations in the city should be
invited.
Pursuant TO the above resolution preliminary
meeting of delegates from various societies was
held on Thursday, the 23d, and partial organize
ton effected. On Wednesday night last another
meeting was called wherest were represented the
Ladies' Benevolent Society for Sewing Women.
Bishop Polk Benevolent Society, Christ Church
Benevolent Association, Children's Home of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, Washington Bene-
violent Association, Southern Hospital Association,
Ladies' Benevolent Association of Louisiana and
| Mechanics and Agricultural Fair Association.
Gen. Beauregsrd was elected president of the
association which is to be known the "Fete
| ChampetTe and Grand Tournament Association"
Gems. Hood, Taylor and Gibson vice-presidents
and special assistants, Mr.. Sam Smith treasurer,
and Mr.. G. W. Dupre, secretary; the list of vice.
presidents includes the names of Gen. B1ckner,
DR.. Mercer, DR.. Stone, Capt. Slocomb, Messrs.
A.. Giflen, Pike, B. Johnston, Briggs, Musson Jas.
Mcconnell, Letchfcrd, Blanc, Kearny, Sloo, and
many other of our most prominent citizens. 1t
was also decided that the fete be placed under
| the patronage of number of ladies' well known
! in the city.
We have mentioned these names in order to
show, in the shortest manner, the character of the
! coming entertainment. They are each of them
! guarantee of its excellence. 1t will be noticed
in the list of associations given above that the
names of none but Protestant ones occur; it
must not be inferred from this that the entertain
ment is to be purely a UNCONVENTIONAL affair it
was decided that the various Catholic benevolent
societies be requested to take part, and. with the
advice of the archbishop, the House of the Good
| shepherd, the Boys Catholic Orphan Asylum of
the Third District, st. Therese Asylum and st.
! to whose benefit the profits resulting from the
sale of refreshments on the grounds will be de.
voted. The admission fees taken at the gate and
the various places of amusement, will be divided
amongst the several Protestant institutions con.
cerned in the affair. This arrangement, we I'M
derstand, has been accepted by all parties.
The fete will commence on Tuesday, May 10th,
| and continue five days. On the first day there
will be display of horseuanship by boys, the
prize to be offered we have not yet learned, but
we doubt not twill be handsome so youngsters,
brush up your equestrian knowledge, for you will
need it ALL On the second day the managers wish
to have mule race, the peculiar beauty of which
| is that each man rides some one else's mule; this
might seem conducive to slow time, but when it
is known that it is the last mule which wins, the
sport of the thing will be at once seen. On the
| third day hurdle race for gentlemen riders-a
rare chance for an enterprising young man to
break his neck. On the fourth day hurdle race
and steeple chase-a double opportunity for
breaking bones. On each of the above days there
| will be balloon ascension, entertainments of
varied character, such as dancing, concert, the
atricals, etc, in the Octagon Building, croquet
mstches-a delightful opportunity for the fair to
display the excellence of their play and the small
ness of their feet, baseball matches wherein the
| devotees of the noble game are expected TO show
their best skill, they will play under the eyes
of the farest of the fair, and archery Matches Of
| which we don't know much, but of which we will
tell our readers everything-after they occur.
On the last day will be he event. Listen, o
young men, and draw near, youths of large
soul and wild desires after fame, while we tell
| you that an opportunity will now be Afforded you
to realize all your dreams, to distinguish your
selves for ever, for there is to be tournament
| yes, real tournament. Not such, though, as
they had in olden times, when a gallant knight,
with his lady's favor on his helmet, proclaimed
| his mistress to be peerless, and maintained the
claim in bloody lists. with sword and lance against
/ all corners, from dawn till close of day, and
/ deemed himself well rewarded if, fainting from
death-wound, he might but return to his " fair
ladyen the pledge, all crimson with his own
blood, which he had received from her lily hand.
Not such the risk for you. The modern tourna-
ment, as far as we have been able to learn, con-
sists in endeavoring to poke long stick through
ring while your horse is going at full speed.
The danger, you will perceive, consists in the
probability that you will lose your balance,
and falling prone in the dust, will thereby afford
much merriment to the irreverent urchins around
and cause much lifting Of hsndkerchiefs to the
ladies' faces and notable amount Of inquiry after.
wards, with uery straight faces and in q rery
sympathetic manner, as to whether you were much
hurt. Assuming that so nebOdy does pass through
the tremendous dangers Of the jOust, that some
knights do get some riggs, the man who has the
most proceeds to crown the Queen of Love and
Beauty" This will be an enjoyable portion