Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-10-19
TIE FESTIVAL WEEK.
AbkE EA~sAA Val - A1AsRAe
Opening Day og the Fair.
Immense Gatheriig.
civ ADnearance. etc. etc.

D. T. were the events of October is,
1869. The day had been looked forward
10 with anticipations partaking of pride
Rnounting to almost enthusiasm, nor did
its dawning disappoint public expecta-
ton. The facilities for reaching the city
from oil points being unsurpassed, the
people awaited themselves of them, and
filed us almost TO repletion. They came,
too, with cheerful faces and Joyous steps
The week has opened in most favorable
auspices We viii advert to the opening
day in its order,
TIE MORNING.
At early morning the city was astir. The
rafting Of vehicles, the whack of the hack
mans whip, the whistle of locomotives, the
of omnibusses, the chatter of
horses hoofs and quick tramp of the pedes-
trian, betokened time of unusual activity.
AS twilight melted away into the full bloom
of day, the smoke and Indian summer haze
were famed away beyond the distant hills
by " wings of morning, and the sun arose
in sky cloudless and serene as the soul of
a dying saint The weather could not have
been more delightful; an autumnal day
could not have been more charming. The
roads were in excellent condition, and all
the turnpikes leading to the city were from
an early hour thronged with people on
horseback, in wagons, buggies, carriages,
rockaways and every conceivable species of
vehicle, pouring In continuous streams into
the city. Stock of every description swelled
the caravan, and farm products in endless
variety demonstrated the prolific, inherent
and exhaustless resources of our noble old
State. Up to u o'clock the teeming popu-
lation, with their products, continued to
arrive. But for the cheerfulness and ami
nation everywhere prevailing, Nashville
would, for the time, have seemed a second
Mecca, to which everybody brought an
offering and paid adulation.
AT TIE DEPoTs.
The trains at the several depots came
rafting in on time, packed with passengers
from all directions and every part of the
State, who had come to the city to enjoy
and participate in the proceedings of the
week. They came by the tens, the hundreds
and the thousands, from this and the ad-
joining States. The great railroad arteries of
our geographical center teemed with civ
ing life, =" and the very locomotives seemed
to puff with pride, bearing again to the
once desecrated capital the citizens, with
their industrial effects, of our proud old
Commonwealth The streets and thorough
fares leading from the depots TO the various
hotels and places of destination of the visi-
tants formed a moving panorama Of human
beings, ood-humOredly emalating each
other as to which should arrive first. The
hacks, Omnibuses, express-wagons, etc,
were crammed, and more would have
been brought into requisition had
railroad companies extend every courtesy
and accommodation to the large influx of
persons arriving by the TRAINS and the
crowd unanimously pass verdict of ap-
proval of the promptitude and safety with
which every demand of transit has been met.
Among the passengers are large numbers of
ladies', whose dimpled chins and rudy
cheeks bespeak hearts as pure as the air
they breathe, and whose eyes sparkle
brightly as the stars that spangle the sky
above their heads. Throughout the day
and evening the arrivals continued to in
crease and the throng to swell, until the
city SCENE "a living hive.
AT THE HOTELS.
The hotels are filling up and full almost
to repletiOn. The accommodating land
lords entering fully into the pride of the
occasion, make every effort to comply with
the unusual demand upon their energies
and rooms Their tables groan under all
that the most fastidiOus epicure could de-
sire. every edible that the mar
ket affords, and all the delica-
cieS and viands that the confectioner
and connoiseur could conceive. Their
spacious halls are crowded, and their sitting
rooms filed; their parlors and ordinaries
sparkle and glitter with an array of beauty
hat would almost bring an envious glance
from the eye of Venus herself and exhibit
a manly chivalry not surpassed in
the courtly days of Elizabeth. All are
all are gratifed, all are pleased,
and this is as it should be.
Some idea may be formed of the energies
and capacities of the hotels when it Is
known that the following number of guests
we're accommodated yesterday:
There dined at the Maxwell House.......4l5
At the Stacey House...................... 255
At the Commercial Hotel
At the City
At the St Cloud. l54
At the St Charles. l25
The other hotels were well filed and the
principal boarding houses also. The
lAAAOL1 - ntAAA fAeNA NSb w hNAAeNaAS
that accommodations viii be afforded to all,
for if our landlords and people should lack
in room they will more than make up the
deficiency in kindness, pohteness and
hospitality But We will make room for all,
ind good room too.
MUSIC.
The city at an early hour and up to the
time Of going to the fair and the track was
Il Il e
Der Of proficient bands, that attract
ed the crowds in the streets and on the
sidewalks The band wagons were taste
full, and the music discoursed floated out
upon the morning air in peaceful strains,
unlike the bugle notes III the bloody days
Of yoTe. and fell upon the ear and upon the
sense like the sweet breath of the South,
taking and giving odor.' After feasting
our citizens with the harmony Of sweet
sounds, they repaired to the race course
and to the fair grounds.
THE RESTAURANTS.
The various restaurants of the city, are
.hronged with those who relish the finest of |
fish, the best prepared game the most deli |
,ious Of viands, beef steak, seasonable veg |
stables, and a ''hasty plate Of soup.
These establishments are literally patron
zed. as they deserve TO be, for no city in |
the land has better tables of this character
han has Nashville. The proprietors and !
attaches attend to their customers with |
ooliteness, and satisfy them in their wants |
md necessities.
THE STORES.
The stoses on the principal streets, es-
the dry goods and clothing stores |
IRE filed with purchasers, shoppers, and |
ovely femininity. The large and tastefully |
elected stocks on hand are sufficiently rich /
and varied to suit the tastes and means OF /
he times. Clerks and statesmen see much |
IF the fairest Of the fair from behind their /
COUNTERS.
THE PUBLIC SQUARE.
The Public Square is a medley and stir
Vendors, auchoneers, and
Iealers Of wares, organs, monkeys, and the
attendant generally upon
uch occasions are there in full blast. Men,
women. children and urchins gather there,
Presenting a scene incorporates save in the
Vanity Fair" of Goldsmiths Vicar Of
Wakefield.
bring FLOWERS.
The floral contributions to the fair may
yell be termed excelsior, fornotasin north
IN climes does our sun 60 down. The
lowers embrace every variety in the her
,arium or in the catalogue Of the florist.
numerous vehicles passed through the
treets on their way to the grounds, laden
nth flowers of every hue and tint that pre-
ented an appearance more resplendently
eautiful than the car of Lalla ROOkh with
be 'palanquins, and exhaling perfume
weeter than evening zephyrs famed from
he isles of ''Araby the Blest. Olive of
srings are these breathing insence of peace
nd good will.
STOCK.
The fine stock and elegant vehicles ex-
lifted on the streets are the admiration Of
Il. Cherry, Church, Union and College
treets, presented a brilliant display for
overal hours during the day of superior