Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-06-20
CATHOLIC FESTIVAL.

i.n,CATHOLIC FESTIVALs .99a7{
Through the courtesy of Mr.. John
Bruce, Of Wheeling, we we're furnished
with a complimentary ticket, and an
invitation to attend the Orphans Fes-
tivaI to be. held in Washington Hail.
comm encing on the evening of the 10th
inst. And as a description may prove
of interest to the readers of the CHRoN-
IcLE it is respectfully submitted. The
hall was handsomely decorated by tie
ladies of the city.-On the first evening
I went in alone to observe the customs
of the place. 1t is the usual custom at
festivals to ''bleedD those who attend,
and causes them. to be avoided hyper
sons who would contribute largelyf it
were not for this Objectionable feature.
/ This bleeding process renders festival
a very unsafe place of enjoyment for a
/ young man of limited income. For
instance a charming young lady will
sell you a bOquet of roses, and relieve
Your pocket' BOOK of three dollars. Woe
TO the 9verdant youth who tenders a
1 five dollar billin payment receives
no change. Being asssYoung man from
the country and still having hay seed
clinging to my, hair, i would have
proved a shining mark for the devour-
1 ing sharks. !. Upon, observation l found
that every thing was sold at the Gus
1 tofnary rates. Around the sides of the
i hail was arranged tables dedicated to
st. Patrick, st. Joseph and other Saints,
4 from these were sold Cake, Strawber-
ries, Ice Cream, Lemonade, Flowers,
| Fancy Goods, &c, The Festival was
conducted, solely by the Sisters and
Ladies Of the city. The most noticea-
bic feature was the s'Bower of Roses''
| constructed in circular form with tall
slender columns twined with vines and
roses, and surmonnted with canopy
4 Of the, finest lace goods. Inside the
i bower was seated fair, lady and at
| her feet and on a fragile stand at her
side was heaped boquets of the
most beautiful flowers. The Sisters
had a little .lottery which was '.jolly''
and we must not forget to mention the
4 lady who sold chances for to win a Sew
! ing Machine to the nice young men,
and who expressed herself willing to
/ 'sgo with the Machine;', little, girls
/ would accost you with "please Mister
take chancein the Baby's. Carriage''
or the "Crying Doll'' or the s'Live
Lamb" &c. The promenade was ar
ranged around the room with resting
place in centre and all was hustle and
! life and motion, ~,.-'lii : ,e,,.l.1.,
| Upon retiring 10 that quiet and com
Portable home, the Grant House. Z met
my prudent and Retiring friend, a
noted Col. during the late war, and my
"jolly" friend who was shot through
the head in battle and who has lived
to fill Offices of honor and trust-to
| these made report land on the even
j ing following we were again at the hall
i and .rningling with the threng. The
music was exquisite, and with the
brilliant lights, the fragrant flowers
i rendered the place almost enchanting.
/ There was no dancing, no eerem monies
land nothing to do but festivate, and
make your own bills. Long we Iiriger-
! ed by the sisters wheel to watch the
lsport. A young man on three tickets
/ drew '.wax baby'' [life sizel a pair Of
baby's morocco Shoes and 4 yery i fancy y
beaded satcbel, the dispensing Sister
the table, and closely observing the
1 numbers penciled upon the muslin
could not but infer that she made the
lselection to suit the case. He was un-
married and went away carrying the
4 imitation infant, by the heels, head
downward. During the evening some
lady. showed him how, and it was
transferred to his arms and with this
merchandise he promenaded during all
those festive hours. i'' l''' ,,.,ols' II - -
i My jolly friend had now come to
grief Ibis genial and handsome face
had attracted the notice of some twenty
j young ladies who We're selling flowers
and they clustered around him like
honey bees around a lump of s.hard-
crushedp sugar, or like ants around the
body of deceased fly. He smiled his
Sweetest Saratoga smile and struggled
j to be free, In despair he beckoned me
to the rescue, I told them we'also were
orphans-Two large orphans! cried
they, Buy? Buy ?-Just at this moment
/ the man with the beaded satehel hove
in sight and they went for him. We
retired to a quiet nook behind the
l"Live-lamb" and counted the stamps
which we had set apart from common
i to q festive use--alas they were alarm
ing few-adieu these festive scenes. A
4 lady plucked for each, rose bud from
the bower of vases with the sentiment.
! "Strangers-once met forever parted
as the 1withered rose retains its fragrance
may the memory Of your noble deeds
4 Response ;-The white rose and the
Gala Lilly, typical Of wpman's purity
and beauty-by association our lives
are made more pure-the flowers perish
woman Is immortal. ...s - s.
/ Seeking our friends we left the hall