The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-10-05

Grand Army Fair.
This evening the Grand Army Fair open
at City Hall. For long time the members Q
Bosworth Post and the ladies of the relief corp
have been engaged in active preparations Th
result is astounding. The whole of the secon'
floor of the city building, and portion OF tn
third, have been devoted 10 the display of man.
curious objects which will be brought to publ
notice this evening. The preparations hav'
been elaborate, those in charge have devoted
time and energy to the undertaking. and tn
fair has every prospect OF being a grand sue
cess.
The main hall has been tastefully and appro
priately decorated. The Grand Army scenery
occupies the stage at the head of the hall whi
the galleries are festooned with bunting and
draped with corps flags and guidons. At inter.
walls seals are formed of drums and muskets
while below are hung oil paintings and chromos
A fine flower booth and soda stand, gracefully
wreathed with ribbons, occupies the centre o.
the hall, under the charge of Frank w. True,
assisted by corps of pretty flower girls.
All about the hall are stands and tables fol
the sale OF fancy and useful articles. AT the
right of the main entrance is the stock ex-
change, an institution which calls forth no little
curiosity, under charge of VIM. HI. Sargent.
Beyond this is the candy booth, well stocked
with confectionery. which offers tempting bar
gains to the Juveniles. On the left of the
door will be found the grocery store. The con-
tributons for this department have been very
liberal, and the store is stocked with great
variety Of groceries as well as other useful ar
ticles. A curious clock upon which the words
"cream mustard" take the place Of the numer-
ais usually found upon the faces of time pieces,
will attract much attention. At the rear of
the hall the popular young actIess Sappho has
fancy table, for which all the contributions
were secured by herself. Who can doubt that
she will be well patronizea?
Next in order comes the Ward tables, seven
in number, devoted to the sale of useful and
fancy articles. Ward one table is under charge
Mri. Charles MITCHELL three of Mrs c. G.
Douglass; four of Mrs. A. S. Spaulding; five
OF Mrs. H. P. ingalls,; six of Miss Lizzie Rob.
erts; and seven of Mrs. I. W. Starbird. Each
of these ladies will have three assistants. Be-
You'd the ward tables is the Yarmouth table,
which will be supplied chiefly with fruit and
flowers, and fancy table under the charge of
Mrs. G. H. Abbott. In the northeast corner
of the hall the fish pond, source of great
amusement, will be found under the charge of
Mrs. George Fl. Poor. Near the entrance to
the ante-room is the sewing machine depart
ment, to which Mr.. j. H. Hayden has contrib
uted fine Wheeler s. Wilson. One of those
great arm chairs from the Togus Military Asy-
lum occupies place of honor near the door.
In the ante-room, No. 3, are the headquarters
of the executive committee.
Reception hall is devoted to the bid show,
which is under the charge of Mr.. A. M. Saw
yer. The largest and finest collection of stuffed
birds and animals ever seen in Maine has been
got together in this hall. William H. Bryant
of Lewiston, contributes fifty specimens of
birds; Levi Woolly of the same place, four
hundred; Alexander Urquhart, five cases; NJ
V. B. Carpenter hundred specimens; Albert
L. Knights, fine collection of eggs; Fl. I.
Robinson, Russell Lewis. James Hamilton, G..
r. Davis and others, one case each. William
Sentcr contributes twenty-five specimens of
game; Charles Day, Jr., eighteen specimens;
e. G. Bell four specimens, and Johu G. Hayes
& Co., some stated bears One very hand
some case contains specimens of Maine birds.
All that is mortal of the famous Brahma
cock which carried away the prize at the poul-
try show last winter is perehed upon one of the
cases, and huge albatross, contributed by DR..
Fogg, is pendent from the ceiling Many of
the specimens are very rare and curious, and
all will richly repay examination.
Rossini Hall will be used for the picture gall
lery and war museum, and will be under the
charge of George 81. Abbott, G. H. Libby and
E. H. Hanson. Many curious relics will be
found there, among them several rebel flags
captured in battle, a trunk taken from Gen.
Beauregard's tent, the battle-fags of the First
and Fifth Maine, handouts used in rebel pris-
ons, Confederate weapons, many of them very
shot dug from the site of Fort
George at Brunswick. weapons used in the
war, Indian scalping knife &c.
In addition to the stuffed birds there will be
q large and fine collection of live BIRDS w. A.
Skillings and Samuel Chadwick contribute
largely to this collection, and eightysWo others
furnish more or less birds.
The Senate chamber, over Reception Hall,
will be used for a refreshment room. Nice
lunches can be obtained there at all kouls of
the day, and it is hoped that merchants and
others will avail themselves Of the opportu-
nifty. The room will be under the charge of
RensBller Greedy, and the tables will be furn-
ished by the wards in succession. Ward one
is reminded that its turn comes first.
Those who visit the fair may combine bust
ness and pleasure, and get neat visiting cards
printed at a press in the main hall under the
charge of G. w. Bean.
There will be tableaux and other enterta in
ments every evening Sapph6 has volunteered
to assist in some of these. Choice music will
be furnished by the Portland Band.
1t will be perceived that the fair is big I'M
dertakng and that lots of amusement may be
expected from it. The formal opening takes
place this evening, Charles P. Kimball, Esq,
delivering the opening address. A large at
tendance is hoped for all through the week,
and it is expected that many will avail them
elves of the opportunity to contribute in such
pleasant manner to most worthy charity.