The Morning herald., 1875-09-16
THE HORTICULTURAL FAIR.

A BRILLIANT OPENING LAST EVENING
~ rs THE HALL AND THE DECORATIONS. ~
Last evening, the usual Fall fair, given by
the Horticultural Society, for the benefit OF
the Home for Friendless Children opened in
the large Auditorium of the Institute. ~,
The opening proved to be the most bril-
liant since the inception of the enterprise.
The fair opened at 8 O'Clock and in a few
moments the extensive hall was flooded with
the beauty and elite of Wilmington society.
The costumes were both modern and antique,
but in each case elegance and good taste
combined to render them unusually marked
for their appropriateness and beauty.
The decorations ofthe hall are superb. We
don't recollect of having, on such occasions,
seen better exhibition of good tast, and
artistic arrangement. The feature of the
ornimentation is the evergreen grotto which
decorates the centre of the auditorium, and
peeping from the cedar and ivy of which are
the flowers of the exhibition, whose blush
ing pinks are only rivalled by those of the
fair dispensers Of their floral sisters. Mrs.
Preston Lee presides over both the grotto
and its fair inhabitants.
Fronting the entrance and extending from
the corner of the hall, is the Home table,
surmounted by arches draped in the most
delicate of cream silk, the novelty Of which
is relived by occasional drapings of ever
greens, producing most agreeable contrast
and very pleasant effect. The ornamentation
of the cake table, extending to the West, is
not less beautiful, being drapery Of green
surge, tinted by just the least bit of green
tastefully intertwined about it's folds. Mrs.
General Richardson, assisted by Mrs. Lydia
Moore, have charge of these elegantly ar
ranged departments. A strikingly arranged
nook, Immediately in front of the refresh
ments table, extending some distance along
the north wall trimmed with evergreens, is
the Restaurant, the outer portion of which
is used as an exhibition stand for the fruits
of the Peninsula, which are displayed in
tempting profusion.
The stage, which fronts the east end of
the hall, has been decorated with cedar
and evergreen arches as lemonade fOun-
tain, and its appearance is especially attrac-
tive, Mrs. Chas. Tatnall being the Rebecca
cfthe well. Fronting it, at the extreme end
of the auditorium is the music bower, in
which Prof. Ritchie with his excellent COM
pany of musicians is ensconsed, and a con-
slant stream of delicious waltzes fills the
large hall during the evening.
The exhibition of fruits, flowers and veg
etables indigenous to the Peninsula, is very
large and we'll arranged.
The following are the two committees,
which have had charge of the exhibition,
and so well fulfilled their duties in arrang-
ing for the fair.
Committee of Arrangements--Presto
Lee, H. B. Duncan, E. I. Warner, Ed.
Comfy, Harry Hoffecker, DR.. Mitchell, Aus
tin Harrington, William and John Waugh.
Committee on Flowers and Decoration
Mrs. Preston Lee, the Misses Du Points,
Miss Whitley, Miss Jordan, Mrs; Chambers,
Mrs. Naples, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Bringhurst,
Mrs. Corbit, Mrs. Lee, Mrs. Dr., Mitchell,
Mrs. Moore, Mrs. George Sparks, Mrs. Gil
pin, Miss johnson.
The attendance was very large last even
ing, and the fair this year promises to be
success. Nothing could be better than the
man: n:gement this year, and especially
have the ladies exhibited excellent taste in
their beautiful decorations, some of which
we have casually mentioned, but many of
them space will not allow us to comment
on except in general terms. The music
was very fine, and altogether the Horticul-
tural fair this season may be pronounced
most decidedly the best that has yet been
given.
The fair will continue the remainder of
this week, and will increase in attractive
ness every evening. Those who desire an
evenings enjoyment and at the same time to
assist in good cause will attend.
The Hall arrangements are under the i'm
mediate supervision of Joseph Richardson,
ESQ.,, Henry Tatnall and Austin Harrington
ESQ.,, and also William Candy, President of
the Horticultural Society. '
THE STOUTE LESSEE rs. KILLEN