Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1880-05-01
a Burlesque Art Gallery.

At a fair for charitable purposes that the
writer recently attended, one of The most po.
nnlsr and attractive features was an Art Gal
lerv-an "annox" 10 the main show, AS 1t
would have been called in the Centennial year.
There was Just an even hundred "works Of art
on exhibition. ell going 10 show The duplicity
and hexlbiliiy of our language, and the inge-
nuity Of the "arlist" For example. when
View of Paradise" is announced on tho cata-
ogue, ones thoughts turn TO some grand sight
of a celestial city. but what he really Gees is
only a pair Of dice. There has been much
excitement over contests in swimming during
the past year, end 20 see one must, OF course,
be worth the price of admission 10 the gallery.
"The Swimming Match" had but an ordinary
glass of water in which TO swim, and we Won
der how Il will go on" when II comes 10 the
Grub" a Bridal Scene was soon in full
view. and for moment it reminded one of a
harness shop. "Ibe Shippers Home. "a
sung little cottage by the sen as we had always
been told, proved to be only an ordinary slice
o. n vcry ordinary cheese. Sweet Sxleeh
excited much interest among the young men
present. hey wero shown q collection Of
iour times four Jumps Of cut sugar. Several
dead mice proved to be " y View Of the Cat
skills" The Tho Mail of Orleans is a per-
son for whom our historical reading bad given
US very high appreciation. She was here
s,r.ei in character, but not 50 whito as mere
,,,vipg would have made her. OF come the
lass was candy from New Orleans lNo-lass-
el II is said that one seldom sees "A Per-
feet Foot" but here was one with oil tie
inches. halves. quarters, etc, marked upon it,
o F..srfl .ffI n
foot was the common rulc. IL was with some
surprise that we saw It was announced that
there vas an " Eclipse Of the Sun" as The al
maracs had not i0reiJll i, besides IL was
evening, but this did not pfeyen: b!acs eloth
from obscurius a copy Of the " New York
Sun" "The Great American Desert wss
the tile OF the next picture presented to the
view Of the lovers OF nature and art. This
was art IN the form OF q Pie One ct The
neatest things was new version Of tie old
song Coming Through the Rye" Three
lille artificial mice With their heads Just
sticking ou. Of n loa. Of rye bread
pumpkin shell with fye-cent, toy time
keeper upon it had the high sounding title OF
"The Watch on the Rhine" The pile oil
hinges. screws, bolts. knobs. eis., werc all
Things to Adore, aud " \ View II Boston,
that home Of wisdom, was presented In The
central portion Of wheel. The Hub The
Missing One" was a mystery TO "a until look
ing all around large pasts-board unit vas
seen above our head We can by no means
20 through tie whole list, ba, as this is the
presidential year, we close vi,h The Two
Candidate" We dill hot make a choice,
Dates being sufficiently sweet without being
candied. These extracts from the catalogue
Of the Purlesque Art Gallery are given TO ai-
ford a hint to those engaged ~ the manage
ment Of fairs, etc. Such an exhibition, "ben
well carried out is capable Of ailoriing Tast
amouu. Of innocent amusement, and may be
made 10 adj essentially TO the receipts with a
very small outlay Il should be in the hands
Of these who haze sufficient ingenuity 70
present fresh %: OF pictrres, as many Of the
''old masters" arc badly worn by long use
Aracr:ccn Agriculiwist. for March ].