The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-02-18
THE SOLDIERS, HOME FAIR.

The ex-sodiers # San Jose, California, assisted
by the citizens of that city, have recently held
fair and carnival ola weeks duration, in aid of the
Veterans Home fluid. One of the features of the
entertainment consisted of large number of dolls,
about six or eight inches in height, and appropri-
ately clothed unfrmed, and arranged, illustrative
of different scenesin the life of a soldier. Touch
ing this exhibit, tie San Jose Times says
First is seen The departure The grouping here
is as good as anywhere else The old man is weep
ing. the husband md wife are taking a farewell
embrace and the children are cllnglng to them
with features expressive of emotion. In the fore
ground and probably the most interesting sight, is
seen the parting of the lover and his sweetheart
Next we come uNn the recruiting office, with all
the details and aduncts as natural as can be. The
surgeon is examining an applicant to see if he is
sound while the Jerk is reading from the records
Following comes he flag presentation in the square
The soldiers brmed in military style, and the
beauty of the village is making the presentation
From this we 60 q to the camp scene. One soldier
has a chicken a1a sack of potatoes, another is
tending the pots and kettles over the fire, and
others are reclng azily on the ground in front Of
the tent in yarity of attitudes. Alter this comes
the march, Will cavalry, infantry, ambulance
artillery, &c. TIE next scene shows the stormlng
of the fort by thesodiers Of the Mexican War, and
the planting the stars and Stripes at the top, en-
blematical of the,apture of California. From this
we pass to the roll Gala most painfully suggestive
scene The company is drawn up In line with
some of the memers wounded and scarcely able to
stand others sick and still others apparently only
just able to resr,nd to their names. Then comes
the hospital, witt the sick and wounded soldiers,
| bandaged and pppped up on pillows and attended
| by nurses. After this we have scene represent
| ing the way the veterans have been served The
| war is over and leOre house, with women at the
| doors and Windows, appear two disabled veterans
| with hand-organs While the visitor is moHrnfuly
contemplating this exhibition of gratitude, the con-
ductress touches him the shoulder and points to
scene at the rear # the BOOTH and there is exhib-
| tied what should b done with the veterans. The
facade of large, handsome and imposing building
| is shown with the ign Veterans Home" inscribed
| thereon. On the pCch are seen number of vets
! in fine condition, rading smoking and otherwise
| ENJOYING themsevs. This makes the visitor feel
better and he Cos out, and his attention is call
| ed to the little bulldog guarding the treasury, he
drops half or quster in the receptacle and walks
out with the consciousness of having had his eyes
| opened to the trHtl at last"
large number of valuable and curious relics
were also donated to be sold for the benefit of the
| fund, or else put exhibition during the fair.
| Among the latter we're swords that had been borne
through the East Indian mutiny in 1858, at Soferi-
no, and in the (rimea; swords from Bornee, Mex
co and Japan; Modoc arrows, Malay spears, frag-
ment of Fort sumpter, specimens of confederate
money, &c. &C. but the most curious relic, so con-
| sidered by everybody who it, was fine tooth
comb that actually saw service during the war OF
the rebellion Jpn the Union side
| Tableaux, rotations, vocal and instrumental
music together with plenty to eat and drink at
moderate COST ed the visitors pleasantly along to
the final winding up, which consisted of grand
masked ball at he California theatre
From all reprts it seems that the success of the
fair was fully eual to the merits of the exhibition
which were be,ond question