The National tribune., 1884-05-22
The Confederate soldiers Home Fair.

Fully 5000 people assembled at the Armory,
Richmond, Va, to witness the opening Of the
fair in aid Of the Confederate Soldiers Home.
Captain Williams, commander of Lee Camp,
Confederate Veterans, was master of ceEe-
monies and introduced the speakers IN the hap
piest manner. Corporal Tanner, Of Brooklyp,
was the FIRST to speak, and his short speech was
the telling one OF the evening a / am glad."
said he, that when Southern soldiers needed
help their FIRST appeal was to the men who had
faced them IL battle" None but men STOOD
around the speaker, and probably there were
not ten among them who had not been ia the
Southern army. They cheered him again and
again. Considering that nine-teuths Of the
contributions have come from the North
there was opportunity for enthusiasm Oh the
part Of the ex-C0a!ederates, and there were
some moist eyes among them. Wade Hampton
made short speech, as did Edgar Allan, Of
Kearney Post, Grand Army of the Republic, Of
Richmond. The following letter from General
Grant was read and elected the most enthusi-
astic applause:
PExToS TIsE-Dedr SIR +: am In receipt Of ycur
formal invitation TO DC present a. the opening 81
the fair Tor the home for disabled Confederate sol
diers the 18th OF this month, snd your kind
letter accompanying 1t. II II were possible for
me to do So would accept the invitation but "a
you may know am still on crutches,-nOt from IN
Jures received in conflict with those IN whose be-
half the fair Is even,-and cannot hope 10 &c IN good
IabtiihS lcE some lsGlL2l. nope
your fair may prove success. and that the object
contemplated may receive support which Will
give TO ali the brave Incn who need It home and
a rest from cares. The men who faced each other
III deadly conflict Wells to be the best Of
friends now aud only strive for rivalry n seeing
which be the best citizen of she gTandest conn
try earth.
Very truly, yours, Q. s. GRANT.
The decorations Of the arm0Fy were OF the
most tasteful and appropriate character On
each side OF the entrance stands q pyramid OF
cannon balls and stand of Inuskets. Entirely
round the edge of the gallery hang large United
States flags, which reach TO the floor. Each
pair of these flags is oOped back from the center,
thus forming the entrance to a booth. Between
the booths are various warlike emblems,-hel-
NETS, suits of mail crossed bayonets, etc. Not
one Confederate flag has been used in decOrat-
ing the main hall, but in the inside OF many
of the booths are TO be seen the stars and bars.
Shields bearing the coats of arms OF different
States, and decorated with many-eolored flags,
hang from the rafters. The first three conspieu-
Gus ones are marked Mississip PIP" COanee-
ticut," South Carolina"
Opposite the entrance is the "prize" booth,
and over it, upon an arch, is this inscription in
great letters:
"C.Vl Peace Hath Her Victories. 10. A. r. .
The fair is to last until June 1, and thus
far its prospects of success are very catering
The cash contributions have not been summed
up, but they are estimated at more than $4,000
while the aggregate value Of the contributions
in goods cannot fall far short OF $4,000.