The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-06-03

cry stand probably assigned to this position In
erder that ell who enter may become sReeten-
co. IL Is sufficiently tempting TO induce one
to liDger But the GROWING glory OF the hall
Is the flower pagoda occupying the centre OF
the room, covered with crimson CANOPY,
festooned with various hues of moss paper,
surmounted by red white aud blue balloon,
finished at the top with bannerette on which
is inscribed Flora" Some mystic characters
depending from above announce the presence
OF the Celestlals-a bevy OF lovely girls who can
not be dlshgured even by Chinese costumes and
queues. Not only is the floral world repre-
sented by an abundance of floral treasures, but
thes feathered tribe contribute to the fairy
like loveliness OF the scene Strange indeed
1t seems to see stately peacock lost in
wealth of foliage, and a sombre, wide-eyed |
owl peering over the apple blossoms. A joy
Gus little canary, unawed by his gorgeous sur
roundings, chirps out a prelude of the notes be
will doubtless fashion later on. Tulips are out
in full force,-tulps containing every variety |
of color and shade Accompanying pair of |
these lnanlmate lovers is a magnificent cluster |
of hyacinths, wooing attention with their love |
ly hue and heavy perfume. Apple blossoms, |
delicate reminders of June, and rural life, |
and snow-laden orchards, are lending their |
fragrance to the air. Roses lean over to look |
at them, and some grow red and others turn |
pale with envy. But we must not liDger. Too |
long already has Flora enthralled us, and even
now with positive reluctance we pass out,
through the long hall lined with stoves of many
patterns and varieties, most OF them if not all,
donations OF city merchants. into the
room set apart to relics of the war full
description of this department will hereafter
be given, but at present we must be content
with the mention of three meme ntoes here en-
shrined-the first medal voted by Congress to
Commodore Preble, second the presentation
sword from the citiz4ns of Portland to Com
modore Alexander Wadsworth third a shirt
worn aud darDed by General Neal Dow in the
rebel prison a. LIBBY. This room also con-
tains the art department where among other
donations is a marine view by the well known
artist, Harry Brown, the shock of corn by Miss
Addie Foster, that attracted so much lust at
tantion and admiration at the recent art exh-
bltlon, and some charming etchings by Miss
Fannie Blown A special attraction here IS
the beautiful squares of plush, in which are
inwoven all the most royal grsdations of color
and in which symmetrical figures stand out
with artistic accuracy. An art album, Con-
tanning fifteen pictures by Portland artists,
was donated by Miss Alice Howes, and will be
ratified for at dollar chauce. We hope to
be permitted the privilege of doing this de-
partmeDt which is under the supervision of
Mr.. Harry Brown, future justice bat at pre-
sent must wend our way TO the refreshment
room.
THE REFREsHMENT ROOM.
Nowhere in the admirable arrangements
that characterize every department of the fair,
is the hand of taste and skill more plainly Wis
ible than in the refreshment room. Every
thing here is absolutely perfect. From the
moment We cross the threshold our senses are
enthralled with the display of light and
beauty. AT the extreme end of the room is
the United States coat of arms. It holds its
positi among wealth of flags with which
the wall is draped and almost entirely con-
cealed. Festoons of bunting depend from the
centre of the ceiling, meeting, at alternate
spaces, long loopings of moss paper burg upon
the walls. Chinese lanterns occupy the avail
able spaces overhead. We should not be sur
prised if one of them is Alsddin's lamp.
Everything here is typical of the cause for
which they are laboring. The ma Ional colors
are displayed not only in the buntings and
moss papers and flags but in the dresses of the
pretty mattresses and the napkins displayed
upon the tables. Under the windows extend
ing nearly the whole length of the apartment
is table which literally groans beneath its
burden of CONNECTIONS and flowers. Here are
cakes, some as white as tie drifts that linger
longest upon the mountains, some crusted with
the boar frost of winter, some borrowing
their gold and lilac and rose hues from the
tulips that lean over them. Here are rich
Jellies cleaning like coagulated wine, dainty
salads suggesting, with their egg centres fowl
play, but atoning for this by the paraGe of their
green fringes. Here, too. are flaky pies gold
en- oranges and luscious bananas. The flow
ers, here, as elsewhere, are what nature de-
signed they should be, the browning glory of
the whole. Tulips, lilies of the valley and
apple blossoms predominant, but there are
hosts OF lesser blossoms intermingling and fill
ing the epergnes and vases with which the
table abounds One vase of pure white daph-
nes reminds one of group of innocent mai.
dens and basket of apple blossoms pendant
from gas Jet near the centre of the room is
something TO be remembered for its beauty and
fragrance.
The remainder of the room is filed with
small tables, some of them just suited to
family groups others to the quiet tete-a-tete
that Is such pleasant accompaniment to a
delicious cup of coffee. And this beverage
was served more in the most acceptable man-
ner, with whipped cream and all the accesso-
r'es that add to its deliciousness. Surely no
delicate lunch has been enjoyed since mama
vas eaten by the Israeites, than that of which
many of the merchants of Portland yesterday
partook, and it was universally voted that
City Hall should be the lunch room, during
the fair, and here, for the benefit OF rhe nlen
of business and others who desire TO extend
their daily patronage to this most worthy
cause, let me say that no admission ticket to
the fair proper is required to admit them to
the refreshment room, where they will be
served, as the PRESS reporter can testify from
experience, to the best lunch in the city, and
by the most graceful and beautiful girls,
robed in the emblematic colors of our Union,
with the stars in their eyes reflected on their
dresses. Many thanks are due the committees
that labored SO assiduousy yesterday and the
societies of the First Baptist, Free Street
Baptist, Casco Street Baptist and Second
Parish churches may well congratulate them
selves on their initiatory success, which will
ouotesS be Continued in to-day's efforts BY
succeeding societies, the Committees of which
would like to have twelve walters meet in the
refreshment room at half past five this after
noon. The bill of fare for the week, with
some slight changes, will be as follows:
BILL OF FARE.
Tea, &c. Coffee, Ice. Chocolate 1oc. Milk, SC.
Cream Itlc Ham llc
Poultry (?) Lobster Salad, zoe. Chicken Salad zoe.
Pickles. Rolls &C. Bread Be- Biscuits DC.
Cake DC.
Plain. Plain Frosted Chocolate Frosted
coanut Frosted. Neapoitan Nut.
Lemon Layer. sponge. Chocolate Cream Frosted
Jelly &C., &c.
Pies. Toe.
Cocoanut. Lemon. Washington. Cream &c.
Custards
Charlotte Russo, loc. spanish Cream, 1oc.
Strawberry Trihe, SC.
Strawberries, l5c Oranges. &c. Pine Apples SC.
Bananas, Be.
Sandwiches 1oc. Ice Cream and Sherbet, 15c.
THE ART EXHIBITION.
The exhibition of paintings, at the Art
Building, was opened at 10 a. M. yesterday,
by the secretary. George Dosne Rand, ESQ.,,
In few brief remarks Mr.. Fl. B. Brown,
the artist, who is the chairman of the COM
mttee on art for the fair, is entitled to great
praise for the admirable collection he has Sc
cured. The catalogue-a most attractive and
elegantly printed pamphlet-presents the
names of many of the leading artists of the
18th century, who are represented by works
that are famous throughout the art world.
Many of them have been exhibited in the
Paris salons and in the principal art galleries
of this country. The value of this collection is
over $5S ,0O0 and yet there are less than 100
pictures displayed.
The largest canvass, Tilton's "Aventine
HILL" has been carried to the City Building
and placed in the room devoted to war relics
on account of its size. Titon is close stu
dent of the Venetian style of painting, espec-
tally of Titan, but is graduate of no art
school and has studied under no master. He
was, at an early period of his life, resident of
Portland. OF late years he has resided chiefly
in Rome. He is the first American painter
since Benjamin West whose works have re-
ceived special commentator from the presi-
dent of the Royal Academy. The London
Times says of his Roman scenes "thst he has
in this picture of the 'Aventns HILL repro
duced every base, shade and 7ludnce of the