The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-15

Home Of Disabled Confederate Soldiers at
Richmond. Va. on the 14th instant, and ]
sincerely regret that | am unable on ac-
count OF nv public duties and prior en-
gagement 10 accept the same. IL | could j
would be glad to visit Richmond, and be
present on the occasion Of the opening OF
your Far. Assuring you that sympa-
thze with the humane and benevolent OBJ
! ject Of YOUR Fair, and that i wish 1t may
be in every way successful, l am,
Very respectfully yours, etc.,
THOMAS j. HENDERSON.
FROM SENATOR EDMUSDs.
UNITED STATES SESATE,)
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 7, 1884.
PeWon Wise, Esq, Chairman, DC, Rich
mond, Va.:
Dear Sir,-l have your favor OF 9Th in
slant, with its enclosure. 1t Is impossible
for me to attend the opening OF the Fair
you name. It's objects certainly have my
sympathy, flor however erroneous the peo-
pie OF the North may have considered the
attempt to establish Confederate Govern
ment to have been, no one can fail to COM
miserate the condition OF any disabled SOL
| dier who fought in cause that he believed
| W NC SOOo OuCs tb'' wv
Fair and the establishment OF the Home
may be complete success.
Respectfully yours,
GEORGE j. EDMUNDs.
LAST NIGHT.
The Dispatch has published, from time
to time, fun particulars OF the great inter-
est that the Fair has excited all over the
country. and the details need not now be
repeated.
The day for the opening OF the Fair
broke clear and balmy, and expectation
was at it height for the success OF the en-
terprise.
A visit TO the Armory yesterday morn
ing showed a scene OF bustling activity on
the part OF the managers, which was sure
prophecy OF the admirable arrangements
to be completed
On the lower floor the rooms OF the sevc-
raj companies, which had been used as
store-rooms for the immense piles OF dona-
tons OF every description which have been
pouring.in from every quarter. were being
emptied OF their contents, which strong
arms were bearing to the upper floor,
where skiliul hands were arranging them
to the best advantage.
Vending ones way through labyrinth
OF flags, notices, etc, to the upper floor
the scene there was indeed lively. Ladies,
BOYS, and girls. and men, were flying to
and fro, and under tasteful direction and
management decorations were going up,
booths, tables, etc., were being arranged.
and the large hall being transformed as il
by magic into "the thing Of beauty the
| Joy forever" which it presented at the
opening last night.
| All day long the work went on, and
when the doors were opened at night
there was presented display OF marvel
lous beauty.
At the main entrance to the hall is the
coat-oi-arms OF Virginia over the door,
the sides OF which are flanked by muskets
with fixed bayonets, and cannon-balls
rather black to have ever seen real ser
vice.
Entering the hall the eye Is attracted by
variety OF beautiful decorations whic
cannot now be described in detail.
Walls and galleries draped in flags, taste
fully-constructed booths presided over
by beautiful women, tables grooming be-
meath the weight OF every variety OF fancy
and useful articles, the figure Of the God
dess OF Peace suspended from the ceiling
and bearing the olive branch in her hands
the motto over the eastern end OF the
hall. c. V.-"Peace hath her vic
tories &c. A. r., underneath which
was a dissolying gas-iet with the let
tiers ar. L. L. Camp, No. 1, c. w." and
many other features too numerous to men,
ton, combined to make the appearance OF
the hall really magnificent, and reflected
the highest credit on Captain Henry &.
Jones (chairman) and his committee, Mr..
Siegle. the ladies. and all concerned.
TRAMP, TRAMP, THE BOYS ARE MARCHING"
was the word passed along the line at 1870
Z. NJ, and soon Phil. Kearney Post, No.
10, G. A. r.; K. L. Lee Camp. c. ", and
Stonewall Camp, &. ", most OF them in
uniform, escorted by Company e., Captain
j. V. Bidgood, and headed by the drum
corps. marched into the hall, which was
packed to its utmost capacity with an eager,
expectant crowd.
Soon the towering form OF General Wade
Hampton was seen vending his way
through the crowd, and was greeted with
loud applause, rs was also Corporal Tan
ner, of New York, on his two cork legs.
Then followed the benignant face OF
W. w. Corcoran, Esq, OF Washington,
whose presence in Richmond is always
hailed with the liyelest pleasure. accom-
panied by the honored man OF God, Rev.
DR.. Peterkin.
THE OPENING.
Captain Charles u. Williams, chairman
OF the committee, called the vast assembly
to order Tor rather tried to do so, for the
people were so packed that many could
not hear, and persisted in talking, and said
that as the heart OF the whole country had
been touched by the spirit OF charity and
brotl&rly love evoked by this movement, it
was peculiarly appropriate that the eXer-
cses should be opened with prayer. and
he called on Rev. DIR. Peterkin to perform
this service.
DR.. Peterkin made fervent and very
appropriate prayer.
Captain Williams then said that he es-
teemed 1t a privilege and pleasure to be
able to introduce man whose name should
be engraved on every southern heart. En-
tering the Union service at the age OF
seventeen. he bravely did his duty until he
lost both legs from Confederate shot.
And vet when this man, soon after the
war, was made Department Commander OF
the G.. A. X. for New York, he promptly
issued his order that in decorating soldiers
graves those OF "the men who wore the
gray" should be honored equally with
those who "wore the blue" and when he
was called on by some Of different spirit
to explain this order he promptly defended
it, and said that he "would like to meet
the man who fired the shot that took off
his legs in order that he might take him by
the hand and show his respect for a brave
foeman."
This same man had on visit to Rich
mond suggested this very movement; he
had given IL his active support, and he was
sure that his comrades and friends would
join him in extending hearty greeting to
their true-hearted friend,