Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-03
THE NATIONAL RIFLES FAIR,
A Brilliant and Attractive Scene at the
Opening Last Night.

THE NATIONAL RIFLES FAIR.
A Brilliant and Attractive Scene at the
Opening Last Night.
A PEN PICTURE OF THE FAIR RooMs-rHE
BOOTHS AND THEIR FAIR ATTENDANTs-THE
TRADES DISPLAY, &C.
The National Rifles fair was opened last
evening at the armory, on G street, and there
was a large attendance and much admiration
expressed at the result of the labors of the
various committees, as seen in the decoration
and arrangements of the hall. The scenes up
stairs and down stairs were very attractive
and, when the ladies, In their pleasing COS
tunes, took charge, there was no room for
criticism. In the main fair room or the hall UP
stairs, the square booths with their curved
tops are located on each side of the room. while
very highly decorated pagoda occupies the
center OF the hall. There is an auction
stand at one end of the room, and at the
other is the stage, which is furnished as a
garden scene with an abundance of foliage
plants, blooming flowers, and serpentine walks
where seats are thoughtfully placed. foun-
tain in the center throws up its cleaning spray
to fall with grateful sound into the basin be-
low. There is plenty of light in the room and
in each booth are gas jets shaded with globes,
which are colOred to harmonic with the style
eoops are re White and Blue
these are the patriotic and military colors. The
stand OF colors fastened to the wall above each
booth and falling in graceful folds still further
proclaims the military character of the fair.
Above the main entrance is a large portrait of
the PRESIDENT with American flags draped
ABOUT 1t, and In fact the warm bright cOlorS of
the national flag greet the eye to whatever part
OF the room it is directed. There is, however,
not too much color, and the decorations are not
excessive. Good taste characterzes the entire
arrangement of the hall, but this was neces-
sary in order to provide an appropriate setting
for the ladies, who are giving their valuable aid
and assistance to the Rifles on this occasion
The ladies are not only attractive, but efficient
and they contribute SO largely to the pleasure
fair ones are not more attractive than the many
beautiful things which are on exhibition. There
are Hover girls and dairy girls and 1.-THE three
variety of girls in a bewildering variety of cos
tunes, and each and all have but the single
purpose of making it pleasant for those who
become the guests of the Rifles.
THE BOOTHS.
Some Of the booths were not opened last even
ing. and SO the fair in its full bloom could not
be seen, but they are all ready and only need
the lady attendants. But there was the Mikado
booth, full of all sorts of curious Japanese curl
osities, and there was the perfuInery pagoda
with a soda water fountain attached, which is
to be worked entirely on the old reliable sys-
tenn OF winks, and is therefore warranted to
give satisfaction, especially a schedule of the
winks and their meaning is handed to custom
balcony, is devoted to an art loan collection,
and another to ice cream and other refresh
ments. pretty curtain extends across the
front of the gallery, and before this the members
of the Marine band sit and play their attractive
selections OF music. Down stairs in the drill
room there Is an absence of that brilliancy and
glow Of color which characteriZeS the upper
room. The frivolities are left behind and as
you walk up and down the long aiSIes and eX-
anime the exhibits of industrial handicraft
your mind becomes serious and you want to
learn all you can. All the exhibitors had not
arranged their exhibits in order last evening,
but the hall only needs the finishing touches
and then the fair will be complete.
THE OPENING EXERCISES.
great many people were in the building by
eight O'Clock, and when Capt. Jas. F. Oyster in
troduced Gen. S. s. Burdett. he faced an audi
ence that filled up the room. Gen. Burdett
made one OF his characteristic speeches and did
not forget in his patriotic tribute to the militia
of the country to speak of the energy displayed
by the Rifles in the past and the claim that
they had upon the people of the District for as
sistance in helping to lift the debt which now
rests upon the armory building. The fair hav-
Oh the evening was devoted to social pleasure
and the interests of the fair.
Before the fair had been formally opened the
young men in charge of the auction stand began
to cry their wares, and when the wheel turned
in its first revolution package of cigars fell TO
the fortunate holder of the winning paddle. A
front of the stage is row of blackboards forty
five In number, on which will be recorded the
articles to be voted for and the names of the
candidates. AS the fair progresses this part of
the hall will be place of great interest.
PARADE THIS EVENING.
The parade, which was to have occurred yes
terday afternoon, but was postponed ON account
of the rain, will take place this afternoon at
O'Clock. There will be a drill in front of the
Arlington. This evening the members of the
various boat clubs will visit the fair.
The Red Sky.
To the Editor of the EVENING STAR:
OF late the conditions for producing the cloud
less red and pink skies have been most favora-
BILE; consequently they have been very frequent
and pronounced.
Two years ago when they were so positive
there was an attempt to account for them
at Java, and for some time the volcanic dust
theory seemed to be most favorably received.
theory a very respectable portion of the COM
munity accepted instead the meteoric or cos
mical dust theory.
These two theories were the most readily &C
cepted by the world, and it was almost scien-
tific heresy to disbelieve one or the other; the
great majority Of the people were inclined to
believe that this beautiful cOlOring of the sky
just before sunrise and just after sunset was due
to dust.
still another theory was advanced, which
claimed UdpOr as the cause rather than dust,
and as time advances 1t would seem to grow in
favor. The arguments in support of the dust
theories have been conclusively answered,
while no attempt has been made to answer the
principal and strong arguments in favor Of the
vapor theory.
independent OF the weather-map, wherein are
revealed all the atmospheric changes, is most
absurd. II we will consult the map we will see
that there are two factors which, through the
agency of the heat Of the sun, cause all the
changes Of our atmosphere; these are nigh and
are designated on the map. The High" and
'Low" move around the world on general
lines from the west towards the east; the move
to sns
age at least 1000 miles on centers, SO that be-
tween Java and the center of the United States
there would be not less than six centers of
"LOw," and the chances are, from the addt-
tional belts of "Low," there would be many
more. The light cirrus-clouds are said to be
%, 900 feet above the earth, showing q move
ment OF the atmosphere that high at least.
The ashes and dust from krakatOa were said
to have been thrown 3 900 feet high, but even
this would be Insignificant beside the $4,000
feet OF atmospheric movement. Now, mate
rial like dust, with no buoyancy Of ITSELF that
was only thrown 5000 feet in air. could not
possibly rise above the influence of the air NOV
ing towards the centers of low barometer; there
fore, this dust would not be beyond the fn1u-
ence of"Low." The winds from all points Of
being the case, within 1000 miles, in one dtrec-
ton or the other, from this great volcano, there
would have been one or more "LOws,' at which
all the dust would have been concentrated and
II, .perchance, any could have
another and Smother 0a and another to- hSys
gathered 1t. 30 that the chances for reaching
the center of the United States would have
been about as good as that of the waters Of the
Pacific in flowing uphill and dOwnhill across
suit the weather map when these brilliant red
and pink skies occur, we will perceive that the
area of High" is upon Us, where there Is the
least or near the minimum amount OF moist