Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-27
OPENED BY THE Squire.
The Village Fair at the w. l.. I. Corn
ArmOrV.

4 AE"OFys
| INTERESTING AND UNIQUE OPENING ExER-
CIsEs-PICTUREsoUE SCENES IN THE FAIR
| EooM-AN AUsPIcIoUs OPENING, &c.
When the Washington Light Infantry Corps'
lair opened at the armory of the corps last even
| Ing 1t looked as IL scores Of matrons and maid
ems had stepped down out of Hogarth's sketches
or the chapters of Barnaby Ridge and sud-
denly become animated flesh and blood MANY
| OF the maidens, too, were very dainty speci-
mems, with pink and white compilations, DIM
pied cheeks and laughing eyes, framed in
the cutest bonnets. Then there were court
ladies' OF century ago, with ruffs of Eliza
bethan dimensions, and little maids from
school in Kate Greenaway styles. The sur
roundings were In keeping with this quaint
assemblage The armory was Transformed to
represent an old English
VILLAGE FAIR SCENE.
Little gabled cottages and houses apparently
OF ancient masonry. formed the booths which
the young ladies in Hogarthian raiment at
tended. AT the east end of the hall was an old
fashioned mountebank stage. such as was n
common sight at fairs in England century
ago. The cottage booths and other structures
were designed by Mr.. w. Bruce Gray, the arch
ltect, who is a member Of the corps and ar
ranged and painted by the scene painters OF
Albaugh's opera house. The costumes and
general arrangement OF the exercises attend
ing the opening were in charge of Rev. L. III.
schneider. The period between 1850 to 1910
1
those years, though comparatively modern, a
great deal of the old fashions still prevailed
the armory seemed to be comfortably filled
at O'Clock, but still the people streamed
through the door.
THE OPENING
was delightfully."- informal, and seemed to be in
perfect keeping with the village scene About
O'Clock the town crier, with changing bell, and
the beadle, IN knee-breeches, carrying a lantern
and a spear, made the circuit of the hall. Oc-
caslonaiiy they paused aud the crier, in mon
ozone ozone, which might also have been copied from
SOUNDS on the end of his pencil, called out:
80 yes, yes, o yes; the fair will now be opened
beadle and crier again appeared at the head of
niue procession, composed of the six night
Vustc Of the town, all in 18th century
costumes, bearing lantern and spears,
ana wearing upon their heads the he'll
NETS which were worn until very recent
llsh villages. After this display OF power
ana authority came the village squire, a right
}oly-iooklng; stout English squire, in his best
DieecheS and hose, who was made quite short
OF breath in his efforts to keep step with the
Iong-legged policeman ahead of him. Upon
either 5a arm OF the SQUIRE leaned buxom viii
throng OF village maidens. This procession
ma the circuit of the hall twice, and then
the squire and his body guard assembled the
steps TO the mountebank stage.
THE SQUIRE MAKES SPEECH.
Here the Squire addressed the multitude In
bombastic phrase. The squire turned red in
the face when he forgot some parts of his speech
and at the gibes of some of the irreverent gath
ering. He got through with his part, however,
and was then borne off in triumph by his re-
tainers. This over, the fair begun in real earn
est: The village maidens, with winning smiles,
sOuc1te0, not In vain, for votes and chances. The
booths began to do q rushing business; the spin
ming jenny man, with modern briskness, turned
many dime into the Golfers of the corps. The
scene was one full of color and life, and we'll
worth seeing. During the evening the great
physician to the mighty Han Khan, emperor of
tricks of magic, and also exploited the great
cures affected by his marvellous nostrums. Mr..
John X Galloway Is the name by which this
learned man is known in private life Among
the attractions of the fair also is q Turkish
booth, upon which the village gallants and
pelles gaze with wonder. During the fair, it is
announced, the White Elephant of Burmah
Will be exhibited, and various strolling play
gallanty show, which, as it was explained to a
STAR reporter, Is shadow pantOmime.
AN AUSPICIoUS OPENING.
The members of the corps, who attended the
fair last evening in fatigue uniform, were de-
lighted with the prospects of the fair. The
much interest. In addition to the booths and
structures forming the village scene, spaces are
given up to the exhibition OF the large and in
terestng collection of goods donated to the fair.
One OF the large rooms adjoining the armory
hall is devoted to display Of furniture donated
and Of elegant workmanship. Fine e. t ero.
ceries, wines, cigars and other COM
modities in wholesale quantities are
arranged most attracttvely. One booth is
given up TO the sale Of groceries, which will be
sold at the current prices. One of the officers OF
the corps stated to a STAR reporter that a fair
valuation OF the goods of different kinds do.
mated to the fair and exhibited in the hall
would amount to $4,000 The members of
the corps hope for even better results from this
fair than from the one held in the skating rink
three years ago, and which netted the corps
about $3O,OOO. In giving that fair the corps
incurred an expense of about SD, 900. The ex-
penses of the present fair it is thought will not
be more than 1000, SO II the receipts are as
large the profits will amount to $4,000. AT
and then remodel it for their purposes. On this
occasion they have NO rent or other heavy
charges to pay.