The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-11-10

which Is kept up to the present day
The annual fair for the Female Orphan
Asy ium became a great social event ia
the city. 1t was always held in the
Council Chamber of the old City Hall
which stood upon the site Of the new
City Hall now 10 course Of construction
While the orphans fair was going or
all public amusements and private en-.
tertainments were suspended. For a
whole preceding year preparations were
going on for 1t. The busy fingers of the
ladies prepared all manner Of bandi
work. useful and ornamental. and the
gentlemen saved their surplus cash fol-
the occasion. People OF all classes at
tended. Games and other Legitimate
devices were employed. mock post
Offices, fortune telling temples. gypsy
tents being conspicuous among them.
The postoffice was managed with great
skill and tact. Whenever q stranger
made bis appearance. his name was
soon gotten. and he was at once inform
ed there was a letter awaiting his a,ten.
ton at the office. Postage was high IN
those days, aud he was charged accord.
ing to the distance he lived from the
city. Letters of all sorts were PROVIDE
to suit an occasion or victim. Some
times they brought about serious re-
suits. One. in particular, may be re-
ferred to here. a tall. fiue looking
country gentleman entered the fair
room one evening. The quid nuncs
were not long in finding him out. A
blooming young lady employed in the
pOstofiice wrote him a love letter so
deicately and beautifully express
ed. that although he had never seen
or heard of the author, his interest was
80 much excited that be determined. If
possible, to find her out and make her
acquaintance. Under the recognized
principle that where there's a will
there's a way he succeeded. Or
course, the letter had been written IN
fun. and with no expectation that the
gentleman would ever know its author.
By some strange accident or. perhaps.
through the mysterious diyiuatlon OF
the God of love this gentleman s
eyes fell with admiration upon the
face and form of the gentle
writer, che being meantime perfectly
unconscious of the fact Her admirer
not suspecting her to be the writer o.
the letter, had been attracted by her
personal charms. fortunately for
him he was overheard by lady while
expressing his anxiety 10 know the OBJ
iect Of his admiration. She at once ex-
ercised her womanly tact. and In due
time an introduction, and an interview
was obtained. The result was court
ship followed by a wedding. The par
ties to this romantic incident were peo-
pie of high social standing and wealth.
TIE sympathIes of the attending
crow ds were in harmony with the OBJ
feet IN view, and peoples hearts were
drawn towards the little ones whose
presence on these occasions added
much TO tie general interest. The
more fashionable and elite part OF the
population attended at the night sales.
Young gentlemen escor ell their sweet
hearts, while the high danes. ATTENDED
by their servants either on foot or In
their carriages, went with fresh sup
plies of homemade bread. pickles, cakes
and preserves TO renew the empty
dishes of the preceding night. No pub
lie flower gardens existed then IN Ken
moud. Floral tributes were furnished
from. private greenhouses aud gar
d Is The tho est OF these C; me- IN
lavish profusion TO add their peculiar
charm to the occasion. The giyer oil
single camelia jip0nica on one occasion
bough- back his blushIng Lady
Hume" for ten-dollar note, and saw
it pass afterwards into fairer hands at
still higher price. 1t was not the value
of the flower but the motive which so
urged this rival and expensive barter
ing. The close of this annual far was
always a scene of mirih and uni
veIsal fun. Some gentleman. whose
popularity and accomplishments recon-
mended him for the service. was APP
pointed auctioneer by the lady mana
gers. The sale generally took place on
Saturday night, and began with the
most useful of the articles left. followed
up by the more ornamental. The great
est excitement prevailed on these occa-
sions. young and old rivaling each other
IN extravaganza under the magic con-
troll Of the auctioneer. "Triiler light as
air would become priceless cages, es-
pecaly when Cupid 5 glances went Tor
bids. and mod was as good as a wink
to the wizard salesman. IL was gene
rally found that more money was made
at the close than at any other time ~
the fair. This last evening was
also the children's carnival. They
came IN for the daintles OF the table,
the TOYS and the tinsel. and went away
laden with gift, and regrets that the
fair for the orphans only came once
wear. Family servants were also IN at
tendance. aud appeared as much inter-
ested at what was gong on as lhelr
masters aud mistresses. They had the
care Of everything under the direction
of the managers: were entrusted Win
important duties, and kept the
keys Of the room after the close
Of each evenings entertainment.
Conspicuous amongst these were
old Robin Spurlock, body ser
want TO Judge Marshall. in his blue coat
with brass buttor and buff collar.
Robin Frown. servant TO Mr.. John
Wickham: Carter Braxt0n. servant to
Mr.. Joseph Mayo. now living at an ad-
vanced age. and DR.. George watson
Steven. noted for his civilIty and excel
lent manners. Lastly came Billy Muse.
tall and dignified mulatto, long the
faithful sexton at the Monumental
Church in Bishop Moore's time.
The managers had long been Obliged
to abandon the idea of undertaking the
care Of any more grown persons They
the refore thought 1t best 10 indicate
this by changing the ane of the irsii-
tuition from the Female Humane AS
scci. tom 10 that of Female Orpha
Asy For any years the inco
from tne annual fairs. generally about
g 0O0 was sufficient to maintain
more children Il an could be accommo-
dated at their new quarters. The sue
cess OF the orphans fair induced people
TO resort to this mode If raising money
for other purposes. The effect was to
diminish proportionately the receipts
from the Orphans fair, so that even this
source Of income could not be depended
upon. La the meantime the yearly con-
tribution had been changed to one, in
stead of four dollars, in the hope that
the increased membership might secure
the necessary funds. The scheme did
not succeed, and the affairs of the lnsti-
tuition had a gloomy outlook. They