Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-28
WASHINGTON RELICS
Artistically Arranged at the Centen-
NAL Loan Exhibition.
GAUDY APPAREL OF PATRIOTS
How New York Gentleman Manages u
Make Fairs Pay Well.
POINTERS FOR EXHIBITION PROMOTERS

there may be hooks enough to hang up all
the strangers who come for the great occa-'
sion. The sense of thronging humanity,
the hum, the pressure for week past has
been almost intolerable to sensitive people,
and when it is over ordinary city life by
contrast will seem the quiet of a village.
But first, there will be four days of en-
thusiasm, enough to try the endurance of .
strong man. -Four miles of pageant, the
flower of our armies East and West, the
lads from West Point and Annapolis, q
show of politicians, which counts with
some people for good deal, the mile of
troops marching buoyant to martial music,
and stir of patriotic memories and intense
national and family pride, which will lift
those four days far above common life. The
grand feature of the time next to the
sight Of soldiery, which is for many the
one grand and moving spectacle in the
world, will be the great chorus of German
musical societies one evening in Union
square, singing in the open air. For once
music takes its place in patriotic festival,
and 1t Will be something to dream of and re-
member. Much If not most of the best ef-
fects of the centennial will be due our Ger
man artists and musicians. For two months
over dozen of the best German artists.
sculptors and decorators have been working
together on the designs for the parade which
will bring in review succession of histori-
cal scenes in all the spirited grouping in
which modern German art excels.
THE CENTENNIAL LOAN EXHIBITION,
now open, is curious in old papers and
medals, the various paintings of Washing
ton and Revolutionary leaders and large
collection of beautiful old family silver.
IF not the famous Fairfax candlesticks,
tall, futed and wreathed, their duplicates
are here in company with broad, low bed
room candle holders with long porringer
handles which kept the melted wax from
dropping on silk stockings and nankin
breeches, or satin gown, as my master and
mistress sailed off to their chambers.
Handsome dessert stands of pierced silver
and some old saltcellars in silver and rock
crystal are fit for my lady's toilet in grace
and design. In those DAYS housekeeping
was not so ambitious of artistic effects or
extravaganza as it is now, but everything
was becoming and in a certain intimate
keeping not always apparent to-day, when
1t seems as If the best of us were living in
other peoples houses in masquerade
Lady Washington's favorite snuff-colored
satin in perfect preservation has the square
neck and directory cut of to-day, the bodice
crossed by plain satin straps, and the sleeves
of the plainest coat shape, suiting a we'll
rounded arm. The suit Washington wore
at his inaugural is rich snuff-eoIored gros
grain, severely plain, which must have
looked very handsome with yellow lace ruff
hes. The sword he wore at the same time
was pointed out to me BY one of the descend
ants OF Washington, gentleman whose
family likeness was unmlstakable. 1t was
e e
chose on the proudest day of his life to wear
the sword given him by his tried friend and
comrade, Governor William Darr, who wss
with him at Braddock's defeat
GAUDY COURT SUITS.
But John Adams, that sturdy patriot and
polished gentleman, who was always writing
his wife about bringing up the children 70
austere economies, must have INDUCED his
warm fine natural tastes in his court suit.
which remains in rich brown plush with
waistcoat and lapels of cream satin with
borders in marvellous lowered embroidery
hardly known at the present day. Honest
John must have been every inch minister
in that suit, "to the Queens taste" then and
now. John jays white satin vest and coat
OF chintz velvet is more the fancy of a man
who had many suits and could indulge his
taste. don't know much of human nature
If these elegant suits do not awaken in some
OF the dashing men of to-day desire to see
how they can carry off such bravery, and it
is very certain that they can do it with .
grace, The portrait of handsome Alexander
Hamilton, whom artists seem never tired Of
painting, only needed court dress to look
the very peer of his great kinsman, the
Duke of Hamilton, who, you will remem-
Der, like his Atlantic namesake, falls in q
duel with my Lord Mohun, if you have
read your Henry Esmond as you should.
THE CENTENNIAL FESTIVAL FAIR,
in aid of the Homeopathic Hospital, Is the
fashionable success of the time, which is
due to the intelligent management. The idea
came to clearheaded man of easy fortune
to devote his taste and talent to getting up
fairs much as an opera manager organizes
his season, with the exception that this euI-
tivated, polished gentleman gives his time
without dime in exchange, save the ar
tistic pleasure of designing pretty scenes for
fashionable danes to figure in and coax the
shekels out of soeiety's pocketbooks. In
the last six years this gentleman has man
aged AZ different fairs, notably, the German
Hospital fair last winter, which brought
$112, 900, the Montefore Fair in 1886.
which made $15S, 200, the fair al
the Hotel Brunswick, which made
$1,000 for the Training School
for Nurses in two days. What impressario
can make such a showing as this? When
Mr.. A. B. de Freee opens a fair, it is sure
to be so pretty and so taking that one can't
avoid wanting to spend money on it, il
seems like favor to be allowed to do so,
and if give time to the details of this Cen
tennial fair it is with an eye to the shrewd
women elsewhere who will be too glad to
know how such things are done in society.
Names are not wanting with Mrs. Chauncey
Depew as President of the fair, Hon. Levi
z. Morton as Vice President, Colonel
Crugar and Mr.. Coudert, who is quoted as
the finest authority on etiquette in New
York, Mayor Grant and Mr.. Andrew
Carnegie, and 30 more eompanionable 70
these.
ATTRACTIVE FEATURES.
Four floors of the Potter and Stymus
building are taken for the fair There is
cafe on the street floor where gentlemen
make point Of taking dinner. Next floor
are the stands of fancy articles, where Mr..
De Freezes fancy asserts itself by giving
each booth the name of a flower and decorat-
ing to suit. The confectionery is sold at the
violet stand, with canopy Of violet bunting,
supports trimmed with violets, and all the
pale purple boxes of candy tied with ribbons
to match and knot of violets on the ton.
The buttercup booth and the water lily
booth are as pretty in their way, and when
the room is lighted, full of ladies in even
ing dress, Lord Fauntleroy, in velvet and
long curls, selling flowers, and half the good
company in New York there, il Is prettier
scene than any of the theaters can show.
The children have a floor to themselves.
where toboggans slide down loads of candy
and toys, and some entertainment Is give