Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-09
THEIR FAIR BEGINS.
Ausplc,ovs OPENING OF THE COL.
oREo PEOPLES EXHIBITION.



The colored people Of Virginia were
favored with beautiful October day for
che opening Of the hrst industrial Fair
ever givcu in the State by that race.
When George Williams aud his corps OF
energetic assistants sought their couches
late Wednesday night after one Of the
hardest and longest days work Of their
lives there was little to encourage them.
Rain had been falling nearly twelve hours,
and the clouds were still dark aud threat
euod an even heavier and more constant
doWnpour for yesterday.
But whom they awoke the clouds had
nearly oil ~A1isncd. and tho rising sun
coon begun TO sI,ne in all OF its efulgence
end beauty.
Tho opening Of the Far was in almost
every particular n success. II certainly
Was in point of attendance and the eenerai
exhibits, whi.e not numerous, are good:
The exercises. too. were frought with great
interest to the multitude OF coiorcd folks
Who fiocked to the Exposition-Gronnds.
Before the gates to the grounds were
thrown open there was a parade through
the principal streets OF the city. This. too,
was very creditable and attracted general
attention.
The procession formed up about Brook
avenue and moved down Leigh street to
Second. thence to Broad, to Nineteenth.
20 Main. TO Fifth. TO Franklin, TO Adams.
70 Broad, and out 70 tho Exposition
Grounds, Washington Ftzhugh was the
chief marshal. Ho and his twelve aids
Verc well mounted, and they were ap-
parently much admired by the crowd rs
they eslloped up and down the line giving
orders. Ben. Scott was one OF the eids,
and no one was more employed than he ia
the matter OF getting the organizations ia
their proper positions. -, ,
Thousands Of negroes were assent ied
on the streets through which the column
marched. :,
Some of the thoroughfares were literally
damned and the greatest enthusiasm pre-
vailed among the coiored people. rs there
were several brass bands in the line ana
these never fail 10 stimulate this class OF
citizens.
MANY MIN IN LINE.
Four mounted police rode ut the head OF
the procession, and these were followed by
the rnarshals. who wore brlght-oclored
sashcs and really presented very good
appearance. number OF other norseinen
were also in tie line.
After these came a band and several BIZ
cyclists in uniform, who excited the envy
Of those not SO fortunate as to be pos
ecssed of the machines. Most OF the
wheeimen are members of club from
Washington, but several from Richmond
we're also in the line. A military company
composed entirely Of small colored
bows. came next after the bicycllsts.
and these were always the centre of
an admiring group. The diminutive sol
diers. who were neatly uniformed IN
Knickerbocker suits of blue, marched ex-
ceedingly well. and IT was quite amusing
20 see the corporals and sergeants IA they
performed their marital duties. The op,
eratives of the Tredcgar rolling-iniil
turned out over two hundred strong.
and made very good appearance. as did
also the colored employees OF the Rich
mond Locomotive Works. Both OF these
organizations carried very pretty banners.
The Plasterers' Union likewise appeared IN
the procession, aud perhaps made the best
impression of any BODY participating.
They were all clad in white overalls
and seemed TO be very respectable lot OF
men. immediately in the rear OF the plas-
fersrs came the employees OF the Excelsior
Broom Works, organized April 6th, 1871.
All OF these men carried brooms, WIN
small flags attached to them. and marched
very we'll The hands employed by the r..
II. MAYO Tobacco Company and the drivers
of the city Brought up the rear of
the line. The former wore white aprons
and were all equipped with profuslon OF
flags, while the latter used whips as the IN.
signia of their avocaiions. Each one OF
the Trcdecar men carried "a miniature
niece of me, al representing the tools with
which they work. THIS was quite elective
MANY Of the acknowledgements men also
carried small-sized implements.
THOUSANDS AT TIE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
By 1 O'Clock there were at least 5000
people at the observation-disclosures and be-
lore the day ended this number was
doubled at least
Every one seemed bent on pleasure and
ali appeared to thoroughly enjoy them
selves. though perfect order was al al
times maintained. A portion OF the main
hall of the building was He'd with samples
of work done bv colored people. but by
far the greater majority of the exhibits were
made by women With the latter sex the
decorative-art craze seems to have become
thoroughly prevalent. for there were
dozens Of cases filled with embroidery.
painting, crocheting. and other samples
Of feminine industry. -,
Some of the WORK was exceedingly well
done and displayed considerable taste. IL
was evident. however. that the colored
people had made no effort TO have good
showing "a far az the exhibits were con-
cerped, for while there were many Things
which reflected great credit upon them
they could have done much better. Some
of the samples Of culinary skill. such as
bread, cake. and preserves, were decidedly
appetizing 10 say tho least. and would
have put French chef to the blush,
BY the way, If the exhibits had been
ANYTHING like as numerous rs the booths
and stands where eetables were dispensed.
the Fair would have been pronounced
success. for in almost every corner fruits.
cakes. pies. and sandwiches were arranged
IN tempting and seductive arrays.
THE rAKIRs WERE THERE.
In addition 10 the many gastric attrac-
tions there were upon the grounds innu-
merablc fakirs and vendors. most of whom
we're white. The hobby-horses were on
hand and made hundreds OF revolutions TO
the merry strains of the hand-organ, while
tie wheels-of-fortune and other games OF
chance had large audiences throughout
the day.
At O'Clock there were several races be-
tween horses owned by colored men OF this
city. bat these hardly attracted rs much
attention as some of the other amuse-
ments. The chief aim Of those present
seemed 10 be TO eat and be merry. and as
far rs the eating was concerned they cer-
tainly did their duty nobly.
Quite number Of white people were
present during the day. Among these were
>utSci-. ItaiN 1--we VI ''ANt
tine, John Pope. NJ. b. Ramos. Thomas n.
RENDER. and Sergeant Il. \. Thomas. All
Of these expressed themselves as surprised
ut the good display made, and the orderly
behavior Of those present.
At2 O'Clock in the afternoon it was an.
nounced that the speaking in the Music
Hall wouid take place. and several hun
dred persons took seats in this portion of
the building. The platform was filed
with well-known colored men from other
parts OF the Union. Among those present
were: President Wesley Webb, of the
Delaware State Normal College; Rev.
Daniel Cosby. of Danv.lle; Captain X. A.
Paul. Alderman John Mitchell, Jr., Rev.
J. T.. Brown. of fredericksburg; Rev.
James II. Holmes, aud Others.
WELCOMED By PROFESSOR SMITH.
Professor James ii. Blackwell, of Man
chester. presided over the meeting. and
after prayer by u colored divine he intro
duced Professor ". Ii. Smith. of this city,
who made the address of welcome.
The speaker expressed the great pleasure
he felt ut welcoming strangers TO the city
and then proceeded 10 give q short histO.
real sketch of Richmond. He alluded TO
81. johns church. Hollywood. Bacon's-
Quarter branch, and also to the statues Of
Lee. jackson. and Washington His re.
marks concerning these generals were
complimentary and entirely free from