Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-01-26
THE MIDWAY PLAISANCE,
A Notable Success Achieved by
the UniVerSalist Ladies'.


ments Of That Success.
1t is generally conceded that the many
successful fairs given by the Universalist
ladies in former years were altogether
eclipsed by the varied attractions and num-
erous interesting exhibits and Sights on
the Midway Plaisance, at the town hall
! last evening. An almost endless amount
of hard work had been expended by many
workers, and the hall has rarely, If ever,
! presented so brilliant an appearance. The
! pleasing effect could not be appreciated in
! full because of the crowd which filled the
! hall to overtlo wing, but we heard nobody
| complaining that so many dimes had been
dropped into the Golfers, and it is certain
! that better natured crowd would be hard
to find. Much of the decoration was really
artistic, and the electric lights, which
cleaned everywhere, gave an appearance
of unaccustomed brlliancy to our not nota-
bly, elegant place of public meeting.
AS one entered he was confronted by the
temple of art at the head of the hall,
pillared structure of pure white, about
which were disposed over 1870 tiny electric
lights of various colors, which gave
charming effect. In the centre of the front
was amany-colored star, in which the colors
were constantly changing, Palms and
foliage and blooming plants were tastefully
arranged about the booth. The temple
was designed by f. Il. Vaughan. Here
were sold dainty art needle work, hand
painted articles, and other fancy work.
The ladies in attendance were Mrs. II. f.
Brooks, Mrs. G.. F. Barber, Mrs. c. ii.
Pratt, Mrs. f. X. Vaughan, Mrs. w. II.
Bracket The temple was one of the strik-
ing features of the fair.
| At the left of the entrance was the ma
pie sugar exhibit, in charge of Mr.. and
Mrs. {. ID. Whitman, assisted by Miss
Redway, and Hugh and Clara Whitman.
Prominent among the jars and bottles of
the amber-colored sweet was the huge glass
receptacle filled with syrup which oc-
cupied the pinnacle OF the exhibition booth
at Chicago. Red and white were the col
ors used in draping and trimming the
booth, and the sale OF maple sugar, in plain
cakes and fancy shapes, drew many pat
| rOns.
The Irish village was next represented
a very effective cot of rough single and
bark, heavily matched; it was exceedingly
well arranged, and drew forth many favor
able comments. On the wall back of the
counter, which was filled with aprons long
and short, dainty and useful, of all sorts
and cOlors, appeared the legend in the
Irish language, which greeted all at the
Irish village at ChicagO-"C ead mile failte'
! Ia thousand times WelcomeJ. Ireland 5
flag waved at either corner OF the cottage,
and the ladies who presided (from their
accent presumably of Celtic eXtraction)
were Mrs. J. b. Robinson, Mrs. Harry
Rowe, Mrs. j. A. Lindsey, and Mrs. Al
bert Rockwell
\ decided contrast was afforded by the
neighbOrng booth, little corner of Japan
a group of four ladies', exceedingly
japanese as TO costume ana hair Orna-
ments, dispensed refreshment in dainty
cups of japanese ware which were retain
ed by the partaker as souvenir of the
Midway or sold other bits Of dainty
china as desired. japanese screens, pan
els, fans, dolls, Lanterns, parasolS and dra-
peres were freely used, and the result was
charming glow OF color and light. Mrs
A. J. Taylor Mrs. \. V. Cox, Mrs 5. W
Edwards and Miss Mary Houghton were
the ladies from Japan.
The next booth, representing Turkey,
was very correct and artistic. The struct-
ure, of dull brown, was draped within with
rich, heavy, eastern-looking stutfs The
Turkish star and crescent in gilt surmount-
ed the building, and appeared in the
flags of the country at either side The
design was made by \. ID. Wyatt. Mrs. A.
W. Phillips, Mrs. A. ID. Wyatt, Mrs. c.
O. Robbins, and Mrs. Frank Burnett sold
the daintiest of fancy work with the mod
esty one would expect from Turkish ladies
unaccustomed to meet the public gaze.
The distinguished and honored person
ages OF the occasion occupied a stately
throne at the upper end of the hall, and
received the grateful and admring hon.
age of the crowd, as Queen Isabella eX-
pressed her JOY at having discovered
us, and gave due credit to her companion,
the noble Columbus. Mrs. G.. w. Hooker
and Col. Ii. +. Taylor bore up admirably
under the weight of dignity thus laid upon
them. On the other side of the temple of
art Miss Nan Houghton dispensed hygeia
water TO thirsty passers-by.
The French quarter was picture of ele-
gance, with its dainty hangings of white
and green, its plate glass mirrors luxuri-
Gus chairs and cOuches, and fur rugs. La
dies in charming evening toilet Mrs. II.
r. Brown, Mrs. w, E. Hubbard, and Misses
Cressy, Farr and Elmer smilingly served
you with French confectionery, fruit, salt
ed nuts, etc. The French emblem figured
prominently in the outline of the entrance
arch.
A draped and curtained enclosure, be-
longing to the Spanish exhibit, and presid-
ed over by a Spanish gypsy, was much
frequented place, for above the entrance
was the legend Catalina de Cruces-For-
tunes told here. Five cents" Patrons
appeared well satisfied with the disclosures
there made.
The Spanish booth proper, surmounted
by portrait of Columbus, and displaying
lavishly the Spanish colors, was an attract
i've place. The Spanish ladies, with their
fans, and wells, and laces, were Mrs. f. b.
Richardson, Miss Lulu Bracket, Miss Amy
Hines, and Miss Minnie Haskins as fortune
teller Spanish students, with guitars and
banjos, discussed pleasing music here. a
variety of articles, ornamental and useful,
were displayed for sale, handsome lot of
cut flowers being the chief feature.
The German quarter dealt with the solid
and substantial, and under the red and
white of its hangings were most tempting
displays of good things in the shape OF
cakes and other choice productions of Gull
nary art. Mrs. w. w Cook Mrs. O. IL.
Stickney, Mrs, w. ID. ellison, Mrs. A. n.
Wyatt and Mrs. A. j. Stearns reigned here.
But when you had seen the exhibits of
: the various nations you had seen but a
, small part of the attractions. Indeed, the
central feature of the hall, the we'll ar
ranged supper tables, proved one of the
most taking of ALL as the receipt of Sis