The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-27
IT'S A SUCCESS.
The Annual Festival at Olney
Street Church.
Many Rare Curios Are in the Loan
Exhibition.

The fair Of the Olney Street Unitarian
Church, held last evening in the as
sembly rooms of the church, and which
will he continued this and tomorrow
evenings, is certainly one of the most
artistic and interesting held in this city
in long while.
There ought to be connected with the
rame of the pleasurahle and pleasing fair
the name of loan exhibition, for there is
one connected with the same, containing
many articles that ought TO interest every
resident of this city. OF time blessed
articles there are many in this exh bltion,
and some OF them are very beauti ul, and
II seems rs IL every part of the Garth had
paid its tribute to the fair. There are
many things hat are connectei with old
Providence that deli ht the eye of a ma
tive and there are curiosities whose
strangeness not even the wisdom of two
such works as the Century dictionary
could tell us about. Among the most not
a lie articles is the Masonic apron, and it
has characts RS upon IT that have been
pronounced mysterious by several crafts
men who have seen it. There is the cup
and saucer that Washington drank out o,
in Providence, an ointment box and coin
given by the father of his country L
,ne-time lady resident OF his city. To
II
tractive things in this COLLECTION would be
too difficult task But the specimens of
str work OF the famous Betsy Baker
must not be neglected if only or the sim
pie reason that the straw head coverings
would never be worn to the theater
present
The decorations ard settings OF the
booths in Urbanity fair, for such the
poet of the society calls it, show excellent
taste on the par of the ladies' who dec
Grated them. Never at any fair held by
the society has so much care been taken
to make the rooms look charming, and it
is very evident that no expense has been
spared in this regard.
The prettiest booth of all is the vio'et
booth, and the lover of violets, and who
Is not @ nked as one, Will have to resist
strong temptation TO pluck one of the
1900 or more of the modest little flowers
that cover IL. Books are the articles for
sale there and they sit on rich thrones
Very nearly as pretty, but not quite so
simple, is the booth Of the Chrysanthe-
mum Club, wita its threads of gold, its
white decorations, and its straw top.
Very tempting TO the eye and to the
pocketbook is the display OF preserved
fruits that are Tor disposal there. The
flower Doth is decorated in pretty man.
ner with evergreens.
Green and white are the reigning col
ors at tie phosl and lemonade booths.
But in tho very front rank of pretty
b, otbs Is the Colonial one, with its white
anc yellow artistically placed drareries,
and the candies on ale at II are excellent.
There was a great demand for aprons last
evening and the decorations of rink and
white early felt lonesome. At the fancy
booths are some choice articles and the
blue and white decorations seem becom-
ing. The rainbow booth is in charge II
the ladies of the First Congregat ional
nd IA
but not quite as attractive as the many
fine articles there are for sale at il. The
Dorcas Society has pretty collection OF
dolls at its booth, and green, pink end
white blend in its decoration. The lunch
table has red and wbite draperies end
lavender ard white set off the cake table.
An ancient colored lady has an old bun
die, in which there are said to be many
rich prizes, and of course the ice-cream
and cake Is of the best and the service NIL
that could be desired. There is a cashier
handy and everything, in fact, but cash
register.
Last evening that well-known company
OF amateur actors, the Players Club,
presented In an excellent manner
u A Finished .Ccquette. I" and An
Obstinate Family. "and they will re eat
their successes this evening and also to-
morrow evening. The Phstteplace Or
chestra gave a delightful concert last even
ing and pleasant program has been ar
ranged for tbs evening.
Mr.. l.. M. Stcliey is the general mana
ger of the fair, and there are many evi-
dences of HE skill on all hands. The other
mombers OF the executive committee are
A. II. Pl Mt, ~. Eddy, A. Holborok, Jr.,
q. b. Olney, q. ID. Nelson, 3. II. 1ingl,y,
n. ; eere, J. r. Plant, G. A. Peirce, W.
J.. Wllmarth, q. 4. Miller, X. q. Mckay,
A. Damitio, II. h. Boyden, A. S. Haw-
kins, J. h. Benson.
The pastor OF the church. Rev. William
T.. Furman, hopes the fair will prove the
most succcssful I'm the history OF the So
ciety. There IL II tie doubt that the sue
cess is deserved.