Evening star., 1896-03-03
THE FENCIBLES' FAIR
It Opened Auspiciously at the Ma
tional Rifles Hall.
HANDSOMELY DECORATED BOOTHS
They Are Presided Over by Many
Attractive Ladies.
THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES

AS has been the reed of the company,
the fair of the National Fencibles, which
opened last evening in National Rifles
armory for a two weeks run, just glided
into popularity as a matter of course.
There were no formal opening exercises,
although 1t had beeen announced that
Gen. Miles would be in attendance. An un-
foreseen state of affairs rendered impossi-
BILE the presence of the head Of the army,
and therefore 1t was determined to let mat
ters take their own course. The orchestra
promptly at : o'clock played THE Fenci-
bies' March, bevy OF exceptionally pret-
ty girls attired in airy summer costumes
and carrying small baskets of cut flowers
descended from the stage in body dis
cordant, heterogeneous noise emana led
from the direction of the paddle stand and
the fair was in full blast.
OF late the public has had an opportunity
to view a series of fair rooms, but none
probably has surpassed in beauty of ar
ranSement and decoration that opened last
evening by the FencibleS. In the center Of
the large hall stands The display of the
flower committee, Il oonical-shaped mass
OF potted plants and rustic appurtenanceS,
which towers to the ceiiing. while on each
side of the hall are the various booths re-
splendent in deicately tinted cheesecloth,
through which peep myriad5 of fncandeS-
cent electFlc HSEtS. Inc stage Is USED as
a supper room and also a spot to dis
play bicycles and St:ndry other articles to
be voted for. In adjoinns rooms are a
photograph gallery and other attractions.
booths and Those I'm Charge.
Mrs. G. s. Fletcher has charge of the
f1o ck of flower girls. who are Mrs. W. F..
Crist, Mrs. J. II. Lewis. Miss NJ. A. Shep-
ley, Miss Katharine Nottingham, Miss
Alice Irwin, Miss May Butler, Miss Rosa
Maddox, Miss Ada Butler and the Misses
Seitz.
The first booth on the left of the hs II
after entering is called the leap year. where
pro posa's. in envelopes bedecked with car
dir al hearts, are unusually easy to pro-
cure. An unWary visitor of the male per-
srasion. who last evening had the assur-
arce to decline the proposal of one of the
young ladies, was threatened with all sorts
Of dreadful things. even a breach of prom
Use suit. Miss Estellc Manning is in charge
OF proposals. and no less energetic IN that
line are Miss Lucille Manning Miss Frando
Manning. .,Iiss Marie Manning, Miss Grey
son and Miss Sturgis.
Fancy table No. / has an attractive dis
play booth of girls and less animate OBJ
jects. Mrs. Shulteis presides at this booth.
assisted by Mrs. Howard Cook. Mrs. Rob
ert Miller. Mrs. Nicholson, the Misses
Grant, Miss Owens. Miss Made White
Miss Fannie White. Miss Gregor and Miss
Marian Oliver.
Mrs. John Pistol is in charge of fancy
table No. = with Mrs. Clegg, Miss Gar
rigues. the Misses Haslett. Miss Flora Bell
Miss Davis. Miss HerZog. Miss Curtin, Miss
Michael and Miss Crossat as assistants
AT an octagonal booth Mrs. J. c. Kond-
rup has the assistance of Mrs Kitty
Thompson Berry. Mrs Alexander Mosher
Miss Katie Collins and Miss Cora Semmes
in dispensing smiles, and, incidentally
punch and lemonade.
Ornamental paper of almost every con-
ceivable description is disposed of at
separate booth. conducted by Mrs. H. W.
Sessford aud Miss Cassidy, the Misses
HoltZclaw, Miss Mamie Herold and Miss
Rosa b. Whippies.
Confectionery, of course was one of the
principal articles sold. The supply on hand
last evening was exhausted with rapidity
IS result of the energy of Mrs. L. J. Bar
Der and Mrs. w. A. Domer Mrs. Draper
Mrs. c. b. Rheem, Miss Briscoe, Miss Lo-
craft and the Misses Crane.
Cigars, a special brand called ''The Fen
cible," went like hot cakes from the hands
of Mrs. J. T. Harper and Miss Lille Will
son, Miss Bonnie Winchester, Miss Gray,
Miss Ethel Page, Miss Mae McGill and
Miss Mcknight.
Pop corn and peanuts had display Of
their own. and purchasers in large num-
bers We're attracted by Miss Maud Durfee,
Mrs. c. X. Berryman the Misses Schneider
Miss Maud Walker, Miss Durfee and Miss
Raber.
unique attraction is the Wonder"
operated by Mrs. Morsell and Mrs. Edward
Ryan, the Misses Hodges, Miss Carrie
Hammer5lie, Miss Weaver and Miss An
drewS.
Miss Willett made a fascinating gipsy.
and equally fortunate in fortune-telling
were Miss Marie Beard, Miss Hemmick and
Miss Dillard.
The photographers were ably assisted in
procuring victims by Miss Lora Thompson
Miss Welch and the Misses Higgins.
tea garden, where purchasers We're
given the privilege of taking home the cup
and saucer from which they drank did
large business, under the manipulation of
Mrs. /. w. Wilmington and Miss Houchens
the Misses Beard, Miss Tansil and Miss Pit
ney.
The refreshments were served by Miss
NJ. E. Shepley and Miss Mcdonald, Miss
Butler, Miss Evelyn Padgett and Miss Alice
ONeilI
The noise makers at the paddle stand
We're in charge of 7. H. Hall. and comprised
j. J. Gavin, J. A. Kelly, J. E. Swigart, r. F.
Wynne, A. r. Lamb, John Pistol, J. T. Nc
Clanahan. J. H. Lewis, j. McBeth and Sergt
w. w. Walker.
The Fair Paper.
feature Of the fair last evening was the
initial issue of THE Fencible' the fair
paper, which is a bright sheet in every par
ticular, and reflected much credit OH it's
editors and manager In addition to matter
pertaining to the fair proper, "The Fen
cible'' last evening contained an alphabet
cal sketch in rhyme mentioning the major
ity Of the members of the company, as we'll
as amusing biographical sketches and car
toons of some of the members. 1t developed
during the evening, however, that Lieut..
MOsher, whose name appears as an asso-
ciate editor, Is not an editor, but merely
proof reader, and he admits his inability to
show a union membership card. Lieut.
Mortimer, the editor-in-chief, with fear and
trembling, remained locked in gallery
room after the appearance of the paper,
and could not be induced to descend to the
fair room. The artist, Mr.. c. X. Bergman,
who is responsible for the cartoons, deemed
it wise to remain away from the fair en-
tirely, While Capt. Domer, an associate ed:-
tor, pleaded ignorance of all that appeared
in the paper. and was, therefore, permitted
to live. Mr.. ]. G. Stelle, the business man
ager was not mole5ted.
Editorially The Fencible stated that IT
acknowledges no friend; 1t fears no foe.
1t has neither politics nor religion 1t is
published in the interest of the National
Fencibles; is for them collectively end
against them individually. Some of its
statements may be true, but we doubt it. 1t
has no apologies to offer; no regrets to ex-
press. 1t makes no promises, and its STAFF
gives no votes"
In the issue this evening a matrimonial
bureau is to be established for the benefit
Of the eligible element Of the company =
Tomorrow evening has been set aside as
Hebrew night, when the executive COM
mittee of the recent Hebrew fair, the