Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-02
ayly decorated with hundreds and

and gayly decorated with hundreds and
hundreds of yards OF bunting; that was
what those who We're In the big Audito-
rum last evening saw and heard.
Never before has such an audience as
sembled in the capital Of the Confederacy.
Handsomely-dresse women whose pre-
sence would lend charm 70 any gathering,
sat beside the war-worn veteran in his
tattered suit of gray. With the aged
soldier tottering with one foot in the
grave, mingled the youth just entering
into his manhood. Young girls with the
blush OF roses on their checks nestled
close to her whose dimmed eye and pal
sled hand told that she was one
Of those who. in times Of war; proved
herself an angel among men.
The sea OF faces. the glinlmer OF the
pure-white light upon the many colored
hues was a sight never to be forgotten
by those who beheld IT,
MANY TURNED AWAY.
At 1880 o'clock the big hall was nearly
half filed and from then on for over an
hour there poured in the building a
seemingly never ending stream. Thou
sands could not even gain an entrance,
and were forced 10 return TO the city
without witnessing the magnificent spec
tacle which the interior of the hall pre-
sented.
A pretty incident occurred Just before
the entertainment commenced. Mrs.
General Pickett was escorted TO a seat
on the stage by Captain Cunningham,
and as she passed in front OF the great
audience, as II by a sudden impulse. she
turned and, advancing a step forward.
kissed her hand at the mighty assem-
blage. The little act was received with
an outburst of applause.
THE FAIR SPONSORS.
At $50 the stonewall Band. OF thirty
four pieces, took their seats in front OF
the stage, and the programme Of The
evening was commenced with medley,
beautifully rendered by this superb orr
ganization. Then came the feature OF the
occasion. Captain Cunningham, in clear
voice. announced that the sponsors would
take their positions at the back Of the
stage Just in the order i'm which the
States seeded. Steps had been arranged,
SO that the young ladies, when grouped,
would form a pyramid
South Carolina was first called, and
Miss Lottie Palmer Capers, charming
daughter OF the Palmetto state. made her
appearance and seated herself. while the
building shook with applause.
Miss Mary Clare Wilmer, a brunette OF
handsome appearance, was the next fair
representative 10 make her bow respond
ing when the name OF Alabama was
called.
To the call for Mississippi radiant
beauty in the person of Miss Minnie
Clopton took her seat beside Alabama's
sponsor.
Miss Sara b. Raney of Florida. In re-
sponse to her State completed the base
OF the pyramid.
Far-away Texas was then called, and
there came forward a 1.-THE and graceful
brunette in the person OF Miss Minnie
Boyd, one OF the youngest OF all the
sponsors. she being only Is.
Miss Daffron, representing the Trans
Mississippi Department, took her place
beside her Texas sister.
Miss Virginia Nichols, representing
Louisiana. next responded. and, In honor
Of her hailing from the home OF Jefferson
Davis. she went a few steps higher than
the fair sponsors around there, and seated
herself at the very top of the pyramid.
VIRGINIAS DAUGHTER.
Then the name of Virginia was called.
and Miss Halle Patton Cooke. Of this
citv. beautiful brunette. stepped for
ward. and was received with such a storm
of applause that Ii made the very rafters
tremble. Miss Cooke, being from the
State in which the President OF the Con-
federacy is buried. took her seat beside
Miss Nichols
Miss Tomple Toland was the next spon-
sor to take her place I'm the group. re-
spending to repr sent Arkansas. North
Carolina sent lair daughter In the per-
son OF Miss Calder.
A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN.
Tennessee was next called, and then
there appeared a vision OF beauty. a wo-
man 1T 10 preside as queen OF this fair
gathering. Miss Mary Wilkes. of Colum-
bia. who represents her State on this
occasion. is brunette, with lustrous
eves a beautiful complexion. and
snnerb form. Tennessee could wish for
no fairer being TO stand sponsor for her
than the beautiful girl she has sent to the
Old Dominion.
Missouri was represented by Miss Sa
Lees Kennard, charming girl from that
big State.
A girl from the Blue Grass State then
took her place. she being Miss Julia
Hughes Spur. tall brunette. OF grace
ful form. and a typical Kentuckian.
MARYLAND's REPRESENTATIVE.
Next 10 vlrglnia's daughter. Maryland's
fair representative met with the most
enthusiastic reception. She was Miss
Martha Parker Ramsay. a most charm
Ing young lady.
A beautiful. dark-haired maiden.
through whose veins runs the blood or
the noble red-man, was the next sponsor
to come forward. Mss Sadie McAilister.