The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-20
FORMAL OPENING OF THE FAIR.
FIRST REGIMENT TO TURN OUT IN
ITS HONOR.

Col. Mercer to Make the Opening Al
dress-The Guards Hall Busy With
PreparatiOns-The Location of the
Company BOoths-The Decorations
of the Fair Hall.
The First regiment fair will be formally
opened as soon after $50 o'clock tonight
as possible at the Guards hail. by Col.
George A. Mercer, formerly the regiment 3
commanding officer.
The opening ceremony will consist mere
ly of Col MERGERS brief remarks, the reg
iment in the meanwhile standing, each
company in front of its booth.
Work on the decorations Of the hail and
the erection of the booths went on all of
yesterday, and up to a late hour last
night. During the day the carpenters,
with some of the company and field and
staff officers directing. were busy build
ing the booths, and at right the work was
taken up by the members of the compa-
MES. The natural taste Of the ladies in
decorations was used TO advantage, and
the booths were greatly enhanced in the
beauty of their appearance by their sug-
gestions. Two companies, the Republican
Blues and the Savannah Cadets, did not
hold meetings, preparing TO spend the
time in work at the hall. The other COM
panies met and drilled, and later came
down to attend to their booths.
The space allotted the several booths is
so distributed as to produce the best re-
suits when room is con-
sdered- At best it is expected
the hall will be crowded, but the admira-
bic arrangement, to a great extent, over
comes this. The Oglethorpe Light Infan-
try's table occupies the place nearest the
entrance, at the left on entering, and is
trimmed in orange and blue. Next to 1t
stands the Irish Jasper Greens booth,
with light green and yellow decorations.
Then comes the Republican Blues booth,
in blue and white, with flags draped above
it. The Cadets booth is next. It's deco
rations are white, with the company flag
above. The German Volunteers booth Is
decked with red, white and blue, and that
of the officers Of the field and staff occu-
plying the rostrum in the southwest cor
ner, is in the same colors, with the white
dominant The supper tables will imme-
dlately adjoin this booth.
Mrs. A. r. Lawton's booth will without
doubt. be the handsomest in the hail. 1t
gests the marke5 of some leader of the
last century, with its standing lances and
surrounding eagles, and the booth of
some Turkish merchant by its architec-
ture.
The cash subscription committee yester-
day received an additional contribution
of $72.T from the Savannah Steam Laun-
dry, that being the amount arising from
the laundering of 14,554 collars and cuffs
during last week at one-half a. cent each.
The laundry had agreed TO donate to the
fair X cent on every collar and cuff done
up during Easter week, and this fact was
made known to the members of the regi-
meDt. The result was that the laundrys
collar and cuff capacity was crowded. The
officers were allowed to choose any week
and Easter week was their choice
The guard detail for tonight will be
furnished by the Republican Blues, Com
pany A. Lieut.. W. L. Grayson will be Of
ficer of the guard, Corpl. Turner corporal
of the guard, and Privates Creamer, Jones.
Sanford and F. Russell will do guard
duty.
The regiment will assemble at its head
quarters at $50 o'clock, and will march
to the Guards hall, under command of
Col. Lawton.