Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-08-19

Special Correspondence Of Gazette and Jonrnal
Now York, Aug. Is. There is always
one pleasure in spending the summer
In the country, one pleasure which
stands out prominently and which is as
certain as the sun or ths moon or any
OF the mysteries that We count as
certain, but which are extremely un-
certain. This certain pleasure is the
fair given for the benefit of the poorest
church in the neighhorhood. We were
warned of it about two weeks ago
when the minister called to solicit
donations. He IL q pale young man.
who louks half starved. but he has
bigh aspirations. He boards with one
of his congregation, an elderly lady
who likes to have man in the house,
and the result is that he looks as il
Z the strongest meat given him were lea
and toast. Still much must be for.
e given him, since he has to live on
$3.50 year and please a congregation
N largely composed OF women. The fair
ia always got up when summer boarders
are to the fore, probably because the
natives object to spending money and
+ know that the average summer boarder
i ia soft thing easily fooled. In the
d very beginning We all promised to
give something toward the fair and to
go the second night to the entertain
ment.
1t was beautiful to see the basket of
fancy work that went down from our
establishment. One lady, who wears
her hair in psyche knot, gave plate
covered with postage stamps. Every
body pronounced it very artistic, but
10 me it suggested that the measles had
broken out in or on china. Another
lady, who is fond Of saying that she
never wastes anything, has been learn
ing how to knit lace for flannel pet.
tiooats, 60 she gave all her failures
that is, those where stitches had been
dropped or where any old worsted had
heen used, in place OF that showing
proper colorH. It's curious how willing
We are to give trumpery to the Lord.
Then there were little hats to hold
hairpins-in reality but collectors
pincushions, tides and the usual
rifratf that is supposed to be suited
to a bazaar.
knitted FIVE washcloths, tied cake
of soap on each, accompanied them
with the quotation, Cleanliness is
next to godlines. and earnestly
prayed that they would be sold cheap
and often used. We heard about the
first night. With the thermometer at
about los, a stove was voted to that
unotfensive minister lie also got
monogram quilt. 1t was so sweet to
think that on 1T were the monographs
of all the choir. Then very brazen
looking girl who'd been going around
from house to house asking people to
give her votes on a bicycle got left,
much to my delight, but because she
was half orphan and cried so hard
they gave her a rocking chair with
red plush cushion. | wonder il she
will sit in that chair and imagine she's
riding bicycle.
On the night of the musicale-we all
of us gave prolonged sound to the
last syllahle-it rained, not in the
ordinary way, drop by drop, but as If
the hoses up 10 the sky had been
q turned down on the earth. The conse-
auence was that the audience arrived
in rubbers in trans of various kinda
and under umbrellas varying in age and
Size. The umbrellas did not add to
the brilliuuey of the scene, as, owing
10 the fact that all the neighborhood
was intimately acquainted, nobody
would let 90 of his or her umbrella
ilong enough to allow il TO be checked.
The eager listeners were difficult TO
seat, hut afte, all the children had
been nut in front the remainder dis
petsad itself wherever its froclss would
show best or its young man be within
4 nearest reach.
Then the minister came out on the
platform and announced that little
glossy FrlKins would play for us.
Flossy is a long legged specimen of
about II years. AS soon AZ you look
at her you are conscious of only two
things, her mouth and her legs. Her
logs have fashion of running riot all
over the place, and whenever child
is missing, part of somebody's wash is
LOST or pct tog has disappeared
people look first for these legs and then
trace up whatever is gone Ii is said
that a large mouth ia an evidence OF
gyeat affection. If that 10 true, Flossy
will love the entire world, for her
mouth, like clam shell in shape. ex-
tends pacidly from one ear to the
other. and when she yawns you wonder
~ she has swallowed baby She was
Dressed in stiiliy starched white
frock, wore blue sash and had her
hair crimped 30 tightly that she
Couldn't wink her eyes. Consequently
abe looked like Dutch doll.
However, the children all applauded
her appearances, although this infant
dubTbNHhl WIS DehIu III an uuuottuue
10 tell one OF the boys sitting near her
to shut up" Then she began. She
gave us tho national airs, with many
Variations, and then, when this was
applauded, began to play something
HAT sounded very much like the scales.
fortunately just hero she broke down
and had to he conducted out in tears
Because boy was making faces at her.
In my musical memories Flossy will
always stand out prominently.
Then we had the pleasure of listen
Ming tu a duet given by two young
people who were metaphorically
Wrapped up in each other. The young
Woman, vino was rather fair to lool
upon, joined her voice 10 that OF {
young man who looked neither fair mol
brave. He wasn't quire so tall as Hhe,
but what he lacked in height he madt
up in moustache. This was thick,
stubby and CREASED with something
like sassafras. His hair was parted or
one side and II curly lock. the kint
that country people call roach, re
posed upon his manly brow.
And these two loved each other
K They sang off the same sheet Of music
and this was about the way the sons
s went: The piano issued sounds o
"tinkle, tinkle, tinllle," and then in
very high voice the lady responded II
IN it by singing Glove. love, love-" ant
III he would CONS in very deep and answe
M with ''heart, heart. heart" Occa
sionally there would be variation
the piano would send out deep sounds