The St. Louis Republic., 1903-04-26

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
The Southern Relief Fair opened October
z 1855. It was held in the second story of
the warehouse building. The difference OF
grade between Fifth and Sixth streets was
considerable. which admitted OF going in
from Fifth street 10 the first story. without
stairS and from Sixth street to the second
story with equal convenience.
The front Of the fair was on Sixth street
where four large entrances led to a veSti-
buie. having ticket Offices at each end The
price OF admission was - cents some little
reduction on season tickets.
As has been said. the arched brick wall
Two courts, eacH go feet long by 20 I ct
Vide In the northwest angle Of the nall
the restaurant department The floral ,ie-
paFtmeHt was in the center and a rnuSf-
cans platform for the orchestra buI: in
the middle arch. high up. 50 as not to inter-
ieTe with the crowds that might usseTn. le
10 the number OF Leo or 500 ana move
about with ease. Near the walls were SIX
ieen large tables from thirty TO sixty lie I
In length.
Numbers Of young ladies'. usually in an
piYpIlate costume. were in attenpauCe at
al the tables. some Of which bore names
OF southern States. But whether table. de
partment. stand or what ii might be was
designated in gas jets.
That is why one could seek whom or
WldI was wanted without Tear Of being lost
standing within the main entrance where a
general survey could be had, a scene Cf
enchantmeuI presented Itself one aeert
employed not less low than then ioanst Its
Capabilities 10 the general scheme OF beauty.
I hat was mirrors
Never before. nor since were thee so
many mirrors. rejecting life's lights and
Southern Relief Fair rl--F-
And never before nor since have hefter
results been gained by their use. Again the
Eitts that God has made common TO man
can generally be subjected TO mars pur-
i1a Of
sVergreens festooned all about Mrs Doctor
! N McheaEe Of Franklin County Miss
be). ana Miss Matte North and Mr. Dudley,
tiagget sent four carloads of beauTi1uI
eyeFEreens 10 he p heautify The fair. And
mere We're many more generous donations
of the same kiHt. The arched brick wall
that the owners Of the building had put
IN Its center FOR strength bore little sesSm-
blance TO its former self. except in soil sity
go much smoothing and rubbing down and
dressing had il received. 1T looked as II
Il had been put there and arcned on pur-
pose 10 let the ladies' have a Northern and
southern court. and pass back and forth
I -loIm !ne one 10 the otner ~lth their com,
pany. said dear old black i'namny,
when the original architecture OF the hall
had been explained TO her.
Near the entrance. TO the left. was a
ladies' psrior anS hnudoir: large. beauti-
fully fEescOed and fitted up, Near by was
gypsy tent Of ociaSon shayA. the OUTSIDE
Turkish in appearance. On the floor were
buffalo robes and skins OF various wild ami
mails. In the middle OF the main division
N1S an OGLdECu tdDlc. over WHICH luT2 a
magic lamp. suspended from the apex OF
the tent. All about were hung punches Of
herbs. bottles containing mysterious look
ing liquids ON each side OF the tent we're
TWO caves. one Of which was the home OF
the -fOrtuReteilef. who guarded against
intrusion by placing at the entrance huge
dog. -
The tent made lively place when the
eypstes gathered in Il IN the evenings The
1lUEal department was Cne OF the most beau
tiful in the building. Its arcnes and columns
were wr2p2ef In. eyersreens from whose
tender csFe peeped out at close intervals
natural ItUNerS. usually rcSSS carnations,
tulips On. the table and shelves and In
the cases were flowers and plants Of every
desCripti6Bs and every then known thing
perts LlElEs 4bs-sto. No one. florist In st.
Douis today has 50 lsrge collection
Alnzs 9 gorge Stansbury and her sister. Mrs.
Henry II BLOW, and Miss Coons kept all
during the fsiT. -.t
Sololl staek was seen at any time. The
ladIfs were always busy making up pieces
iOr selling, disIt1sing OF loose flowers
LOG ueG, EWAp 81; feE dime in keeping their
CrtkTs hHdi Over one Of The tables hung
a & eathf n which stood. a pure white dove.
Fo.diEZ Fl is besk an olive branch Each
uaS- he Rlwerssin abe wreath were replen-
ishsd- ESauisite hanging baskets: sweet
am u 4 qGSs lttle canarles in Sflt cages, trying
WITH ttfesfscyn. notes. 10 drown those Of the
orchestfSs. Tefe fhsre. and flowers and birds.
and all were for r1Iss Over the department
We're figures Of Flora. goddess Of flowers,
andsof Pomona. goddess of gardens.
The oman eEtaI gas Jets were from over
heai, in effect helping surmount paradise