The sun., 1903-10-06
OLD GUARDS FAIR OPENED.
THE PALMA TROPHY SHOWN AND
FORMALLY PRESENTED.

Garden and Booths Literally Decorated in
Red. White and Blue-DungeOns for
Boston Ancients and London Honor.
ablcs. Who VIII he Guests Later On.
The Old Guards military fair. the pro-
ceeds of which are to go toward fund
to build an armory for the organization,
opened at Madison Square Garden last
night in a blaze Of glory. Promptly at 0
o'clock the members Of the Old Guard,
who had ma rched down Broadway from
their armory at Forty-ninth street, entered
the Garden, gorgeous in white and gold
breasts gitterng with medals and trap-'
They were led by their commander,
Major s. Ellis Briggs. and just behind
| Major Briggs and ahead of the main body
of the Old Guard. were the members OF the
American rife team which brought back
were in command of Col. Leslie G. Bruce
a member of the Old Guard, who took them
abroad and commanded them during the
contests which resulted in the recovery
of the trophy by American marksmen.
The Old Guard made circuit OF the
Garden and then formed in square on the
south side while the Palma trophy was un-
yelled. After the unyeiling Gen. George
w. Wingate formally presented the trophy
to the victorious team, and Col. Bruce, or
behalf of the team, received it.
The members OF the team were then
invited to a dinner in the Gardens restau-
rant as the guests of Gen. Bird ". Spencer
of New Jersey. Covers were laid for fifty.
Gen. Spencer and former Supreme Court
Justice Henry A. Gildersleeve made brief
speeches after which the opening cere-
monies we're concluded by tho Banks Glee
| Club of 100 voices, which sung the Sailors
Chorus" and a new patriotic song called
4Our Countrys Flag
The fair was then declared open, and the
crowds scattered about the Garden to in
spect the many attractive booths that had
| been arranged for their amusement and
their financial undoing.
The women friends Of the Old Guard
who are responsible for the decorations,
have transformed tho Garden into a bower
Of the national colors. Nothing but the
red, white and blue is in evidence, and there
is such lot of that that hardly an inch
Of the roof or the walls, the sides of the boxes
or the rails Of the galleries can be seen.
| The booths arc all In white, sup
ported by Gothic columns and contain
| the variety Of goods always to be found
at fairs The military side Of the exhibit
is emphasized by the presence everywhere
! of stacked rifles, Of huge mock cannon, Of
| grouped colors, while the presence Of
militiamen ard Regulars in full uniform
adds to this effect.
| Down III tne basement, WniCl Dy tne way,
| is one succession of attractive sideshows
theI ,re shooting galleries and last night
the .;inners of the Palma trophy amused
| their friends with exhibitions OF their skill
The Daughters of the American Revo-
| luton have booth, the facade Of which
| represents the portico of the Washington
| house at Mount Vernon. Here many good
looking daughters, young and old. serve
tea to those who are willing to pay well for
It, Other patriotic organizations OF men
and women have booths on the floor and in
the galleries.
OF contests and raffles there are many,
and among the things on which chances
were being sold last night were automo-
biles and jeweled swords.
BY tonight the fair will be fairly under
wav. and big crowds are expected. It will