THE OLD ENGLISH FAIR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XX, Issue 279, 2 December 1885, Page 2

THE OLD ENGLISH FAIR.

Perhaps the best way to sum up the result of the Fair last night is to adopt the phraseology of the advertisement which appears elsewhere, and which announces it to have been an " immense success." So it was. The people were there in crowds ; the various performance's passed off most pleasantly ; tho ladies looked remarkably well in their very well got up and becoming costumes ;. the Beadle in his waa simply magnificent ; tho whole scene was bright, picturesque, and animated; the management, i-eeiug that it was the opening day of a complete novelty io the placo, was very good ; everybody ssorned to be in a thoroughly good humor ; and evamtf^ii#went ns merrily as the marr ug<|fl|BHßo|&ow- wnat more could possibly be!aHHH«| So large was the attendance dia to have to tj^HSHßpcouub of the fair, and Ohus position of haying to tell a twie6gHJß|||ipp go many of our readers, but as fcD <^Ha§|§li numbers who were not there, we fflmjmmjjdet them, and try to convey to HKK idea of what was to be seen anriJH^MSE&i if w.h are at all euccesef ul in. whole

scene before them ns ifc appeared to us, we ! Iff! quite sure that tiso ic-mpiation to go ] and ccc it for themselves will he irresistible. ( Wfi invite them to accompany us to ( the gallery. tl< n?, looking tow;irdt». the < stage we have before ue a good wide street, ] bounded on either side by shops and houses just such as many of us have seen in old English villages. The protruding upper storey, the queer looking gables, the funny latticed windows with their diamond panes, all are here, the imitation being excellent, while the illusion is kept up by the scene at the far end of the stage, which also represents a strtot in an old English town. Each shop has the device by which it is known painted ori the old-fashioned .signboard which Bwirigs in front. To our left and immediately below

us is "the Three Whyte Myce," next "Ye Anchor," then "Ye Cross Keys," and after that "Ye Bryndled Cow, ' this latter being a produce stall, where the business appears to be a combination of grocer, poulterer, green grocer, and in fact money making in general. Now we come to something totally different from the shops. This is a flower stall under the sign of "Ye White Lily," and a very pretty variety it forms from the other places of business. Most tastefully arranged, and with two elegant little fountains perpetually playing and cooling the air with the deliciously cold water, ard pleasing the ear by the nound of the splash of the sprays as they fall into the moss and shell lined basins prepared for their reception, this forms one of the most attractive featured oi the fair, and is in addition well stocked with an assortment of plants of the choicest description. But we must pass on, ahd now on our return to that enrl ot the Tn< a.'re from wliicih we started, wo founi some difficulty i<> walking pa^t, without uayiugavihii to, " Yr Chelae* Bun House " and "Ye Travelere ] Hys Ri'S*.o," where loothpome luxuries of aIJ kinds are to be obtained, and wlure undei ihe influence of t.he hot weather tbe ginger be<r tra !e assumed vjsry L.rge dimensions Ibe next stall is tbnt of "Ye Silver Star," and tbe last, which brings ua again to tht. spot from which we. started on our tour ol inspection, "Yoßishop'B Mitre." Bub wt have not quite finished with this part of the fair yet, for we should nob do him justice did we omit to make mention of the venerable Alchemist and Necromancer who, in hn laboratory under the gallery, draws th« horo--6c.p9 of his cu<tomers, dispenses love potion*and elixira of all kinds and various merit? ami offers vest sums of money to all wh< shall give implicit obedience to his oom naands, and take their coins from Ihi watery bed in which they lie deposited This learned man, who has devoted man) years to the &tudy of the necromantic art, is wall deserving of patronage, and so— to take a trip from one end of the street to other —are the dark-skinned Gipsies, who are encamped on the stage, tell fortunes, offer a reward of £5 to whomsoever shall guess the nearest to the number of peas sealed up in a glass jar, and have many wares on sale which ar« not be found in the other places of business. And now, having attempted to give a Bketch of the general appearance of the Fair, we must proceed to describe THE OPENING. Shortly after 7-30, His Worship tha Mayor, accompanied by Mrs Fell, entered at the main door, and was received by the members of the Committee and, preceded by th« Beadle in the most gorgeous 6f dressea, consisting of scarlet coat and knee breeches, white stookings, shoes with big buckles, and the orthodox cocked hat, and beariug in his hand a goldtipped staff of office, they walked through "the street" to the stage. On their arrival there a proclamation was made by th« Beadle to the effect that the Fair was now to be opened, and the curtain was then raised, disclosing such a scene as has rarely, if ever, been seen before in " this antiente citie " as the Beadle was pleased to designate the city of Nelson. Altogether, what with ladies and children, there must have been 60 or 70 individuals on the stage, all in costume — some of the dresses being really elegant, all most becoming — and these had beea artistically arranged, forming a most effective tableau, the four dark-skinned gipsies in appropriate dresses forming the central group and lounging on the floor in easy and graceful attitudes. The cheeks with which the tableau was received having subsided, His Worship the Mayor said that to the citizens of Nelson he owed this bright spot iv his life, for it was they who had appointed him to the office, by virtue of which he was asked to officiate on that occasion. The Mayor's life wa» not an unbroken one of pleasure, but it had its flashes of merriment, and this was one of them. Having referred to fairs that he had attended in England and European countries, he said that this waa held for a similar purpose to some of those, namely, for gain ; but there was this difference, that it was not the gain of individuals that was sought, but that of the city ; all of the citizens being interested in the work in hand, the object being the erection of a church in the room of the old Christ Church, which was neither worthy of the site it occupied nor of the cause to which it was dedicated. They were now invited to contribute in a very pleasant way towards the fund that was being raised, and he hoped the proceeds of this Fair would go a very long way towards making up the required total. There would be many who would feel not a little regret at parting with the old building, and among them he would include himself, for he confessed he had an affection for it, and naturally so, for in it or in that building whioh first did duty as a church his father and mother had bi en married, aud in the present one he and his brothers were christened. Uatil he know what was to bo substituted for the present building he did not altogether liks ihe idea of pulliug it down bur. since hs had som the plans, aad saw that there was to bo much in the new church to admire, while at the same time all ihe old associations would bo kepi alive by the fact that it was to contain a l^w portiou of the present building, he was very pleased indeed that such a change was to tie made, and he hoped they would all go to work that evening and on the future days oi' the fair and do their best to raiss the fund. Let them keep this iv mind, that all the money that was collected in that fair was to be spent in the town. A circus or auy other show coming here swept into its coffer* large sums of money and carried it away, but whatever was taken here would again be put in circulation in the place and laid out upon a good object;. Ie now only remained for him to declare the Fair open for business, and be hoped tha stall keepers would have every reason to be satisfied with the results. (Cheers.) The Mayor then lefb the stage, and the ladies filed off, eutered their shops, and were soon engager] in the real business of the evening. After a shoro interval, iti accordance with an announcement duly made by the Beadle, preparations were made for THE MAYPOLE DANCE, and shortly after 8 o'clock, the following little people, all arrayed in lh« very prettiest of costumes, marched on to the stage in couples: — Misses Black, Curtis, Gilbert, Gully, Heaps, M. Heaps, Lightfoot, Leggatt, Mackay, Mabin-, Melhuish, Moore, Stuckey, and Webb ; Masters Black, Buckeridge, Leggatt, E. Leggatt, Lightfoot, Melhuish, Moore, Scaly, and Webb. Of the dancing, which commenced with Sir Bodger De Coverley, it is impossible to speak in too high terms of praise, for it was simply perfect. In all, there were twelve figures, some of them most intricate and complicated, and all were gone through without the slightest hesitation or a single mistake. Col. Pitt and Major Webb have received, and deservedly so, much kudos for the efficiency whioh the Nelson Volunteers have attained in battalion drill, but — without intending any disparagement to the Volunteers or their officers — we may fairly say that no movements were ever executed in the Botanical Reserve with greater precision than were those around the Maypole last night under the direction of the Misses Harris, and to the well-marked playing of Mrs and Miss Greenfield on the piano. The applause was frequent and enthusiastic, and never was approbation better deserved. It was a real pleasure to see the bright little things, who evidently derived much enjoyment from the exercise and fun. We are glad to see that the Committee have arranged for the repetition of the dance twice this evening, and have no doubt that it will prove a poverful " draw," for most assuredly it has never been so well performed in Nelson before, even by professionals. THE SIDE SHOWS. We cannot to-duy refor at length to all the attractions of the Fair, bub must make a special, though brief, reference to the side shows in the Oddfellows' Hall, which have been got up uuder the superintendence of

Mr and Mrs Willmo'fc and Mr Simmonds. La^t uight they consist, d of two exbihitions of Punch and Judy, and a 'capital little drama v< i ry creditably put ou the temporary stage, and exceedingly well acted by the little Company organised for the occasion. It was a rare tieat to hoc.r the shouts of laughter of the children — and, shall we ad i. of lbe older members of the andieicc — at be comicalities of Mr Punch and his clever fineKsG in ex'riu.'vting himself from the difficulties by which he was every now und then surrounded. These shows form a groat attraction, and all concerned are to be congratulated upon the manner iv which (hi-y are perfotmed Tc-night there is to be a change or" programme by the introduction of o:.io of the most amusing of entcrtain(nenrp, known as "Jack in the Green," os well as a laughable comedy. This, of course, i« it. addition to Punch and Judy.

THE STALLKKEPERS AND THEIR | COSTUMES. Thrt following are the name 3of the stallkeepers : — At the sign of "Ye 111 Whyte Myce " ; costume, period of Queen Anne— Mrs H. Dodwu, assisted by Mrs Mackay, Misses Greenfield, Hoggard, and Edwards. 'At the signs of " Ye Cro^e Keys,"' and " Ye Aucbor " ; ceetume, Ln<!y Jane Grey — M>B--•lames Richmond, Pitt, and Solnnder*, a c sistrd by Misses Campbell, L. Campbell, Lovien, and Pitt. Ab the t-igna of (i Ye Brindled Cow." and 'Ye Whyte Lily"; coetume, period of Henry Vll.— Mes'iames Scuife, Renwiok, P A(3am«, and A. G asgow, assisted by Miuies Rrnwtck, J. Ren wick. Pitt., and Maodo-.ald. An .tie ngn of •• Yo Silver Star" : costumes, Dolly Varden — Meed am .« Ktimpthorije and Heap?, assiaond by Misses Kempthorne, Boor, Atkinson, Jones, Curtis, E. Catl«y, Watson, Tickerman, F, Campbell, Wheeler, mnd Frszer. At the sign of "V« Mitre"; costume Watte»u— Mrs Locking, assisted by Missee Coleman, F, Colemnn, M. Oldham, and Tweedie. At the sign of ll Ye Travelers' Reste " : costumes, Oliyia Primrose — Meedame* LegjjaU and Webb, assisted by Misses Scaly, Oldham. Black, Colb, Mackay, and Meesrs E and C. Black. Ai "Ye Gypsie Encampment": Mrs S -merville, Misa^s Catley, Bichmond, ana C. Richmond. THE ART GALLERY. The passage between the Theatre and Odd fellows' Hall has been converted into an Art Gallery and provided with comfortable seats — by no means unaccceptable to those weary with long standing. Hers are to be found some of Mr Gully's masterpieces, oil colors by Mr R. Beetham and Mr Cowie, and a large variety of really exquisite pictures which have been lent by private individuals, and by the Committee of St. Mary's Art Union. THE BOOK OF THE FAIR met with a r»adj sale, as well it might, for it is exceedingly well got up. It contains si number of lithographed and chromo-litho-graphed illustrations and wood cuts, namely, Nelson in 1856, Nelson in 1845, Nelson in 1859, the interior of tha chanc?l of Christ Church, Nelson College, Provincial Government Building?, vignette of Christ Church as it ie, and Christ Church as it is to be. For the illustrations •Mr Wilson Heaps, the editor, i« depply indebted to Col. Branfill and Mr Browning. The reading matter comprises an int«i« tiug ekotch of Christ Church »nd tho bill ou which it is built; a lifctlo poem entitled " Church Hill Speaketh " ; " Old English Fairs ' by G. A. Sala; Description of the alteration and addition to be made to Christ Church; a description of the "Fayre"; an account of Nelson College ; " Old Christ Church; ami two madrigals. The book is on« that should find a place in every house iv Nelson, and will form a charming Christmas present to aond to friends ab a distance; TO-DAY. The Fair was opened this af cernoon', and will be so this evening, when a good attendance of country visitors is hoped for. Tho opening tableau will be reproduced, and thero are* to be two performances of tha Majpole Dance, in addition to the side shows of Pnnch and Judy, Jack in the Green, and a lively comedy. The Commifcteit have spared neither trouble nor expense in making the Fair a success, and they hope to be largely patronised by the citizins of Nelson, who havo nevor before had an opportunii.y of witnessing an entertainment so varied and so complete.