It was also determined to hold a council of women from the North-Western States, at Bryan Hall, September 1, 1863, in order to place them "en rapport" with each other. A circular for this object was issued, with the names of the most prominent women of the North-West appended, who had consented to lend their aid to the effort. So novel an undertaking occasioned great surprise, and some criticism. Some of our leading and patriotic men, who afterwards became the most assiduous helpers, gravely shook their heads, and prophesied failure to this quixotic scheme of womanly benevolence. But the women of the prairies were resolved. They had given their choicest treasures to fill regiments, hospitals and graves. Although many of them were clad in weeds and walked in a shadow, they determined that the sick and wounded of the army should be liberally supplied. Accordingly, an unexpected number of delegates responded to the call. One hundred and fifty met in Bryan Hall at the appointed hour, and double that number from the country, at various times, attended the sessions of the council. The delegates came empowered to pledge liberal and hearty coöperation. An executive committee, and committees for various departments of the fair, were chosen, consisting of leading and active women from all the States embraced in the call. E. W. Blatchford, Esq., the treasurer of the North-Western Sanitary Commission, was unanimously elected treasurer of the Fair. His acknowledged ability and integrity were full guarantee to the public for the safe conduct of the funds. Mrs. Livermore, chairman of the committee on circulars, issued one forthwith, clearly defining nine classes of donations VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS OF THE FAIR. 335 to be solicited, and the various articles in each class, with specific directions for sending them to Chicago. At a meeting of the executive committee of the Fair, held shortly after its appointment, Mrs. A. H. Hoge and Mrs. D. P. Livermore were elected "managers of the Fair." The following pro gramme was arranged. The Fair was to continue two weeks: Bryan Hall was to be fitted up as a great bazaar, for the sale of fancy and useful articles of all varieties. Lower Bryan Hall was to be arranged as a dining hall, where hot dinners for fifteen hundred persons were to be daily served. Light refreshments at all hours. Manufacturers' Hall was to be a temporary building in the rear of Bryan Hall, for the display and sale of all varieties of manufactured articles. The fine rooms in the theatre building, through the kindness of Mr. McVicker, were to be arranged as an Art gallery. A relic and trophy hall, secured through the efforts of Judge Bradwell, who presided over it, was to be extemporized in the Supervisors' Hall, in the Court-House. Metropolitan Hall was reserved for evening entertainments, which were abundantly and satisfactorily supplied by the genius of Mrs. Livermore. A North-Western Fair Gazette, to be called the "Volunteer," was to be published daily by the ladies. Price of admission to Bryan Hall, Supervisors' Hall included, fifty cents. dollar. Manufacturers' and Extra admission to Art gallery, twenty-five cents. Season tickets one dollar. The women in the city and country commenced the work of preparation with zeal proportioned to the great occasion. The press extended a generous and voluntary support, and by its graphic descriptions and unstinted praise, added greatly to the success of the Fair. Vigorous corespondence was opened with statesmen, military men, clergymen and aid 'societies. Circulars, with an earnest written line attached, were scattered like the forest leaves in autumn. On one day, sixteen bushels of mail matter were sent from the rooms of the Commission. The citizens and farmers became convinced the Fair would be a success, and came forward with donations of money, merchandise, manufactured articles, grain and vegetables. In fine, they made up for lost time, and gave the generous support that men always give in the end, to genuine womanly efforts in the right direction. The furore increased and became contagious. Pittsburg, under the lead of Miss Rachael McFadden, one of the sanitary powers of the West, sent donations in manufactured articles and money, to the amount of several thousand dollars, greatly multiplied in value by the encouragement and stimulus they afforded in our early effort. New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Connecticut, sent large and valuable donations. Ladies came from Pittsburg and Connecticut to take charge of their respective departments. The great Sanitary Fair was no longer an experiment, but a "fait accompli." Opposition was silenced, faith increased, enthusiasm accelerated, until on the morning of October 28, 1863, in response to the call of the women of the North-West, the wheels of business in the city of Chicago stopped; the courts were closed, the schools suspended, the |