Indian War Dance

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

[APRIL 23, 1864.

260

BOOK DEPARTMENT.

BOAT-BUILDERS' DEPARTMENT.

SKETCHES OF THE METROPOLITAN FAIR.

WE continue this week our illustrations of the METROPOLITAN FAIR, which for a fortnight has engaged the attention of all New York and its environs. In every respect the Fair has been a success, and thousands of our brave defenders in the field, in days of suffering in camp and hospital, will gather benefits from the munificent charity which has poured, through this Fair, into the treasury of the Sanitary Commission. And tens of thousands who are today preparing for the shock of conflict will carry themselves with a grander heroism and robuster faith, in the white heat of battle, because of the assurance this Fair gives that the people at home remember and care for the soldier, and delight

to soften the rough places of his experience. On the first page we give a view representing

THE COSTUMES OF THE LADIES IN ATTENDANCE AT THE FAIR.

This illustration, aside from its prominent presentation of the ladies' costumes, gives a very accurate idea of the general appearance of the Fair interior, showing its magnificence of display more conspicuously, perhaps, than any illustration yet given.

In the Fourteenth Street Buildings BIERSTADT'S

INDIAN WIGWAM

has been constantly crowded by vistors desiring to study the habits and peculiarities of the aborigines. Several entertainments have been given daily by the Indians. Our sketch represents a WAR DANCE, as given on several occasions to the. intense gratifi-

cation of all spectators. Historically, no feature of the Fair has greater interest than this in which the life of those who, only a little while ago, held undisputed possession of our continent, is reproduced by a handful of the once absolute tribes for the pleasure of the pale-faced race, whose ancestors pushed them into obscurity and historical oblivion.

THE BOOK DEPARTMENT,

of which we give a view on this page, forms a most attractive feature to all persons of a literary turn, and a very considerable part of the receipts of the Fair will be derived from this source.

THE BOAT-BUILDING DEPARTMENT,

also in the Fourteenth Street Building, is full of interest not only to nautical visitors, but to the general public, who can not but be concerned, just now,

in whatever relates to naval architecture and that branch of the public service, which, in this war, has achieved so many triumphs for the National cause. Much interest in

THE DEPARTMENT OF ARMS AND TROPHIES

is manifested, and considerable speculation has been indulged in as to who will become the recipient of the two handsome swords—one of which is to be presented to a navy and the other to an army officer. The swords cost $1500 each, and as the subscriptions are without limit a handsome sum will be realized by the zeal of the friends of military and naval officers to secure the prizes for their favorites. Every person who pays one dollar has one vote, which he indicates on a book opened for the purpose. For the army sword the strife is between the admirers (Next Page)

WAR DANCE—INDIAN DEPARTMENT.