The Fancy Fair that took place on Thursday night-at the Club Concordia was just the sort of entertainment that Teutons carry to perfection. The details of the Fair were not only very various but elaborate in the extreme; while much ingenuity was displayed by those who had the arrangement of the dotally in fitting up within the limited space of the upper floor of the Club Concordia the stalls, booths, pavilions, ete., which constituted the Fair, so that they were accessible yet well in evidence for the special purposes for which they were designed. And what struck the visitor forcibly on first entrance was the thorough inanner- in which all those who undertook the management of the various departments, whether Indies or gentlemen, entered upon their duties, which they carried out con amore and in the true spirit of jollity.
Tnvitations to the Fete had been extended by the Members of the Club Concordin not only to the German community but to Shanghai residents of other nationalities so far as the accommodation of the Club would warrant, and as this limit had been regarded witha great deal of hospitable latitude, it is not to be wondered at that shortly after nine o'clock the Fair was extremely crowded, so that progress through the rooms was a matter of difficulty, All those who took part in the fair were habi ed in fancy costume of some sort or another, jin which German peasant costumes predominated, whilst many of the guests also appeared in fancy dress or poudré, all of j Which added to the brilliancy of the scene, which was assisted by the uniforms of the Naval officers and others present, and by some seven kilts.
Some short time after the opening hour TR. H. Prince and Princess Henry of Prussia appeared on the scene, attended by Count Hahn, Friulein von Plinkner, Dr. and Mrs, Knappe, Captain Muller of H.G.M's s.s. Deutschland, Baron von Witzlebon, Equerry to the' Prince, Captain Hintze, and others On behalf of the Club Concordia Mr. H. Heyn was appointed to attend upon the Prince, and Mr. Korif upon the Princess. There was a large contingent present of Naval officers from the various men-of-war in port of all nationalities, and nearly all the members of the Consular Body at present in Shanghai had responded to the invitations sent them. Sir Nicholas Hannen was also pre-ut and other prominent officials of the two Settlements. The Prince and Princess entered heartily into the fun of the Fair, tuking a lively interest in all that was going Fen and did not leave the Club until a late hour.
entering the Club Concordia it was found that apartments on the ground floor had been set apart as cloak-rooms for ladies and gentlemen, the whole of the upper floor being devoted to the more serious business of the Fair itself. At the top of the staircase the visitor was first attracted by a Bedouin Camp, well carried out in every detail, but it was strange to observe that nearly wil the hardy and usually keen-eyed sons of the desert
glare of the smartly dressed throng of wore spectacles, Perhaps they found the Visitors was trying to the eyes, On the right of this encampment was a comfurtablo Bodega, where wines from the wood of various' serta were promptly supplied to thirsty visitors by a prettily costumed and obliging waitress, assisted by others of the sterner sex. It was in the Bodega that later in the evening a band of costumed Italian mandolin and guitar players charmed their audience with instrumental and vocal music, to which the lady who was amongst them contributed' valuable assistance. In order to lend some interest to the side shows a small feo was in most cases demanded for entrance or purchases, and 10-cent tickets for general use were obtainable on the left of the upper landing. On entering the large room that serves for the dining room of the Club on ordinary occasions it was found to be quite transformed. In the centre was a circular kiosk, the Hotel Metropole, where champagne was obtainable, and——was a stall for sweets, ices, ete. In one corner was a Poste Reatante presided over by two ladies, who provided enquirers with letters that. w ed them, which on being opened were found to contain neat and witty rhymes.
by could be obtained, within a booth, jew of Shanghai, or the sight of a "living ite donkey," which generally satisfied all who tried it. Next was a Punch and Judy show which at intervals, under the able direction of Messrs. Sudson and Hutherland, delighted successive nudiences. Then came a rather melancholy Waxwork Exhibition, the figures being some of thave, apparently, that were recovered from a recent fire that occurred near Loongfei Bridge. There was a stand for photographs in five seconds, and similar amusing sells. The long gallery outside the dining room was turned into " shooting gallery, where a brisk business was done, the ladies being
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.