A rustic bridge was built out from one side of the platform forming a square space in one corner of the room that was used for a fish pond. Rocks and ferns were grouped along the edge of the platform, the floor was covered with green carpet, and a pretty meadow scene painted on coarse cotton was hung at the back, making a very picturesque setting for the pond. Steps led up to the bridge, and at the foot was a rustic lodge where, on payment of a fee, the prospective fisher was given a pole and a circle of cardboard, upon which was marked the number of times he was entitled to fish. Thus equipped, he went up on the bridge and fished in the pond. Additional fishing tickets were sold by the bridgekeepers. Articles of all description and varying values were fished forth from the pond, which made it all the more exciting. Refreshments were served in the hall and there were a candy and cake table and two stalls where fancy articles were sold. One of these stalls bore the sign, Fish Market. Here fish of many brilliant colors and quaint shapes were for sale; they were blotters, shaving cases, pincushions, sachet bags, needle-books, housewives, pen-wipers, spool and veil cases, emeries, court-plaster cases and kites. They were made of inexpensive materials, but their novelty caused them to sell rapidly. The fish market was well patronized. At the other stall, pillows and lamp-shades were sold. Red linen pillows shaped like Japanese fish and worked with black attracted a great deal of attention; other pillows had poster fish swimming across them, and still others were adorned with borders of fishes and anglers' maxims. Fish lamp-shades—scarlet, yellow and delicately tinted—found a ready sale among the young people, and caused much mirth. On the cake and candy table there were many toothsome fishes—chocolate and clear candy fish, boxes of candy decorated with fishing scenes in water-color and pen and ink, sandwiches cut out with fish-shaped tin cutters, also fish-shaped cookies and small iced cakes. The tops of the large cakes were ornamented with fish designs done with contrasting colors of icing. |