Examination Of Candidates.

the want of ;\ . public suggestion to that effect , when , should the attention of the Craft be obtained , improvement may result .

A Great French Fair.

A GREAT FRENCH FAIR .

" T HE fair , the fair , " was the universal theme of conversation when , about the middle of April , we first arrived in the old city of Caen , in Normandy . We had frequently , in our own country , visited towns where fairs were held , and Jiad always heard them reprobated as chartered nuisancesmagnets for drawing together the disorderl y and dishonest

and beguiling the thoughtless and unwary ; and more than once had we heard of petitions being presented to Parliament praying their abolition . But here , to our astonishment , were staid , elderly men , gentlemen of position , and members of the local government , as warmly interested in the coming fair as any young man

or maiden in the commune . Beneath its influence they forgot to praise , as Frenchmen generally do , their city and all pertaining to it—the fair cultivated country in which it lay , its picturesque little river , its fair Caen stone epiays , and thc large exports of the same stone , with which our own new palace at Westminster is built : nay , they even forgot to

draw attention to the number and beauty of their old churches , many of whicli are of a very hi gh order of architecture—some , it is said , equal to any in Paris . And we must admit that never during our stay did we pass the old parish church of St . Pierre without pausing to admire the proportions of its loft irewith its low trellised bulwark

y sp , and airy pinnacles , and to wonder at the excpiisite delicacy of the stone tracery . As they stood out against the clear blue sky , they more resembled some rich design in lace than cliisellings in a material that had stood , and would stand , the wear and storms of ages .

As in a fortni ght ' s time this much talked of fair would fill the boulevards of Caen , whicli were said to be handsome and spacious , we resolved to visit them first . But on our arrival we found that , instead of ; as with us , a city of canvas springing up as by magic , the good Normans were leisurely and characteristicall y erecting a substantial city of wood ,

subdividing it into streets , distinguished b y names painted in large letters , and the booths told off in numbers . Passin g hirthcr on along the boulevards , we came to a succession of hanilike buildings , occupying the space between the rows of lofty trees , shading one side of the avenue . These , we were told were to be theatres while on the opposite side a

, ; range of smaller buildings were rising up , to offer refreshment to the fair goers . So being haunted by no doubts as to obtaining entertainment both for body and mind on our own iair visits , we hastened on some mile further , ancl , escaping the din of hammers , enjoyed a delightful walk along the woad boulevard leading by the river side .

Each day revealed to us yet more ancl more how completel y the coining fair absorbed the thoughts of all classes . We had broken part of our microscope , but could not get it Repaired until after the fair ; we had ordered a travelling ease , but the advent of the same event was given as sufficient * utse for its noncompletion . On proposing a visit to Bayou ¦ Wd

its cathedral , our landlad y advised delay until after the lair , or we should find it so dull ; and , to complete the Proofs , we heard two ladies extolling the beauty of their Hiring dresses , which , however , were not to be worn until w > e opening of the all important Mr . cl , len S . * he first Sunday in May dawned bright and ear but from that hour had farth incessant

^ , wc no er sleep , so ^ 'ei ' e the trotting and prancing of skittish ill broken horses , « mg led b y to the adjacent country ; and if there chanced to X . llu b it was filled up by half a dozen diligences , with leu' heavy wheels and cracking whips , rushing by at redoubled 'iced , literall y crammed with visitants to the fair . Vur first glance out of window that morning Avas worth

remembering . We mi ght have fancied the grey old city had enticed the fair into its principal streets , and was coquetting with it there . It was not that every shop was open and its contents displayed to the utmost advantage , and rendered more attractive by here and there a statuette or a vase of flowers—that was a scene of weekl y recurrence ; nor was it

altogether the crowds of bustling pedestrians pushing aside the staid bonnes bound to the market of St . Pierre , or returning thence laden with vegetables and flowers . But it was the multitude of gay flags ancl streamers floating in . every direction ; the liberal display of evergreens and flowers iu balconies above shop windows ; and last , but most decidedly

not least , for it was the most remarkable feature of the whole , the broad sheets of canvas slung from house to house across the streets , and bearing in large letters , within gaily decorated borders , the names and callings of those who traded in the quaint old gabled houses on either side . The whole aspect of things roused a suspicion—which the first servant who entered our room confirmed—that the fair was that

morning opened . Our continental residence had not rendered us oblivious of the beautiful Sabbath rest of our own land , and even had there been no . Protestant church to claim our attendance , we should certainly not have turned our steps fairwards . But on the Monday wo joined - ilie living tide setting in that

, direction , and ere long found ourselves in the thick of a scene of bustle and vociferation we have never seen equalled , which may be believed when it is remembered that the vendors were French men and women .

The clerk of the fair mi ght with good faith have addressed himself " to all persons about to marry , " and recommended an inspection of his establishment before they made their purchases elsewhere , ancl certainly they must be hard to please if they could not make their selections there . Never in my life did I see , in so small a space , such a variety of

merchandise as was there exhibited . Every craft under the sun seemed represented , save that of undertaker , and probably those merry gentlemen of lugubrious aspect were plentiful in the fair , having an eye to both pleasure and profit by enjoying the sights and thickening the crush . As wc jiassed on along the pilanked streets and beneath

the outstretched awnings , it was impossible not to admire the gay contents of the temporary shops on either side . What heaps of gorgeous silks and velvets were jriled upon their counters and spread around their walls ; what pyramids of glowing ribbons , and draperies of rich lace , much of which was manufactured in Caen itself . Then followed splendid displays of plate and porcelain , to be succeeded in their turn by homely woollens ; then flashing caskets of jewels met our view , blazing diamonds , meek pearls , and lovely cameos , and

all the long array of gems leading down to those of trifling value , which might suit the calibres of small purses . Clocks , furniture , carpets , groceries , crockery , all came in their turn , for the fair was in truth a great mart , and , as wo found , the goods were supplied by the chief traders in that , ancl many other cities , ancl sold by persons in their employ ;

ancl from the thousands of country people every day visiting the fair , and making large purchases there , it evidently formed the commercial harvest of the year . As was becoming , the legitimate fair stock of toys and g ingerbread were not forgotten , but presented themselves temptingly in gaily decorated bowers , and snow white draped saloons . Nor were

smaller fairings of all kinds wanting , ancl the humbler rows of sheds resounded with the cries of those presiding over whole shops full of articles , varying in value from three quarters of a franc to three farthings , and certainly not the least surprising sight in the fair was thc variety and prettiness of the articles offered at such prices . Sauntering on we passed the precincts of business , and entered on those of pleasure . The big barns , the little barns , and the wine shops , we had seen in course of erection , were