cast and the probable number it would require at the close
to carry off the prize. Col. Uline had been a fireman and was very
popular with the young men of the city. Col. Marshall was backed by
friends in the different newspaper offices. The contest was very
spirited and resulted in Col. Uline capturing the sword, he having
received more than two thousand votes in one bundle during the last
five minutes the polls were open. This fair was very successful,
the patriotic citizens of St. Paul having enriched the funds of the
sanitary commission by several thousand dollars.

* * * * *

One of the first free concert halls in the city was located on Bridge
Square, and it bore the agonizing name of Agony hall. Whether it
was named for its agonizing music or the agonizing effects of its
beverages was a question that its patrons were not able to determine.

* * * * *

In anti-bellum times Washington's birthday was celebrated with more
pomp and glory than any holiday during the year. The Pioneer Guards,
the City Guards, the St. Paul Light Artillery, the St. Paul fire
department and numerous secret organizations would form in
procession and march to the capitol, and in the hall of the house of
representatives elaborate exercises commemorative of the birth of the
nation's first great hero would take place. Business was generally
suspended and none of the daily papers would be issued on the
following day.

In 1857 Adalina Patti appeared in St. Paul for the first time. She was
about sixteen years old and was with the Ole Bull Concert company.
They traveled on a small steamboat and gave concerts in the river
towns. Their concert took place in the hall of the house of
representatives of the old capitol, that being the only available
place at the time. Patti's concert came near being nipped in the bud
by an incident that has never been printed. Two boys employed as
messengers at the capitol, both of whom are now prominent business
men in the city, procured a key to the house, and, in company with a
number of other kids, proceeded to representative hall, where they
were frequently in the habit of congregating for the purpose of
playing cards, smoking cigars, and committing such other depradations
as it was possible for kids to conceive. After an hour or so of
revelry the boys returned the key to its proper place and separated.
In a few minutes smoke was seen issuing from