The St. Laurent fair was held in the upper part of the faubourg of that name, was larger and more elaborately decorated than the St. Germain fair, but it had no Wauxhall, and the only amusements for the frequenters of its Chinese Redoubt were swings and other foreign games.
The St. Ovide Fair.—This was established in August, 1764, and was held in the very centre of Paris, upon the Place Vendôme, then bounded on one side by the church and convent of the Capucines. It was held there for some years, and then transferred to the Place Louis XV., where it did not last long, although it had originally been made fashionable as the Gingerbread Fair. It was at this fair that Nicolet, previous to establishing his theatre des grands danseurs du Roi, displayed the wonderful strength and agility which gave rise to the proverb “de plus fort en plus fort, comme chez Nicolet.”—Lacroix, “The Eighteenth Century,” p. 356.
Onion Fair of Notre Dame.—This fair is held in September, commencing with the feast of Notre Dame, and continuing till the end of the month. It is held on the Isle of Notre Dame, along the Quai Bourbon. A prodigious quantity of black and red onions are brought into the city at this period, the citizens laying in a stock for the whole year.
Pork or Bacon Fair.—This “fair for gammons” is held on the Tuesday in Passion Week in the street of Notre Dame, lasting but the one day only. There is sold at it immense quantities of hams, flitches of bacon, and other salted pork. Many amusing articles have been written concerning it.
Horse and Cattle Fairs.
The horse and cattle fairs of France were and are very numerous. I shall give but a brief outline of the chief or more remarkable. Those of Chénerailles (a great town of Auvergne) are chiefly famous for their fat cattle, brought for the most part to Paris. The fairs are held the last Tuesday in every month. The fairs of Guibray and Caen are amongst the chief for horses. That of Fontenay, in Poictou, for the horses bred in that province. It is held 24th June, and is one of the most noted in France. The fair at Niort, on 1st December, is chiefly for foals. At Nogent-sur-Seine, is a considerable horse fair, the 11th August. There are three annual cattle fairs at Braisne-le-Comte, near Soissons, viz. on 6th May, 14th September, and 14th December. The greater part of the sales are for Paris. The fairs of Nangis and Crecy in Brie, on 4th July and 29th September respectively, are very considerable, and from these the graziers and butchers in the Isle of France are supplied. Montely is a fair chiefly for cows, great numbers of which are brought by the farmers and peasants about Paris and all the Isle of France. It is held 9th September. There are also several fairs for pigs held in the villages around Paris, and innumerable other cattle and horse fairs of lesser note, not calling for any particular mention.
