In the era before dating apps, how were singles to meet? One Chicagoan in 1893 proposed a special day on the fairgrounds of the World’s Columbian Exposition for not-so-young-and-still-unattached visitors. The October 21, 1893, issue of the Chicago Inter Ocean carried the following Letter to the Editor, signed “A. LS.” (presumably one of the “autumn lassies” mentioned in the letter?).

Although the Fair held many “special days”—for groups ranging from North Dakotans to Nicaraguans, French Engineers to Fishermen—the author’s proposed Halloween Congress for Singles was not to be. First, Closing Day of the World’s Fair was set for October 30, the day before Halloween. More important, the official closing festivities were replaced by a memorial after Chicago Mayor Carter Harrison was gunned down on October 28. Cupid put away his bow for the (mostly) somber close of the 1893 World’s Fair.

“Beauties of the Nature and Art at Twelve O’Clock” drawing by W. W. Denslow shows some visitors at the 1893 World’s Fair who appear to be under Cupid’s enchantment while enjoying a quiet moment on the Grand Basin. [Image from the Chicogo Herald June 4, 1893.]

A Halloween Congress

There have been days and days, congresses, isms, sects, and clans, and almost every tribe or order, Nation or State, has been [sic] represented at the world fair. But there is yet one state to be heard from—the “single state of man” inhabited only by autumn lads and autumn lassies, commonly referred to as “old bachelors” and “old maids.”

Would it not be magnanimous, interesting, novel, and enjoyable to set apart a certain day for this antique state? But do not let anyone in the number who cannot count one score and fifteen autumns (thirty-five years), unless you open the gates to all not married, and in that case open wide the gates to the widows and widowers.

As Halloween is one of Cupid’s parade evenings, and he being the only potentate of the aforesaid domain, why not give “the little tyrant” a chance to display his bow, arrows, and trophies on that evening? Such a day might be so suggestive that ministers’ wives would be very happy over the matrimonial fees harvested during the coming months.

And what a loving close the World’s Fair—a Halloween jollification or Congress.

ONE OF THE A. LS.

Cupid’s arrow hit the target in Ernest Jean Aubert’s “Love’s Captives,” which was on display in the French section of the Palace of Fine Arts at the 1893 World’s Fair. [Image from Art and Artists of All Nations (Arkell Weekly Co., 1894)]