The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-10-09
ALL EXHIBITORS ADMITTED TO
TIE GROUNDS FREE.

All day Tuesday men poured into the
place with exhibits, until the fair grounds
looked like the barnyard of prosperous
farmer. Everybody went in and out at
will, and the doorkeeper saw darkness
gather that evening without having yet
felt dollar. Things were getting pretty
serious in town, for there were prizes to
pay, and, though the saloons were doing
good business, it had not been contem-
plated for a moment that their receipts
should be used TO reward the enterprise
of the exhibitors. Late that night a
committee got together and discussed
the situation. 1t was nearly daylight
when the members adjourned, but Il de-
cision had been arrived at. The exhibit
ors were to be forced to leave their goods
on the grounds or pay gate money. 1t
had been the practice of scores of the
attendants to put their property on cXhi-
bition and then withdraw it in the even
ing for their own use. Several men had
ordinary wagons and horses on eXhi-
bition, and many of the cowboys had
entered their reyolycrs, saddles, OF
ponies.
On Wednesday the first man who pre-
sentcd himself as an exhibitor had a span
of mules and an old wagon. He was
informed that unless he was willing to
leave the outfit on the grounds until the
end of the week, he could not have an
exhibition ticket. This was satisfactory
to him and he went in. a party of COW
boys put up their knives, belts, and
ponies, and one of them entered his big
sombrero as the chest hat this side of
Texas" All accepted the conditions
and went in. Evening found pretty
much everything on the grounds and
no money in the gatekccper's hands.
When the exhibitors came to leave,
the great majority of them were willing
to trust the management with their prop
erty, particularly those who had live
stock. The committee found it neccs-
sary that evening to invest ia hay and
oats to the extent of ten-dollar bill,
and after things were fixed for the nisht
they met again to discuss the situation.
The time was rapidly approaching when
someth hing would have to be done. Sew
cral prizes had already been awarded
though not yet paid, and a cowboy to
whom had been given first prize for
riding was celebrating his victory by
getting drunk.
In this extremity Hank Lane, who had
been at county fairs in the East had an
inspiration. He told his associates that
in many of the fairs of the States the
prizes consisted simply of ribbons. They
gave a certain color for first prize an
other color for second prize, and another
for third. lie had forgotten the colors
used, but it would make no difference.
"All that we need, he said, is to put
on little cheek and we'll get out of
this scrape in a very creditable way.
Wen give EN- all prizes and it won't
cost US two dollars.
The others thought there might be q
chance of the thing working, but was
clear that they had their misgivings. 1t
was agreed to try the thing on and Lane
was commissioned to do the job. lie
/ purchased green, yellow, and red rib
/ bons the first thing in the morning, and
when the crowd assembled at the ground.
he mounted a barrel and said
Il have the honor, on behalf of thu
committee of managers, to announce
that we have decided to award the pre-
miums already won right away, with
out waiting for the fair to close. Emu
lation is a great thing, and, though
congratulate the gentlemen who have
been made the recipients of the manage
ment's favors, ! would suggest to then
the possibility that at another time the
may find that somebody else will tax
the cake. Modesty is a great virtue
Jose Cabano will step forward and re