Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-10-09
ALL EXHIBITORS ADMITTED TO
THE GROUNDS FREE.

All day Tuesday men poured into the
place with exhibits, until the fair grounds
looked like the barnyard of a prosperous
farmer. Everybody went in and out at
will, and the doorkeeper saw darkness
gather that evening without having yet
felt a 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 moment that their receipts
should be used 10 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 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 exhi-
bitiou 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 reyolyels, saddles, or
ponies.
On Wednesday the first man who pre-
sented himself as an exhibitor had 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 "best 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 gatekeeper'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 neces-
sary that evening to invest in hay and
oats to the extent of q ten-dolar bill,
and after things were fixed for the night
they met again to discuss the situation.
The time was rapidly approaching when
something would have to be done. Sew,
eral prizes had already been awarded
though not yet paid, and 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 certain color for first prize, an
other color for second prize, and another
for third. He had forgotten the colors
used but it would make no difference.
GAN that we need, !" he said, is to put
on little cheek and we'll get out of
this scrape in very creditable way.
We'll give 'em all prizes and it won't
cost us two dollars.
The others thought there might be a
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. He
purchased green, yellow, and red rib
bons the first thing in the morning, and
when the crowd assembled at the grounds
he mounted barrel and said:
81 have the honor, on behalf of the
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 great thing, and, though
congratulate the gentlemen who have
been made the recipients of the manage
ments favors, would suggest to them
the possibility that at another time they
may find that somebody else will take
the cake. Modesty is great virtue.
Jose Cabano will step forward and re-