Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1886-07-30
Make the Next Fair a Success.

Mr. Editor Now that our annual coun ty
Fair is near at hand, thought few sug
gestions might not be amiss at this time in
regard to its management We certainly
can boast of having naturally one of the
most beautiful grounds to be found in the
State, if not in the United States, with its
grand shade, and the cool and refreshing
water, inthe center of one of the most pros
porous OF farming counties IN the State and
Immediately on the line of the b. Il o. Rail
road and in such close proximity to WASH
ington, Baltimore and Frederick, and with
easy access for transportation Of visitors and
exhibits, which go so much to make it so
desirable for a county Fair These advan-
tages are not possessed by many of sister
societies.
Why this should not compare fully with
the Fairs of cur neighboring county of
Frederick, which has enjoyed such wide
spread notoriety for its grand exhibitions,
| cannot see. 1t was my pleasure several
years ago to visit one Of them, and | was
very favorably impressed with the able
manner 1t was conducted. reflected why
was it my native county of MONTGOMERY
did not have such attractive exhibitions and
such extensive patronage? The reason soon
became very plain. We did not exert our
selves in the proper direction. | knew we
had as efficient officers, men who were fully
as capable, worked as hard and had the in
terests of our Society as much at heart as
they, but still there were some things which
needed to be changed. In going through
their Exhibition Hall found it crowded
with a fine display, the merchants of Frede-
rick added very much to this. There was
a line of the different patterns of sewing ma
chimes, with their busy operators showing
the advantages of each and taking orders,
Then came the display of furniture dealers;
the carpet stores had their display, covering
their walls with rich and fancy carpets and
rugs, which made that part of the hall very
brilliant and attractive; then the china fancy
wares, dry goods and notions and fancy
goods in their line; the large circle in the
front with McMurry's canned goods; then
the ladies department with fancy needle
work of their own make, also canned goods,
jellies, preserves, fruits, &c, which all min.
gled together made the hall full and attrac-
tive.
With just little effort, why can't we
have our hall as attractive? | think we can.
Let.the Society appoint committee to visit
our neighboring cities and repre- sent the ad-
vantages our Fair offers for exh ibitors, and
| am sure our walls will be decorated with
fancy carpets, rugs, paintings, &c, sewing
machines of the different patterns furniture
of the most attractive kinds. china and glass
ware and all the novelties in their line. all
kinds of notions and fancy articles and
household goods will be in abundance, and
ii will be but u short time before the cry
will come. our Exhibition Hall is too small.
we must make anrexes, we have not room
for our displays.
In regard to the premiums. wonld sug
gest the payment of them in silverplated
ware 10 a great extent. What would "a.
fleet more credit on the exhibitor as a re-
ward of merit for superiority of his or her
article over all Others .han 10 have some
silyerplated article To decorate their table at
home with the inscription. premium from
the Montgomery County Agricultural So.
ciety. which would be handed down with
pride 10 their children as showing the pro
gress their parents made in their various
avocations; but as il now is the money IA
paid by the Fair to the party awarded the
premium, passed into his pocket to be used
as other funds possessed TO meet the every
day wants of the household and the Society
gets no credit other than al the time il was
paid. If the first plan was adopted il would
be souvenir from the Society and would
be displayed during the wear. have been
credibly informed that in the Western
States this plan is universally adopted at
Agricultural Fairs and with the most salts
factory results.
Now for our music. would il not be much
better TO offer premium for the best cornet
band. equal To that which is now paid at
each annual Fair, recurring the bands wish
ing to contest for the premium to apply to
the Secretary at least two weeks previous to
the Fair, so he might designate the days
they should attend, and in this way we
might have more than one each day, and it
would excite more interest in the bands,
the people Knowing they were competing
for a prize. | saw this arrangement with
the very hest results at the MlrylanI State
Fair, held at Westminster in the Fall of
1877.
The next thing To be considered is the
mode of increasing our finances. Our re.
sources are too limited as they now are, all
we have to depend on is the gate money,
the small charges for exhibiting, the entries