Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-01-16

VNGIJ W England customs,
/ NAMEA they now know
sE.[S no section, creed
or nationality. They have been adopted
by every portion OF the Heterogeneous
population of the metropolis, and may
be properly regarded as one of
Americas most prevalent institutions.
In the church fairs early days, the
young folks had little to do with the
preparations for the festival, and still
less during its continuance. All that is
changed nowadays, and the change is
largely for the better, both socially and
financially. The girls and young
matrons own and run the fairs of the
present generation, and the proof of the
success of their management is shown
by the fact that there are hundreds of
those festivities now where there were
formerly not quarter of that number.
A fair is necessity to church
nowadays, but it is still true that the
fairs success depends upon good and
earnest work. A few hints as to the
best way of going about it may there
fore prove acceptable. It is ordinarily
difficult to secure just the right kind of
rooms for the fair. A large one, with
some smaller ones opening into it, is
always the best, for the latter can be
used for side-shows that add to the i'll
come of the management. But any
room where fair is held should be
prettily and gracefully decorated. If
evergreens can be inexpensively pro-
cured to festoon the walls and wreath
the pillars handsome effect will be
produced Flags aud banners can be
1 fixed singly or in groups on the walls
or ceilings.
All the windows in the room should
be hung with curtains either of lace or
muslin, held back by bows of ribbon.
They seem to temper the light aud
give cooler look to the room. An
open-work curtain can be purchased
for five cents a yard. This, neatly
hemmed on each side, and tied back
with red ribbon, looks very we'll in
deed.
A new and novel feature for fair
stall is the homemade candy table.
The candies, or part of them, should
be made in sight of the people, thereby
arousing into est and curiosity which
lead to putting hands in pockets and
bringing out shining quarters and half
dollars for some of the sweets just
manufactured. Begin with q good
stock on hand, and by continually add.
ing to it there need be no fear about
the demand.
A good decoration for stall are the
| American colors. Red. white and blue
cambria can be purchased at small
cost; cut the goods into stripes and
wind them around the booth. OVERT
center place q group of small flags and
q sort of balloon can be made of num-
Der Of penny flags by sticking them all
around in potatoe. On such table
might be displayed lighthouses.
chemises, pinafores, socks, dresses,
capes, hoods, babies caps, aprons, COM
forters, knitted gloves and mittens,
together with many other useful ar.
ticles, which will find ready sale.
Every article ought to be placed sc
that its best effect is at once secured
Another booth may be decorated in
Japanese fans. parasols, lanterns and
screens. This will be known as the
Japanese table, and nothing but Japa
nese ware should be sold on it,
A platform-if the room has not one
already-should he put up. with 6
piano, harp, etc., placed there for the
amusement of the company. Programs
can be drawn up aud sold to add to the
funds. 1t IS o fallacy to suppose that
!, people do not require further amuse
ment than what appertains to the fail
proper. When visitors have made the
tour of the room once or twice, exam
ined and purchased such articles a:
pleased them, they wish for something
more to do. Ratfies are amusing, and
fine art exhibitions, when skillfully anc
originally managed, are very entertain
ing.
If a small room can be spared
for the purpose so much the
better, but if not screen placed il
one corner will answer. Near thi.
should be the keeper with number o.
catalogues to sell to the passer-by. Be
hind the screen shelves are fixed, or
, which the articles are placed in the or.
der in which they are mentioned in the
catalogue. The ingenuity of the man.
ager of the exhibition must be exercised
to provide new ideas. If in the cata
logue "A Fancy Ball" is designated i,
may be represented by ball Of differ
ent shades of wool, "Ruius in China,
by broken plate, "The Belle of the
Village" by large dinner bell, and sc
on.
Another source Of amusement anc
profit is to have the ladies connected
with tho fair make aprons and necktie.
alike. The ladies wear their apron.
during the fair and the neckties are
placed in envelopes and sold to the gen
tleman who treats the lady whose apron
matches his necktie to oysters, ice-creau
and other things.
Then there is the gypsy fortune tel
Ter, no fair should be without that. Ii
the booth or tent the young lady
dressed in the garb Of gypsy can sit
at her ease, only saying to those who
enter to consult her: "The past is
gone, the present you know, the future
7 is to come" And then she may sell
pretty articles of beads, etc.
There are many things that can be
made and readily disposed of. All the
girls connected with a fair should con