Smyrna times., 1891-09-23
The JelIy-Cake War.

Experience is popularity supposed to
be good teacher, even if it is a dear
one. But such is not the fact expert
ence is the poorest teacher. Men 60
on committing the same follies that
they did at the beginning of time.
Two years ago board of county fair
managers for the next thousand years
at least but it didn't. At that time
the managers of the Adams County
(OhiO) Fair foolishly offered a prem
ium for the best loaf of salt-rising
bread. Two hundred women each en-
tered loaf for the price. Then the
men who were judges annouced their
decision. One of them was nearly
lynched. The other two escaped by
hard running-one of them bid in a
ditch and the other went up a tree.
The Tribune at that time contained an
account OF the unfortunate occurrence
and drew the obvious conclusion that
fair managers must let such things
alone, combining their attention to the
short-horn twO-year-Old, the tub of
creamery butter, and the three minute
trotting race" But our words of
warning fell on sterile soil-here are
the SangamOn County Ill.) fair mana
gers with trouble on their hads over a
premium offered for jelly cake.
If the women of Adams County,
Ohio, pride themselves on their salt
rising bread, then are the women of
SangamOn County ILL.,, almost idola-
trOus of their ielly-cake. There were
precisely 600 cakes entered for the
jelly cake prize, which was a fine
piano, by 600 Sangamon county women.
Three men acted as judges-three firm,
determined men, willing to sacrifice
themselves for Sangamon county if
necessary. They began and got safely
through with 500 of the cakes, tasting
of each one. By this time they were
exceedingly weak, but they were slill
alive. They then came to the last
cake, large and inviting looking
affair made by Mrs. Sam Willett, of
Springfield. The judges tasted of it
and were delighted. 1t was light and
moist, and the crab-apple jelly between
the layers was of a most delicious
flavor. They saw nothing wrong
about it and unanimously awarded it
the prize of the piano. Then arose a
great storm, and the committee fed
over into the next county. The other
500 exhibitors arose as one woman
and loudly informed the ignorant COM
mite that the alleged jelly-cake to
which they had given the prize was no
jelly-cake at all, bat deceptive COM
bination of layers of angels food and
jelly. Then Mrs. Sam Willett rose up
and replied that angels food was cake,
and jelly was jelly, and that when
combined they produced jelly-cake.
The combat deepened. The Awarding
Committee went from the next county
on up into Wisconsin, leaving the
whole question to the Board of Mana
gers of the Fair. This board has ap-
pointed special committee to take ev-
idence and review the action of the
Awarding Committee. This work is
now being done. pelmOnica, of this
city, has been appealed to by telegraph.
He replies, also by wire that cake
like Mrs. Sam Willett's may, in his
opinion, be properly classed as jelly
cake, though jelly.cakes are not usu-
ally made that way, The returning
board is keeping the wires leading out
of Sangamon in a highly heated condi-
ton in gathering other expert testi-
mony. 1t is also holding two sessions
daily to hear local testimony. What
the decision will be no one as yet can
fortell. But one thing is certain-in
any case there is going to be more
trouble. Mrs. Sam Willett Is not o
woman to be triAed with. The oppos-
ing forces are strong and aggressive,
Our advice to the original committee
is to move on into the British Posses
sions. AS for the returning board, it
would do we'll to announce its decision
from, let us say, Rio Janeiro, or per-
haps Cape Town, South Africa.
There seems to be nothing more to
say except once more YEARLY to warn
fair managers to stick to Southdown
aheep, early rose potatoes aud the atty
yard foot-raee. But they won't do it.
Next year there will be premiums Of
fered for twisted doughnuts and seed
cookies and the natural trouble will
follow.-N Y. Tribune.