Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-24
KIDS AT THE FAIR
Yesterday Mas Their Day and
They Enjoyed II.
THEY RODE SHETLAND PONIES
Ass Two WstermelOns for a N.eksl.
snd Gorgst Themselves Win Pea
nuts and Othsr Indixsstibls stud.


yesterday and took front seats, under
the impression that they owned the sn-
Ire exhibit. They TOOK tie grand stand
BY storm. and when the races we're
called they filed the reporters box
and hung over the edges 10 fest0ons
like - many bats Previous TO that
time they had inv AIDED every nook and
corner Of tne bIg far grounds aud mad
loaded themselves with picture cards,
fans, blotters, yard sticks. popcorn.
peanuts. candy, watermelon and het-
srOgenOus mas impossible to describe.
Ihey saw everything. touched every
thing. absorbed everything and ate
everything ostrich fashion. One Of
them even went SD far as 10 pick
scale from the back of the mud turtle
boy 90 exhibition IN one OF the tents-
Another bow pulled the hair on the
face OF the woody gri 10 see II It WAS
zeal aud Vas rewarded by having hls
tace slapped. The hair was real and
the xiGl was alive, two conditions some
Nnat doubted by the general public,
which bad not seen the freak. Horses,
cattle, sheep and other prize animals
were lguOred ~ the small boy who
went 10 the far TO have good time
and not 20 see common every day
horses and COWS.
Rode the Ponies.
one man Teaped a harvest by erect
INK riding ring and letting the chill
dr5n ride Shetland ponies tor dime
apiece. He would mount the children
and wnen each pony was provided with
rider he would crack MS whip ring
master fash Ou. and the embryo kings
aud queens OF the savdust ring would
circle nilarlOusly around TO the music
OF the whip. The merry -g0-round man
had 10 entertain a more adult crowd,
country lassies OF a charming age rid
Tag the manikin ponies ana convul-
sively clutchng the name of the stiff
legged beasts as though life or limb
would be the forfeit OF n fall.
incidentally the mothers were there
and some OF the fathers too. deeming
maternal protection Insutticie ut. The
mothers lad ASIDE gloves that they
might tackle the numerous wants OF
the youngsters barehauded, and the
mothers seemed TO have As good time
As the children.
Another feature OF the attendance
was the preponderance OF the old SOL
dIeTs, a special rate having been made
for them. IL was a real pleasure TO see
their faces brighten as they mingled
with the scurryIng crowd and watched
the antics Of the carless, happy chill
dren. The old soldier Was caught by
the gli.tering gems Of the vender of
cheap wares and many bright piece Of
silver was exchanged for worthless
bauble.
IL Was a chIIdren's day, and the
small Try were happy. All the schools
IN the city were closed and something
ike a million of the pupils went to the
fair. IL was happy, jolly crowd, and
IT'S like will not DO seen again until the
great West Michigan fair of 1898 re-
leases the children from the thralldom
of school and invites them With It's
many attractions.
scenes the Close
Not the least interesting time of an
agricultural aud industrial fair IS the
close. All - hustle and confusion. The
eating booths dispose of pies and cakes
~ half price and SANDWICHES 20 Tor
song. A nickel will buy two water
melons, each one large enough TO last
an ord binary family week. Dogs are
delivered from the anxious seat aud
boxed up, yelling and howlISg, for
another dreary ride IN baggage car.
Cattle below with fright as they are
ousted from their comfortable stalls
To- begin the homewsrd journey. Pigs
grunt aud squeal. hens cackle and
crOak, draymsn shout and yell and
every living creature does his best to
add TO the dissolvIng psndemonIu m,
except the sheep which, though they
crowd together IN q dense, frightened
mass. MAINTAIN vocal quietude utterly
at variance with their fear-dilated
eyes. Then the crowds rush Tor
the gates. A Wild scramble ensues
and IN tho confusion a woman trips on
her dress aud falls. Before she can
rise. half \ dozen men have rushed
over her using her back for step. She
finally manages 20 regain her feet and
again essays. this time with better sue
cess. 60 reach the turnstile and after
wards the train. OF course many per-
sons lose their temper and vow that
they vii never 90 again, but the next
years fair sees the same crowd, and II
there we're two fairs every year the
same persons would attend.