The record-union., 1893-08-24
IT WILL Be THE BEST YET.
That is What is Being Said Of the
State Fair.
Applications for Space Pouring in
Great Preparations for the Roman
CIrcus-Other Features.

Great Preparations for the Roman
CIrcus-Other Features.
1t is customary to prophecy. just before
the State Fair opens, that it Will be the
best ever held. This is natural enough.
for each succeeding fair should be an
Improvement on its predecessor. if the
State is making progress in industrial
improvement, and this must be the case.
Owing tc the prevailing financial dis
tress. however, many persons have taken
it for granted that the fair next month
would not come up to the standard in the
way of exhibits, either at the Pavilion or
Park.
This Secretary Smith and Superin-
tendent Hancock, who were seen yester
day. say is a fallacy-that no former State
Fair has ever promised so much as the
one about 10 be held.
Why" said Secretary Smith, NEARLY
all the space in the Pavilion has been
spoken for already, and the fair is nearly
TWO weeks off yet We look for quite
change in the character Of exhibits this
year. There will he less in the way OF
county exhibits than formerly, as the
counties are not able TO get up new dis
plays, having sent their best to the
| Worlds Fair.
Instead, however, we expect a better
industrial display than usual. NO less
than seven large manufacturing firms
have already engaged space, and " know
OF others that are coming"
George Boyne has already begun deco
rating the mammoth building, and has
now III place against the wall Of the up
per east gallery handsome illustration
of the ship in which Christopher Column
bus crossed The ocean OH his voyage of
discovery. \ number Of exhibitors have
also begun TO prepare for their displays,
and in Il few days more the interior of the
Pavilion will be like a beehive with men
and women struggling to get their eXhib-
its ready for the opening day.
Great preparations are being made for
the Roman Circus Maximus, i'll the
northeast annex to the building The
seats are all up, and the amplEitheater
will comfortably seat from 1900 TO 5000
spectators. y strong electric search-ligIt,
or reflector, will be placed at each end Of
the amphitheater, while other electric
lights will be placed at intervals about
the circle.
The roof will be covered with canvas,
while the high background above the
tiers of seats will be made to represent
scenes typical of ancient Rome. Secre-
tary Smith says it is astonishing to note
the interest that has been excited in the
interior in regard to this feature OF the
fair.
Some people, he said, "have criti-
cised the directors for introducing such
| feature, arguing that it is no part of an
agricultural or industrial fair. People
who talk that way are very narrow
minded. Features of this kind are in
/ structive, as well as entertaining, and
/ something is due the persons who make
/ exhibits at the fair. Ii the Circus Max
/ linus will bring to the Pavilion several
/ thousand more persons than would other
wise have come, the exhibitors profit by
1t, for just that many more people see
/ what they have to show. No, we are
sure it was Il wise thing to do, and the re
suit will prove it,"
/ superintendent Hancock said that he
and Secretary Smith were about to go
/ into executive session, as they had a little
/ figuring to dO-and that was how to get
/ 400 horses into 200 stalls, or something
/ like that. He said he knew there must be
some way to do it, for they had been
confronted by similar problems before,
and somehow had managed to work them
| out.
/ seriously, however," said Mr.. Han
cock, "the outlook was really never bet
ter, if as good, for splendid display Of
stock and for interesting racing events.
The purses are all filling well, and the
demand for stalls shows that there will
be an immense number of horses here,
and we shall have to rent many stables
on the outside"
Both Secretary Smith and Director
Hancock were considerably elated over
the fact that one of the features at the
park this year will be the presence of
Madame Marantette, the equestrian
queen, who has been such an attraction
at Eastern fairs for several years past.
! The lady's manager, on Il recent visit to
Sturgis, Mich, made the following offers
through the Times of that place:
Il will wager $500 that Filemal1er, rid
den by Madame Maranlette, can beat any
horse in the world. Filemaker holds the
worlds record OF feet u inches for high
jumping.
Il will also wager $500 that Jupiter, inn
ported Welsh pony, iorty-eight inches
high, who holds The worlds record Of 5
feet 63 inches, can beat any pony of his
hight in the world.
Il will wager 800 each that Woodlawn
and Evergreen are the best park and sad
die horses, ridden and driven by Madame
Marantette in the world-showingt twelve
distinct gaits in saddle and six in har-
ness"
Madame Marantette-who is not Of the
wild Vest style of riders, but lady
of excellent social standiug-has been
engaged to appear in her specialties dur
ing the ladies' tournament and at other
times during the fair, but not as a com
petitor with other ladies. She is said TO
be the finest horsewoman in the land.
be an attraction.