Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1894-04-08
Our Fair Letter.
Special correspondent ISpEr-SpEsr.)

Special correspondent I~SDErESpESTJ
SAN FRANCISCO, April. 3.-rhe
children thought thut Saturday
March 3lst, Was so grand that il
could not be excelled. 1t was Chron-
icle's day and all children within a
radius of fifty miles around wers in
v'ted. not one omitted and all free
-om charge, even the railroad fare
from interior towns. Judging from
the packed cars as early ns seven
o'clock in the morning, the children
must have been up before the SUM-.
The crowd and the crush was so
great, that the two principal car
lines had n break down causing con-
81 ierable delay. At twelve O'Clock
$3.50 people had entered the gates.
A great many mon and women who
VIII never again see their thirtieth
birthday passed as school children.
Young ladies that would be insultcd
il they wero termed children we're
ouly too glad t" grasp n ticket. Quite
n number OF men protested that they
were unfairly treated when the
guards refused them admission on q
Juvenile coupon. / noticed ono man
in particular, who was about six feet
high md had n growth OF whiskers
that took him at least ten years to
cultivate.
a special programme was prepared
for the children something that
would attract their attention and
nmuse them. The bands played
childish and popular airs. 4 parade
was formel by the concessionnires,
and athletic exercises and perform
ances took place on tho recreation
grounds.
The only concessions that did n
thriving business were those that
sold articles that did not exceed the
sum Of five cents.
The principal feature OF the morn
ing was the parade areund the grand
court, tho people stood Mt least six
rows deep The sphinx on each side
OF the entrance 10 the Fine Arts
building made an excellent perch for
small boys, and any projections OF
any kind that afforded a foothold
wero sure to have "a many feet ns
could be crowded upon them.
Nearly all the lice gave away
fruit especially tho Southern Cali
fornia building, IN front OF which,
there WIS actually n carpet OF orange
peels that were dropped by the chill
dren.
There WAS n class ot people that
we're not as noisy as the American
boys although having MS much fun
aud joy in their own quiet way, these
were Chinese. They were gorgeous
~ nttired in their many colored gar
ments, which made them as it always
does, very conspicuous.
Thero is one man who did not feel
very happy that day and one that
will remember il at least n few days
to come. He it is that is supposed
TO keep the roads in n nent and clean
condition. think by tho time he
has gathered in tho orange peels and
picked up tho peanut oholls, no will
he willing I" bet that the number OF
children amounted u about one mil
lion.
All day long tho children fingered
nbout the All. gorlcal fountain watch
ing tho water pass over tho rocks and
spoutipg high in the air. Ef rly in
tho morning before the fountain was
in operation sonic lively boys thought
IL great sport to use tho largo basin
around il for n rnce truck, II 10 lncky
for them that the engineer did not
AGO III to turn OH tho wator nj TINT
time.
There is n building in The Fair
grounds for tho purpose OF storing
away lost youngsters. II was n very
couical although not happy sight to
stand by and watch tho proceedings.
Every little while n small child would
10 brought in by n burly policeman
aud registered. On an average OF
every half a minute, some anxious
parent would rush in only TO DO told
To call later on, rs tho child had not
got made its appearance.
There were very few incidents md
tlioso very slight. Taking all in all
tho day was most enjoyable, judging
from II remark 'nnde by ono little
chap, "golly, but I had bully fun"
o0,oo7 people passed tho gates on
that day.