Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1894-08-24

other, so that their attendance has
grown into a regular trade. 1t is
especially ''volks" gathering, and
the masses enjoy it to the utmost.
Several days before the fest begins
caravans which are composed Of
wagons strongly resembling the or
dinary freight car on wheels, except
that they all have curtained windows,
may be seen on every road approach
ing the city in which the masch is to
be held. They take possession of the
nearest open space to the shooting
garden, and from the cavernous depths
of the metamorphosed freight cars are
taken first larger or smaller tent, as
the case may be, and a bewildering
array of properties needed in the
forthcoming show.
In night the vacant place is trans
formed into small city of tents, each
the temporary business place of some
fakir, the wagons being drawn up con-
veniently near, as they are the dwell
ing-places of the showmen. The
tented town is laid off into streets
which on both sides are lined with the
boots, the merry-go rounds, the tin
type galleries, the miniature circuses,
and in short everything in which the
heart of the small boy and diminutive
maiden is supposed to rejoice. One
masch is typical of all.
You enter the entrance street with
out being expected to pay any fee and
find yourself in a wide lane with con-
fectionery and bakery booths on each
side. The candy is rather doubtful
except to the German small boy, who
has but this annual chance, as gen.
eral thing, for tasting sweets, and to
| whom it is very heaven of saccharine
I delight; the cakes are excellent, how
[ ever, as they are all over Germany
Chief among them is a sort of huge
"pop-over," light as feather. 1t is
called "eirkranz," and is made only at
the time of the masch. 1t must be
eaten hot and is devoured in vast guam
| titles.
The first street at right angles from
the entrance lane is the street of the
tin-type and shooting gallery fend
The tin-type man does not differ es-
sentially from his brother at our own
county fair, though he takes better
pictures; but the shooting gallery is
! far ahead of its American cousin. Be
hind counter on which numerous
air-guns are laid, stand a half dozen
| pretty girls attired in fantastic cos
tunes, and each seeks to attract men
who may be victims to her modern
bow. That the Dianas are pretty sue
cessful in their unceasing importuni-
ties is evinced by the constant pop,
J popping, which one hears on every
side. A large canvas is stretched
about fifteen feet behind the maidens,
and upon it are displayed every con-
ceivable form of target, every one of
which it is almost impossible to miss,
for the vanity of the customer must
be cultivated if continued patronage
is to be assured. Every one of these
targets gives forth beating of drums
or ringing of bells when struck, SO
the din may be imagined.
Near the shooting booths are the
canvas palaces inhabited by the fat
woman; the genuine African Zulu,
who speaks when caught unawares
with strong German accent; the
museum of wax images of living and
dead celebrities; the stereopticon
views of famous events, and other
shows of the kind which a country
boy in America is familiar with at the
fair in his own county, for none of the
usual attractions are missing. The
entrance fee is ten or twenty pfen-
nings Perhaps the most popular
thing on the ground is the merry-go-
round. There are dozen forms of it.
Some are in the form of real rocking
ships propelled in circle by machin-
cry, but most of them are the ordi-
nsry hobby horses of our childhood
fixed on circular platform which is
made to revolve by horse power
There are patent springs also which
are ABUSED to small boats in such q
way that the boats hanging from ropes
are swung to and fro in the air like
huge pendulums. These are called
American air chariots," and attract
great deal of custom-for anything
coming from America is supposed to
be not only novel, but the best of its
kind.
OF course in, about and around all
these amusements is heard the blare of
the brass band. Your good German
would not believe he was having a
good time unless he was hearing
music, no matter what else he might
be doing, and therefore the band is
very much in evidence. But here is
another starting point of difference
from our county fairs. The band is
almost always a very good one. and
the music well worth listening to.
Nearly every German is more or less
of musician, and while he will toll
crate good deal of personal discom-
fort he will not submit to having poor
music blared in his ears.
In the centre of the temporary
town there is erected an immense tent,
with open sides, which will hold $500
people. Small tables abound, and
there are seats for the number men,
toned. On platform at one end is
an admirable band, which plays both
popular and classical music, which in
Germany is popular i'll another sense,
all day and all evening. Numerous
"madchens" in picturesque national
peasant costumes serve as walters. At