Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-02-25
COUNTING THE PROCEEDS.
The Masonic Fair Beats the Record in MANY
Ways.

The Masonic fair concluded, Saturday,
after record that has never been equalled
by any fair ever held in this city.
There were over 10000 admissions dur
ing that time The first evening there
were 5000 people in the building at one
time. Several of the other evenings there
were 1000 admissions. The net proceeds
will probably be about $4,000. although
they may fall little short of that
amount. The Masons are assured, how
ever, of enough to handsomely furnish
their quarters without any tax upon the
different organizations.
1t is noteworthy that during the entire
construction of the building and through
out the fair, with the dense crowds of
people, no accident occurred. Any even
ing of the fair had there been cry of fire
raised the results would have been terri
Bile. Not dozen Of all the people present
knew how narrowly they escaped such
a catastrophe, one evening. Some of the
hangings about one of the booths caught
fire and blazed up. Probably not three
people saw it before the attendant had
torn down the hanging and put out the
fire. One Shrek of "Fire" from an
excited bystander would have been awful
in it's consequences.
No one outside can appreciate the
amount of hard work done by members
of the building committee and the fair
committee, or how willingly women, as
we'll as men, worked for the cause. Look
ing backward one DOESN'T wonder that
the success surpassed the greatest expec-
tations.
The building committee, John f. Hill,
Geo f. Macomber, G. w. Jones, W. S.
Choate and NJ. s. Campbell had entire
charge of the construction of the build
ing. They hired no superintendent of
construction, the principal part of that
work being done by Mr.. Jones, and no
single member of the committee receives
compensation Moreover this is true Of
all who have taken Fart in the fair.
During the fair many amusing incl
dents occurred Modest Bridget when Or
dered to serve the tomatoes undressed,
appeared in the DINING room in her I'M
derclothing but refused to take Off
"another stitch" If she lost her place.
The fellow who had charge of cleaning
the cuspidors during the fair, however,
was determined to obey orders to the let
ter If he broke every cuspidor in the tenn
ple. One of the committee, irritated at
finding several cuspidors running over
with orange peel and like debris, shouted
to the charge -de-cuspidore, Throw those
out of the window and turned away.
A few minutes later the fellow hurried up
to the committee saying: I've
thrown an of 'cm out, every spittoon in
the building except two locked up in one
Of the Offices Sure enough, he had
been good as his word and the crockcry
law in fragments on the board pile in the
rear of the temple.
Saturday afternoon large number OF
children and their parents attended the
special entertainment for the little folks.
The Bohemian glass blowers who have
provided large amount of enjoyment
for the people with their splendid exhibit
ton. made presents to all the children
and the little ones, watched with much in
tercst when the blowers made the articles.
Prof. Doyle Williams gave his Punch and
Judy show, which the children enjoyed.
Mr. Folsom operated the Edison phono-
graph and many little ears listened in
tently while this wonderful machine fur
nished music and songs for them.
Two contributions awarded was range
to John Locke, Mount Vernon, and shay
ing set to Il. ID. Kingman.