The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-11-28
FIREMbN'SFAIR And FESTIVAL
Dazzling Display of Fancy Articles-Many
Useful Articles, To0-Tempting Suppers
and Refreshments.

Livery NlSllOI ~ lHc new IlIf DCpditlnCHi
Building this week needs 10 have a pocket
book well lined with either silver, gold OF
greenbacks. A man with no small change Is
like fish out of water.
On entering the main door-and even for a
considerable distance up and down the street
the visitor is surrounded by an eager throng
of youngsters selling tickets for raff1es, boxes
of candy, or some small item of bric-a-brac
for which no human ingenuity has yet dis
covered use; and if he escapes with his life
from this onslaught, he is only out of the fry
ing pan into the fire, because he gets into the
thick of the fray as soon as he gets inside.
1t is beautiful sight.
The first booth on the ground floor is a
Country Store: and more appropriate
name could not have been devised. Pots,
pans, kettles, sugar, oil, pumpkins, notions,
and every ct cetera which makes the hetero-
geneous mass of the village store, is found
here in abundance, and though the prices are
trihe above the market quotations the things
sell rapidly. This counter is presided over
by Mrs. Slagle and Mrs. Herr.
Next in order is the "Fancy Table, AN
appeal in itself to the artistic instincts of the
beholder. No man, and man is writing this,
can do justice to the pretty things in every
old and new stitch under the sun. Needle
work, painting, crocheting, are piled in be-
wildering masses all around, and though they
are rapidly disposed of, there seems to be a
| hidden fSuItain of supply, as the quantity
never grows less. Mrs. Gilbert, Mrs. Wentz
and Mrs. Brundige do the honors here.
1 Beyond this counter is the Candy Booth,
presided over by Miss Bette Shriyer, Miss
Augusta Shriver, Miss Mollie Shriver, Mrs.
Kennedy and Mrs. j. T. Herring
| There is an insidiousness about candy that
is absolute; ''it gets there" every time, and
/ tba s;,,+ rft he biuh-niIad pnassas of caramel
and pea nut brittle, all home made, the quaint
and dainty little boxes, made of vari-colored
paper, makes fellows hand seek his pocket
invountarily, especially so if in addition to
pair of bright eyes at his side there is another
pair across the counter drawing money from
him like water from a well. 1t IS really
tonishing, by the way, what enormous guam
titles of caramel a pretty girl can get away
with in one evening.
AT the head of the room is the Toy De-
partment,n where are dolls galore and dainty
toys for little girls and boys in mass fgolden
hair, staring blue eyes, outstretched arms.
which appeal so irresistibly to the little folks
standing about, if one judges by the longing
looks on their faces.
Mrs. Bond, Mrs. Parke. Mrs. Davis, Mrs.
Pearson and Miss Roop look after these de-
lights of the childish heart, and in addition
there are three or four young ladies going
about like that roaring lion, seeking whom
they may devour, and disposing of chances
for some very magnificent dolls with no more
effort than that of a smile into the victims
face 1t fetches him every time
Miss Mary Shellman and assistants are
coming money in Cafe off from the main
room, and peep in the door means your
bodily entrance, where you will be RECALLED IN
a manner which the mere mention of these
ladies guarantees.
The T'Grab Bags or Fish Ponds,' do a
rushing business under the care of Miss
Thomas and Miss Eloise Bond, and the
"wheels,'' two in number, on which every
kind of thing is ratified, are ever on the go,
and their "whir,n with the cries OF the pad
die sellers, make a noise that is great addi-
ton to the whole affair.
On the second floor the first thing to greet
your eyes is booth of great beauty IN charge
of Mrs Henning and the Misses Bennett
Everything thereon is railled or sold at auc
ton, Mr. David Cowan, auctioneer. Among
other things is a SO Rambler bicycle in which
many chances have already been sold, and
which bids fair to break the record in price
for the year.
Lamps, china sets, fancy work, candy. are
also in profusion; indeed, this booth seems
made of every good thing, even to the 'spe-
Gals down stairs, and is making much |
money. II IcdluEt vi II 10 u iSotooh vi AHN
incandescent lights, hid amid the leaves of
evergreens, sparkling out in red, blue and |
green tints, like fairy lamps.
The ice cream and supper rooms are on
this and the third floors, and seem to be gen. |
orally crowded. 1t is somewhat astonishing |
to think of so many people being hungry at
one time, outside Of a big city.
Mr.. Z. J. Lawyer. who has devoted so
much of his time, energy and means to pro.
mote the Fair says it is most successful and
thinks that the finish will show more than
was ever hoped for.
One of the interchangeable and tireless workers
is Mr.. F. T. Shaeffsr, who for the past six
months has been putting his energies at work
upon pretty pieces of art and mechanism for
sale and whose handiwork is rapidly disposed |
Of
On Monday night three of the Lodges of
Westminster took supper at the FaIr-the |
Odd Fellows, Sons of Temperance and Patri- |
otto Sons of America, about It's in number. |
On Tuesday night the Ind. Order OF Mechan..
les took $50 chances at the supper table and |
won every time. On Wednesday night the
College students we're IN evidence, 1876 rushing |
the supper table. On Thanksgiving Day and
night the crowds were very large, and the |
Royal Arcanums, all light feeders, attacked |
the supper table, at so cents an attack each.
Mr.. LAWYER saws that it is extremely graft |
flying TO see the generous response made by |
the public to this cause. Everybody, whether
owners of real estate to be protected, or not,
seemed to think it not only duty, but Il |
pleasure to do what was possible for the Fire |
Department, and that with the people behind
in so satisfactory manner the Fair cannot |
help being gigantic success. One OF the |
most active workers for the fair was Miss Mary |
Il. Shellman, whose good taste designed the |
decorations and arrangements of the hrst floor. |
To a layman il looks as though Mr. Lawyer
knows what he is talking about. a happy, |
Joyous, eager and enthusiastic crowd is surging |
nightly through the handsome building, |
dropping pennies here, dimes there, and dol |
lars somewhere else; and on sill sides is heard
praise for the strong effort to have everything |
Ego off with propriety--and profit. Tonight
Beneficial Society and the Catholic Legion |
will take their supper at the fair.
The following is complete list OF those IN
charge of the various departments
COMMITTEE: OF ARRANGEMENTS Edwin J. Law |
yer chairman, John NJ Roberts, Frank T. Shaner
John II. Cunningham, o. d. Gilbert, r. h. Herr'
Amos W. Ham treasurer.
IcE CREAM COMMITTEE Geo. A. Bell chairman, |
Leonard ShafIer. r. NJ Myerly. John d. Biehi.
WHEEL COMMITTEE II. X. shafer chairman, j. /
Harry Cootes Frank 7. Shaffer, Jos. D. Brooks, |
Florence Little J. Milton Reifsnider. J. Clarence
Mobey, Charles L. Goodwin, VIM. H. BAR, Jr, |
Henry Himler, VIM E. Long, John Brichner Chas
Cashiers John NJ Roberts chairman. Amos |
W. Hahn Chas V. Wantz, NJ. John Lynch. Clarence |
Eichelberger. o. D. Gilbert, John II. Cunningham
LIST FLOOR COMMITTEE DIR. Jos. T. Herring chair |
man, Percy Shriver, NJ. ScfneeberSer, John T.
Eckenrode.
Keefer Wm T. FrzZell VIM. X. Anders,
3rd FLOOR. Fred. N. Eckenrode chairman, JOS