The Newtown bee., 1897-10-08
DANBURY.
A GREAT FALLING OFF IN ATTENDANCE

A GREAT FALLING OFF IN ATTENDANCE.
The great Danbury fair has opened its
gates, this week, for its annual run of
six days. AS is usual they promise to
be six pleasant days with hardly cloud.
But the prospects are that the Danbury
fair will lose some of its greatness this
year, as far as attendance is concerned,
for the opening days of the fair were not
nearly as we'll patronized as has been
the record for two or three years back,
despite the fact that the Danbury papers
have been trying to make it larger.
The fact that the directors saw fit to
raise the price of admission from % to
30 cents, this year, is probably largely
responsible for the decreased attendance.
1t isn't the 10 cents extra that seems to
bother people so much as the principle
of the thing. They seem to think that
with the success that has attended the
fair in past years, under the 25-cent rate,
the directors can we'll afford to continue
in the same good old way, giving the
people something that is really worth
their money and more if anything.
There are fairs and fairs, but only one
Danbury fair, in this section, and its
greatness is the result of this principle
of keeping the attractions the best and
the prices down. This year was rather
of an experiment, but undoubtedly the
directors will realize after the week is
over that after all the old way if the
best.
The Danbury fair has no equal as a
fair. It's equipment is nigh on to per-
lection. A series Of buildings built in a
circle, cover some Of the finest blooded
stock New England produces. Connec-
ticut, New York, Massachusetts and New
Hampshire are generally represented,
and they only send their handsomest
bulls, COWS and oxen. Another ring of
master is always there and the most ad-
mired of all. This year Shetland ponies
in large nun bers were an innovation, and
much admired and looked at, the pony
colts being especially attractive. In the
buildings and tents the display varies
very little from year to year. The mer.
chants all made beautiful displays OF
goods and the fancy and art work Is OF
the best and latest that the ladies exc.
cute. The fruits and vegetables looked
especially nice, this year, and the exhib
its were large. The display Of culinary
products was about as usual.
The poultry and bench show haC
many pretty pets, and is one of the at
tractive features of the fair for a great
many people.
The exhibit of machinery, this year
seemed larger than usual, especially the
steam engines, which seemed to be run
ming 10 large numbers.
In the afternoon the majority of tht
people seek the grand stand. 1t is {
mammoth affair and is most always fill
ed. The large purses offered bring somt
of the best horses the country produces
and the races are most always exciting
For those who do not enjoy racing there
is always enough else that is attractive
for the shows put out in front of th'
grand stand are always the best of thei
kind. This year the performance of thu
PAGER, Maryland, the horse that PAGES ,
full mile all by itself without driver, il
something less than three minutes, wa
the great attraction. A 'Reuben," &C
robats, jugglers and trick donkeys wer'
among the other features, this year.
For morality, this year, the Danbur,
fair did very well. II there were an
very bad side shows they were kept gu
of sight and did not annoy people
There is about everything for sale a
the fair and some af the best takers il
the country keep their tongues wagginl
from morning till night in quest of extr
sheckels out of the sightseers' pockets
A balloon that went up 100 feet or 3
with passengers was largely patronized
Danburv is famous because of it's fan
and the management can do no create
service for the City Of Hats than to g
govern it's affairs that as the years go b.
it may become more and more popular.