The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1897-10-01
Boston Food Fair.

The Exhibition Of Exhibitions. Many Spe-
cial Features of Unique Interest lind Edit
catiOnal Value. Mechanics Hall, Oct.
to Oct. 30, 1897.
In 1891. under the auspices of the Bos-
ton Retail Grocers' Association, was held
the tlrSt Food Fair i'll the history of New
England. Its success was SO great, it ap-
pea!ed so effectively to the growing inter
est IN food and food preparations, home
ana nome affairs, that three years later,
In 1894, it was repeated, with even greater
success The year 1897 and the month
october was then determined upon as the
date for the third triennial exposition,
and for many months the grOcers of Bos-
ton and vicinity have been planning for
this exposition. They selected for man
ayers the men holding the highest Offices
IN the Association, and gave them instruc-
lions to make this the most notable, in
every way, of any food exposition ever
held in this country. This the manage
ment have endeavored to do, and that
they haye succeeded no one can doubt
who reads the splendidly unique program
OF special attractions that add so much to
the individual efforts of the leading deal
ers in food products, all of whom will
make their artistic booths centers of in
terest and enjoyment.
a. f. Carpenter, general manager, is
the president of the association, and q
we'll known resident of Somerville, which
city he has served in the Massachusetts
house OF representatives, and in the board
OF alderman. He is now chairman of the
board of health of that municipality, and
has always taken deep interest in every
thing that pertains to health and the pu-
1lty and excellence of food supplies. +. l..
Browne, assistant manager, is vice presi-
dent OF the association. He conducts a
large grocery business in East Boston,
I'm iS q Of MolJ in III Nv
he is, at the present time, president of the
common council. j. II. Wright, secretary
and treasurer, has for years held that Of
flee in the Boston association, and has had
experience in the food fairs of 1891 and
1894. j. II, Brown, superintendent, is a
well-knOwn grocer at the West End, Bos-
ton, a: G. Dowse, press representative,
has held that position at every food fair
ever held in Boston, and is well-knOwn to
every newspaper man in New England
The exhibition committee is composed of
leading grOCers in "Greater Boston,
1t is an honest attempt on the part of
the men who sell the goods that enter in
to the food supply of the people, to edu-
cate them to knowledge of, and desire
to purchase, pure and palatable products.
The retail grocer is an honest believer in
pure food and would instil into the minds
of the consuming public a determination
to buy only that which is pure and nutri-
tiOuS, both as a matter of health and as a
pecuniary advantage, for the best is al
ways cheapest in the long run; he would
fasten this determination so tiXedly that
competitors cannot deceive
people into buying impure and inferior
articles simply because they are cheap.
AS so-this being the true desire of the
honest grocer-he calls the people to an
of that which is pure, that
which is nutritious, that which is whole
some and also to that which is neW-fOr
every year new food products or old pro
ducts newly combined, prepared and
blended, are being placed on the market,
Whatever of pecuniary benefit comes to
the association after the enormous eX-
penSeS of the fair are met will be added
to the exchange building fund, the gro
GERS hoping, at no distant day, to own
building that is all its own-a building
commensurate with their Importance as
tradesmen. But while this is looked for-
ward to as the ultimate outcome OF their
exposition efforts they do not forget their
to their brethren, and during
each year present to the families of de-
ceased members sums varying from 500
to 800 each. In these days of COMPETE
ton, small margins and non-paying con-
yclept "dead-beats," these dona-
tions are always acceptable and quite Of
ten much needed. These, then, are the
general and specific objects that induce
The busy grocers every three years, to give
their time and effort to the furtherance
Of food fairs.
mat the business OUTLOOK pfeSdSeS ldI
II and more satisfactory returns to the
merchant than for many
ears is evidenced by the list of firms that
AVE secured space in the Boston food
air for 1897 Never were the leaders in
he various lines of trade identified with
he production and sale of food products
nd household requisites so splendldly
epresented as they will be this year.
Wise in their Interpretation of the "signs
# the times,'' they have entered into
heir preparations for the fall trade with
more than usual enthuiasm, seeing in the
pportunities of this fair a specially adj
ambiguous opening for the INTRODUCTION
o the public of their lines of goods. Their
ooths will be elaborate, artistic and at
ractive, and the "free samples for the
lillion' will be more plenteously bestOw-
d than ever before.