The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-06
STATE FAIR
OPENING
Over 10000 Persons at
NarraganSett Park.
EXHIBITS ARE ELABORATE
Excellent Vaudeville Show an Som:
Novel Features.
EXHIBITS ARE ELABORATE
GOOD EVENTS ON THE TRACK.

The 18th annual Rhode Island State
Fair was formally opened yesterday
morning, in a blaze of glory. and, de-
spite the heat, the crowds began to ar
| rive at the grounds at the earliest
hours OF the morning. and car after
car reached Narragansett Park liter
ally loaded with people until late
! hour In the evening.
But not the cars alone brought the
| immense crowd. for vehicles OF every
description. from the two-seated God
dard buggy to the family farm wagon
came through the big gate. all carry
ing people, while of bicycles there was
| no end. Thus the crowd was swelled
and according to the records OF the
| turnstiles, which make no mistakes.
10000 persons visited the big fair yes
| terday.
There are several notable changes
which strike the visitor as soon as he
| or she enters the grounds, and one OF
| the most noticeable Is the absence OF
| the many catch-penny shows which
| have in former years occupied part
| OF the main avenue and most of the
space in the rear of the merchants dis
absence of the man-eating lions. the
| spotted boys, the two-headed women,
| and the bogus Turkish damsels who
I dance as they did on the Midway
| Plaisance at the Chicago Worlds
Fair. To a very large number of visit
| ors this change is most agreeable
one.
The management did not believe in
having so many of these show fakirs,
| and for this reason many applications
| for space were refused, and there Is
| much better and more interesting
class of attractions in their stead. OF
| course, the candy booths, pop corn
| stands, dining tents, and all kindred
| affairs are there. as usual, quite num-
ber being in the space which is enclos-
| ed by the trotting track, and this adds
much to the scene OF activity which
reigns In every part of the grounds.
IMPROVEMENTS AT THE PARK.
! All OF the puIiulnss on the grounus
have been repalred and neatly painteu.
| and the scene yesterday in the horticui-
! JuraI hall, the merchants ulspiay
buildings, the poultry building, the uog
| exhibit ana the new cattle sheds was d
most attractive one, put II Is even bet
| er today, tor now everything is In ITS
| proper place, ana a number OF new ex-
| nibits have arrived. The management
| estimates that there are fully QUO in
dIviuual exhibits at the far this year,
| and many OF these are OF sucn excel
lence that when the judges commence
their work or awarding premiums the
| task will be no easy one.
One feature this Year that is greatly
appreciated, especially by the women
| and children, is the public comfort
| tent, which Is quite near the entrance
of the grand stand building, and where
| those who are weary after hours of
1 -. G..A al.
with many conveniences that they de-
| sire. During the day this tent was well
filled and everybody spoke of the man
| agement's forethought in providing
such an institution, and President Per-
| kns was heartily congratulated upon
his most excellent idea so well carried
| out.
A DELIGHTFUL FEATURE.
Another new and very delightful
| feature is the art exhibit in which q
| number OF very valuable oil and water
| color paintings from the brushes of
such artists as l.. NJ. Bannster, Hugo
| Breul, Walter II. Brown, j.. G. Leavitt
| q. w. Whitaker, =. B. Burleigh, Miss
l.. l.. Pitman, f. G.. Mathewson, and a
number OF other painters of Rhode
Island are displayed. The collection,
| which is a loan one, was got together
| for the fair as the result of the efforts
of Messrs. Whitaker and Mathewson,
| and has proven to be one Of the lead
| ing features. ss..-
To the large mass of the people the
| enlarged new grand stand was indeed
! a surprise and the new opera folding
chairs were found to be a great im-
| provement over the old style seats
which have been there for so many
years. Yesterday this grand stand was
| literally packed with people all the af-
| ternoon, and view of 1t from the
judges stand. across the track, deco
rated as IL was with flags of all nations
except that of Spain-was, perhaps,
| one of the most animated ever seen at
| Narragansett Park.
Underneath the grand stand is the
new restaurant which is most fully
| equipped In every particular and also
| the special dining room for the use of
the members of the association. Lead
ing officials OF the fair. the several
{ judges. and members of the press. Di-
rectly opposite the grand stand. adj
Joining the fence around the track. Is
a new and spacious stage for the
vaudeville performance. which was
| certainly central attraction for n
very large number OF visitors.
THE VAUDEVILLE SHOW.
The vaudeville show. which is under
the direction OF the Veteran Ben
Dodge, assisted by several competent
persons. is furnished by n number OF
well known and clever people. includ-
ing the Nola family. trspcze act:
| Stewart and Gillen. comedy boxing:
| Silbor and Emerson Dutch comedy:
Mile. AMI. trapeze: the Ahearns. break
away ladder; Fred Herbert's trained
dogs: Mankichi and Sato. Japanese:
Couison Sisters. revolving globes: coll
| ored sinrers. dancers and cake walk
| ers: the Kramers. trick bicyclists: Rice
| and Elmer. comedy pymnasts: Everett
| trio. contortion and juggling: Decarno
comedy jugg'er: Issdorc. tho Russian
| giant and Uhnn the Greek athlete.
| wrestlers: the DeComae. high wire bi-
4 n.