The record-union., 1898-09-05
OPENING DAY OF THE FAIR.
FIVE HARNESS RACES THIS
AFTERNOON.
Ane Pavilion Will Open Tonight
With a Brilliant and Varied
Display.

Hotel and restaurant proprietorS,
nackmen and others say it has been
years since so many State Fair Wis
1tors have put in an appearance so
early as on this occasion. The pres
ence of many strangers in the city
IN the last two days has been appar-
ent to all residents. but persons en-
gagged in the business of caring for
transient visitors are the best judges
as to the number. If the fair which
opens to-day does not prove a success
In point of attendance, then those
whose judgment is usually good in
such matters will be forced to admit
they had for once been sadly mis-
taken.
great transformation has been
wrought IN the appearance of the Pa
WHOM In the last twenty-four hours,
ana fair idea can now be had as to
"hat the exhibition will look like.
The doors will be opened tonight,
by which time most of the exhibits will
De completed. There may be some fin
1sh1ng touches to be put on tomorrow,
but as a whole the exhibition will be
practically completed by this evening.
And nobody will be disappointed at
the result. A fair estimate of the ex-
hibition can only be had by compari-
son with those of former years. and
all who visited the Pavilion yesterday
agreed that they had never seen it
present more inviting appearance
1t certainly never looked prettier than
1t will tonight, when all the electric
lights are turned on.
The arrangement of the exhibits
shows excellent taste and judgment
on the part of Superintendent Mat
1hews and his assistant, o. P. Dodge.
Secretary Smith, of course, always has
much to do with this as with every
other branch of the fair, and his long
experience in these matters enbales him
10 be of great aid to those having di-
rect charge of the work. The decora-
uons are brilliant and tasteful. and the
many departures made from previous
years in the assignment of space to
the various classes Of exhibits will be
q pleasing innovation to visitors
While the art display may not cover
quite as much territory this year as at
some former fairs, it will contain many
pictures of merit. The past year has
been dull one with the leading coast
artists, but Superintendent Stanton has
succeeded in making a fairly good COL
lection of paintings and other works
of art.
The platform or stage occupied by
the band in the west end of the main
nall has been greatly enlarged for the
purposes of the special entertainments
to be given nightly. A number of
speciality artists have been secured
and the singing and fancy dancing
will no doubt prove a very pleasant
feature. There will also be entertain
mentS given for the children in the
east upper gallery, similar to those of
last year.
The reduction in the price of single
admissions to the Pavilion from 80
to - cents should have the effect of
crowding that department of the fair
nightly from the very start. Hereto
fore many have put off visiting the
Pavilion until the latter part of the
first week or the beginning of the
second, on the plea that the admission
price was too high to warrant them
in attending the fair nightly But this
complaint Will no longer hold good,
and the Directors look for a greatly
increased attendance