St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-10-26
the Fair and thousands are visiting it

the Fair and thousands are visiting it
daily.
The Fair contains many unique and in
teresting features. As one enters the
main hall he feels as il he were in the
midst OF vast kaleidoscope, so bewild-
ering is the vista ofgay colors on every
side. At first he sees this only as a
whole, and it is not until he has sat
down in the balcony, and listened for
awhile to the sweet strains OF the Ger
mania orchestra, that things attain an
individuality in his sight. and then he
sees that the ceiling is hung with the ma
tional colors, the band-stand draped in
flags, and the booths below are in
bower of vines.
Soon he discovers that the platform
has become typical Japanese home,
with stream in the foreground, pink
lowered trees on either side shading the
house, at the left diminutive arched
bridge, while the snowy peak of a very
realistic Mt. Fujiyama is seen in the dis
tance. He might think he was gazing
on an immense Japanese screen, were it
not that the little people in the yard are
real. A mother and daughter are there
sewing or reading, while two dear little
roly-poiy children with bright eyes,
square-cut hair and gay gowns and
sashes, play with their toys, entirely OBJ
livious of the interested gaze of the
throng of spectators. One other men,
Der of the family you may see in Keiths
New Theatre, which is in another part
of the building, (if you are so fortunate
, as to get into the place which is crowded
from morning to night. He goes by
the name of Satsuma and performs the
most wonderful teats. This is a dread
full pun, fear, for it is in truth with his
feet that he performs his most marvellous
feats OF Juggling. There are other at
fractions in Keith's too, for some Of the
best talent from the down town theatre
is sent every day to perform at the Fair.
The popcorn man is in evidence with
bis appetizing wares, also the manufac-
turer of chocolate creams, molasses
kisses and other toothsome dainties.
Sweet cider is on tap at rustic booths,
and there are many other good things to
coax away the nickels and dimes.
Some articles which are exhibited are
the center of interested groups because
they are rare and old. l noticed espe-
cially an old spinnet, supposed to have
belonged at one time to Beethoven. 1t
is only four and one half octaves in
length and the pedal, which is out Of
sight when not in use u.s. operated with
the left hand. There is also an old Rem
ington Typewriter, OF the earliest pat.
tern made, bearing date OF 1874. 1t has
but one set of letters, few marks of pune
tuation, and has a tin cover to shut
down over the keyboard when the ma
chine is not in operation.
1t is very interesting to see yards o.
dainty colored ribbons in process o.
manufacture, also knitted undergar
ments, cotton cloth and rugs. 1t make:
one marvel that the mind of man coulc
conceive OF such perfection of mechanism
as enters into the manufacture Of oul
most common articles.
The Fair is pronounced to be the hes
one ever held. 1t is matter of great
value to the people to see the advance il
all lines of industry, sand it makes on
wonder what new features there can b
for the next three years to produce ant
the next Triennial Fair to exhibit.
Boston, Oct. 10, 1898.
: FIDELIA FISK.