The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-21
EXIT COUNTY FAIR |
Crowded Into Oblivion by the
Street Fair.
WHICH HAS COME TO SAY
Oklahoma City VIII Hold One
In September.

Guthrie, o. T., Aug. 2o.-<special)-A
new profession has sprung Up and a new
form OF entertainment IS in force: or,
rather. an old profession has been revived
and an old form Of entertainment re-
suscitated In witness whereof:
Oklahoma City IS planning TO give
strset fair.
Whoever seeks by pencil or brush TO por-
tray what is picturesque in the town and
country life OF the middle west may find
new subjects for sketch and story In the
caravan OF strouing entertainers that
move from town 10 Town TO take part in
successive street fairs And in the novel
scenes presented by these fairs will o..
found more that IS worthy OF attention
Both are new and they are necessarily
contemporaneous, for the one depends up
on the other.
Whatever may be the causes for the
change. it is certainly true that through
out the west the tine-honored county fair
with its fat pumpkins. fat Pigs. tat pouI-
try and It's inevitable boss race Is
fast giving way 20 festival events OF
more enlivening character.
Ten years ago a street fair was yet
unheard OF. Now &c is a common occur
renee il the states. How the change
came about is not clear. II doubtless
had it's beginning n a general feeling %
dissatisfaction with the old-fashioned ax-
ricuItUral fair. Why should farmer go
70 the trouble and expense 70 ses small
samples OF the products OF his neighbors
farms that he saw daily n bulk7. The
first change was in the direction Of adding
special attractions az agricultural fairs,
and in a way THIS worked well. Financial
rfv-,s- -,-ffe IL -
rectLon, however. Such fairs as a rule are
not money making ventures for those who
conduct them.
But it is fairly apparent that the Md
way Plalsance Of the Wold's Fair. setting
an example that came under the observa-
ton OF ali classes, and a return OF pros
porous times, with a revival OF trade, have
conspired in the recent rapid development
of the tendency away from old methods
that has resulted in the street fair.
The street fair has for its foundation
the business enterprise Of merchants IN
the town who fill their streets for the
dIsplay-not for the saIe-of goods; then
hire entertainers 70 give free exhibitions
to draw the crowds. In several places
IN the north 1t has entirely superseded
the regular annual agricultural fair and
has become a fixture. Ordinarily the main
street OF the town is selected as the
place OF making d display so that each
leading merchant may have a booth IN
front Of his own store. The time select
cd for the fair IS as soon after harvest
as possible, the natural season for relax
alton and revelry.
As they are paid stipulated sums by the
managers OF the fair, the entertainers
have no responsibility except to see 10
it, so far as possible, that every one has
a good time. Any feat OF daring or exhi-
ition of skill that can be accoup lished
out OF doors to advantage is appropriate /
for a street fair, and it is a poor street
fair that has not at least one high-rope
walker and one daring areonaut." with
q balloon, a parachute, and a thrilling
leap 10 the earth. Then there are always
a few strolling musicians who wander
about the booths ana play or sing wher /
ever any seem ready 10 listen. Every I
thing is free and beyond criticism and in (
tended to put the beholders n a pleasant
frame Of mind The merchants in towns /
where street fairs have beer. held have
found that even after big harvest and
high price for his crops the ordinary far (
mer will part with his dollars in trade 7
a little more readily II something is at
hand 10 keep him il a broad grin or IN
a continual chuckle-
Does II pay II WOU4l seem 50 rom lQ7 Z
fact that all the towns that tried Il last
year are planning 10 do the same hits
year. and in nose cases on a larger scale. 1
Oklahoma City will Try its first expert I
ment this year. occupying the entire week
from October 10 to Is. inclusive.
The city council has granted the use
Of a space sixteen feet wide in the cen /
ter Of the business street On this space
viii be built a double row Of booths fac /
ing out toward the sidewalks All both (
space needed for agricultural. h0rticul- /
tural or art work will be furnished free (
No exhibitor OF such articles viii be re-
CURED 70 pay one cent. The public-splr- +
lied merchants are planning 70 spend up I
wards Of IS. 90 for attractions and decora- I.
cions. An elaborate program Of free en-
tertainments is now n preparation L
is the intention 20 have at least four con /
tinuous public shows. bicycle svoIutions. 4
merchants paTades. fireworks. band con- /
tests and many other forms OF free en- I
te-tainment-
The Frisco road promises 70 have trains
into the city over the Sa9ulpa extension 4
BY October 10. 50 that this fair VII ceie-
brate the entry OF the Frisco INFO the