The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-11-08
THE STATE FAIR AND OTHER MATTERS

Well if you have you know how to be
sorry for me as I have one and as l
write the tears unbidden flow.
AS you all know the last week in
October is known as Fair week in Raj
eigh. Wednesday and Thursday are
considered the great days so everybody
goes, or at least it seems that they do,
when one ices the vast crowds on the
grounds 1t vas raining On Wednesday
morning and ''Od Sir failed to show
his face until about two in the after
noon. At that time many who had
waited impatlently for his ray g, left
for the grounds. l did not venture out
until Thursday morning; and oh how /
wished that our circle had chosen a
badge for the day. If they had I think
that in the multitude some of them
would have been seen by their Old
Auntie. AS we had no badge I expect
we passed and repassed each other
without knowing it. OF course l met
many old friends-some of whom I
had not seen in years. The exhibits
we're good and I saw much to interest
all classes.
Fakirs were numerous and those Of
US who were deceived into going by
the oft repeated assertions that this
Fair would be devoid of any immoral
mid way attractions found to our
utter astonishment that instead of
suppressing sucn shows by fordiding
them space the managers had encour
aged them to such an extent that al,
most the entire space on the right of
the walk from Floral Hall to the Grand
Stand was given them. Wheels of
fortune, fish ponds, fortune t~ellers, the
(gold) brass men and the living picture
women were all in evidence; in fact /
think this last Fair was just a little
more shocking than any that l aver
before attended, and in as much as /
have missed only two or three within
che last twenty years surely 1 know
something of the former conduct of
them.
Pick pockets seemed to be all over
the grounds, many persons went home
minus their pocket books, others WHO
carried their money In rolls, etc., found
their dresses or pockets cut and the
money gone. Ishall never forget the
expression depicted on the honest face
OF q young country man when he
missed his pocket book. We had just
succeed in pushing our way through
one OF those terrible crushing crowds
that you go often find il Impossible to
avoid when q tnrOng Of eager people
all IN q hurry to see every thing, when
he missed 1t. He did not realize that
mis- watch chain Too had been cut, but
this l saw aT a glance and when l
called his attention TO IL he seemed de-
lighted to find thai his watch was not
sken. They failed to get 1t but left
only q few links of the handsome chain
attached. | did not know him but l
# joIced with him, that it was no
worse.
The North Carolina car was on the
grounds, and l visited it. Every thing
vas beautifully arranged but I was
disappointed because l saw too plainly
the evidence OF our lack If s ate IN the
meagre display of her resources It
cast a gloom over my enthusiasm for I
had imagined that every thing had
been planned and Executed for the pro
motion of dear old North Cardinals
good name among the strangers who
view it IN other states. l felt a little
neart sick whRn / remembered that
they would know her only as the poor
little State that the a represents US
GO be. l do not believe that whlskey Is
our principal prO0ucG either, although
[ smelled 1t aE the door when | went
into the car, while l was IN it ana
when l came out.
Speaking of wh!skey reminds me
that 1 have eve seen as many drunk
en- men on the FAIR grounds as | saw
this year. A natural cons, qAeDce
many Of you would say could you nave
been with me and seen the side shows
ss | saw them: 5Clll the management
of this Fair claims hat it was all right
in every way. l am sorry for them
and their ideas OF right.
believe the ladies of North Carolina
have it in their power to right this
wrong. Were all who ATTENDED this
Fair to decide that they would not be
present next year or the year after in
fact never come again unless the kneoC
that all takirs were refused space and
that they would not be made witnesses
of the shamelessness Of those much
-.:.AoS ond o~oo0tjIU ha6eckad fnmalos