The Press., 1899-09-28

which contained aOO POUNDS OF powder
each were demolished and the engine
house was badly damaged. No one was
in the mills but there were two men In
the engine house, who were not hurt.
The Annual Fair.
Next Week Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday.
A successful fair is a peculiar institu-
ton and there are many features of such
an institution that are worthy of a little
attention. The Stafford Springs fair en-
joys the distinction of being what may
without undue egotism be called very
successful amusement agency. Year
after year has added to its prestige until
the Stafford fair has become q term that
brings visions to the mind of a kaleido.
scoptic collection of amusing and enter
tanning things of such various kinds that
you involuntarily smile when you think
Of it. The pumpkins do not grow more
yellow In Tollaud county than elsewhere,
and size and weight considered the cattle
raised hereabouts cannot draw a heavier
load on a stone boat than cattle raised in
Berkshire county, Massachusetts, in all
probability. The housewives of other
localities can probably make as good
bread and cake or put up as good pre-
serves as the good women of these Toll
land hills (they can't do it as well but we
will allow that they can for the sake of
argument).
Let US allow then that there are places
In New England where vegetables can be
raised, fancy work done, poultry and live
stock brought to high standard, as we'll
as In this section of Connecticut.
When it comes to having an agricultural
fair, however, we rise to remark that we
do not take second place for any associa-
ton In Massachusetts or Connecticut un-
less it be two or three cities In these two
states where they raise more population
to the acre than we do to the township.
Rockville journalists with a supercilious
sheer may say that we cater to the farm
ers and make other disparaging remarks
about the only fair that they pretend to
pattern after in that city, but II these
journalists will come over next week and
look over the cosmopolitan crowd that
will be present at the Tollaud county
farmers fair, they may get an idea as to
whether it pays to run an association of
this kind on broad and liberal lines.
The features that have pleased In the
past will be repeated this year, and the
best of the new attractions that money
can buy will be presented. The vaude-
vile program, always popular, lisa strong
one and we'll worth the price of admission
alone. The hall exhibits will be up to
usual standard.
Good purses for the trotting and rum
ming races will draw the velvet-coated,
mettlesome thoroughbreds In the track
events. There will be balloon ascensions
each day. The fakirs will be here in
force. and most people concede that the
fakirs, with their funny ways and abso-
lutte disregard for the moral law as well
as the statutes of the state, are a very
interesting part of the general hilarity
that prevails at fair time. All the folks
will be.there and that In itself is one of the
inducements. Friend will greet friend !;
family groups will walk around together
and visit and see things; sons and daugh-
tiers will take day off from their duties
in the cities or In other towns and will
meet their old associates at the fair
grounds. The social feature of this fair
is one of its strongest points. The fact
that everybody sees everybody else Is one
Of the reasons why everybody not ply
sically or financially disqualified gets to
the annual fair Of the Stafford Springs
agric ultural society.
One of the things that the society can.
not arrange for Is good weather. II the
three days should all be pleasant 1t ie
probable that the attendance will be q
record breaker. Other fairs have been
unfortunate in having rainy days, AND
this may have tendency to increase the
attendance at the local fair.
There was some complaint last year
over the depredations of pickpockets.
Arrangements have been made this year
SO that their work will be nipped In the
bud.
Present Indications show that the
poultry exhibit will be fully up to the
standard Of previous years.
Wednesday will be cattle show day al
usual.
The exhibitions Of art, fancy work, and
horticulture In the exhibition hall will be
fully as interesting as ever.
A fine display of agricultural nipple.
ments will be made.
Citizens band will furnish music each
day.
The Banner vegetable farm OF West
Stafford, E. o. Dimock manager, Is plan
ming to make large exhibit, including
over sixty varieties of vegetables.
Entries for the races closes this even-
ing. The classes will all be filed and
soma good trottiny NAV he Axnaoted