Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-09-05
THE STATE FAIR
Blossoms Out for Its Annual
Carnival at Lewiston.
Stalls Full, Exhibition Halls Crowded
and Managers Happy.
Splendid Programme Of Races aad Other
Attractions for Week.

Lewiston, Ne. Sept. 4.-(SpeciaD. -
If anyone has an idea the Maine State
Fair is to he one horse show he
ought to come here and have that idea
expelled from his mind. for it is not
a proper one to have under the exist
ing circumstances. The officers have
not been idle during the past year any
more than in years past, and they have
brought about a great show. They
are so divided that all the attention is
not directed to any one department.
1t is the fair where every thing from
the hooked rug, the large pumpkin to
the cattle and horses are seen.
1t would also seem by the slick ap-
pearance all about that the workmen
have not been idle either. Just walk
along the north side of the grounds
| between the track and the cattages
where the stables used TO be and you
| will see the changes that have been
made. Stroll down into Pompilly park
| to the green banks Of the Androscog-
| gin and there you win see still more
| changes.
The stabes have been taken down
and new ones erected over around the
east side near the fence. Where they
were has been levelled and there is
one large stretch of level land nicely
shaded by the pine trees. The fence
has been taken down and many acres
added, making the grounds for the
campers extend clear to the river
This makes a delightful place il one
wishes to stroll far from The madden
ing crowd. 1t will also provo the ideal
place for family picnic parties who are
at the fair for the day.
Then more changes will be noted over
by the cattle sheds Another shed has
been added over there by the three
new ones that We're built last year on
the latest approved plan, which allows
pople to walk along SO that he has a
chance to look the animals in the face.
Then all about the park paint and
WhitcWash and the carpenters ham
mer and saw have been used to a good
advantage. Everything looks as slick
as the State Capitol and grounds
So much for the changes. and now
for the attractions. Are there any?
Well. one would rather suggest there
are a few as he strolled about the
grounds. Really this years fair in Lew
iston cannot be compared with anything
previous, so the old attaches say. 1t
| is so large and so filed with attrac-
| tions that it will take a man long
\ time to go about ana see all. He will
not be lost in Il maze Of empty stalls.
| Instead, he will have to keep his eyes
| open to be sure and not go over the
same ground twice. Everything from
the hooked rug and art exhibit in City
| hall, the exhibits in Exhibition hall,
| the cattle show, to the horse races and
the performances in front Of the stage
, will call his attention, and as of Old,
| please him.
/ The cattle exhibit is something i'm
ncnse. They began arriving. last Sat
urday morning. and they have been
| coming ever since. 1t seems by the
great display Of oxen as though all
! those spoken of in the valuable book
| compiled by the State assessors We're
| here. Great rows of them. extending
| for hundreds Of feet are to be seen.
| There will be some grand old pulling
matches when the fair is well under
| way.
| The fancy herds are here there be-
| five times the field to compete against.
There is honor in winning the blue rib
bon at this fair. for it means many
| things and it is a sure sign the prize
I is we'll deserved In the list of exhibit
tors given in another column will be
! found the rames of many an old cxhib-
| itor and several new ones.
| The horses include some that have
| a =
have the best in the State entered in
| the races, and the entries for prizes
| also shows some as fancy ones as were
ever seen. 1t is said there never was
such a fine aggregation of horses
| shown here. and that is making a
broad statement. considering past ex-
| hibits.
| The poultry house is filed to over
! flowing In the sheep department
| there are many more than prepara-
tions We're made for. All those men
| from Arson and Starks and the sur
rounding towns are here with exhibits.
| Extra pens had to be erected for the
| surplus stock In the swine depart
| ment some of the prettiest, fattest.
cIeanest, dirtiest and fanciest sort of
growing pork will be found.
| This is the opening DAY anu cl course
| il does not count greatly. 1t is looked
| upon as more of a getting ready day.
| Yet there have been many hundreds
| If people and children on the sroupds.
II is what is known as Children's day,
all children under II years of age be
| ing admitted free of charge.
And in connection with the presence
of the children, it might be well to
! commend the moral tone of the big
show. There is nothing here that will
shock the sensibilitics of the most fas
tidious One can take his very best
| Girl all over the grounds ard nothing
with which the management nave any
thing to do. would cause the blush of
| offended modesty to rise to the cheek
of the fair damsel. The visitors might
saw or do things that might offend, but
thev had better watch, for Col. Henry
A. Wing, the Lewiston city marshal, is
around with a large squad of police
some of whom are mounted.
OF course there is Midway. Never
| .;roa the date of the Worlds Fair has