Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-24
The Big Street Fair of Portsmouth
Lodge Of EIks Approved.
GREAT THING FOR CITY
Committees Appointed for Work in Detail
No Effort to be Spared to Mako IL tho
Grnndest Event in the History of tho
City-what the Press Says of the Fairs
Held in Other Cities-Brings Strangers
to Our Doors.

The Eks OF this city are hard at
work to make the coming street fair
worthy of the name of ElkS. Encour
agement is coming from every direction
and 1t has given those interested a
deeper enthusiasm and q. more deter
mined mind to make 1t n huge success.
Every man. woman and child in Ports
mouth is interested, because what re-
bounds to the good Of the city generally
benefits them. 1t will be grand affair
something never before equalled in
this section.
1.-THE COMMITTEES APPOINTED.
The following named IGlks will COM
pose the committees given below:
Executive and Entertainment Com
mittee-James w. Brown. Jr, George
y. Tabb. c. B. LASH N. Levy and H.
0. Pearson.
Advertising-Chas. T. Bland.
Finance, Ways and Means-F. Lind
say. c. S. Sherwood, VIM. Thompson
and p. ]. Lyons.
Parades-J. F. Pace, F. Wiersdorf and
w. II. Dolan.
Press-Hugh Steele.
Nlusic-R. w. Scott. John w. Sullivan
and G. b. Royal.
Public Speaking-John w. Happier
Illumination and Decorations-W. C.
Brooks. w. NJ. Riddck, H. II. White
and II. r. Riley
Transportation-A.T T. Wilson and II.
l.. Butter.
PriZes-C. w. Walker and H. e.
John w. Borum has been appointed
secretary to the Executive Committee
and additional committees. The first
named member of the respective COM
mittees is the chairman of said COM
mittec.
WHAT THE PRESS SAYS.
The following from the st. Louis Dis
patch. under date of September 18th,
1898. Is interesting:
THE Anish of the old-fashioned
County Fair-is- In sight AThe@Free
Street Fair is driving 1T out of business.
Although but few seasons old. 1t
has rapidly spread over Indiana, Ohio,
Iowa. Michigan and Illinois. approach
Ing st. Louis from several directions.
when asked the reasons for the
wonderful growth OF his hobby, Geo.
d. Benson. father of the street fair,
who is here as director of our fair,
says: The Free Street Fair idea first
received attention III the United States
some six years ago. 1t is really only n
modification of the old German 'Yahr
Marllt.' or year market, and has lost
nothing and gained much from being
transplanted to this hemisphere and
AmericaniZed
with only one small fair six years
ago. we have In that brief time climbed
the heights until this season there will
be upwards of three hundred held in
the various cities of the country.
THE reasons for this popularity are
manifold. The people are held day and
night at the door of the merchant. and
not out at some fair ground. perhaps
miles away. The entrance is free and
the attractions greater than at the
State fairs. The premiums on products.
stock. etc. are as large. and no fees
are charged for entering an exhibit.
The carnival features and spectacular
productions seem to strike IL popular
chord. and thousands come drawn only
by them.
'All these and many more are the
reasons that the Free State Fair and
Carnival combined has the unique re-
cord Of universal success"