The Press., 1901-10-10
THE BIG FAIR.
A Record Breaker for Attend
ance and Satisfied Patrons.

A Record Breaker for Attend
ance and Satisfied Patrons.
"Right away to the fair grounds" Is a
phrase with significance to Stafford peo-
pie. If Stafford man was in London
and somebody should say "Right away"
1t would probably lead the Connecticut
traveller to say or think "to the fair
grounds And with this familiar COM
bination of words In his mind a picture
would unfold itself from the maze of MEM
ory that would probably make him home
sick. He would think Of the busy little
town so far away, with its humming fac
tories and billy streets; of the gala week
of the year in early October, when the
only thing Of Importance Is the fair. He
would see the trains unloading the crowds
of people, with smiling faces, on their
way to the fair. He would think of the
scenes at the station when those whose
duties had called them elsewhere returned
to the home town for a brief interval
OF families reunited and the joy expressed
In the countenances of those brought to-
gether thus for few days each year. A
traveller far away, once resident of Stat
ford, would have no more vivid memories
than those of fair week. There are those
who have wandered SO far that they can
not get home for the annual event, but
there are many sons and daughters of the
old town who can and do get here. Long
may the custom be continued, as the
homecoming feature of the occasion Is
one of its most cheerful features. An
other feature which Is impressive Is the
extreme loyalty of the townspeople to the
fair. Manufacturers cheerfully shut down
their plants, business men close their
stores and everybody goes to the fair.
The people are proud of the reputation
that the town enjoys in this line and lend
their hearty support each year. The only
fairs that have excited any uneasiness To-
cally as competitors this year are the
Pan-American at Buffalo, and that other
International event, the Rockville show.
Neither have made any perceptible differ
ence locally.
The fair this year Is now past history.
Another success has been added to the
long list of successful events The wealth.
er proved propitious, and with good
weather crowd can be depended on.
The first day the weather was all that
could be desired, and the attendance was
about as usual on the first day-small.
The second day the weather was not
quite so good, but the people came In
swarms. They came from north, east
south and west, and brought the children.
A steady stream of humanity poured in
through the gates during the forenoon
until it seemed as If standing room would
be at a premium. The standing room
was not all utilized, but the big, new
grand stand was not nearly large enough
for those who were willing to pay 25 cents
to sit down. 1t Is said that that 700 tick.
cts were sold from Willimantic alone the
second day, and the special train for the
south which carried the bulk of the peo.
pie home In the evening was made of 81
cars and two engines. The railroad die
all in its power this year to cooperate
with the association, and should receive
the credit due. Many who would have
liked to come were unable to do so ir
towns without railroad facilities. Ir
Rockville, Wednesday, a. team could moi
be had for love nor money, and Thomp
isonville way they were offering $6 and 81
for any kind of a conveyance. 1t rained
little late In the afternoon of the second
day and poured In the evening, but Thurs
day, the last day, was fair and the attend
ance numbered nearly 5000. The Official
figures are not yet given out, but the
number of people on the grounds the sec
ond day was probably the largest in the
history of the society. 1t has been esti
mated as high as $1,000, but 5000 would
certainly be better guess.
The large attendance shows that good
thing Is appreciated. The policy of Civ.
ing the people something fof their money
brings reeults. A dollars worthl of en-.
tertainment for 35 cents finds plenty oil
buyers. No one thing about the fair is
more popular than the vaudeville card or
the platform, and the association spends
money literally in this department.: Opin
ions differ as to the excellence of the plat
form performance this year. Some think
1t was very good. and others say that II
was not up tosformer years. 1t certainl,
was we'll worth seeing: One Of the lead
ing numbers on the program was tn.
troupe of Japs: 1t Is astonishing how
expert these little yellow men become
The only thing about them that anywher,
near matches their ability is their gravity
A person is led to wonder II there woule
be any change In expression of counte
nance If pin was jabbed into one o
them. While all were artists In thei
business. the one who; walked up tn,
tight rope from the stage, at an angle o
about 45 degrees, excited the admiration
of the spectators. He would be yer.
handy man to, have In party of 'cool
hunters. The little Jap who was pu
through such lively course OF gymnas
tics by the feet Of an elder comrade mus
have a level head. The way he wa
whirled, tumbled and tossed In mid al