The age-herald., 1901-03-10

Ale FStlreu rom actlVe business, removed to his farm near Pittsfield Mass, where he conceived the idea of interesting the farmers of Berkshire county in holding an exposition of improved breeds of cat tie and superior products of the soil, for the purpose of proving what might be ac- complished by proper culture, and to compensate and reward exhibitors for their care and labor bestowed on their | specimens, prizes were to be awarded to the best As their popularity increased and. they became more numerous they embraced not only agricultural products, | but the superior specimens of fine arts, both ornamental and useful, working models of recent inventions, machinery in motion, improved chemical and me- chanical processes; with material result ing therefrom, and practical methods of generating and utilizing force. Hence the State and county fairs in the United States were for competitive exhibitions rather than general traffic.
 Notwithstanding the fact our fairs be- come so common that towns of as few as five hundred inhabitants hold them annually, there is and for a long time has been a serious objection to them by the merchants. Racing having become constituent of them 1t became neces- sary that they be held at some driving park usually beyond or barely within the city limits. The people being there attracted and detained, business in the city proper is practically suspended. The vendors and falirs on the grounds reap a harvest of coins while the mercantile class. who subscribe financially for their fair, get little in return.
 Birth of the Street FaIr.
 The business men demand something else. They demand fair like Beaucaire, in which the commercial interests are enhanced. To supply this long felt want street fairs were given in a few cities in Northern Indiana and Ohio, and they won favor with all people. They are a success socially and financially.
 By permission of the Mayor and com mon council the streets for certain dis tance were Diocked," vehicles of every description being prohibited on the pre- scribed limits. Each merchant is all lowed the space in front of his place of business for his exhibits. Those ngt wishing to participate, and those who have more space than required may per init the executive committee to sublet. Booths are erected in front of the stores for the displays. The merchants offer the farmer, etc., etc, and whatever ar ticle a merchant offers a premium for that article Is exhibited in front of his place of business. This is one of the principal features of the fair.
 
 tion of the fact that no successful fair of any kind can be given unless the farm CTS can be sufficiently interested in them to get them to exhibit the products of their farms Farmers making a speciality of anything expect to receive better price for 1t than an article of ordinary quality Therefore they must bring it before the public and show what they have for sale. No better course could be pursued than exhibition at a street fair.
 Each merchant endeavors to excel his neighbor in the beauty of his booth and this emulating spirit leads to gorgeous | Then there are countless attractions which afford amusement for everybody. | BandstandS are erected In the streets and there Is music day and night Large | stages are erected, where free open air ! night Everything on the streets. Ev- erything free.
 Fireworks, balloon ascensions, fight rope walking. trapeze performance, trick bicycle riding, acrobats, contortionists 1 jugglers, etc. Hence the term Street | Fair Is a radical one. It is not new creation. It is the fair of Beaucaire moderniZed.
 The Fair of 1900.
 The city of Birmingham gave it's first | Street Fair in 1900 and it was pronounced | the criterion It differed as widely from other street fairs as do street fairs from l the old county fairs. It was not copy of street fairs of other cities, but pre- | sented in every detail an originality which at once won the appreciation of | the people.
 A street in the business center of the | city was excluded of all vehicles and the | booths were erected in the street, thus presenting a miniature city within city | all dressed in holiday attire. In the nov
 ga .,.,ttN 1.< | booths strangely, beautifully displayed that artistic originality which strongly characterized the fair throughout. | The decorations were profuse and | gaudy, and the many colors f1utterine from all the buildings and booths shone | resplendent in the sunlight, while al night the illumernations were numerous and brilliant, the whole an intermingled | network of lights and colors
 The exhibits were far beyond the ex- l pectations of the most conservative. and | the quality of products brought in by the farmers was stupendous. Every | available space was utilized for the ex- hibitions, and much stuff had to be as- sorted so that the superior goods might | be shown advantageously.
 Midway Features.
 | Six small stages were erected, one or | each of the blocks of the fair proper | where continuous shows were held and | the performers selected for these stages | were such as could keep the crowds amused a half hour at time, thereby | entertaining them while they moved tc ! and fro on the streets sightseeing. But the crowning feature of the fair was the | large stage and It's show, which was z | high-class vaudeville entertainments ev- cry afternoon and evening. The stage was one of marvellous beauty, and tho | surrounding scenery Especially at night was such as could not have been DOT trayed by the most skillful artists I was erected on a street adjacent to tn, l fair proper and extended to within few feet of the sidewalks. Either side wal shaded by the thick spreading maplei in their rich foliage. which extended oi out the streets until they blended in tn, perspective and had much the appear ance of being the sides of huge cleo trical triangle, the base of which pre- sented a marble-like appearance unde the glaring electric lights and was al imposing sight. Here and there througl the foliage the background could b 4 seen, the lights gleaming in the window and from the verandas of the residences