Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-10-11
OUTSIDERS VIEW.
Highly Complimentary Comment on
Valley Fair.

Tl9HIy complimentary NOHIHSHt Oh
Valley Fair.
For years the Valley Fair at Brattle-
boro, VT, has occupied unique place
among the stellar fairs Of New Eng
land 1t has often been reported in
detail in the columns of this journal,
and it is gratifying to find that the
opinions expressed here are so fully
sustained by such an observing critic
as Frank G. Smith, an able starting
Judge who says in a late issue of The
Horse World:
"The Valley Fair at Brattleboro, VT,
the past week, is entitled to the blue
ribbon for New England eXpositions.
1t was a gorgeous affair, combining
agricultural exhibits OF the highest
grade, a dog show, chicken show, OK
team pulling contests, horse racing
galore; finest grades of imported
cattle. horses, sheep and swine, and a
coaching parade which surpassed any
| have ever seen either at Saratoga,
Newport, or any country club in
America. On the other hand, not
side show, gamester, fakir, or theatre
cal mortal of any description was
allowed on the ground except those
connected with the high-class enter
tainment provided by the Fair associa-
ton. The amount of money taken in
during the week was about $4,000
and fully $4,000 was paid out in
premiums Immediately. The idea of
the association is not to hoard money,
but to distribute cash promptly among
the blue ribbon agriculturalists, thus
advancing the farming industry of the
Green Mountain state.
Everybody appreciates this fact,
and such crowds at the Valley Fair!
The elite bellies and beaux from Bos
ton. the buxom lads and lasses from
the mountains. hills and sylvan dells
of picturesque Vermont assemble dur
ing fair time for a gala outing. The
new idea of fair combining the agri-
cultural industries of the municipality
with a Country club show originated
with Col. c. w. Hooker. ably assisted by
many wealthy gentlemen who have
summer homes among the Green
Mountains. Colonel Hooker personal
ly superintends and directs every de-
partment with military precision.
There is never a hitch in the proceed
ings-everything is Just lovely as
heard a Boston belle express 1t. The
coaching parade, over mile in length,
was a moving caravan of flowers and
bunting interspersed with civic socie-
ties, military company, Knights Tenn
plar, bands of music, tallyhos, beautiful
women and children galore. Truly 1t
was a gorgeous affair, and 10000 peo-
pie went wild in enthusiasm. 1t was
the great feature of a great fair: so
entirely different from the old-time
pumpkin shows, that the innovation
seemed like pleasant dream. An
other novel idea. different from other
fairs, was the ox-pulling contest.
ut took two days to decide the
championship among the score or
more of grandfather's teams. 1t was
a pleasant sight for young America,
fresh from the city, and carried the
older generations backward to boy
hood days in the woods. A huge pile
of stone in the inner field designated
the spot for the tests of strength. The
stones were each labeled with their
exact weight, and each team was given
a trial at pulling the largest load on a
stoneboat eight feet. The winning
pair of oxen pulled 5000 pounds of
dead weight of four and one-half
tons. Beat that If you can. From
start to finish the welkin of merriment
was ringing. Truly, there is but one
Valley Fair in America, and but one
| Col. G.. w. Hooker"