The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-29

ExHs%&SSS>taeseSS7tSt7e sstss'sSsSe7sTed
 To a crowd numbering thousands. a majority of whom were visitors, Mont gomery's Free Fall Festival was formally opened yesterday by the Street Fair As sociation.
 Brilliantly decorated streets and gay booths greeted the visitors. The blasts of tin horns blended with shouts of vendors: men, women and children thronged the sidewalks, to be pelted with clouds of colored confetti; brass bands made music for the march of myriad feet and the sunshine of Indian summer lay over all like a blissful benediction.
 It was circus day, too, and that along with the opening of the great Festival. brought thousands of people to the city. They came early and continued to come until the streets were jammed with an army of people, all in good humor, all prepared to enjoy the day and help along the undertaking.
 This is the third entertainment given by the Montgomery Street Fair Association, and although this year 1t Is not called a Street Fair, and is not on so elaborate a scale as heretofore, it is along the same lines and the same order.
 On the Square and Dexter Avenue there are many paid booths, lunch stands and show tents and that part of the Fair dis trict will present an appearance very much as 1t did during the week last year.
 Purple and gold are the colors of the Association and they were to be seen in flags, streamers and banners in every direction. The big sign of welcome strung across the intersection of Con- eYfpu6ad the greeting of the city to the visitors and made them feel at home. 4 During the afternoon many Of the people went to the circus and this gave all the departments an opportunity to put l on the finishing touches all of which was done. Everything was in feadffaess for | the formal opening ceremonies which | took place at o'clock on the Square. As the hour approached for the begin ming of the free shows, 1t was found that the lights had not been arranged and the stands were not ready in other ways and they had to be called off. There was | much disappointment on the part of many who were in the city and on the streets | for the purpose of seeing these shows, but | 1t could not be helped and they are as- sured that they will be given on time promptly today and tonight. All the peo- pie who are to exhibit in the free shows | were on hand and it was no fault of | theirs that they did not give their exhi- l bitions as usual last night. At the meeting of the Street Fair Directors last night all drivers of vehicles were especially requested to keep out | of the Street Fair District after 1 o'clock D. m. and the police was also asked to see that none are admitted after that I hour. The notice having been given every one can so arrange the traffic inside the district so as to have none of 1t to l do in the afternoon this week. In sreaking of the success Of the open 1 ing day yesterday, President Alex Rice | said:
 There were twice as many people here yesterday, the first day of the Fair, as there were last year on the same day. The circus. It is true brought a great many people, but they were here and having come, many of them will stay and all of them will come back during the | week.
 T think the Festical opens under the most promising prospects and we are all delighted"
 MT. L. L. Gilbert, the general manager, | said of the Festival opening day: Sunshine, laughter and song, as Bob Taylor would say, opened the Free Fall | Festival yesterday. No more suspicious combination of weather and people could | have been arranged The trains were loaded from engine tank 10 the last | coach and the jolly crowds soon dis | persed over the fair district to view the sights prepared on every corner. For the the opening day there was an unusually large attendance and all were delighted with what had been prepared. It is a | splendid success"
 Opening Ceremonies. The formal opening of the Free Fall Festival for 1901 took place at the grand stand. on Court Square, which had been arranged for the purpose, and as the time approached the crowd gathered there.
 | rectorS and the members of the press | took their seats on the platform the blazing lights illuminated the beautiful | sign just in front at the head on Com. | come" was extended to all.
 | The hour of o'clock was heralded by the blowing of steam whistles and the footing of horns from all parts of the city. The brilliantly varied coloreC lights strung across Dexter Avenue from the Fountain 0n Court Square to tn, postofice were turned on and with tho firing of bombs the ceremonies were be
 Mayor Joseph advanced to the front oi the main platform on Court Square anC | addressing President Rice and Board oi | Directors said 1t had been his intention
 to turn over the city to him but 1t seem ed that they had already taken posses
 sion of 1t. He delivered the Keys t'
 
 week might be a happy and Joyous one.
 To this President Rice responded'
 The Hon. Mayor.
 'In the name of our Street Fair As
 sociation. its officers and members. l de
 sire to extend our thanks for the Key conveying to us the freedom Of the city
 We are indeed under many obligations to you and our city fathers for the cour
 tesies and favors wou have extended, anC
 also the confidence you have placed in us
 T promise you. in behalf of our asso
 ciation, that none of these privileges
 shall be abused, and we hope at the clos
 of our Fall Festival to be able to return
 the city in as good a condition as WI
 now receive it.
 T declare our Fall Festival open; le
 joy reign supreme"
 Festival Illumination.
 The principal feature of the Festiva
 last night was the gorgeous illumination
 of the streets
 Festoons of red. white and blue mean
 descent bulbs swung across the street: