The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-16
ORPHANS SAW THE FAIR.
Labor Days Turnout Not Large
One.

Labor Days Turnout Not a Large
Labor Day at the Fair did not prove
a very great success. There had been
no organized movement among the
laboring people to take advantage of
the day, and the fact that a day had
been announced in their honor was Of
no particular advantage to those who
could not get away from their work.
There was no shutting down of shops
or factories, but at the railroads men
who requested leave of absence for
the afternoon, We're allowed to go,
and smaller employers in many cases
let their men off for a half holiday.
This enabled many workingmen and
their families to take in the Fair, and
a pretty good crowd went out in the
afternoon, when the half rate went
into effect. These, with the other city
people and the out visitors,
brought the total paid admissions for
the day to almost 5000. The
bulk of these, however, were at the
reduced rate of admission.
The real feature of the day was the
appearance upon the scene of the girls
of the three female orphan asylums
as the guests of the Fair Association.
The girls of the Savannah Female
Orphan Asylum were the first to ar
rive, and We're soon followed by those
of st. Marys Home and a little later,
by those of the Episcopal Orphans
Home. Free transportation had been
furnished them by the street railway
company.
Secretary Shaw invested in badges
for the first delegation of orphans and
then succumbed when he saw the 9TH
er delegations arrive.
Mrs. P. F. Gleason was in charge
of the party from the ST. Mary's Home,
assisted by three of the Sisters, while
the matrons and teachers from the
other two institutions guided their re-
spective charges. Each party, as it
arrived. started on a tour of the sew
eral buildings, making the complete
circuit of the grounds, including the
poultry show and the cattle sheds. If
anything, the poultry display with it's
big chickens, ducks and turkeys, SEEM
ed to hold the attention of the Young
visitors more than anything else.
1t was decided that the races were
not of particular interest to orphan
girls. but that it would be all right for
them to see the Midway, or a portion
of 1t. Col. Gaskill promptly extended
a cordial invitation to the entire party
to enter the Midway grounds, and, re-
quested Secretary J. C. Shaw to take
them in hand and see that they saw
all the shows that it was proper for
them to see.
The orphans first saw the dog and
monkey show on the left and enjoyed it
hugely. Then they were all loaded on
the big merry go-round and for the
first time since the whirligig was es-
tablished on the grounds it was load
ed down to its full capacity with stand
ing room only, and even a portion of
that occupied. Every girl that could
get horse, mounted one, and the rest
took the gondolas and the lovers tubs.
and whatever else was available After
the merry go-round trip was finished,
the girls were taken into see the statue
turn to life, which made the little ones
open their eyes in astonishment. Then
they saw the wild animal show, and
Secretary Shaw told them that this
gave them the limit. 1t was time to go
home anyway, SO the whole party of
orphans boarded the cars and returned
to the city after having enjoyed day
quite out of the ordinary in the routine
of their existence.