The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-15

ciety and their fellow citizens. and to
make pleasant and profitable TO all of
savannah's prospective guests and Wis
itorS the DAYS between Nov. s and Nov.
Is, when the fair will be in progress
Much has already been accomplished.
The grounds and buildings on Dale
avenue are rapidly approaching com
pletion. They are a credit to the man
agement of the fair and when the open
ing day comes the people of Savannah
and the thousands of visitors that day
will bring to the city win not be able
to withhold from the management the
testimony of their approval.
One thing there has been, in connec-
ton with the fair movement, that is
both regrettabIe and disheartening. 1t
is the lack of interest that many citi-
zens of Savannah have shown in II,
Notwithstanding the fact that the fair
viii bring them as great material BEN
efits as 1t will those who have given
it generous support, and every active
encouragement and assistance in their
power. 1t is the old story OF men con-
tent to sit in idleness and indifference
and profit by the labors of others, fear
full of contributing or. aiding in any
way any public enterprise, lest some
business competitor will spend less and
get more. 1t is fortunate for the good
of the city that these persons do not
constitute a more considerable element
of the population.
49,.
If these unwilling ones would play their
self selected parts in silence. AS they
feel it necessary, however, to justify
their own parsimony and their own
lack of patriotism and public spirit in
the eyes of others, they attempt to do
so by gloomy prophesies respecting the
fair, and by announcing from the
street corners that the enterprise was
doomed to failure from its inception.
They have given neither time, money
nor any other help to ii and they with
hold from it even the poor assistance
of a kindly word.
Fol those whose hearts are crystal
lized in such shape as this there is, of
course, no hope. There are many. how
ever, who have not been lend
ing a helping hand because they
have not been awakened to
their real responsibilities, whose
interest in and love for Savannah
would induce them to do better things
were they just once aroused from their
slumbers. Surely, for these latter,
this is the accepted time" The Fair
Association needs their money, their
active assistance and, more than ALL
their sympathy and encouragement 1t
should receive all these from every
public-spirited citizen of Savannah.
Under any, and all circumstances,
with their assistance or without it, the
fair is going to be a success-those who
have been actively behind the enter
prise from the first are not going to
permit any other result. There VIII be
visitors from all over Georgia. and from
adjoining states besides, and there will
be such races, exhibits and other at
fractions as will well repay those who
come to Savannah and induce them to
favor a repetition of the fair here in
1902. When these results have been
achieved the croakers and do-nothings
will enjoy no particular credit in the
COMMUNICATIVE as prophets or good
citizens. They must choose between
enjoying and being benefited by the re-
suits of the efforts of others and aid
ing in the work by which these results
will be achieved-and right now is the
tiToa 70 choose