St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-10-01
MECHANICS FAIR.
First in Pour Years-Addresses by Pres
ident of Association and Others
Some of its Many Attractions.


Some of its Many Attractions.
(FrOm our Boston Correspondent
The first Mechanics Fair in four years
opened Monday, Sept. 81. The formal
opening took place at 80 p. M, when
addresses were made by the president OF
the Mechanics Association, Vim. N.
Young; also by Lieut.G Gov. Bates, Mayor
Collins, President Eliot of Harvard and
President Capen of Tufts,
The decoration OF Grand Hall is very
striking and effective. The color scheme
is worked out to great extent in shades
OF green. Around three sides of the hall,
above the galleries, are paintings, repre-
senting Then and now Side by side
are modern disappearing gun and an
old cannon, rotary snow plow, and an
old fashioned cane, an air ship and bal
loon, a windmill and a sun-motor, and
other things most suggestive of the i'm
provements of the age in which we live.
The entire front of the hall is occupied
by a representation OF Niagara Falls,
seventy feet wide and over rocks 20 feet
high, the water pours, pumped by ma
chinery in the basement, while laugh
ing, hurrying crowd surges through the
Gave of the winds" behind the water.
Above the falls one sees sky line and tree
tops, very effective addition to the
delusion.
In this hall are various booths display
ing their wares for sale or advertisement,
and an excellent band gives two concerts
daily in the balcony opposite the Falls.
In the second balcony is the exhibit of
the New England Photographers Asso-
citation and most artistic are the pictures.
Portraits arranged in imitation of old
masterpieces, poses quaint and original,
and Beautiful Landscapes are shown so
printed and mounted that it is
difficult to believe they are not the pro-
duct of some artists brush.
In the other hall one is greeted with
the usual jangle of pianos, and the odors
from popping corn. Several booths are
fitted up to represent different rooms in
a house, and most substantial and rest
full this furniture appears. On this floor,
too, are the exhibits of two of Bostons |
well known photographers, and one
feels inclined to arrange for sitting at |
once, such artistic "likenesses does one
see.
Three of the front rooms are arranged |
under the auspices of the Women's Edu- |
and Industrial Union, and |
much beautiful handiwork of women is |
shown. On the stage in Paul Revere
hall one may see an old-fashioned loom |
and splnning-wheel, and may watch
hem as they are in active operation. In
this room is also a display OF Porto
Rican drawn work, like dainty, flmv,
'obwebs In the second of this suite of
rooms is the exhibit of two vacation
schools, and of the Louisa M. Alcott
club, a society which helps little folk to
understand the mysteries OF good house
keeping.
A model OF the Columbus Avenue play.
ground holds central position, and is
lutte complete with its swings, ladders,
gardens and base ball grounds. A model |
arm is also very interesting when it is
Known that the children who constructed
t were never out of the city but once in
heir lives.
There are also specimens of Sloyd work.
On the ground floor Beautiful lin
Key" the trained horse, and his master,
give exhibitions and most wonderful are
he acts of the animal, and the training
~ the masters. This alone is well worth |
vice the price OF admission to the fair.
Here also the exhibits of the Southern
-ailway occupies large section, and the
various kinds of fruit, grain. valuable
stones and other products of the coun-
ries through which this line runs, are ar
'anged in most attractive manner.
In the basement is the exhibit Of modern
and many are realizing for the
lrst time the labor, skill and apparatus
which are employed in printing even the
most common pamphlet while there
are constant expressions of wonder and
admiration as the pages of illustrated
books appear from the presses.
A turbine wheel is at work at one side,
burning tank Of in such a realis
&c way that one instinctively puts forth
Ills hand to grasp the railing, and feels
1ecided sensation OF nausea stealing over
1lm. The schools for plumbing, masonry,
and engineering are in SEES
SION, also in the basement.
Under the grand hall one may see all
orts of vehicles, horse, steam and cleo
rlc power, also some invitingcanoes and
other water craft.
The best yet, the association claims
his Fair to be, and those who visit it
Will not disagree with their verdict.
F.F.
mara hOIICn 4 - a.