The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-08-28
State Fair Association Offers a
 $500 Instrument,
GIRLS OVER 18 NOT ELIGIBLE
Conditions for Entering the competI- ton Given Tn FuII-SIeht Read ing, Technique and Finish VIII
 Be Considered-Tournament.

The Alabama Fair association will an- nounce in few days all the details of the contest for a splendid s6O0 piano. which will take place at the state fair in October. The purpose of this contest is to bring forward the musical talent among the young women of the state, and 1t will be open to every girl musician under IS years of age who resides in Alabama The prize will be won by the girl who proves to be the best musician in the Judgment of committee of judges who are all ex- pert musicians. Some of the judges will be women and others men. There will be several standard pianos from which a selection can De made by the winner. The plano will be given outright to the successful contestant, and the fair asso- ciation will pay the freight on the piano to the home of the winner at the close of the fair. It is believed that this contest will be one of the most striking and in- teresting of the state fair this year.
 The recitals from which the judges will form their decision will be made in the
 
 testants from all over the state will be invited to come to Birmingham on par ticular days, so that all the contestants will not be here at the same time. The fair association has decided to charge an entrance fee to the contest of $1 for girls under 15 and g for girls between 15 and IS. No others will be eligible, and each contestant will be required to bring let ter from her parents or guardian certify ing to her age.
 It is probable that the judges will re- quire certain degree of excellence in sight reading of new music, m technique and in style and finish in which the per- former is able to execute music that she already knows by heart. Giris who de- eide to compete for this magnificent prize will naturally practice hard from now until the fair opens. and the asso- ciation wants 1t thoroughly understood that absolute fairness will be shown to every contestant and that the winner will undoubtedly be the girl who is the most talented and skilled musician in the state.
 The lively demand for privileges and exhibition space in the buildings and on the grounds is proof positive or the inter- est that Is being aroused everywhere in the state fair.
 The Ladies' Aid Society of St. Mary's- on-the-H Highlands, with the Hillman hos pital committee, have secured the ex- elusive privilege of serving luncheon in the Woman's building. The committee of St. Mary's consists of Mrs. L. G. Wood son, Mrs. J. F. Graham, Mrs. Julian H. Bingham and Mrs. George Blinn, Jr. Mrs. J. w Bush and Mrs. T. H. Mol ton, and Mrs. John G. Murray represent the Hillman hospital, and 1t is understood that each of these societies will divide the time at the fair, St. Marys serving the first week, and the Hillman hospital the second week. They will fit up an ele- gant luncheon stand where the refresh ments served will be first class in every particular.
 It is practically settled that a great medieval tournament will be held on ladies' day at the fair. Dr. John Oliver, the champion of Mississippi, has already agreed to meet MT. c. H. Allen. the champion of Alabama, and number of OLHeT ellliito dIo cAPCCtco. htA VIII be a chance in this contest for some dark horse to come in and win a handsome prize, if there Is any one who thinks he can beat Captain Allen and Doctor Oliver at the rings. The contest will be conducted with all pomp and cere- mony suited to the occasion. and among the attractive features will be the crown ing of the queen of love and beauty which always arouses n lively interest wherever this part of the ceremony Is carried out Since the announcement was first made that a tournament might be held, the fair management learns that some expert horsemen have gone into training for the event. It is therefore among the possibilities that the champ ions of Mississippi and Alabama may have to meet some crack horseman of whose existence they are not now aware. Tn any case the tournament is sure to be one of the striking features of the fair, and one which will excite great | deal of interest throughout Alabama and Mississippi The horsemanship alone is worth going a long ways to see, and the costuming in the garb of antique knights lends an additional charm to the spect- acle.