The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-12

The State Fair opens next Thurs -% ' day +*<-<~-<<~~+*\<%< . Two days from this day Birmingham will be stirred by one of the most impor- tant events of the year-in one sense the most important-the opening of the Ala bama state fair.
 This immensely important occurrence will take place Thursday morning. October 15, and it will be the beginning of a period of the utmost consequence to this city and district.
 It means a great time for Birmingham and the multitudes of visitors who will flock to the city from all over Alabama and adjoining states-a time of extraor- dinary life and hustle and merriment, as well as a time of sober instruction in great material things on exhibition at the fair.
 Great Crowd.
 President Krebs and the fair manage ment confidently look for a great crowd within the gates on the opening day, for there is no reason to doubt that all the home people and people all along the railroad lines are looking forward with eager anticipation to the best state fair Alabama ever had
 By wise effort, intelligent and master ful energy, and the liberal expenditure of money many of the greatest attractions possible to be seen anywhere have been secured for the entertanmnt and instruc- tion of people in all the walks of life. }
 The regular United States army will be represented on the> opening day and on all days, forenoon and night, by the most highly trained of all of Uncle Sam's pro- fessional soldiers.
 Troop of the Seventh cavalry, full company. accompanied by the full regi- mental band of nearly thirty musicians, will give exhibition drills twice daily. These drills will take place in front of the grand stand, the second, or night exhi- bition taking place in flood of electric light so brilliant as to make the scene almost as light as broad sunshine. Greater Than Circus.
 There is the absolute proof of the high est military authority and the unerring evidence of photography that this trick drilling of the regular cavalry is unequal ed in any circus or wild west show ever seen.
 The amazing features of the drills the marvellous tricks of horsemanship-could not be adequately explained or described in columns of print. From the dancing of the cotillon on horseback to the mad dash of four hourses bearing four men dfro pd haa ri,,er txpo oil CT men standing on their shoulders, and in this formation leaping a hurdle with out a man turning a hair" there is a world of wonderful daring and inco.npar- able skill.
 All this drilling will be accomplished to the music of the regimental band, which is famous as one of the best bands in the entire American army and all will be executed for the pleasure of the people on the opening day and every day there- after as long as the fair is in progress, that is, from Thursday, October 15 til Saturday, October 24, both dates inclu- ded
 The Walthour Race.
 And, on the opening day, be it refnem- bered, will take place the exciting and thrilling race of Walthour, the champion bicyclist on a bicycle and the fastest ten running horses at the fair. the prize being one thousand dollars.
 Likewise for the opening day. spIer- did horse racing card has been arranged, many of the fastest horses in the south having been entered.
 And, every day of the fair, there will be as fine racing as ever seen in Alabama the purses aggregating a thousand dol lars daily.
 Eugene Fies, the noted horseman of Br- mingham, who is in charge of all racing arrangements, Is fully confident that the races will draw the largest crowds and give the greatest public satisfaction vet experienced in racing at state fair here, and MT. Fies confidence is shared in the fullest degree by President Krebs. who counts on the most attractive of all sport and entertainment to greatly swell the gate receipts.
 All the departments of the fair will he ready for the opening day, and they will be found fuller and better than ever fur- nishing forth the best of entertainment amusement and instruction in all tba forms of mans activity
 Beginning Monday, there will be a solid week of carnival-the best nidwav sbon, ever seen south. This form of the most de. lightful of entertainment by the renownad Robinson company, the very best and most famous of its high class in tbis country.