The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-24
:, .iDER THE WIRE
GOES STATE FAIR
Its BriIIiancy Has Not Been
ExceIIed.
A MERRY CROWD LINGERS
In Splendid Exhibits, Gorgeous Midway, Thou
sands Of People, General Satisfaction and
Happiness of All Kinds, il Broke
All Records.

It's not the beginning but the end of
the race that tells.
It's when the horse leads by nose
under the wire that the thousands yell
themselves hoarse.
And the speeding around the track is
glorious for as the bunch drifts apart and
favorite takes the lead with big money
on him then there is the excitement that
stirs the blood.
Great and speedy movers have been
the fairs of the past, but 1t Is the
present that concerns us, and greatest
of all this is the State Fair OF 1903 which
went under the wire with dash yester-
day, leading by many lengths the fairs Of
the past and winning its blue ribbon by
the voice of cheering thousands.
1t was sunshine favored race from
the tap of the bell to the wave of the
flag. 1t was race to success and glory
that will long be remembered. one that
has set the pace for the future fairs, and
one that tells that the people of North
Carolina know what 1T is to expect great
things, to be led to them as willing visit
tors and then to see these expectations
realized in the happy fruition OF Joyous
hopes flying its flag of success at the
very apex of the pyramid Of previous
years.
And this splendid race and glorious fin
ish are due to the able efforts of men
who have devoted time, attention and
money to the preparation for it.
Hon. j. A. Long, of Roxboro, president;
Mr.. Joseph E. Pogue of Raleigh, secre-
tary; Mr.. Claude B. benson, treasurer
and Col. Geo. l.. Morton, chief marshal,
| held the reins. backed by the influence
OF an enthusiastic executive committee,
and by the aide of the many big-hearted
and busy men, the talented and artistic
minded women who as the heads of tue
various departments left no detail neg
| lected, and by their efforts put the Fair
team of 1908 under the wire with
dash that won praise for its gallant
course and for its spirited end
The end of an event is not always
one that is to be regretted, but the end
of the State Fair this year makes one
wish that it was going on today again.
and that the splendid displays, the surg
| ing waves of humanity, the brilliant
colors. the pretty girls, the old friends
and the new, the merry Midway with its
madness of gayety, the dashing horses.
the perilous feats, the many shows, the
|
draughts of happy pleasures were still
in store for the thousands on top OF
thousands who have enjoyed this week.
The elements themselves have added
to the pleasure No better weather could
have been even dreamed of. and in its
autumn crispness its hint of winter, its
mellow sunshine, its cooling breezes IT
has won the bluest of blue ribbons, the
III Df fr1
fair weather, glorious fair weather, Tor
! the greatest of State Fairs.
The rain of last Saturday was as if or
dered for the occasion. 1t brought with
it the proper temperature, and it laid
the dust so that walking or riding the
visitor TO the State Fair had not thing
to complain of. No dust was there to
annoy, no mud puddles to avoid, but
''done to turn" was everything Tor
which the weather bureau could be held
in any way responsible, and after the
Fair came again the rain of last nighC
to make a new and. fresh Saturday.
LOOKING AT THE FAIR.
In the exhibition halls again yesterday
there were throngs, many new visitors
| having come to take the place of the
departed guests. The building was crowd
ed. and 'old timers" said it was record
breaking Friday. Till late in the after
noon the people were engaged in seeing
the sights and doing the Fair in all its
particulars. The many displays and ex-
hibits were again visited and the COM
pleteness of the Fair commented on.
The lunch and refreshment resorts
again did a rushing business and the edi-
bles found ready purchasers. 1t IS said
on all sides that no better preparation
in any year TO take care of hungry peo-
pie has been made. At many places on
the ground were lunch and fruit stanes,
these were increased by the elaborate
dining rooms in the main building, and
new dining hall just below the grand
stand was an added comfort
The vendors of trinkets cut prices yes
terday and the purchases were very heavy.
Many had put off buying souvenirs till
the last day and yesterday there was
harvest Of trade for all who had unique.
natty and tasteful things to offer for
sale.
THE BILTMORE EXHIBIT.
In Agricultural Hail there has been
during the week a most magnificent ex-
hibit from the Bltmore farm of Mr.. Geo.
w Vanderbilt. 1t was here in charge OF
Mr.. G. S. Arthur, who had it admirably
arranged, and who at all times was kept
busy in telling visitors Of the great crops
az Biltmore.
1t seemed that in this great exhibit M
turc had excelled itself and the list OF
the splendid display would equal that Of
an advertising catalogue. There We're
over one hundred and fifty varieties OF
different articles of the farm and garden
displayed, among these being fourteen
Continued on Fifth Page)