The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1903-10-15
THE STAFFORD FAIR.

| day. AS Gner6 is quite lldGl0 10 Dt
one rainy day during the three, it is
remarkable that more people do not
go the first day when weather condi-
tions are favorable. The hall exhibits
are not complete until the second day,
but the vaudeville program is just the
same all three days, and there is u.s.
ually good racing. There are fewer
people in attendance and it is much
easier to get around and see the at
fractions. Wednesday was not an ideal
fair day, but the crowd was there.
The railroad trains from the north and
south were loaded, and the people
poured in from miles around in all
sorts of conveyances. In Palmer the
supply of tickets was exhausted and
many had to go to Monson to get sup
piled. By noon the grand stand was
full, and an animated throng of people
surged up and down the grounds.
Standing room was at a premium in
the exhibition halls, and there were
people everywhere. The grand stand
L
commodate those who wanted to get
on it the big day, 1t would have
been filled in all probability had it
been twice as large. While there was
big crowd the second day, there
would have been many more if the
weather had been more promising. 1t
rained in Southbridge and New Lon
don and other places at a distance, and
many were kept away. Thursday the
weather was again threatening, and it
was decided to postpone. Friday was
no more promising, and the program
was put over until Saturday, when the
weather seemed more favorable in the
forenoon. 1t started to rain soon after
noon, and it was very uncomfortable
for the attendants, of which there
were about 1000. The grand stand was
people got in out of the wet. The full
program was carried out, including
the racing. Owing to the rain the
trapeze act and the juggler did not go
on, and some of the other acts were
shortened The monkeys are very
susceptible to the cold and wet, and
it was not deemed advisable to bring
them out the last day. The track was
very heavy and slow time was made.
Saturdays weather was very unfavor-
able for everything but the seals.
These animals are quite cheerful when
it is damp. Speaking of the seals, it
is truly wonderful the way these un-
couth animals have been trained, and
the results that have been secured by
their education. 1t must have re-
quired lot of patience and persever-
ance TO have reached so near perfec-
ton in animal training. The exhibi-
tion of the seals alone was worth the
price of admission to the fair. Next
to the seals the Wormwood animal
circus has excited the most comment.
This aggregation included a large
number of monkeys, some we'll trained
dogs and two bears. There was a
that was worthy of mention in con-
nection with this attraction. He was
marked like horse, had the proper
gait and was a perfect representation.
Another dog, answering to the name
of Dewey is entitled to a compli-
mentary degree from the college where
he received his education. Tom
Browns trOubadours pleased many
with their songs and dances, and there
were a number of excellent minor acts.
Wednesday, the big day, there was
lively business all along the midway,
and Thursday this part of the big show
had a fairly good day, as there was
quite crowd ON the grounds, notwith-
standing the postponement. AS far as
can be learned there was nothing of
an Objectionable feature in the mid
way theatrical entertainment program,
although a pretty fair bluff was made
to catch those who were looking for
something in the line of immoral pro-
duction. There was a gratifying
scarcity of snake eaters and snake
charmers. The wild man captured in
the Philippines excited much SYM
pathy. 1t is hard job to be a wild
man, and there are not enough of them
to form a union and regulate the hours
and the pay. The merry -go-round did
a thriving business, and some of tile
more courageous tried the high swings.
The pickpockets and grafters were here
and no doubt did some business, but
no heavy loses are reported. The
public is gradually learning the diff
Guilty of beating a man at his own
game, although there are a few new
ones each year who are willing to try.
Going in ON the trolley from Palmer
to Springfield Wednesday evening a
pickpocket made an unsuccessful at
tempt to steal valuable scarf pin
from Peter Murray, the we'll known
dry goods merchant. This year there
was no balloon ascension. An at
tempt was made Wednesday, but the
balloon arrived late and it was impos-
sible to fill it before dark. The show
ing of hens and cattle was up to the
usual mark, as will be seen by the
list of premiums. There were fewer
entries in driving horses, single. and
matched pairs, than in former years.
This feature comes on the last day,
and the postponement evidently caused
the scarcity. There was a gratifying
showing of fruit and vegetables, con-
sidering the weather for the past sea-
son. In the hall devoted to fine art
and fancy work the gentler sex found
plenty to interest them. Fl. o. But
terfield had well equipped optical
booth, and w. M. Crawford showed a
fine collection of his fiavoring extracts.
The exhibition by the Banner stock