The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-25
ALL NASSAU AT MACKAY FAIR
COUNTRY SIDE JOINS 400 IN
~ Filing HOSPITAL FUND.
II Was FIFTY Cents to Get In, but More to
Get out, with the mo Change" Rule in
Force-Oilie Belmont speedy n
northodox Bart Large

The fair which Mrs. Clarence H. Mackay
gave Yesterday at Harbor HILL the Mackay
b estate in Roslyn, for the benefit OF the
Nassau Hospital, will probably be the only
tcpi, Of conversation in most Of the homes
within radius Of twenty miles to-day,
for great part of the population of the
county was present.
The fair wasn't a society event by any
means, although many who are we'll up
In tho 400 took part in 1t. 1t was q demo-
cratic gathering, open to any one who could
produce ticket which had been sold for
q quarter or was willing to pay an admis-
sion fee Of so cents at the gate. Nassau
county seemed to be not only willing, but
anxious. to give up half dollars to mingle
with real society.
It was the first time that Harbor Hill
had been thrown open to the public, and
the local population decided that it was
AL opportunity not to he neglected. 50,
mingled with the crowds OF well dressed
smart people who came from New York
In trains and automobiles and the sum-
mer cottagers who drove over to Roslyn
with coaohmen and footmen were many
persons from the country round, dressed
in their Sunday-go-to-meetin' best and
resolved to see just exactly what kind Of
fair the wife OF q millionaire would pro-
vide
Mrs. Mackay announced some time ago
that she wished every one to come who
desired to. She wanted her fair to be
somew hat democratic, and she got her wish.
As to it's success from the standpoint of
the country visitors, opinions differed
The women declared that the fair was the
greatest show they had ever seen. Part
Of the 400" was on show, beautiful gowns
we're to be seen everywhere, and not a few
went away happy in the thought that they
had spoken to Mrs O. Fl. P. Belmont Mrs.
William r. Vanderbilt, Jr,, Miss Cynthia
Roche or others who figure in the Newport
dispatches.
The men, however, weren't SO enthu
siastic. There weren't any prize pumpkins
on view to be discussed no sideshows that
they could afford to see and mighty little
to interest them anyway. One Of them
summed up his views in one short sentence
as he turned the family buggy out OF the
Mackay lodge gate and started for home.
Said he:
The Mineola County Fair makes this
look like summer squash lined up b'side
prize pumpkin.
From every other standpoint the fair was
Il success, and the Nassau Hospital will be
richer by several thousand dollars. From
/ clock, when the lodge gates were thrown
open. until when the fair was over, crowd
fllled the spacious main floor OF the big
mansion and damned around the different
booths with a rush that might well he likened
10 Monday bargain sale
Every train that stopped at the Mineola
station hrppuh t 4 wn ~ i Of iSitOrS
in fact. that there were not rigs enough
by half to transport them q mile up the hill
10 the Mackay house. That was where
Johnnie Remsen. the village hveryIban,
made up for bad season business. Every
carriage he could produce was sent up the
hill loaded to the guards wi h passengers
who contributed rs cents apiece to Johnnie's
pocketbook
Johnnie has a biz, oldfashioned market
. wagon In that h set up soap boxes, laid
boards across them for seats and started II
Fon its first "trip loaded down with fashionaby
dressed women who didn't seem to NJ ind
how they reached the fair, so long as they
got there.
The farm wagon made many trips in tn"
afternoon and the sight of it proceeding
$4,000 automobiles and perfectly appointed
r,inabouts made people smile as they re-
membered Mrs. Meckay's wish that the fair
should he democratic.
The fair made lot OF money. One rule
which was risidlv enforced swelled the re-
coipts greatly. That rule was made known
wv signs, one of which was posted AT he
gate where admission tickets were boughr
The sign read NO Chang Given and the
unfortunate who offered two dollar bill
TO pay his way in iound that the admission
was 81
The exterior OF the mansion was decor
ated with red, viii and blue bunting. and
TO t he left of the big building in the Roman
Court a miniature outdoor theatre had
been constructed whsre al intervals sleigh
Inland artist made two hRndkerchiefs into
onN and caused diam ond rings to be found
inside red apples In secluded corners
fortune te'lers and phrenologist had little
booths.
In the rear Of the dwelling stood snail
basket cart. to which was hitched very
we'll behaved donkey. The cart, it was
said, was once used by the Present, Duchess hes
o. II. P. belmont. Mrs oliver Bell gave
the donkey to complete the outfit. The
donkey and cart were ratified of by Miss
Eleanor Jay and Miss Cynthia Roche, who
begged every one in sight to take chance:
and the Misses Jay and Roche did rush
ing business disposing OF them.
One OF the first persons to take chance
on the donkey was o. II. p, Belmont. The
moment he appeared and before the fair
had really, got started Miss jay made
"Oh, Mr., Belpont,- she said, won't you
please take a chance on the Donkey
Being good Democrat, l will he
answered, and the rattle book started with
a $40 donation Mr. Belmont then literally
took his coat of and went to work. Not
far from the scene Of the donkey raffie
vas booth on which were large number
Of glasses. two big punchbowls, one filed
With lemonade and one with elaret cup,
and several bottles filed with various
liquors cherries and olives. The sign |
above the booth said that lemonade and |
claret cup were SO cents, and pretty soon
Mr.. Belmont and former Stete Senator
Cocks, each clad in white duck coats, APP
pcared behind the counter.
A moment later a man leaned against
the tar and asked for a dry one without
an olive, Mr. Belmont appealed to Senator |
Cocks
Il h ,ugh' ,h.y we're going to have hem |
ell prepared end b,ctled,' said h. but
don I find EN-
- Bottled no. hing, answered the Senator.
Here's ths stuff. We're 20 pake EN-.
Mr. Belmont looked as II ned like to
omit his job then and there, but he didn't.
n" grabbed shaker, poured some things
INTO it, sGuirted in dashes Of something
else shook the mixture up well and poured
It out,