Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-03-08
The Butterfly Carnival.

Good Cheer Society, who have entered
with their usual enthusiasm and earnest
ness into the work of their annual fair
The fair was held in New Hall, the full
programme extending over Wednesday
Thursday and Friday, and was this yeal
called butterfly carnival"
The design indicated by the name was
very prettily carried out in the decora
tions. The several booths were built OF
white material, along the sides of the
hall, and adorned with hundreds OF
butterflies of various sizes and all colors.
A close examination of the butterflies
by those of an investigating turn of mind
revealed that each was made of clothes
pin and tissue paper. The general ef-
feet was very bright and attractive. 1t
did not have the delicate beauty of the
white and silver structure of last year,
but it is likely to be long before that Is
excelled or even equalled.
The various departments where goods
were offered for sale were food and ice
cream, aprons, fancy work, kitchen fur
nishings, children's grab, candy, art and
miscellaneous. In the northwest cor
ner was a booth where Russian tea and
cocoa were served free of charge to all
who came-though after you had drunk
your cocoa you were pleasantly if not in
sinuatingly reminded that the cups and
saucers were for sale as souvenirs to
any who desired them.
The children's grab was in the form OF
little brig with sails set. Down into
the depths of the hold went the custom
er's hand, and came back with what
ever it Glanced upon. The brig was a
very pretty piece of work.
Disposed about the hall at convenient
points were the various schemes in which
people were invited to test their skill in
estimating the length of a cord, or the
weight of a cake, or something OF the
kind, with a reward to the best guesser.
The results i'm these ventures are given
elsewhere.
Unpropitious weather the first of the
week was succeeded by beautiful,
mild afternoon when the carnival OPEN
ed on Wednesday, and the people flock
ed in and patronized literally the differ
ent booths and other departments, all
of which were well supplied. A still
larger crowd was present in the evening,
when the Young Peoples Orchestra fur
nished music at intervals.
A supper was served "Wednesday
evening in Grand Army Hall ut which a
large number sat down, it being neces-
sary to reset the tables.
Thursday evening little entertain
ment was given in connection with the
sale, comprising duets on violin and
piano by the Misses Dean, and songs by
Miss Susie Wheeler and Miss Jessie Toll
man. The several contests were also
closed and decided. The rain had made
the attendance small during the day,
but in the evening the hall was filled.
The tourmaline ring went to w. ID.
Higgins, whose guess on the buttons in
the bottle was PSI, the exact number it
contained.
A sofa pillow was awarded to Albert
ID. Park for the nearest guess to the
amount of money sealed in a glass jar.
The amount which it contained was
So. III, and Mr.. Parks guess was S23. ID.
The guess cake and the plank which
held it weighed IA pounds S ounces, and
was awarded to Harold I. Thayer,
whose guess was II pounds, ounces.
He Immediately presented it to the So
ciety, and it was sold at auction for ~
cents.
The marine view painted by Mrs. Bur-
bank went by direct popular vote to Mrs.
]. ]. Emeley, who received III votes
against 1O7 for Miss EaSson and % for
Mrs. Penfold.
The rooster brought by Mrs. Scott
from Freeport had grown into pair of
Blue Andalusian fowl, and James 5.
Wright had the lucky number which
carried them off.
The big doll was much admired and
coveted feature of the fair. 1t was
foupd when the several items of cost of
dressing the doll were added, that they
made total of S72S, and George w.
rockingham, having placed his name
opposite that sum, carried her nome In
triumph.
Perhaps the most interest was taken
in the contest which carried the barrel
of -four. Over the top of the drop cur
tain was a large sign board, on which
Butterfly Carnival was made with one
piece of rope. The guessing was on the
length of the rope in the sign, and II
was estimated all the way from 4o
feet or less to 100 or more, the guesses
being thickest between 80 and so feet
1t measured y feet 2 inches and small
fraction of an inch, and Charles NJ. lit
comb was the winner.
The quilt which was awarded to the
best cook, each cent spent at the fair en-
titling the purchaser to one vote, went
to Miss Anna Morse.
The carnival closed Friday evening
with the presentation of the three-act
drama, "Tompkins' Hired Man." by the
following cast:
Mr. Asa Tompkins, .------.-------A: Il. Holmes.
Dixey, the hired man, ..------ VIII Stanley.
John Remington, -..-----.--.H Harold T. Ihayer.
/ ouise Mrs. Nellie Andrews.
Jnlia Miss Iva McAr,lle.
Mrs Sarah Tompkins, Mrs Agnes Penfold.
"Tompkins' Hired Man. is drama
giving much opportunity for the por-
travail of strong individuality of charac-
ter. 1t has less of the comedy element
than most modern plays, pathos and
emotion rather predOminating. 1t is
unnecessary to make detailed mention OF
the several characters. There was not
weak spot in the cast, and the per-
Torrance betokened the most thorough
preparation and careful study of the
several roles. 1t was finished pro-
duction.
The Young Peoples orchestra furnish
ed music throughout the evening. After
the play Fred Hall sang "rm on the
Water Wagon Now" in black face to the
great pleasure of the audience, and the
evening closed with sketch entitled
1.-THE Way of the World" This was a
short but very funny original musical
skit, with the scene laid at Old Orchard
Beach, and portraying the experiences OF
man at the beach who divided his at
| tentions between two charmers. The
characters were:
Jonath IN Buckley, ----.------- George A. Brie gs
Bedelia Hopkins Agres l.. Penfoid.
Tessie Dumps, NirSle Il. "iisoh'
There was a crowed house.
Oliver q. Curtis.
Oliver G.. Curtis died at his home on
High Street, two miles and half from
South Paris village, last Monday after
noon, Feb. 30. The bladder and kidney
troubles which were the cause of death
first made surgical operation necessary
last summer, and he went into hospital
at Lewiston, where he remained for
several months. From the first he SEEM