Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1906-08-17
THE COUNTRY FAIR.

Oh. the city life has its joys, no doubt,
Its steam-heated mansions and halls:
Its business deals and It's automobiles:
Its theatres, suppers and balls:
Its extravagant toys and its messenger boys;
Its buildings way upin the air:
But where is the street that can ever compete
With the old fashioned Country Fair?
Then It's hey hol
And It's won't you 60
And see what the Country Fair can show?
The Plymouth Rocks and the Leghorns, too:
The browsing shsep for all TO view;
The golden wheat, the yellow corn;
Tie ribbons that everywhere adom:
The monster hogs with the curly tails:
The Jersey COWS and the trimming pals;
The luscious pumpkins laid in rows:
And everything that the garden grows:
Themildeyed horses, patient, kind:
The irOlicsome colts that trot tehnd:
The apples, plums and smelly pears,
With all the fruits the orchard bears.
And boWls Of berries, black and red:
And then the band, with martial tread,
In silver braid and scarlet coats,
Playing as i to split their throats-
All. What's on earth that can compare
With the genuine old-iashioned Country Fair?
Oh, city life has It's bunco games,
And It's fortunes made while you wait;
Its irenzied finance and its baselessdance
Round the Goddess Of Gold and Hate;
Its green-goOds men and It's gamblers den;
Its CLEAN, and its glitter and glare;
But what does it know Of the glorious show
At the old-iashisned Country Fair?
Then it'shey ho
And it's won't you 20
And see what the Country Fair can show?
The plates Of biscuit; crisp and brown;
The finest rolls from every town:
And every conceivable kind Of cake
The same as your mother used TO make:
Fruit cake. pound cake, sponge cake, tarts,
Twisted and crimped and shaped in hearts;
Jelly cake, silver cake, gold cake, too;
Cakes OF every kind and hue,
OF every name and shape and size,
Thanked by half a thousand pies:
Sauces and catchups by the score:
Jams and preserves from door 10 door,
With quilts and couuterpanes, stitched an
sewed;
And tides and scaris by the wagon load:
While the judges with solemn portentous face,
Go strolling on from place to place,
And chat and smile and laugh and roar
At every pke-then eat some more
All! What's on earth that can compare
With the genuine old-fashoned Country Fair?
Oh, city life has its trolley cars;
Its policemen clad in blue;
It. electric lights and its dazzling sights;
Its church and its high-priced pew:
But there's many night when you lie awake
And think Of its trouble and care:
And ali! i you knew what was wisest for you
You'd go back to the Country Fair.
Then it's hey no.
And won't you 20
And see what the Country Fair can show?
For the horses race and they run their best:
And nobody ever wants to rest;
And You eat peanuts and pop corn balls:
And forget that the market rises and falls:
And you bring your lunch and sit in the shade:
And you watch the soldiers on parade;
And you pat your foot to the march Of the banc
And you meet your friends. and shake their hand
And you 20 way up in the big balloon
Til looks like you'll drop into heaven soon:
And the sun comes down all gold and red;
And the last good-nights have all been said;
And the crowd has dwindled to just a few;
And life seems so happy and sweet to YOU
All! there's nothing on earth that can compare
With the genuine old-fashioned Country FAIR