The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-13
WANTS ANNUAL FAIR
TO SUPERSEDE MARDI GRAs

MOplHSs Ala, AdrCn IL.
Editor, Pensacola Journal:
In October, 1887, l visited the Dali
las. Texas, fair In October, 1905, 1
visited the Atlanta fair In November,
1907, visited the Pensacola horse
show. l was very much IMPRESSED
with the creditable displays of both
the Dallas and Atlanta fairs. but my
Impressions of the Pensacola horse
show are more abiding than those /
gathered from either of the former. So
deeply was / impressed with what /
saw at the latter that only what
considered good and sufficient reasons
have suppressed an expression of my
views. Chief among those reasons
was the fact that Pensacola then was
too intent on prosecuting preparations
for its Mardi Gras carnival to be in
a receptive moodSfeE any suggestion
that was at variance with its matured
and adopted plans. Then, too, /
shrank from any utterance that was
not in, harmony with what had al
ready been undertaken.
These deterrent considerations be-
ing now removed, presume upon the
courtesy of your columns and the,
forbeardnce of your readers to the
and impressions Of Kupfrian's park
and the horse show to which 1 have
just referred. My first and most
prominent impression on entering the
park was of what boundless POSSIBLE
tiles were in easy reach of Pensacola,
If only. having eyes. it might per-
ceive the priceless advantages To its
material advancement and CONNER
'ciai expansion the conversion of those
attractive park grounds into fair
grounds would be-. My next impress
sion was how easily, almost without
an EFFORT, the handsome trophy hung
out by the Pensacola Journal was
captured Such a prize at either Of
the fairs to which reference has been
made would have been far more fierce
w sought, and the winner would have
had to do much more to secure it
My next impression was of the
number of lovers of fine horses. that
were assembled at even that modest
affair. Even little tots in pinafores
manifested the keenest interest in the
noblest of all dumb animals.
My fourth and most enduring i'm
preston was of the mistaken policy
of Pensacola in wasting its energies
upon an imitation of New Orleans in
stead of fostering an institution in
which it could as easily lead as 1t
now follows
If the money thrown away annually
on the Mardi Gras carnival Of Pensa
cola was applied to an annual fair
to be known, appreciated and lfber-
ally patroniZed by hundreds OF
stock owners, farmers, poultry-raisers,
horticulturists, florists, en-, who Snev-
er have attended a Pensacola Mard1
Gras and never will, its increase in
population ann prosperity would be
phenomenal There are many con-
yincing arguments in favor of an an
nual fair. If there is single one
in favor of Pensacola's Mardi Gras
carnival, l confess it has been im-I
possible for me to discover II or any
one who has discovered 1t.
Pensacoaa's manifest destiny is to !
lead-not TO follow. In the matter of
Mardi Gras, it can never hope to lead,
but must always foliow-not only |,
follow, but bring up the rear. Does |
some enthusiast doubt this statement ? |
Look at these figures of the season
just closed, giving the attendance:
New Orleans. $4,000 visitors; Mobile, |
IL .006; Pensacola, 1000
= Ny criticism is not intended to be /
consistently candid. Pensacola has
many men of means who love hnej
horses and would enter with zest in
to the inauguration of fair associa-
ton, and It could, in a few years, al i
val those splendid ones already, rel
ferred to, and lead the state in fairs;
but 10 rival New Orleans in a Mardi
Gras is as impossible as for the tur-f
bulens waters OF the mad Mississippi /