The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-25
THE HUNGARIAN FAIR
BY BEN s. GROSS.

A farmer in Hungary has very little chance to visit the city more than ones or twice a year, and therefore, in order to give him chance to purchase his supplies for three or four months, the fair was established.
 By the word fair the reader may think 1t to be a time devoted to amuse- ment solely. However, this word n Hungary means an occasion when tents are lined up in rows for business, with the amusements as a side thing only. There are two kinds of fairs-the weekly and the quarterly The most interesting Is the quarterly.
 About 1 or o'clock in the morning wagons, loaded with goods from dis tant cities and villages, begin to arrive. They drive to the main street, which extends from one end of the village to the other, and establish themselves there. Large bonfires may be seen all along the street, with men standing around it, while the apprentices are un- loading the wagons. About dawn the work of unloading is finished and tn ell down the street as far as eyes can see, we beh old white tents.
 Soon the roads begin to rumble with the wagon wheels of the farmers who with their families are coming to the fair. With their arrival the eating tents are crowded, while the village tavern Is doing rushing business with the rustics, whose smoke fills thu place.
 It Is about 8 o'clock when the fair really begins. Now the streets arc crowded with the people of the sur rounding country, all dressed in tn cir Iac a1 nd in ok happy.
 At the northern end of the town. first we see the fowl market Here husky farmers are standing by their wagons, calling out their prices. The women are handling and lifting fowls of all kinds, all the while under bid ding them. It is essential to explain that in buying anything from a farmer or country merchant in Hungary. you must in all cases underbid his goods, for at first asking as high as $5, he'd be willing to take at last $1.50. Noth- ing can be seen here but chickens ducks and geese; nothing else can be heard but the chatter of voices of the men and women, intermingled by the cries of ducks and geese.
 Going a little further we next come to the vehicle market. Here we see all kinds of country wagons and buggies. They are painted red green, and yellow and standing in row these vehicles present a most beautiful sight. The farmers are hitching and unhitching their horses, trying to find a suitable wagon for tn cir use, while the sellers are busy running back and forth to prospective purchasers.
 After the vehicles comes the cattle and horse market In which we see innumer able cows sheep, goats and horses, all giving out sounds in their own way. Men are busy talking to each other, as they look over the health certificates of each others cattle, for in Hungary no one can sell a horse or COW without a certificate showing them to be healthy.
 Next we come upon the machinery, the tools, the earthenware, the glassware and several other minor markets.
 After passing these we come to the very center of the fair in the center of the village. The street here is overfowing with people, who are strolling to and fro. The tents are crowded with the farmers their wives and daughters, buy ing suits dresses, waists, shoes, jewelry and wearing apparel Here the village beauty, looked upon with envy by other girls, buys her perfumed water, and ribbon for her hair. On the corner is the chestnut man, and the blue smoke of his fire rises high in the air, while the nuts pop and crackle as he shakes the pan over the flames The confectionery stands are doing good business, selling their curiously decorated cakes and candies to the peasants. The eating tents are ple, and the odor of it's friend chicken,