Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-08-30
a DAY AT THE COUNTY FAIR
Some Choice Memories by a Former
Viroqua Girl

Right this way, only five cents to
the fair grounds This is the cry that
comes TO my ears as / drive 10 the
Main street of our county town. Right
this way, this bus goes to the fair
grounds, and father, mother. sister
and have all worked hard through
harvest so that we might have a day
off for the county fair, and this was TO
be the best fair in years. For Old Yer
non, Busy-B Bee, Queen Bess and Fire
fly would all be there, and all are mighty
fine horses on the rae track. Then too,
the base ball games would be worth the
money, and we are all in for a great
day.
AS you enter the grounds you will be
sure of hearty welcome from all sides,
then we meet here and there an old
friend who will want TO know all about
your neighbors, yourself and your crops,
and last but not least, our opinion of
this reciprocity with Canada, and if we
farmers are really better off by the act.
and after little talk about the weather
and the prices of grain we have spent
an hour or so in friendly way. Then
we will come to little row of tents
and stationed on the outside little SEN
tinels with arms out ready to grasp all
that may come within their reach, and
calling this way to 1.-THE greatest show
on earth; two nickles one dime will buy
you ticket; come one come all, ard
see the fat man, the Zulu chief, the
fire-eater and the wonder of wonders,
calf with two heads, all for two
nickles, one dime" While just across
the way little one-eyed man is telling
the eager crowd that they will have "a
free exhibition at this tent, come all
and see the greatest feat ever per-
formed by man. Then our Jolly candy
man viii stop the girls and boys as they
pass along and with his fine megaphone
he sings out in their ears, fresh warm
candy five cents a stick, cone boys and
buy sweets for the sweet. Then the
band strikes up and we ali rush for the
grand stand. Soon the races will begin
and when our city marshal on his hand
some and well-groomed pony is seen
coming around the track, we know that
everything must be cleared ready, for
Old Vernon and Busy-Bee or Queen
Bess and FREELY would soon be on the
track. After they have been called
back for dozen times or more Old
Vernon and Busy-Bee are off and the
races have begun. Then it is hurrah
for Old Vernon. | bet on Busy Bee, see
Old Vernon is coming in, cheer now,
they are neck to neck, shoulder to
shoulder; hurrah for Busy. Bee, hurrah
for Old Vernon" and in our great ex-
element we are waving our hands, also
parasoIs, and then we see Old Vernon
coming in ahead at last, and so it goes,
one and then the other, all day, until
the races are concluded.
While our fortune tellers, picture
shows and merry-go-rounds are all cal
ling out to us-''Just move along, right
this way for good square deal. Then
after visit to the cattle show we are
most ready to go home, for our money
is getting low, but we have had a great
| day and the woman folks were more
than pleased with the beautiful display
of patch and fancy work, not speaking
of the finest bread, pies, cakes and
jellies that would make ones mouth
water to look at. Soon Eve must take
our leave with promise to return for
better day tomorrow, and as we pass
on out through the gates we hear the
same old cry "this bus takes you to the
city, right this way to the city, only
five cents from the fair grounds And
we all go home with our hearts full
of love and gratitude for this golden
harvest and for this great privilege Of
meeting once year and enjoying with
one another the good things that we
have produced by our toll and labor.
MRS MARION E. McCLAIN.
! Minneapolis, August %.