Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1911-11-09
sUMMERcouRT (coRNwAID FAIR
Its Past Glories as Told by Tom Moreom
OF St. Dennis, in the West Briton
Advertiser, Sept. Is.

/
Believing that the many citizens OF
this city and vicinity who are natives
of Cornwall, England, or Whereabouts,
together with their descendants, will
enjoy reading Mr.. Morcom's writeup OF
prehistoric fairs the Cornishman $ de-
light the Tribune repubhshes it;
"0ur beloved county of Cornwall at
one time abounded in fairs. From
Land End to the lamar almost every
village and hamlet had its annual fair;
but the ruthless hand of time, and the
needs Of modern life, have borne most
of them away.
''There are, however, few relics left,
and among them is Summercourt Fair.
It's origin is buried in prehistoric days
and It's fashion may be has changed,
but its greatness and popularity are IN
diminished. The secret of its fascina-
ton cannot be easily explained, but
year by year it draws its thousands Of
patrons, the bulk Of whom would readily
admit that it was not the transaction of
business that brought them there.
There are people still living who have
not missed going to the ''o!d Fair Tor
fifty, sixty or even seventy years on
end, though it is probably true that
Distance lends enehantment to the
view. it is most interesting, and oft
times instructive, to learn Of their Fair
experiences of half century ago. 1t
has been my privilege to have chat
with one of these worthless, and per-
haps it will interest and amuse West
Rriton readers to hear about Summer
court Fair in the good old days.
HALF A CENTURY AGO
BLESS ee, he said, Fair time es
nothin like it used to be. Back-a-long
there was some sense in it, but now 'tes
like thing turned upside down. What
with th'owld bikes, motor caars, jersey
caars. rubber wheel traps, and wan
| thing and another ted'n like the Same
lplaace. Years agone my wumman wud
Wit a bit of matt, or bake thra or vower
pasties under turf fire, and we used
to start off airly in the mornin and
walk every slap of the way. From st.
Dinnis we used to go droo Trerice, up
awver Retew Hill, then stright out to
Penhais, and you was in Summercotrt
in wips-es-so. By that'ime you wud Dc
iist ready for flddy days pleasure.
Nov, you, people must be carried there
and list bout irapped pom salt IN The
middle of the Fair, and tc 'ook at some
of EN- they wud like to be whaeled from
wan shaw to another Afore had my
rumatics | wud be shamed to be seet
ridin' and rowin about like they d.
now. 'Zides what joyment es it. jis
lswishjn' awver the roads you caan
see or hear nawthin with nawthin. Blu
eff YOU 90 cross country like we used t
you can take your time and you get
chance to see what es goin on. Back
along people used to go to the Fair 10
their honeymoon spreay.
"Ded ee ever knaw thow'ld ia
Bradawl. he waas shoemaker, wher
| lived. back in they days? He used
make rail good shoes, and wud cobble
too. SO he alus went by the name
Jan Bradawl He was man when
was a boay so you must needs thin
ties many a year agone. Well, ia
had two daughters, Jemima and Bets
Ann, and they was boath goin' be ma
ried pon the same day. He was puri
proud bout ct, sure nuff, cos thu
maidens, doant ee see, was 'gittin VI
and they'd bin tryin' TO catch somebot
for purdy spur, and Jan had -four
out that twas a brayish costly job
- keep .em goin, for you must have mi
in din good gear to be ishin all the tim
Howsumever. ties all well that en-
). well. and Jemima and Betsy Ann b
1, picked up a brave man aieh, and VII
Jan found out that they was boa
syn poin' to be married pom the same ds
~ / ten &c, YOU, he was some plaised
" thought twas good scat Of BIN
10 see EN- hitchcd weth wan pair
a. chains, and weth wan cost. Twas
tied that the weddin' should be /
~ ~. Summercourt Fair Day tcos then Il
- cnd allus mind the date), they wud
~ ~ ct droo in bravish saison in the morr
- and arter hayin summin to ait
~ drink. they wud 20 to Fair for u
marriage spreay
OFF TO FAIR
ley' ,erhere was no SIGH fall-dee-raals
ieft qittin' round the country back in
ting DAYS. People moastly walked, or
'kes farmers wife was goin to market
car big basket Of butter she wud ha'
Q on boss and panyer and ride up top. j
naidens was willin' to walk to CHI
last and back, but they wanted to rid
{ the Fair Seemin to me, you, soon as
4ture they got married they wanted .
,rson 4 bjq shine. They wndden risk nav
ster- afore, but soon as they took the n
n the name. and got Mrs. tackled on,