The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-09-14
THE "BLUE RIBBON FAIR"


Fall has come and the season of country
fairs is at hand.
1t is the custom for the country press
about this season of the year to boost its
home fairs and devote no little space to the
cause by way OF keeping the matter before
the people-to see that interest does not
grow ax-and the dates fresh in memory.
But is that necessary here in Bossier?
Bless your soul, no. Here in Bossier
we do things in the fair line. Our people
enthused at the very incipiency of the
movement for parish fairs in our State and
interest among the more thrifty and pros
porous class of resdents-the great ma
jority-has never waned. Yes, sir; that's
straight.
And the parish exhibits at the State Fair
have been our particular pride and true
reflections of a prosperous and contented
community What have we achieved in
this direction? Four first prizes and one
second prize as reward for the five ex-
hibts. Pretty good? Well, we should
smile-and you, too.
Ours have been, and all country fairs
should be, of inestimable value to COM
munity. They are great educators. On
account of them we mix more freely and
thus they help socially. In entering your
stock, your field, orchard and garden prod
ucts, or that of dairy, kitchen or sitting
room in competition with your neighbors
the spirit of friendly rivalry (and the rib
bon and purse) tends to prompt you to
have them better from year to year. What
you have all your life thought to be the
best is lined up in show with that from
some other corner of the parish and your
eyes are opened-your product is perhaps
in this instance only second best. All, yes |!
then yor squirm. But you resolve to ex-
hibit better product, and the next season
sees your mpetitor-perhaps the same
one-go down in defeat. You have learned
worked it out to more successful end.
Perhaps to many the most attractive side
of country fairs is in this friendly compe-
tition entered into between neighbors.
But as we see it a country fair is a paying
venture to the resident individual when
approached from any view. The mere
thought of mixing with so many friends
you have not seen before during the year
should win your presence. Yes, there is
the crowd, and the music; the races, the
ball games, the public speaking and cheer
ing, the full stock pens, the poultry ex-
hibt, the agricultural exhibit (here in
Bosser including almost everything tina,
will grow anywhere, except wooden nut
megs, and Judge Dawson is trying to gel
some of them to sprout) the exhixit of ag-
ricultural implements, etc.; the feminine
sideshow, with its spotlessly white gar.
ments, others pretty in colors, its ferns, its
pot plants and Towering cuttings, its
tempting cakes and sweets that will fairly
melt in ones mouth; the lowing, bleatine
herd, the cackling, scolding, quackine
fowl, the FESTIVE steed and rider, the side.
show and fakir, the big yellow pumpkin
the anxious candidate, the dear bewhis
kered ''peeple," a galaxy of happy schoo
children, pretty belle with beau, and tn,
sweet faced matrons, who run the Who'll,
shebang.
Yes, sir; parish fairs are great institu
tons. The Blue Ribbon Fair will be he'll,
in Plain Dealing on Tuesday, Wednesday
Thursday and Friday, October 18th, 18th
10Th and goth next, and we hope you'll al
meet there.