The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-14

Following is a letter addressed
to MIR. X. w. spulman, director
OF live stock, Virginia State Fair.
Richmond, Va, from Mr. III.
Armstrong. reporter Of the Rural
New Yorker, \. Y, dated Octo-
Der IS, 1911:
After having visited sixty-eight
fairs the past season. mostly ill
New York and the New England
states, l say without any counter
felt Of feeling, that the Rich
mond, Va, Fair, not only In point
Of magnitude. variety and excel
lence OF It's displays, but In every
way, stands prc-cminenty above
them all.
This clearly indicates that the
Old Dominion, along with the
other cotton growing States, 10
coming back into its own.
Wonderfully rich i'm Its agri-
cultural resources, to say moth
ing OF its timber and mineral
wealth, with climatic conditions
TO which no other section is COM
parable, Virginia offers to-day the
most inviting iii the world to the
man who wants to CHOOSE some
blooming spot Of beauty. some fair
lot and plant u home"
tSigned) III. ARMSTRONG.
To- day is getaway day at the State
Fair. The last race will be run and
the last winner announced, The last
aeroplane flight and the last balloon
ascension will be made. Seweil and
Tanning will drop for the last time
from aloft in their parachutes. The
ballyhoo at the side shows will de-
liver his last bark. the Midway will
become a deserted village. even as
sweet Auburn. loveliest village Of the
plain and simple poem. Tho cattle
will depart and the farm exhibits, ma
chinery and fruits of husbandry. GO
where no one but the owners listeth.
When the day ends the State Fair will
end. will pass into State Fair history
as the biggest best and most prof1ta-
Bile to exhibitors and members of tho
association ever held.
Already Manager Mark LLOYD Is
making plans for next wear Manager
Lloyd begins TO make these plans on
the second day of the current Fair.
The second day shows him where im-
provement might he made. and MIR.
Lloyd takes Captain Cuttle's advice
and proceeds to make a note OF II.
In the opinion of many II would
be impossible to improve on the Fair
this year. but Manager Lloyd is one
who Is never satisfied He has not
said so. but 1t Is likely that the next
State Fair win likewise be a Farmers
State convention, where the farmers
win meet. listen to authorities on
farming and get the last word in mod
ern methods In agriculture and sea
the latest things In farm labor saw
ing devices.
State Fair Progress.
The Virginia State Fair each year
has progressed in this direction. II
has got beyond the stage or providing
merely entertainment for visitors with
the hope Of earning large dividends.
It does not belong to that class of
State OF county fairs where sharpers
congregate and shows of a shady ma
ture are supplied. not to mention
gambling layouts and the making Of
books on the races.
The Virginia State Fair gives the
farmer something better than a head
ache and 1t IL not the fault of thu
association Ii he does not take away
with him. as Mr.. Davis says. some
thing more than woody dog. burn
ing throat and a vision OF lady in
lavender tights doing flying trapeze
act And as Manager Mark Lloyd says
next year things will he even better.
H even talks of having a new en-
trance to the grounds so that folks
will not be obliged TO climb the breath
taking stairs to the bridge over the
railroad tracks. He even declares that
next year only newspaper men ana
their guests will be allowed to sit In
the press boxes, but this Is q mates
almost beyond belief
Last Night Of Pompeii.
But to-day tho big fair comes to an
end. The fireworks this evening viii
celebrate the last niSht OF Pompeit.
which IL altogether too bad. The last
days or. rather. nights OF Pompeii y
u great spectacle. II has N ordinary
fourth OF July bunch Of dreworkn look
ing like . squegee. II haa nj kind
OF stars about II. but the br1Eh4 PR
ticular star IL ono newer nsan, He n
the smoke man" who Mln&ee - W.
suvius bsich fourth 1ntAg 1naSx ~
and hot ashes along MN = neal "
auusn11n IhAs ~ snevn4
MA SSsSri1S ~ H. ITs1s 7%