The Washington times., 1912-08-28
POLITICIANS BUSY
ATROCKVuLE FAIR
Farmers and People From Many Cities Drawn by Horses
and Glamor of Gathering at County
Seat.

ROCKVILLE, MD, Aug. 2S-This Is
the week that Rockville celebrates.
Now that the forty-ninth annual fair
Of the Montgomery County Agrcul-
ture Society is In full swing, farmers and
others from the surrounding country
have laid aside their daily tasks and
focked to Rockville to take in" the
fair and enjoy an outing which they
have looked forward to for months.
The visitors also come in large numbers
from Washington, while the horse show
and racing have proved a sufficient at
traction to attract many from points In
Virginia and even more distant places.
Rockville for the present has laid
aside the somber appearance of the
small town and put on its gala attire
and everywhere the carnival spirit Is
in evidence.
Racing Main Event.
The horse show and racing are re-
garded as the main attractions, but
these are not by any means the only
features. The farmer Is given an OPP
portunity to see what his fellow agri-
culturist has been doing in the way of
big pumpkins, and other products of
the soil, while the live stock exhibits
are also a big drawing card.
And everywhere about the grounds
are the sideshows, the fakirs and con-
cessions of every description. Altogeth-
er there are more than fifty of them.
There Is no reason why the young
man who has brought his savings of the
last few months to back a favorite
pony, one on which he has inside in
[ formation, should lose his money. On
| the path leading to the grandstand are
| the fortune tellers and palmists.
Palmists Give Tips.
Step right in here" urges a large
blond with tattooed arms and the bright
! colored dress and gaudy jewelry of the
gypsy. Let me tell you whether you'll
| win anything today"
] And IL the young man passes on a
few steps he is halted once again, this
| time by a scientific palmist" who can
tell him what horses are going to win
And so on down the line. II he reaches
the grandstand without having his hand
read or his fortune told he is a wonder
Who could imagine a county fail
without the fakirs? The horses, the
cattle, the poultry. and the big pump
hns are supposed to be the real
motives that prompt the holding Of such
exhibitions, but 1t is the gay posters
and lights and paddle wheels and such
things that help to draw crowds With
out them the agriculture Implements
and live stock might find themselves ir
a rather deserted spot.
Rivalry among the farmers in Mont
gomery county is very keen. judging by
the way the various classes of exhibit.
were closely contested and the an
nouncements. of the prize winners
which will be made this afternoon, 1.
being awaited with interest
Politicians Busy.
Incidentally a county fair is a pretty
good place to talk politics, and all thu
big men of the county are in evidence
1t gives them an opportunity to see mos
of their constituents, and all day Ions
interested groups were scattered abou
the grounds earnestly discussing poll
tics.
Yes, ICY" Cummins was there, too
Towering above every one else on the
grounds. he kept busy shaking hand,
and making speeches. There is not &
man. woman, or child in. Montgomery