El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-12-07
SCHOOL FAIR
MOVEMENT
SPREADS
Displays by Children Draw
Thousands to County Seat
Towns.
BECOMING POPULAR
IN SOUTHERN STATES
D Frederic ]. Haskin.

state, the congressmen and other prom
lent officials who are glad 10 take
their places as members of the COM
mittee to award the numerous prizes.
It becomes important enough TO receive
the attention Of all classes OF citizens
The school fair is almost entirely
confined to rural localities and at pres
enI the movement seems to be stronger
IN the southern states, where II orig
mated than in any other section, al
tnough IN the middle west the IDEA IS
becoming popular and some of the fairs
have been very successful
A Virginia School Fair.
In one OF the historic towns Of Nir-
ginia the county school fair this year
was acknowledged to have been the
most important event ever held in that
town and the entire state was thor
oughly interested Thousands Of school
children from schools in every district
were assembled in the county seat to
take their parts in the program. While
1t was prominently a fair for children,
there was not a parent in the whole
country who was not interested and
who did not make an endeavor to see
at least part of the exercises.
Prizes for EOung Farmers.
Hundreds Of prizes were awarded In
the courthouse were arranged eXhlblts
of the children's work which were IN
deed q revelation to most Of the Wis
itors. There were rows and rows OF
perfect ears of corn, each bearing the
name OF some young agI1cultur1st VINO,
through the influence OF the corn club
established in his school, had become
ambitious to produce the finest, largest
ear grown IN the state one OF the
prizes given in the corn contest was
trip and generous expense allowance
10 attend the agricultural fair IN an
adjoining state. This was given by an
old farmer whose enthusiasm over the
quality a. corn produced by school boys
seemed absolutely bOundless-
Next to corn, the potato seemed most
In favor, and prizes were given Tor the
largest single potato the bushel con-
aaann 1saesE M
toes, and for fine specimens Of certain
designated varieties All kinds Of veg
etables were also exhibited as the pro-
duets of the school gardens or OF gar
dens made by children in their own
homes as the result OF the instruction
received at school Girls as well as
boyr participated IN the contests Tor
gar zen products, and numerous photo
graphs were shown OF the actual gar
den patches with the children at Work
upon them A number Of girls espe-
their tomato patches and some of the
pictures, showing the active little
maidens surrounded BY Tr1I Iaden
plants trained up against stakes almost
as tall as themselves, were arusuc
enough to win admiration anywhere.
But grain and garden produce com
prise but small part OF the scnoo4
fair exhibits. The activities Of the lit
tie folks cover a wider range each year
and the introduction of manual train
ing into the public schools, which some
sistently, is now an unquesuoned sue
cess. The boys exhibited neatly made
garden tools OF all kinds Horse shoes
made by these youngsters were also IN
evidence In addition there were nu-
merous pieces Of furniture, some OF
them sufficiently high grade 70 DO
credit TO a first class furniture Iacto-
~. There were also a number or IN
genious household conYeniences, some
of which, IL was declared, were wei
worthy Of being patented
Girls Display HaRdivOrk-
For the girls there were exhibits for
skilled work in every class of home
craft There were rows OF tumDiers OF
clear. delicious looking jelly, jars of
perfectly canned fruit and appeuziIs
pickles In many instances the fruit
was picked by the yonug girl herseI
before 1t was canned and IN the TO-
nato canning clubs, which have be-
come q s popular with the girls in many
commanities as have the corn clubs
with the boys, it IS usually understood
that the tomatoes canned by the girls
are the products of their own gardens.
Cookery and baking products OF all
kinds delicious looking fried chicken.
bea 1tifuIly Drowned roast chicken,
baked ham cooked IN cider after the
good old southern recipes, bread ngnt
rolls the old fashioned beaten biscuit
and corn pone, tender, juicy pies and
delicious looking cakes and other dam
- Prizes for Darning.
Besides these perishable proouets
there are shown at these IalrS arucleS
of needIeWOrk Of all kinds. There IS
1sce Embroidery and fancy work of
endless variety, but the useful work IS
not overlooked either. At many or the
fairs prizes are given Ior the ne2tesl
darned stocking. for the best LOOKING
match placed upon worn garment, Tor
neat darns in both wooden and cotton
fabrics as wen as for the manufacture
of new garments of all kinds
In Kentucky, where, according TO a
recent report, the county school fair
has become quite the thing, an eIIorJ
is being made IN many OF the mountain
regions to preserve the old home indus
tries which in many sections seem TO
he crowded out by modern products. SO
in these school fairs prizes are offered
for the old fashioned woven baskets,
fbe braided rugs, and woven spreads I
which have been made by the mountain
GERS for more than century, and this
effort has tendency to command
respect for the work OF past genera
ton which is too often lacking among.
the children OF the present
Is Voluntary Effort
No rules or regulations have been
made by the states to govern the school
fair It is largely a voluntary effort
heartily endorsed by all who have a
chance TO witness its results. In some
large counties it may last more than
one day. In others it may only occu-
DIV a Saturday and not break in upon
the routine of the ordinary school work. /
The movement Tor the consolidated
rural school by which several small
schools are united in one large one
with better equipment, is becoming
more prevalent throughout the coun- ,
trv. This necessitates in many in
stances the employment OF wagons TO
convey the children to and from the
schools and frequently, in the interim,
these wagons or the teams which draw
them. are employed in developing the
sgricJltural activities of the schools
which sometimes require the aid of
horsepower. In some counties the dis
nIav Of these school wagons and teams,
which are always kept well equipped
and in good order, are a special at
traction of the school fair, as they indi-
cate prosperity and up 20 dateness /
in educational affairs which is natural
~ era flying to the civic pride Of the /
county.
old Fashioned Features.
Besides the exhibition Of work, the
school fair has several other attrac-
lions. One Of the popular features is |
an old fashioned spelling match in
which hundreds of the best spoilers Sc /
lected from all the schools in the coun-
~ are lined up in even lines and a