The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-10-23

ueauOW TO see tie Exhibits.
The argument that the amusement
feature is necessary to bring out a |
crowd to county fair was complete
ly disproved here Friday when it
is conservatively estimated that not
less than five thousand visitors were
present at the annual Laurens coun- !
ty fair. From the early hours of the !
morning until nearly mon the peo-
pie from all sections of the county, |
from the border counties of Green
vile, Greenwood, Spartanburg and
Union continued to come in. The mar
row street running to the fair ground
was congested nearly all day, the
stream of people pouring over a mar
row bridge across Little River to
spread out as vast multitude over the
spacious Darlington meadow, tempor-
lily used as the fair grounds. Acres
and acres of people with handsome
turnouts, made up both Of automobiles
and horse drawn vehicles, were drawn
up everywhere. Sitting in the auto
mobiles and carriages and upon the
grand stand the thousands of people
were content to enjoy themselves and
to inform themselves by watching the
show ring, where exhibit after exhibit
of fine horses, mules, colts of every
Age and description We're shown. At
ter losing interest here at times,
4 4 IL
part of the fair for awhile to contin-
ue further over to the foot of a beau
tiful hillside, where the exhibits of
cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry.
dogs, pets and nearly every kind of
domestic animal We're represented.
Completing the circle of these, the
crowds continued to the agricultural
exhibits, placed upon temporary
stand under wide spreading trees near
the grand stand. Here every imagin-
able product Of the farm was on dis
play. CottoN corn, hay, garden pro-
ducts and anything that contributes |
to the family table. Finishing the in |
spection Of these exhibits and after
enjoy the pleasures of renewing old
acquaintences and making new ones,
the thrifty and eager visitors would |
again return to the big stand to
watch the progress of the main eX-
hibits in the big ring. And they were
all content to enjoy this and learn
something instead of spending money
on cheap amusements and horse rae
eS.
Purpose of The Fair.
The Laurens county fair, the NOV
ing spirits in which are w. ID. Byrd,
president of the South Carolina Live
Stock Association, joan ID. w. Watts.
director and general manager of the
South Carolina State Fair, c. a. Power
clerk of court-elect of Laurens coun-
ty and W. r. McCuen, assistant cash |
icr of the Peoples Loan & Exchange |
Bank, was primarily Intended and is |
almcst exclusively an Cducat "nal IN !
stitution 1t was organized by farm |
ers and its success is due largely to
the initiative of the individual farm |
ers themselves. The little expense
attached to the yearly exhibition is
borne largely by the individual eX-
hibitors and by funds gathered from
liberal merchants and others through
public subscriptions. Having for It's
main purpose the education and ad-
yancement OK those who so far have
suffered through failure to realize the
benefits Of progressive methods in ag-
riculture and stock raising, 1t is a
cardinal principle Of the fair associa-
tion to charge no admission fees. Ev-
erybody is admitted free and every
body is welcome The poor man, with
four or five children and in hard cir
cumstances, is not kept away for the
lack of a dollar or so to pay adnHs-
sion fees The management firmly be-
licves that this contributes largely to
the success of the fair. 1t might be
said agaiA that not single "amuse-
mcnt feature" was on the fair grounds
Yesterday and would not have been al