The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-10-18

L
opened Friday, Oct. 10, came to an
end Monday evening. NotWithstand-
ing rainy weather on the first Two
days. the exhibition proved an I'M
qualified success in every detail, and
only the most complimentary and en-
thusiastic comments were heard con-
corning the general character of the
festival and the manner in which it
was conducted Considering the
short time in which the event was
planned and arranged, and in view of
the further facts that it was a first
effort and that the weather was very
unfavorable for several weeks pre-
ceding the enterprise and even
after it had been inaugurated, the
results achieved are regarded as no
thing short Of remarkable, and re-
fleet the utmost degree of credit up
on the capable officials of the fair
association and all connected with
the management of the event.
With the experience gained this year,
and with more time for preparation
and broader knowledge on the part
of our people of the purposes and
aims of the fair, next years dis
play promises to be a magnificent
one, and the prediction seems war
ranted that the DonaldsonVllle fair
is destined to develop into one of
the best and most valuable institu-
tons of the kind in the state.
Financially the fair achieved a
measure of success that is consider
ed entirely satisfactory in view Of
and it is estimated there will be
something like $500 left in the treas
ury after all bills have been paid.
This amount will be used as the
nucleus for the fund to conduct next
years fair, which will be on much
larger scale than the successful ex-
hibition just terminated. Despite
the unfavorable weather of Friday
and Saturday, such was the interest
in the fair that good crowds were
present on both days, Drawing the
rain and mud. Sunday proved to be
a beautiful sunshiny day, just cool
enough to be pleasant, and as a
result one of the largea crowds
Donaldsonville has had the pleasure
of entertaining in some years as
sembled at A-muz-u Park to view the
exhibits and participate in the pro-
gram of the day, the attendance be-
ing in excess of 5000 people.
The exhibits in the various depart
ments were of high standard, and
gave testimony to the awakened
spirit of better farming, better stock
raising, and better work by the
housekeepers in preserving foods
and adjoining their homes. The. wo-
mans department was particularly
attractive and received many COM
pliments. The culinary division CON
tanned a large number of exhibits
which demonstrated the varied gas
Economical resources of this fertile
section and the skill and industry
of the ladies. The floral display
was strikingly pretty, as was also the
display of needleWork, the latter con-
tanning many specimens Of sewing
which would attract attention any
where. The art department showed
some promising local talent, and the
exhibits of relics and heirlooms con
tanned numerous valuable antiques
and excited wide interest. 4:
The school exhibits made SPLEEN
did showing, and consisted of samples
of drawings, sewing, typeWriting,
bookkeeping, and agricultural pro-
ducts and canned goods. The Oak
Grove agricultural high school car
ried off most of the honors in this
and its exhibit elicit
ed many fIattering comments.
The agricultural display was strik-
ing. While not voluminous, it was
al larae enough to demonstrate the
wonderful possibilities Of this proGu1-
eve section, rightly termef the gar
den spot of the state, and was a pow
erful object lesson that no one need
fail to prosper in farming who
makes the proper effort and follows
THE right methods. 1t is safe to say
the magnificent specimens Of agri-
cultural products were a revelation
to our own people, One of the best
displays in this department was that
made by the Supple Company, of H.
erville parish, who also carried off a
of first premiums in the live
stock division. An exhibit which at
tracted particular attention was that
of L. B. Martin, a colored farmer of
ST. James parish, to which was
awarded a premium OF SO for the
best display of agricultural products
made by a negro. Among the things
it contained were corn, squash, egg
plants, beans of various kinds, five
varieties of sweet potatoes, COW peas,
several varieties of pepper, Irish
potatoes, cauliflower, onions, carrots,
radishes, mustard, parsley, lettuce,
beets, turnips, garlic, sha1lots, oIra,
pumpkins, sorghum, persimmons, pc
cans, pears, oranges, canned toma-
toes, figs, pears and beans, bottled
cherries, and other farm products.
The live stock exhibit was ex-
tremely creditab1e and brought eor-
ward numerous magnificent speci-
mems Of horses, cattle, swine and
sheep, such as very few people had
any idea were being raised in this
section. The entries were representa-
tive of the best breeds of the various
and did credit to Ascension,
Assumption, st. James and Iberville
parishes, wheih compose the fair or
ganizatien.
The poultry exhibit was good, there
being many fine chickens and ducks,
as well as some handsome pigeons
and turkeys.
In fact, all the exhibits, stngly and
Is a whole, were of an exceptionally |