The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-09
THOUSANDS ENJOY THEMSELVES
AS THE LIGHTS
GO OUT

The merry midway, the place oil
features, was last night treated to the
most unusual and what proved the
most sensational feature which mas
ever been offered the fun-seekers
when for nearly an hour the greater
portion of the lights failed. and but
for the occasional winking of the
searchlight on the top OF a side show
and the blinking OF few oil lamps
scattered here and there the entire
length of the lane was in darkness.
Most of those in the crowd thought
that some practical Joker had taken
q hand in the festivities. which had
been in progress during the greater
part of the day and without inter-
ruption had run on into the night
To a person they were perfectly VIII
Ing that the Joker should have his
way. though, and in the gloom they
threw their confetti, snatched each
others ticklers and enjoyed all Of
the other prafiks famous on the mid
way with an added zest.
Thronged All Day.
Thousands thronged the midway and
the side lanes all day long and into
the night. During the vaudeville per-
formances before the grandstand the
crowd on the big street thinned out
considerably. Hundreds were packed
INTO the ELaUUS anu n ~" aoaA hSNk
was around the half-mile race track
nearest the midway. Yet still hum
dreds paraded from end to end of the
fhoroughfare. At the conclusion of
the vaudeville features the stands emp
tied their throngs into the human
stream passing before the shows, and
the hundreds who had been lined
around the race track also fused into
tho jam and mass of humanity.
kS.
the thickest of the fray folded them
selves into calling II. began and for
hours continued uninterruptediy. Many
took in the shows. while others took
in almost anything they could get
their hands on, from a chicken OF
: goodty proportions to "tickler," The
latter articles were often the first APP
propriated. especially by the fsr-see-
Ing. as 1t was noticeable thN they
proved most effective in insuring a
perfect catch of the former. Anyway,
X appeared that everything on the
way wss common property ana with
merry laughter aud jest the bohemian
merry making continued without dtmi-
mutton.
And then the lights went out.
when Darkness Came.
For several moments the crowd halt
ed In its tracks and waited for the
expected blaze OF light from the my
rtads of bulbs. Minutes passed and
the gloom continued. Then the insa
tate desire TO be moving and to he
doing something got the better OF the
crowd and with common impulse the
tramp began again.
Il should worry" a woman of ma
tronly appearance stated loudly, "bu,
/ don't" And she SHE'D handful OF
confetti into the open mouth OF q jolly
Joe at her elbow. And that was the
attitude OF the crowd Ne one wor-
ried over the fact that the lights were
out. and in fact al! seemed TO look
upon tho occurrence an adaded
feature to the day of features.
Country cousins made up great
portion Of the ,hronE. Aliens with
their noisy chatter and somber cos
tunes also appeared I'm numbers. Sew.
erai soldiers and sailors added a touch
of cosmopolstanism. Takers. their
arms filed 10 overlooking with their
wares, were trummeled here and there
The boy scouts in their drab uniforms
lodged their way about in the under
current. And conspicuous everywhere
were hundreds OF Richmond girls and
Virginia girls in their latest OF fail
fashions OF brilliant even gaudy. col
orr were in evidence.
The din OF the midway was never
greater thsa last night Everything
oyl tao patti. vas In active operation ar
every conceivable noise maker wa.