The Mena weekly star., 1913-08-14
Attendance COnservatively Estin'a at ed al From Three to Four
 Thousand.
An Exhibition of Farm Products That Has Not Been ExcelIed
 HereabOuts.
FORGOT ALL FOR FAIR
Every Business House Closed for the Day and the Community Had but a Single Aim-Fine Band
 Gave Services Free.

The people of Hatfield and the people of Polk county assuredly may feel proud of the fair held last Saturday. Regardless of size or pretensions none was ever more successful or better handled.
 No effort was made to make this Hatfield fair anything more than a fine showing of the products, re- sources and possessions of the town and country, with a real home-like gathering of all people who desired to come-this as a method of cele- brating the coming of the iron horse and the founding of the town, which occurred August 10, 1896.
 Henry Finger of Hatfield was this year chosen as head of the move ment, and appointed the necessary committees, who raised funds and carried on the work.
 Months before the fair a band was organized with fourteen mem bers, all Hatfield young men, with E. L. Goben, a capable musician, as instructor These young men prac- ticed faithfully and made a remark ably good showing of good music, giving this service free to their | town.
 The attendance was estimated at between three and four thousand, and unquestionably was the biggest gathering ever seen in Polk county outside of Mena.
 Making School House Useful.
 The fine brick school house was made headquarters for the fair the large auditorium on the first floor as an exhibition hall, while a large recitation room on the same floor was converted into a rest room for women and children. The grounds about the school were used for con sessions. such as drink stands, lunch stands, etc., a swing and other features that usually assist in supplying amusement to the crowds. All about in the groves adjacent were hitched all sorts of vehicles. from buggies to farm wa sons, and at noon time scores of picnic dinners were spread, some times for single families and other times friends joining in the feast
 And, let it be said right here, that never was school house and grounds put to a better purpose, nor one that educated those attend ing along more valuable lines. Hat field has a school building that has cost Si0000 or more, and it pro poses to use it. it seems for all that is for the good of the people who pay for if. and not let it stand useless and idle except when a school is in session.
 Everybody JOined in Work.
 It was interesting to see with what unanimity the people joined in the movement and the spirit of the occasion.
 In the first place, almost to a man, and woman, the people joined in the work of preparation. Then when the day came, and the hour .of 9 o'clock a. m., the last of the business houses that had opened in the early hours was closed, to re- main closed snug and tight until after ID. m. The two big planers To- cated in the town did not start up at all. the wheels remaining idle all the day.
 There was just one thing in Hat field on fair day, and that was the fair.
 A table had been provided that ran most of the length of the audi torium, with lower shelf on each side. This was intended for the showing of vegetables and fruit, bread. cakes, jellies, canned goods. etc. One long wall was devoted to corn in stalk, sorghum, sunflowers, hay and crops of that character. and the opposite wall and part of one end of the room to the ladies' art and needlework department, which was fine in quality. Then one end was given entirely to cow peas. tobacco, cotton, peanuts and such crops as could well be hung from strong ropes stretched for the purpose. with watermelons and cantaloupes all about underneath on the floor
 \ Individual Showing.
 The opposite end was given up largely to a display that, while not entered for premiums, yet attract ed much favorable attention. This was provided and presided over by Continued on Fifth page)