The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-09-11

ADDRESS yesterday described the
farmers as the safety-vaIves of
this country and said that they
always are en- the right side of
all moral questions and they
stand for the best there Is in
any community. They believe In
the social upIift and the better
rent Of mankind.
Old Settlers day at the Garden
City fair. was a marked success
and far beyond the most sanguine
expectations of the management
which has controlled and is now
guiding the "destinies OF that far.
famed institution. Yesterday was
an ideal day for the gathering OF
the pioneers OF Blue Earth county
and 4 large number Of them took
advantage OF the occasion which ~
them was a real pleasure and de-
light A conservative estimate places
the attendance at the fair yester-
day at between $500 and 1000.
President George w. Norman Of the
Blue Earth County Agricultural as
SOciatiOn stated to The Free Press
that in his opinion the fair never
had entertained such a large crowd
on any one day in it's more than
fifty years of life. He was i'm
men pry rleased with the magnifl-
cent turnout; Many people came
from considerable distance TO re-
new tire friendships of former years.
MankaJO VS. represented by a large
delegation and the county at large
sent it iull quota. Candidates for
ofric" and politicians were there also
And there were former office-hold.
erS- not to mention those who hope
to hold office some time in the future
They were laying the foundation
for campaigns yet to be.
Weather Was Ideal.
The weather was ideal. II was
not ice cream and soda" weather,
but at that the vendors OF those
eatabie5 and turntables did a -four
ishing business. and pop was a fav-
Orite beverage. The hamburger"
men did rushing business and the
shows and fakirs on the midway"
we're we'll patronized. Wheels of
fortune were in evidence and so were
the dark-skinned women who told
ones fortune at so much per, while
looking at his or her hand and
marking we'll the lines. The merry
go-round. the childrens delight, was
the center Of attraction, as was also
that most modern form of enter
tanment. the movie" A fair would
not be complete without a "strik-
ing" machine and the man with the
clay pigeons TO be shot at by eX-
perienced marksmen. They were
all there and assisted in furnish
ing excitement The colored enter
tanners kept the crowd good natured
with singing and specialties. There
were also acrobats and trapeze per
formers. whose work excited the ad
miratiOn Of the spectators. All these
attractions kept the crowd moving
jOstled one another and occasion
ally stepped on each others toes, and
at that all were good natured-even
the fellow who had Corns and bun
ions.
The Speaking Program.
The speaking program began early
in the afternoon. George Norman
was master of ceremonies and in
troduced the speakers. Hon. L. +.
Champlin was first on the list. He
is one of the fioneers and his re-
marks were devoted TO brief his
tory Of the fair and what was done
in former days to keep alive the
interest in the then young eXposi-
ton. He called to mind the men
who were instrumental in its or
ganiZatiOn and who have taken care
of il all these years until il has
grown into vigorous manhood, and
is now free from the ills which
afflicted it in its infancy. Mr.. Champ
lin spoke of the beautiful site for
the fair. The grounds nestle in
valley forming what was once re-
ferred to by J. Adam Bede as
punch bowl. Other things OF rem
inisCent character were spoken OF
by Mr.. Champlin. who is among those
that have contributed their time and
labor 10 building up and extending
the usefulness of the fair.
Judge Lorin Cray was advertised
to speak. but was excused, and this
was a disappointment TO the large
audience because the Judge always
can nave something interesting to
say on any occasion.
The introduction of Hon. George
VI. Palmer of Mankato was met with
expressions of approval. Mr.. Palmer,
while not a native of Garden City,
is considered one of its products.
Yesterday he travelled the corridors
that lead back into time and lie
recalled the days when he lived
in the village. He was a boy when
he settled among the people there
in 1898. He attended the village
school and clerked in a store at
So per month where everything to
eat and wear, was sold. Here is
where he grew to young manhood.
He shared with the people Of the
community their joys and sorrows,