Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-10-13

Topsham. Me-. goct. 11.-(SpeciaD-
An ideal October day. warming golden
sunshine, gentle lazy breeze, and a
slight tinge Of fall to add an exhiiarat-
ing spice to the air. blessed the open
ing day Of the famous Topsham fair.
With such day it was but natural
that the people began in the forenoon
to flock to- these famous old fair
grounds: on foot, in team auto and jit-
ney; single. in couples, groups and
families. they came pouring in through
the gates, until by afternoon the
grounds were a-swarm with people, and
everywhere was jollity and amusement.
A Day Of Days
Early in the morning the officials of
the fair. all the proprietors of the nu-
merous cafes. and amusement parlors,
and the sweet-voiced fakirs, all, were
in their places waiting to receive the
crowds that the sunshine promised to
lure there on this day Of days. Down
in, the agricultural hall late exhibitors
We're busily at work laying out their
displays, thanked on all sides by rows
and tiers of red checked apples, golden
CORN mellow pears, big golden pump
kins. and cleaning jars Of jellies and
preserves. In the Canadian exhibit be-
meath the grandstand were displayed
yellow and golden sheaves Of various
grains huge round cheeses and jars Of
lucious honey.
AT The opposite end of the grounds
10 Ia oh dc a IN
capacity with fine specimens Of prize
winning stock. sleek jerseys, thick
wooded sheep, and fine fat hogs. The
poultry exhibit was well filled and con-
tanned mary fine specimens Of poultry.
ducks. geese and hens.
The forenoon was given over to the
Judging of neat stock, oxen and steers,
sheep. swine. poultry, farm and dairy
stock.
The Midway
II would. be no exaggeration to stat
that the Midway this year is the clean
est in the history Of the fair, nothing
undetermined or Objectionable being toll
Grated whatever. Nevertheless there
are ar1usernents galore, and the place
iesounds with the strident shouts of the
fekrs: Here yer are boys, Three fer
FIVE. break ther nigar's head" Hoop
La, the game for Their ladies, ring ar
box Of chocolates to take home to ther
baby" They're all hot. they'ree all
hot. only a nickel. a half a dime, the
twentieth part OF a dollar" And so it
goes down tthe, long line, everyone hav
ing good time whether it is riding
on the merry-go-round, having their
fortune told, or winning Charlie
Chaplin doll,
In the afternoon the races were run of
under the direction of Starter Harry II
Lee of Augusta, whose past reputation
rs starter was well sustained by the
direct and able manner in which he 20,
the horses away at the start.
Driver Ruled Out
Perhaps the excitement of this part OF
the program came in the 217 class wher
Driver j. ". Metcalf Of Augusta, after
winning the first heat and failing to wiz
the second and third heats, was called
TO the stand, where lie admitted to the
judges that he was not driving his horse
to the limit. He was ordered off the track
and ice Jackson was placed behind Char.
lie Again. The horse took the fourth and
fifth heats winning the race. jackson
was awarded SIS dollars for his services
by the judges.
Some Of the Heats
The third heat of the 217 class was a
hair-raiser. At the finish Phil DeForest
made a squirt and passed Johnny Wilkes.
Jr. On the home stretch Charley Again