The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-11-11

If Marion Expects It's Fair to
Excel that of Alachua

SAScl OI even G0udi Lie LAIR HOW UG-
ing held in their sister county of
Alachua, they must hustle. We be-
lieve they can do it, but they have
no time to mark time.
The Alachua fair, at Gainesville,
opened Tuesday, and is now in full
swing. 1t was opened auspiciously
but informally, Congressman Frank
Clark, whose home town is Gaines
vile, making the opening address.
First days of fairs are generally
slinly attended, but on this occasion
there was a big crowd present, and
the attendance seems increasing
daily.
A representative of the Star visited
the fair Wednesday and met so many
former friends and made so many
new ones, he felt next door to being
at home all day.
Not so many Ocala people went on
the early morning train, it takes ex-
ira industry to lose ones beauty sleep
and breakfast to depart at $40. A
bigger bunch went on the 1:14, but
most folks from this county go in
autoes.
The first person the Star man saw
when he stepped off the train in
Gainesville was Miss Mary Connor,
an Ocala girl, most of whose time the
University City has selfishly appro-
priated. Now, the Star man is a
pagan and believes in omens, and as
soon as he saw Miss Mary he knew
he was going to nave good luck all
day. Anybody who knows Miss Mary
will accept this statement without
argument. Miss Connor is the pre-
siding genius of the Conservatory of
Music and captures friends in Gaines
vile as fast as people make her ac-
quaintance.
The good luck began to come at
once, for as Miss Mary tripped away
to her studio and the reporter turned
his steps toward the fair grounds, a
big touring car rolled alongside and
a we1l-remembered voice bade him
climb in. 1t was. Will Denham, one
of the livest insurance men in Flor
ida, and man who works over time
for the fair of his own county and
puts in a good many licks for that of
his. next-door neighbor. Will said il
was an hour before it was necessary
to go to the fair, so he took the Star
man for a spin over the city and out
to the university. 1t was the most
extensive look this scribe has had al
Gainesville, and much he admired the
beautiful and wide-streeted city, in
which old-time elegance and up-to.
date convenience are so happily blend.
ed
The tour took in the university anC
experiment station, and the grounds
surrounding them. The university
buildings are finished and the great
school is equal if not superior to that
of any state of Florida's resources
Most of the grounds are yet in the
rough, but they will soon be improv.
ed, and then our state can compare
its university with any in the land.
We have no space in this article
for a description of Gainesville, bu
the town looks solid and prosperou.
as well as pretty. Mr.. Denham, wht
travels all over peninsular Florida
says Gainesville and Ocala have
weathered the war storms as well a.
any towns, are in as good fnancia
shape as any and better than most.
Will is doing well himself, as il
proven by the splendid eight-cylinde
car he drives, and which makes it
pleasure to carry on business in hi
territory.
Wednesday was Trenton day at tn,
fair, and promptly at 9 o'clock Nh
Denham brought his car back to tn
Coast Line station, to meet the TRAN
from the west end of Alachua county
which brought in three extra coaches
| labeled, Trenton, capital of tn
Southwest End, land of pretty girls
big men, fine farms, cattle and hogs.
The passenger list was largely mad
up of scholars of the Trenton higl
schools. They were under convoy o
Capt. W. E. Bell, one of the big me-
mentally, physically and financially
of that section.
The. Star man had another goo
omen when lovely young lady in
blue dress claimed him as her long
lost uncle. 1t was Mrs. Clarenc
johnson, formerly Miss Jessie Wilso
of Reddick, a graduate of the Oca1
high school and now the charmin
wife of one of Trenton's active youn
business men. Trenton thinks 10
of Mrs. Johnson and insists on her re
tanning the position as assistan
teacher of the high school she hel
before her marriage last summer
She is well and happy and thru th
Star sends best wishes to her Mario
Icounty friends.
Concluded on Second Page1