, 1916-08-03
Carbon County's Seventh Annual Fair.

Why is a fair? We can't answer that from a single viewpoint.
1t means something different to practically every one of us. There
is no doubt though, that the feeling of gayety is univ ersal-even to
those who must work like Turks to make the occasion a success.
The man o r woman with a crouch has no business at our fair
this year, You must go prepared to enjoy the blare of band music
and the million noisest that aren't music. You must be keyed up to
revel in the sight of thousands of chattering holiday makers, of
bright decorations, of pretty girls, of side-shows and ballyhoos, of
popcorn balls in red tissue and sweating glasses of orangeade, of siz-
cling sandwiches and ice cream cones, of livestock and household
and implement displays of pattering trotters and PAGERS and running
horses' oil buzNng grandstand, of golden sunshine and yellow dust
clouds. Yes, and tired feet and whimpering babies with heat-rash
and smart alexis here and therefor we haven't reached the land of
perfection yet.
Now, let's peel the surface off the situation and see what's inside.
This years fair is going to be a pretty fine advertisement for our
whole COMMUNICATIVE surrounding ranch lands and rapchers. the
town and its enterprsing, pubicspirted merchants. And really
that Is the rock-bottom purpose of holding a fair, advertising. 1t is
a community effort to show its ueople how mucb thew amount 70 omd
to show outsiders that this is a mighty good place to live in-pros-
porous, progressive country and neighborly people. A man looking
for a place in which to settle down couldn't reasonably ask for apv
thing more OF better.
The folks of this community understand one another. Our
ranchmen know the town business men with whom they deal. Our
business men are pretty well acquainted with most of the people who
come n ITO helr stores. Now we want to show-all of us-our spirit
OF klndLness and intelligence to the strangers within our gates dur.
ing the festival season. 1t is the best sort of advertising we can put
forth 1t is inestimably worth while to Is if visitors go home and
say: Il always like to attend their fair. The whole town seems to
wlggle it's iachstring at me. Aud they're the 'whitest peopeI-go
Out OF their way to be polite ready to give information or do a little
aVor-1 certainly going back oftner and get acquainted with
some of them"
The chief educational value of our fair lies lin the fact that it is
demonstraive in character. The eye is a more convincing instruc-
tor than the ear We are slow to accept and believe in Inv nav
method until we have had optical proof of it's superiority the
ID Often 1t is difficult to secure the attention of the busy or
woman long enough to give such a demonstration. Not infrequently
1T happens that ranchers who would be most benefited by better
methods OF farming are not sufficiently interested to be present at
any special meeting called for the purpose of discussing the subject.
But the fair appeals TO that trait of mankind which demands N.
tertalhment and amusement and becomes a common forum for the
discussion of all matters having to do with agriculture, industry, the
home and the school.
In this clearing house of education the agnculturist learns what
manufacturer the merchant and the banker re and have been
uolnK to make his labor less arduous and his farm more profitable
M tn town resident learns what rapid progress is being made in
agriculture "A bond Of common interest is created which means
much to both town and country.
The ranehmen learn by actual observation of the newest devices
au improvements in agricultural implements. He learns their use
and benefits He learns in what way they assist in soil cultivation
In plant growth, in sowing, in harvesting, in threshing. He learns
'e toonomc Vaioeo la more modern machinery, of motor power
on the farm.
Il urban dweLer Is furnished a vivid picture of the agriculture
ID o. IA community, He learns about the fertility of the
sh IN the vicinity; of what is being done to increase the farm WELD
to Improve the quality of stock.
Every man and woman, whether town or country resident. is
Drought INTO closer touch with the home life of others. All imbibe
Aat broader education which means co-operatou-that ideal educa-
LOT which Is service to self aud all humanity.