The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-09-15

"a point. IL means something QlIerent to practically every N
ofus. There is no doubt, though, that the feeling of gayetv
is universal-even to those who must work like Turks to
make the occasion a success.
The man or woman with a crouch has 10 business at our fair this
year. You must go prepared to enjoy the blare of band music and the
million noises that aren't music. You must be keyed up to revel in the
sight OF thousands of chathring holiday maker, of bright decorations, of
pretty girls, of sdeshows and balyhoos, of popcorn balls in red tissue
and sweating glasses Of orangeade, Of sizzling sandwiches and ice cream
cones, of livestock and household and implement displays, of pattering
trotters and PAGERS and running horses, of buzzng grandstand, Of golden
sunshine and yellow dus-clouds. Yes, and tired feet and whimpering
babies With heatrasha and smart alexis here and therefor we haven't
reached the land of perfection vet.
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 whole
COMMUNICATIVE surrounding farm lands and farmers, the town and its
enterpr1s1ng, publicsprited merchants. And really that is the rock
bottom purpose of holding a far-advertsing. It is a community aim
and effort to show its people how much they amount to, and to show out
siders that this is a mighty good place to live in-prosperous, progressive
country and neighborly people. A man looking for a place in which to
settle down couldn't reasonably ask for anything more or better.
Courtesy to Visitors. 49, \ F|zaF
The folks Of this community understand . ! another. Our farmers
know the town business men with whom they val. Our business men
are pretty we'll acquainted with most of the people who come into their
stores. Now we want to show-al of us-our spirit Of kindGness and
intelligence to the strangers within our gates during the festival season.
1t IS the best sort Of advertising W can put forth.
It is inestimaby worth while to us if visitors 90 home and say: Il
always like to attend their fair. The whole town seems to wig47le it,
latchstring at me. And they're the @whHest' people!-go out Of their way
to be pohte-ready to give information o r do a little favor-1m certainly
going back ofhner and get acquainted with some Of them.'
In order further to answer the question which introduces this article,
we take down our handy reference book-a large red vol,me-and turn
to page 426. Therein We learn that the word "fair' is derived from the
Od French "1ere, the modern French "fo1p,' the Italia n "fera," the
Latin "fera,' meaning holiday and that this is connected with the
latin "tostus, meaning feast. . WI
In the United States there arc no fairs of the kind tNat have been
common In the Old World. The term here is applied to a variety OF
exhibitions, such as church, charity and agricultural exhibuio as and local,
state, national, II international expositons Or fairs. The fact is, the
term is applied to all exhibitions where people arr expected to bestow
p"AO"s0 - D'Ae purchases = s*&a' N-'.&---~ l-~@SA-
Bits Of Fair Histo ry.' 7 -! ~. w.
The most common kind are AGRICULTURAL fars-county and state, as
you know. This kind got their start as a regular thing in Nm 1erna IN
1919. AT Albany, N. y, there was q IrosE erous merchant, AElkanah
Watson, who believed that such an enter rise would encourage tarmhg
and manufacturing and help business. lie use d his influence win n the
state legislature, and that body appropriat ed S1o,o 900 yearly, for ST. , ears
Tor premiums IN agricultural products end funly manufactures
Since then annual county, district and stn e fairs are quite gener
any held. The district and county fairs espec tally are held. not mainly
Tor the sale Of goods, but for ADVERTISING purpose B-as We have said. City
- tnsnl "f "here an'Senents Of various kinds a . furnished, are intended
" p-"''t' oN welfare OF the city tv attracting traders to them, The
~. WHY'S LARS which are held in this country. While COM
are sold, the primary object is to advertise.
al nc VA World the fair or bazaar is an ancien institution. If we
' "so u le daily papers and country wee kins when old Mr.
-"N'A "s AhsHS 1r a living, when Professor F \ alto was discoursing
- ~ ;" "ovi'c and the what and how Of a repu bile, when the thou
. Ml "' oe eSehts OF the Arabian Nights Entert unments we're being
aat ow' " 0 spoold probably find articles like hs one-an editors
"1lte-up OF the annual fair in his town.
%*% s>$ = Barter and Exchange Places. H.-
i, People throughout Europe look upon the fair as "a meeting held for
pu|%t !" eAho11ng and selling goods. Origin ally fairs were held
y Soy" ' tunes '1 places, some fcr the sale of a par 3crlar class of mer-
.n N ~ "nels or n sale OF goods of a general c}nr*ter. People
eSor'ed to them to exchange goods and to collect the. ; stores to last for
NNA1uu IIuluS. IrOnaS anI L 80 I r -.-o1 4bor,