The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1916-10-21
WEST F[LC|ANAS FIRST FREE FAIR
PROVES HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL UNDERTAKING


1883 has passed into parish history
and as such will hold a prominent
place rs an exposition Of what has been
done, a forecast Of what will be done
in the future from agricultural. indus
trial, educational and social vlew points
Every one has looked and taken
courage.
The weather was ideal for the oeea.
sion, warm without being too warm.
and 40 evidence Of the rain which had
been feared The crowds were good
on all three days, the attendance on
Saturday probably was the largest As
there were no gate receipts no record
could be made Of the attendance, but
the crowds were as was said before,
good all that could be- expected Good
humor and cordiaiity was the rule.
there being very little frictlen either
apparent or reported.
The Bayou Sara Compress building
and grounds, kindly loaned for the
purpose by the firm of NJ. e. r.. Wolf.
proved admirable In every respect, Civ.
ing ample space for the exhibits and
for the accommodation Of the speeta-
tors. The various sheds. dotted about
the grounds. gave shelter for the live
stock, hogs, poultry. and automobiles,
while the immense steel shed attached
To the main building afforded much
more space 10 the various exhibits
than Is usually possible for parish
fair.
The display Of plants and flowers, In
charge Of Mrs. J r. Matthews, chair.
man, and her eoadjutors, was not only
interesting and beautiful, bat served
as q decoration and ornament 80 the
whole exhibition AT the main en-.
trance and running along for Is feet
vas wide aisle fanked by lusufiant
pots Of ferns, palms, begoalas, gera,
NUNS and other plants These were
finer than any the writer saw At the
State Fair Of 1915.
The culinary exhibit, Mrs Charlie
Barrow, chairman, was very tempting
Here were the cakes. pies and candies
that have made West Feliciaua house
wives famous beyond the borders OF
Louisiana. II II small wonder that one
Of the few thefts reported during the
fair was OF daIntIes from this counter
The canning exhibit, Mrs. w r.
Daniel. chairman, was also Of the
nature which showed that West Fe.
llciana can accomplish wonders. The
exhibit was unusually large and com.
plete, and very artistically displayed
The Juvenile Department was also
In this part Of the building. with Mrs.
hen Leopold In charge II was not
large collection. having been divided
with another department, but was In.
tercsting and showed fahey.work, pre-.
serves and art specimens from juniors
under Is years Of age.
Within the building, the compress
being screened OF, was the
space devoted to the art, fancy work
and educational exhibits And u was
here that the feminine throngs lin.
gered longest. or returned again and
again TO admire and TO study The
was no surprise TO any one
AS the skill Of West FeIlelana women
In we'll known. There was tattng
crochet ana embroidery OF every de-
serIption, and Mira. o, d. Brooks, the
Of this department, and
her assistants, had TO tax their inge
nuity for It's proper display Had all
the competent ones In this parish aent
In some sample OF their handlwork
however there would not have been
room for II ali
Mrs, J q. Perkins, head Of the art
department, had surprise for the
public In that class Of exhibits, as
more than one persou vas heard 10
say that they had no idea there were
so many in the parish that could draw
and paint The space allotted vas
hung with oil paintings completely
covering the wall space and In large
glass case were handsome pieces Of
hand painted china and drawings. Not
for competition was a turtle shell at.
painted by Miss Florence
also pottery vase formed
If red clay from Thompsons creek,
done by Mrs Jesse Daniel
Interesting relics were here, For In.
stance framed notice OF memorial
services held in 81, FraneIsyille on the
occasion of General Jacksons death