Smyrna times., 1917-07-11
COUNTRY FAIR AND FOURTH
ATTRACT USUAL CROWDS
MORE THAN 1000 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE
WHILE GROSS RECEIPTS TOTAL ABOUT ST. 25O
Unavorab1e Weather ConditionS-Cub Women Compented
on their SucceSs-Feaures of the Parade and Public E
ercises--Side Show Declared to be the Best Ever.

was I'D to its usual standard and even
attended by larger crowds, but the
higher expense of everything and the
fact the opening night was a rainy
night brought the receipts down.
However, around and about $3.50
was taken in, from which the club
women hope to realize $500 Or $500.
Out of the net receipts this year one
half goes to the Red Cross Chapter
of Smyrna, one quarter to the Gen.
tury Club corporation and one quarter
to the Century Club. The gross re-
ceipts might have been materially in
creased had the Club women provided |
some athletic sport for the afternoon. |
AS it was hundreds went from
Smyrna to Clayton to see the
baseball game and record break
ing attendance of a thousand peo-
ple attended the races at the
Smyrna Driving Park. The weather
conditions outside of the opening night
of the Country Fair, were good.
There were lowering clouds all day
Tuesday and even the morning of
Fourth of July "wednesday seemed
threatening but the clouds broke away
and the weather throughout the day
was ideal. All roads led to Smyrna
on the Fourth. Besides the number
who came by the morning trains, many
came by automobile. By late after
noon and evening South street was so
congested with autos and teams, offic-
ers were stationed at each end of
the block to keep the teams going
one way. They came from every di-
rection. Nearly every townswithin a
radius of twenty or thirty miles was
represented. The crowd on the Fourth
was estimated between 2, 500 and 3,
600 people, nearly all of whom pa
tronized the Country Fair The
gate receipts showed a total Of
S215. 90, higher than last year to the
amount of FIVE dollars or more. 1t was
one big happy "Home Day" gather
ing and old friends and new friends
made the most of the pleasure greet
ing.
Automobile Parade Opens Fourth"
By ten O'Clock Wednesday morn
ing, the glorious Fourth which haC
been ushered in by the firing of crack
ers and the displaying from man!
homes of the American flag and othe
decorations, the crowds which hat
lined the streets and congregated o
their front porches. were ready fo
the automobile parade. E. Marriott
Fowler was chief marshall and I
Howard Barwick was assistant. Tt
parade rendezvoused at the stand piI
on west Commerce street and cor
sisted of about twenty or thirty deC
Grated automobiles. The floats tn
year were better than usual. o.
splendid Fire Company with the
natty suits and fine new fire engil
were in line and received rounds
applause. The local organization
Boy Scouts under the command
Scout Master Thomas Getz Hill, can
in for generous share of applaus
The same was the case with the flo
of the W. C. T. u, the Red Cros
Edw. G.. Walls & Son and j. E. D
Ford. The parade. headed by t
Dover Band of sixteen or eighte
pieaes, marched over the princiI
streets of Smyrna and disbanded
the Fair Grounds. The judges of
parade were Mr.. and Mrs. ]. Herb'
Sitter, of Philadelphia; Mr.. q
Mrs. Frank Bailey of Hoboken,
j., and Mrs. Frank Reynolds, of w
miDgton. The first prize of a b
ribbon was awarded to Geo. ID. Wril
& Son for its decorations. The secC
prize of red ribbon was given to
car of ]. Edward OeFord for
original decorations of car in Flashe
yarn and different colored sweate
Honorable mention was made of
decorations of the Citizens H
Company fire truck. Among the c
worthy of mention were the
Cross car, with young women
nurses costumes; the w. c. 7.
car, decorated with white bunt
and filled with girls, and the car
Edward G. Walls & Son.
Patriotic Exercises at Fair Grour
Immediately following the par'
the Dover Band, which had been
ing as escort, struck up a patri
air and the crowds which had ass
bled, moved toward the platf
erected in front of the school bt
ing to hear the public exercises
dered. The Boy Scouts occupied