Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-10-15
GREAT ATTENDANCE
BROUGHT To FAIR
BY FINE WEATHER
Monday Proves to Be Real
Grand Opening Day-Exhib-
its in PIace-RaceS' and 9th
er Events

Unsurpa ssed : weather conditions
brought out huge crowds to the South
eastern fair on Monday, when the big
exposition really began in dead earnest.
Saturday saw the formal opening of
the fair. with almost 10000 people
swarming over the grounds, but Monda.'
proved to be the real grand, but Monday
exposition that has annually attracted
exhibitors and visitors from all over
the southeast.
The exhibits in every department
were all in place on. Monday morning
and hundreds OF progressive farmers
from all over Georgia and the adjoln-
ing states visited the big cattle barns,
where fne-blooded stock were quartered
to compete for the various prizes.
Cattle. swine, sheep and horses are
on exhibition in greater numbers than
ever before in the history of the fair
and the visitors are paying special at
tention to this feature.
The liberal arts exhibit, with the gov
ernment'S great display OF war equip
ment and relics from overseas attract
ed hosts of spectators Monday, the
news having gone out since saturday
that the exhibit was one of the most
comprehensive ever attempted in this
country. This feature is under the dl-
rection of the national committee on
public information and no efforts have
been spared 10 make 1T complete IN eV-
cry detail.
The demonstration given Monday
morning and afternoon by conValescent
soldiers from Fort Mcpherson proved 70
be one of the most striking features OF
the fair. These wounded heroes from
overseas, torn by bullets and shrapnel,
are giving daily exhibitions of their skill
in, ri though fneY
have lost an arm or hand. The reclama-
ton hospital at Fort McPherson, unoer
the direction of Major j. l.. Riley, Is
doing a wonderful work in re-educatlns
these wounded soldiers and the demon
stration they give every morning and
afternoon in the big liberal arts build
ing is attracting hosts of visitors.
Flower Exhibit
Another feature of Mondays pro-
gram was the dahlia show IN Whlch
flower culturists competed for prizes for
the best and largest collections OF ulL
ferent types of dahlias. This depart
ment is in charge of Mrs. L. y. run
kett. -
The harness racing in the afternoon
filled the grandstand to its capacity
The Grand Circuit racing program for
the Southeastern fair is one of the best
presented in many seasons. some OF the
most famous horses on the american
turf being entered in the various events.
Monday afternoon saw the Coca-Cola
stake hung up as the principal feature,
and lovers of harness racing had thelr
fiji of sensational contests on the well
graded and carefully conditioned mile
track.
The free circus attractions presented
on The large open-air platform in front
of the grandStand provided wholesome
amusement for thousands of specta-
tors. the various acts being put on be-
tween racing events and constituting a
welcome diversion. Many famous aero
batic and aerial acts are on the pro-
gram this year and the offerings in this
department of the exposition are being
highly commended
Along the midway in Larkland the
Johnny ]. Jones attractions amused
huge crowds of visitors Monday. with
shows, riding devices and entertain
ment features of all kinds gathered
from all sections of the country. The
Southeastern fair seems 10 have been
the mecca for a number of new and
unique attractions this year and the
midway constitutes one of the most
popular phases of the exposition.
Fair officials Monday expressed their
belief that attendance records this year
would break all previous figures. They
based this. conclusion on the statistics
for the opening day, Saturday, when
e.s25 persons passed through the turn
stiles. Last year 1854 people visited
the fai1 grounds. on the opening day,
showing that this years crowd was al
most three times as large as in 1917.