The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-01-30
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
LAKE CoUNTY's FAIR

1t was our pleasure and privilege
Tuesday to visit the school fair and
agricultural exhibits of Lake county
at Tavares.
1t had been our impression that this
fair was simply an exhibition of
school work with a few agricultural
specimens on the side, so we were
agreeably surprised to find it a really
extensive and comprehensive fair.
The fair grounds are in the center
of the town Of Tavares, the county
seat Of Lake. The principal part Of
the fair is in a large, two-story build
ing. The upper story contains the
school exhibits, displaying which
seems to have been been the primary
incentive of the fair, which this year
is given for the sixth time.
This school exhibit is proof posi-
tive that the people of Lake have ex-
cellent schools in which they. take
great interest, and that they have a
highly efficient class of teachers 70
whose efforts the pupils respond with
gratifying energy and intelligence.
Inspecting this school exhibit is a full
days agreeable occupation, and to
describe it justly and in detail would
fill an issue of this paper. We hadn't
any idea that a bunch of schoolboys
and girls could think of so many
things and express their thoughts so
well. Some of the children, living in
isolated communities and denied many
Of the things that are only everyday
conveniences to scholars in towns like
Ocala, showed resourcefulness that
was as surprising as it was crafty
ing.
The school children of Lake excel
not only in maps and drawings and
holdings but in household work They
sent in scores of articles that we have
seen listed in the industrial depart
ments of other fairs, and they would
have attracted attention among the
work of the most skilled older per-
sons. A lot Of their work should be
sent to the state fair in Jacksonville
next month, where we know it will
draw notice to their county.
This exhibit had the advantage of
being in an upstairs and well-Hghted
room. We were informed that on the
Saturday preceding the fair consid-
cradle number of the teachers and
some of the scholars Of the county
came to Tavares at their own expense
and unpacked and arranged the diff
ferent articles. The manner in which
they carried out the work is proof
positive not only Of their public
spirit but good taste.
In making the display, each school
had its own department, plainly dis
tinguished from its neighbors, this
adding not only to the ambition of the
schools but to the convenience of the
visitor.
The display of fruit and farm. pro-
ducts on the first floor of the build
ind, tho not as extensive in proper
ton as the school exhibit, was. .ex-
tensive and well arranged, Partic,i
ularly good was the display of citrus
fruit. There was SO much of this that
we remarked to the manager that it
looked like there had not been any
freeze in Lake. He said there had
been, but he was surprised himself to,
see how much fruit there was. Of
course, it was of the best quality, as
Lake has some of the best situated
groves in the state. The agricultural
products were good but not profuse.
We have seen ten times as much at
the Marion County Fair-however,
this was only the second day at Ia
wares, and more exhibits coming in
hourly There are lots of good farms
in Lake, but it hasn't occurred to. the
farmers to 60 to their fair en- masse
yet.
One highly commensurate feature
of the fair is the community idea.
Each neighborhood has department
to itself, just like county has at the
state fair. Leesburg had three depart
ments, and the other prominent COM
munities one each This is an idea
that might be most profitably copied
at our fair. Anthony might have a de-
partment, Blitchton another, and so
on thru the list of communities. It
would create a friendly rivalry that
would be highly beneficial.
Another thing that pleased us-wasl
to see that some of the products~-let-
tuce, for instance, was set out in the