Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-10-25
The Oklahoma State Fair Iuterest-
ingly Described BY Our
Correspondents.

Oklahoma City, Okla. October IS, 1918.
EDITOR SENTINEL About two weeks ago
lspent an afternoon at the Oklahoma State
Fair, which was in progress for ten-day
period at its grounds on the eastern out
skirts of the city The grounds are located
on perfectly level plot, and there are
many handsome exhibition buildings upon
them, among which is the largest audito-
rum in this part of the country. There is
a huge cement grandstand that will seat
seven thousand people. 1t is covered by
roof of steel, just completed in time for
the late fair. 1t looks as If one Of the
playful tornadoes they sometimes have
out here might come along some day, with
out much notice, and suddenly watt the
roof over to one of the adjoining counties.
There is an artificial pond of stagnant
water on either side OF the grounds--on
the theory. suppose, that stagnant water
is better than no water at all and the
circle inside the race-track is covered with
faded grass, upon which visitors are not
permitted to intrude. Along the outside
edge Of the race-track railing is abruptly
sloping ground, so there is no comfortable
standing-place from which to view the
races. On each side Of the grandstand is
long, high fence, cutting off all sight of
the track from either quarter. There is prac-
tically no shade upon the grounds, and very
little comfort or satisfaction outside of the
buildings and grandstand If the arrange
ments had been designed to entice people
into the grandstand at fifty cents and
dollar a seat. they could not have been
better perfected.
The exhibits were extensive and well
worth seeing. There were splendid horses
Of almost every strain. handsome fat cattle
and mich cows, some good sheep and fine
poultry. and lot Of the biggest hogs
ever saw. One Of them weighed nine
hundred and ninety pounds. and number
Of others. each weighing nearly that much.
One cheerful mother had fifteen ravenous
dependents. There were also present many
two-legged specimens not regularly on
exhibition, but running lunch-rooms and
skin-eames and vending slightly sweetened
rainwater, called root beer, who made up
in rapacity what they lacked in avoirdu-
pois.
The exhibits Of farm products were quite
interesting, and made me wonder how they
ever escaped the drought that blighted
pretty much everything around these dig.
glngs during July and August. Neverthe-
less some good products were raised in
some parts of the State. as these exhibits
attested. There was some good hard corn
there, and also some excellent fruits and
vegetables. Thirty-one counties of the sew
enty seven in the State had separate ex-
hibits. consisting mostly Of wheat, oats,
kafir, sorghum, cotton. alfalfa and other
''dry-land" products. Each Of the counties
represented had an exhibit of watermeons,
and some Of them were whoppers. II this
country just had plenty Of rain in the
summer season, 1t would become mine
Of wealth for the farmers. Even as II is.
the majority Of them seem to keep up their
courage, and none ever quits unless he is
clean burnt out. There is a lot Of plucky
people out here.
The fair was very well patronized. On
several days the attendance was above
thirty thousand. and the management real
lied snug sum Of money after paying all
expenses. ! am told that Oklahoma City
has lien upon the fair grounds. Mort
cages and liens are all the rage here on
property Of every description. The citizens
appear to enjoy them. They just seem to
90 right ahead. and don't seem to care
rap what belongs to the future.
The wind and dust in evidence at the
fair are worthy Of closing paragraph. In
these parts, certainly, the wind bloweth
where 1t listeth," and It lifteth the dust
from somewhere or other and placeth 1t
wheresoever it pleaseth The wind then
turns around and wafteth the dust back to
the places where II came from. Out at
the fair entrapped about peck Of 1t in
my pockets, my nostrils and my eyes, and
the lively experience Of that afternoon will
not soon be forgotten.
A. A. B.