Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-09-16

| Th6ro Is no neeQ 20 repeat the story OF
the weather, which everybody knows. A
constant drizzle of rain, varied by an oc-
casiOnal downpour, and a still rarer short
interval when no rain fell, though the
clouds still hung thick and sullen. The
roads were everywhere sea Of mud
and II you didn't see them last week,
you have little idea what that expression
literally means. Navigation by automo.
bile between the Two villages and the
fair grounds was wet, unspeakably
rough, and slightly perilous. There
wasn't the least danger OF any one speed
ing, for any one running over ten miles
an hour did 80 at great discomfort and
some risk.
Trouble began with the heavy shower
of Monday afternoon, which wet down
everything on the grounds. Tuesday
the conditions were 80 bad that the pro-
gram was set over a day. Wednesday
was simple repetition. For these two
days the gates were left open, and people
travelled around as they desired, several
hundred thus taking in the free show.
Thursday, though the conditions were
hardly better, the program Of the first
day was carried out az far as possible.
It was too wet for outdoor band con-
certs, base ball or horse racing, but sew.
eral drawing contests were pulled of,
and some hundreds of people paid their
admission and roamed about the build
ings and grounds, most of the time in q
drizz'e.
The fair on which the weather man thus
frowned was in shape to be one of the
best the society has ever had. The hall
exhibit was one of the most interesting
ever brought together, there wasa good
show of cattle, land some of the best
trainers and most noted race horses In
the state were waiting for the bell.
Friday really gave some promise of
being day when 1t would be possible to
do something, aud during the forenoon
there were some drawing matches, and
people could keep their umbrellas closed.
About noon q shower set in which re-
solved itself into an afternoon-long
dowppour, and dashed the last lingering
hopes that were entertained of having
day of real fair this year.
Under the grand stand as usual the
poultry was displayed, in the show coops
which are used as needed by the society
and the Western Maine Poultry Associa-
ton. In number there were not so many
birds as In some past years, though the
quality was fully up to standard, and
most Of the breeders and fanciers OF the
vicinity were represented by some of
their choicest stock.
Even though the program is suspended,
and the gate stands open and uuguarded,
there are some pickings for the midway
shows; and while 1t was q hard week for
them, some Of them ct least secured q
little salvage from the days when there
was nominally nothing doing.
The midway was full to the last nick
and corner, and with about every con.
ceivable device to attract patronage.
The Ferris wheel, the circle wave, and
the merry-go.round, without which the
fair would be woefully incomplete, were
in their usual places. The first two
depend upon fair weather, but the mer-
ry-go round, being under canvas, is capa.
BILE of operation even though the rain is
sifting down outside, and did q fairly
good business under adverse conditions.
Two of the loudest If not the noisiest
shows were the Walla Walla Girls and
the Partisan Girls. There was an Egyp-
tian harem, and another with mystery
title, "for men only" And there were
pin games aud bowling alleys, and other
devices galore.
Ice cream, the great American refresh
ment, and hot dog, divided the honors,
with the accent little on the ice cream
In spite of the. temperature and the
weather conditions, and the sugar short
age had no apparent effect in lessening
the supply.
LOTS OF FRUIT.
More apples than for several years
past. They more than filed the shelf
which generally accommodates them,
and took up portion of the shelf appro-
priated to other fruits. "rve been
around to the fairs a good DEAL" said
one man, "and have never anywhere
seen so good lot of apples. Indeed, l
didn't know there were any so good"
Nor were the apples alone in the fruit
department. There were lots OF pears,
plums in surprising variety, grapes, etc.
Oscar N. Cox of Norway had twenty.six
varieties of grapes at the fair, and says
that be raises in all about forty varieties.
NOTES IN THE HALL.
A considerable quantity of the toy
furniture made by Irving Wheeler,
crippled South Paris boy, was exhibited.
1t was for sale, and quite part of 1t
was sold during the fair.
Three collections of field crops and
vegetables were shown, che exhibitors
being C. D. Morse of Waterford, j. B.
Field of Norway, and j. F. Moody, Jr.,
OF Cliffside Farm, Hebron. Such an
abundance of products was brought by,
the last named that the Cliffside Farm
exhibit overfowed the space allotted to
1t, and . pyramid of vegetables was
stacked on box and the floor, and even
some were slowed in the case designed
for dairy products. 1t would be impos.
sible to enumerate the varieties included
In these displays.
Three assortments OF crops and vege-
tables by boys eighteen years or under,
we're also made, the boys showing them
being Albert Knightly of Norway, Lau-
renee G.. Brown Of Norway, Is years old,
and Hosea Curtis OF Norway, II years
old. These were very creditable, and
two of them were large and varied.
In the line of individual entries OF the
several and numerous varieties of vege-
tables there was an almost bewildering
number and variety. Immense pump
kins and squashes are naturally the most
onspicuous In this department, but
many other things command attention.
1t appears to be good year for melens
In this northern climate, judging from
the number and evident toothsomepess
OF the specimens.
A number of cauliflower heads larger
over than Q half. bushel basket were
shown BY W. G. Symonds of Norway.
A novelty, not entered for premium
but interesting, was q bunch Of sun
flowers brought in by Sanford NJ. Brown.
Accustomed as we are to yellow sun
flowers only, It was little surprising to
see these In variety of mixtures OF yel,
low and other shades, which for lack OF
q more exact classification may be called
purple.
A problem in the emancipation Of the
sex was presented with the traces OF
pop corn. One was entered by Philip z.
Maxim Of South Paris, 8 years old.
Then another was brought In BY . small
girl. As the epremlum 10 offered for corn
raised by "boy" under fourteen-what
TO do? It was entered In the name OF
Theodore Sloan, Norway.
shown by Hilda L. Russell, Norway, IL
years old, Winona Young, Norway, IL
years old, Mrs. Woodbury. Russell, Nor