The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-10-06
Exhibits All in Place and Hundreds of Fine Speci- mems of Live Stock on Hand-Free Attractions
 All on Grounds and Ready for Opening Performance
By HENRY B. GRAY. JR.

dIlu Ue Oll ldHu when the gates
 1t Alabama's biggest and best state fair opens this morning.
 Because you've got to get an
 early start if you intend to see
 everything that has been
 brought together out there for your entertainment and educa- tion; and you won't see it all in
 one visit or two. Nobody who goes once will be satis- Tied unless he can make several other trips and the wise people will be those who purchase a book of six tickets, This is really going to be the finest 1 fair we have ever had in Alabama and no one can afford to miss it.
 I went down to the fair grounds yes- 1 terday to see just how much truth there was in all the claims that have been l filling the papers for the past month, statements that led one to think that we have never known what a real fair l is here in Birmingham, that we have never had any side shows that could be compared with what they have assem- bled this year, and that we have never had real thrill unless we've been l lucky enough to see Locklear change planes in midair. As I say I went down to see for myself. I saw--and l now I'm likely to be the biggest boost ! CT of all A GOOD FAULT There is so much down there that it IS hard to know what to talk about first; if any critism can be made it IS that there is a little too much in the grounds, that booths, exhibition buildings and shows are so crowded to- gether that there may be too much congestion. But this is a fault on the good side if fault at all. Human psychology is such that at fairs and circuses people like to be crowded; the more people on hand the more you l get pushed and elbowed. the better time you have, so long as some thought less person dosn't mistake your watch 1 or wallet for his own. For that reason | everybody ought to enjoy themselves
 at the fair because they will have every opportunity to rub elbows with their fellow creatures From the minute you enter the grounds until you leave there is go- ing to be something to attract eye and ear, on the ground and in the air. If you want a laugh you can get it; if you want thrill that can be had too, l either by doing something yourself or by watching some one else do it. There
 are roller coasters, merry go rounds and other amusements that are guar anteed to cure indigestion and a grouch on your first ride.
 If you are hungry there are restau rants where you can sit down and be served a real meal or you can stop at one of score of places and buy a "hot dog" or some fine barbecue, or anything else you want When you get thirsty there is a vendor of soft drinks anywhere you happen to be and he will ] supply you with lemonade, orange-ade, l coco-cola and every other known form | of "ola" liquid.
 If you think you can shoot there are | galleries where you can prove it; if you were a baseball pitcher in your youth you can take crack at the nigger's head; those who love quoits i will have lots of opportunities to ring l a cane or knife. Everything you have | ever seen in all your other fairs is gathered together at this one and no
 matter how particular you are you can be pleased.
 WORLDS GREATEST ACTS
 Then there are the shows "Jchnny J.i Jones' Exposition" twenty-five of the greatest acts that have ever been gath
 cred together, acts that please and amuse every member of the family. | While I was at the fair grounds their
 train arrived more than a dozen large | cars and if the way they unload and | get their house in order is any indi- | cation of what they have to offer the people of Birmingham have a lot to
 look forward to. You won't want to
 miss any of them
 And the free attractions, more and
 better than ever before! Everywhere Hooked yesterday l saw signs of them | The band stand was all iNady to re-
 ceive the Seventyfirst regiment band l the race track uas in rnarve Ions Sha De 1 and half a dozen drivers were limberinS ! up their horses; the frames were being 1 set up for the fire works; in front of the grand stand I.ockhearts two air f planes were being carefully overhauled;
 the swiftly built cars for the auto polo 1 were being tuned up. Everywhere the | final touches were being added and when the gates swing open this morn 1 ing nothing will have been left'undone to make everybody young and old. l have a better time than they have ever | had before.
 PERFECT SPECIMEN
 I wandered through the exhibition buildings to see what was happening | in them and here too I found people | hard at work and almost every exhibit | in readiness. In the poultry and pet |
 stock building perfect specimens of ns and roosters were in their cages. | as well as large numbers of rabbits and guinea pigs; right next door in the | building where the kennel club used to | have it's shows the efnment exhi- 1 bits were being put in place by rep | resentatives of the navy and agFiclt- l tural department In the manufactuA- CTS building I found everything from phosphate to buggies and automobiles, 1 including cakes and mattresses Over | in the agricultural building farmers from all over the state have an exhi- l bit that will surprise you, one that contains countless things grown here in Alabama. apples. pears. corn, wheat | cotton, alfalfa. pumpkins--everythin you have ever heard of and lots of
 things that you don't know anything
 about.
 Then there are the cattle and hog |
 buildings Here those interested in
 live stock will find hundreds of the finest specimens of both from all over
 the south. If you think you know a big hog whep you see it go out and , find out how mistaken you are. There
 are little ones. too; in fact, all kinds,
 sDne with short hair, some with long | curly hair and some with no hair at
 all And if there is anything you want
 to know about them there are those
 present who can answer all your ques- |