Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-08-20
THE BIG FAIR Was
GREAT SUCCESS
Fine Weather and Big Crowds In
Attendance Every Day and
Night and Great Pro-
gram Enjoyed
NIGHT FAIR WAS
PATRONIZED BIG
Secretaries Curtin and Bucknell are
to be Congratulated on the
Excellent Program Given.


closed Friday and it proved one of
the most successful fairs held here
in years. The only rain that fell was
on Tuesday night and Wednesday
dawned clear and bright and the
weather was that way the rest of the
week.
The fair drew immense crowds.
Tuesday proved good opening day.
Wednesday brought about 5000 peo-
pie and Thursday between 10000
and $4,000. The grounds were pack
ed.
The entertainment features this
year were good, especially the plat
form attractions in front of the
grandstand. The four Casters did
some difficult trapeze work that
brought forth much applause, while
the Takito Japs in unique feats of
high perch and tumbling were the
best ever seen here. The Fisher Sis
ters in iron jaw aerialistics were an
other good attraction, as were the
Three Leonards, double trapeze and
ring experts. These features were all
high-class stuff and pleased i'm
mensely.
Prof Walter Raub and Miss Adams
the balloonists gave some great. ex-
hibitions. On Thursday they made a
double parachute drop, and on We'd
nesday Prof. Raub used three differ
ent parachutes in making his decent.
Friday he didn't go up until nearly
nine o'clock. All three flights We're
fine and good to see.
Another free attraction was the
aeroplane, but this particular kind OF
an attraction seems to have run out
in favor here. The flyer went up al
right and flew about, but there were
no sensational stunts pulled, simply
straight flying. The fact is that the
people have seen so much Of this the
past couple of years that it doesn't
seem to interest them any more, and
it will take the real sensational stuff
to make a hit, like jumping from
one plane to another high in the air
The fireworks at the night fair this
year, as usual were very fine and de-
lighted the big crowds present.
4 10 We
never saw more stands on the ground
in the history of the association
There were plenty of stands to get
a lunch and cool drink and plenty
of stands where you could get a
Kewpie doll, providing you were
lucky. Tickets cost 10c or three fol
25c and by the looks of the dolls
that were carted about the grounds
by different ones, these concessions
did big business.
The Ferris wheel and the Whip
also did rushing business. The
Ferris wheel was the largest one
that has been here yet. The WhiI
was something new. 1t was whirlly.
gig affair with eleven boxes holding
two people and they swung around
on track in zig-zag fashion at a
high rate of speed. This attraction
etook in the most money on the
grounds. We understand Wednesday
they took in over 5000, and the
rides cost 10 cents each with one cent
war tax.
The side shows were not very
numerous this year, as three that
were signed up failed to arrive or
account of the freight tie-up on the
railroads. Two attractions however
did arrive, Col. Smiths famou:
curio cars, and dog and pony show
and both were we'll patronized.
The Floral Hall.
The Moral hall this year was moi
overcrowded with displays, but
everything shown was high class
Much besptiffh fancy work was
shown which reflected much credit
on the maers.
A display of war relics brought
back from fAance and Germany by
Decorah and Hinneshiek soldier boys
proved anottef interesting display
MachinerA spd Light Display.
Decorah bSsiAess firms had some
fine displays. The Lally Light and
Milwaukee, WAteh System was shown
by Peter Johhsoh & Sons and at,
tracted much attention. T. M. Hal.
vorson. the Deleo hight man. had a
very fine showing OF these lights and
was kept busy, demonstrating their
merits. Reed & Lennon the well