Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1920-11-11

year the merchants advanced $500
and there was $500 left from last
year, so that no further assessments
are likely. The amounts contribut-
ed by all firms were small.
But the association Is still learn
ing. Already it has decided to have
another free fair next year and has
in preparation the organization Of a
calf club among the farmer boys
which has been started and financed
by the banks. The boys are to have
pure bred stock and prizes Of $500
will be offered next year. which will
be- arranged so that every hoy win
get something. 1t will be one of the
big features Of the free fair. It Is
realized that the young folks must be
interested If the fair is to be suc-
cess. The special day for children
was popular and it will be continued.
Automobile races are evidently a bet
ter drawing card than horse races,
for great crowds came on the day
they were given and nearly twice as
many were present on that day as
there were on any other day Of the
fair. It is probable that a pageant
will be given as part Of the program
next year to interest the families as
a whole and picnic parties will be en-
couraged.
Some Items of Expense
OF course, everything at a fair
cannot be free. The cost of enter
tainment is high these days. It costs
$3.50 for the fireworks alone. An air.
plane costs $50 a day. Acrobats cost
from 5000 to $500 day. No asso-
citation can make everything on the
grounds free. There was some un-
certainty as to how the attendants
would look upon the charge at the
and quarter stretch, but |
seemed to realize that this
was a special privilege and paid will
ngly. Everybody paid, too. Not
4 pass was issued. The newspaper re-
,orters and editors had no compli-
tickets; the families of
managers of the fair paid as much as
anyone else. 1t was the first fair
.ver given in the county when passes
we're absolutely eliminated.
The danger always attending
air is that 1t will become an exhibit
n which only few will take inter-
st. The whole county must help.
Tours over the county do a great deal
O awaken interest. Two such trips
we're taken by 40 cars loaded with
business men. Among these were
wo bankers. The association tried
o get every farmer and his family
Apparently It was sue
essful, but other things can be done.
FOR one thing the secretary should
'e on the Job throughout the year.
he secretary of the Business Mems
ssociation as well as the Secretary
Z the Commercial Cub OF Abilene Is
working hard on the free fair project.
lie is already busy on next years
how. The interest Of the women is
ot in races or shows--they desire to
ave plenty Of attention given to
ousehold economics and this is to be
1ade a special feature.
With the automobile so common,
or Dickinson county has 5000 Of
hem, whole families from 20 miles
way can make the trip In an hour
r less and with good roads being
uilt 90 that there Is less difficulty
! case Of rain, the entire county can
Dme. Half the total population OF
he county was at the free fair this
ear. Next year II is proposed to in
rease this number.
Dickinson county believes It has
,und the key to the fair puzzle. Itl
.es in the free fair q get-together
Ieeting of the people that makes for
reater understanding and acquaint-
1ceship and that builds up better I
immunity spirit. This alone Is worth
hile and as the deficit Is much less
an It ever was with a paid fair
hen attendance was small and the
teerst was meager, the officers Of
e fair believe that the new idea Il