The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-28
M B N, w O M FEN
 A ND T H IN G s


 or late that am just getting time to tell about really worth while visit which 1 made last week to the community tair at Lewisburg.
 am greatly interested in community fairs, as I believe they are not only Ileeders to the county and state fairs, put in way are probably more valuable from the fact that they touch nearly every family in a neighborhood. I got my hrst view of one two seasons ago at Biount Highlands and what I saw made me keen for them
 We are constantly talking about mak- Ing farm life less monotonous, and it's crying need if we hope to keep the bright boys and ambitious girls in the country. Of course ever since the coun- try life survey of the government it has been much in the press and on the plat form. and the matter is being seriously discussed through the agency of the agri- cultural county high schools and normal colleges, well as at Auburn and the university.
 Many think deliverance will come through good roads, and the highways will help much. Many expect a reform when the country churches awake to their opportunities and responsibilities. Many hope that the establishment of community centers will add it's quota in the solution. These three are potent fac tors that must be kept constantly alive; but we can't afford to wait for their ar rival before doing something.
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 !. New it seems to be one of the most po- tential available forces to be utilized at once to knit neighborhoods together is the community fair, and so when 1 got an invitation from Mrs. D. B. Walker to come out to the Lewisburg community exhibit. made up my mind to keep an open date for it, and when the time rolled around I was only too glad to be driven out by W. F. Shillito of the Ala bama Company, wheis doing such good work in the welfare department.
 
 Lewisburg is fortunate in having al- ready established one of the best consol- dated schools in the county. It is a handsome brick two-story structure splendidly locattd on hill which com mands a magnificent view. It. is easy. however, with available funds to erect a commodious school building and attrac- tive grounds but after these are done, if the proper spirit be lacking, education will lag in spite of proper facilities. J. A. Harper, the superintendent, is backed up, not only by a competent and willing faculty, but also has the respect, con- hdence and love of the children and their parents.
 Mrs. Walker in her letter told me among other things to lure me out, that I would get chance to see the prize garden of Jefferson county. I was interested be- cause on the Fourth of July when I was out there to patriotic celebration the great trees had been dynamited and the land in the hollow near the creek was just being made farmable. It looked to me like a pretty poor chance for a school garden. and I did not expect to see much in the way of vegetables.
 But I had one of -the surprises of my life. In spite of the, continuous droutb l saw one of the finest fall gardens that It has ever been my pleasure to see. I'll not set down here the things contained in it. for it would be merely to catalogue everything which can be raised in this section. The fifteen garden plots had been carefully prepared, sowed with dis crimination and tended faithfully. The plot contains a fraction over an acre and half
 H. l.. Brown, county agricultural agent. and J. F. Pope of the T. C. & I. gar den and landscape department, were busy going through it when I arrived in or- der to determine which of the gardens wtre to receive the prizes. Photographs were being taken and specimens gathered. Both of these experts were high in their praise of the success of the boys and girls. \ They made particular mention of the fact that Bessie Asberry, the girl winning the first prize, had mulched her plot and given evidence that work could take the place of showers. I saw Mrs. John B. Reid drive up. and knew that with her trained and practiced eye she could appraise the worth of the domestic science offerings and of the needlework and other household exhibits. She was genuinely enthusiastic over the showing made. In fact, I never saw more attractive exhibits Sonne of the jellies, pickles, preserves and canned fruits were simply exquisite The cakes. bread and other cookies were most tempt ing. The quilts appealed especially to me In the household exhibits. although there were many other beautiful specimens of hand work. A case of curios owned by B. B. Walker i1eld many interesting bits of historic in- terest. The farm display. while small. was attractive. and so were the flowers on show. It was easily seen that seed selection will be. cultivated. I ain in hope that next year those having live stock will exhibit 1t. The chicken display was very good. There ought to be pig, calf and chicken clubs formed. These and other things will come later, for yn,s far was just try to see what could be 1 done on short notice.
 It was gratifying to see that already the nucleus of good library had been made, and many more volumes will be