Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-09-30
A Model Fair.
BY Frederic J. Ifaskin

Toronto, Canada, sept. 2s.--Thia
place ~ appropriately named. for
Toronto means place OF meeting. The
Indians named II when they gathered
here to trade fi.Ts with the French.
coming over Lake Ontario IN their
canoes. and trailing down from the
forests Now. on the same ground
where the Indians met, Canadians
Rather every fall at what has become
the biggest annual exposition held
lanywhore--the Canadian National Ex-
hibition.
Expositlons and fairs are held all
over Canada. much like our own state
and local fairs. But the Toronto ex-
hibition claims 10 hold the record for
cIaborateness, size and popularity.
10 Toronto, the exhibition is the
event Of the year. II has been an in
stltutlon for a. consecutive years
All year round, the 264 acres Of FIX
hibition city on Lake Ontario stand
practically deserted. with only care
takers to keep the bull iings, foun-
ltains, band stands lawns and flower
beds in trim. But all the time the
board Of directors Of the exhibition
and their committees are working. The
day after the exhibition closes the
heads begin considering Improvements
for next year. To be on the board Is
one OF tho most important honorf
Toronto can confer upon her leading
citizens. The city Is proud Of the
record that il has kept politics out Of
its exhibition.
When Tire affair opens, visitors pour
Into the city. They come not onls
from all over Canada, but from cvers
state in the Union, and even gcos
many from South America and Other
distant countries, for the Canadian
National Exposition is famous foi
being a model fair.
The fair grounds present the sor
OF panorama Of any big exposition
There are long streets with more thar
q hundred stands running paddl
, wheels. ball tossing games and othe
contests Not one Of the games IL
! gambling device, you are told. Tn
board Of directors is firm about that
And prices are reasonable. The boar,
makes the contracts with the conces
sion holders, fixing fair prices, and
lolose watch is kept 10 see that ther
! is no rrofiteering.
Beyond the games and amusement
and the big white eating tents, is IN
/, rrandstand. When you consider tina
there were 10000 children on thi
grandstand at three performances o
Young Canada Day--30 900 at q tim
I you get an idea Of the scale on whic
= the Toronto exhibition has 20 be plar
: ned.
Community Singing.
!, This grand stand faces four circt
!, rings where vaudeville and circus ac
ure shown. followed by a pagean
o. community singing and at night. fir
works. How 10 get an audience
a some 30 600 people to sing does ~
!. worry the exhibition managers at a
7, Words are thrown on two big screen
one at each end Of the S00-foot stag
!, An ordinary megaphons or piai
= would scarcely c. ~ to the front roS
' Of so large an outdoor auditorium
:, But rolling booth, open on the si'
toward the people, is pulled TO q
center Of the stage. OF the apparat
= only three horns on the top Of q
booth are noticeable. A man sits ]
;" side the booth and plays an xylopho
land sings in an ordinary tone of vOis
J" and every word can be caught at q
far corners OF the stand.
. Canada takes kindly to singing. !
W sorts of weli-known songs arc quick
n caught up and finished in a climax
81 enthusiasm. Old songs ike "Ta-ra-T
ie boom decay" I'm the Shade Of the
20 Apple Tree" and Garry Me Back
20 Old Virginny," are alternated with t
no newer popular tunes. Sing loud II
er last year." the screen urges betwe
two numbers, and Canada laughs a
= complies.
II AS many entertainment features
n there SEEM 10 be at the exhibits
II there are even more of an education
III character. The management prefers
II stress this side of the spectacle. Tore
III 10 insists that a stranger can lea
/ more about Canada in two hours
/ the exhibition than in a year Of trs
Il lei over country. This is probably tr
II Few Americans would credit Cana
II with producing the varied asso
/ lment OF things that can be seen in |
Il all-Canada display.
Hi The manufacturers building,
4 instance, has elaborate displays
/ rooms furnished in brocades. expel
Il live-looking furniture and ornaments
/ glass and china that might have co
I from the famous pOtteries of Euro
II Here, too. makers Of pianos and ia
II irg machines display the beauti
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