Norwich bulletin., 1921-09-16
CROWDS AT WOODSTOCK FAIR
 CHEER GOVERNOR LAKE
Especial to The Bulletin)

ChUW DS AT WOOOSIUCh 6Ath
 CHEER GOVERNOR LAKE i
 Especial to The BuIietin)
 Woodstock, Sept 15.-Emphasizing the | important part played by agriculture and | the agricultural fair in the welfare of the state and nation, also pointing out the debt of the country to the small hill towns of Connecticut. Governor Everett J. Lake spoke to the hundreds who gathered at the exhibition grounds of the Woodstock Agricultural society. Thursday, which was Governors Day, brought to close the 65rd annual fair of the Woodstock society. Because of teh visit of the states chief executive to the town, the attendance was unusually large. At noon, with the closing of the stores in Putnam for the weekly half holiday. a stream of automobiles began to pour into the fair grounds, and by the time that the races were dalied, the grandstand was filled, and hundreds of cars were parked within the circle formed by the track The attendance at the fair this year has broken all re- cords, according to officials.
 It was shortly before Il o'clock when Governor Lake arrived at the fair grounds. He motored to Woodstock from Hartford. and was unaccompanied. Upon his arrival he was met by Rep resentative Luther H. Keith, of Putnam. anr State Highway Supervisor H. Ii. l Davenport of Pomfret, both officials of the fair. According to the governor. as he entered the grounds he had thrill that comes but once in a lifetime, for Thursdays visit brought back the days, | when as a lad, he had attended the l Woodstock fair. Its just like coming | home" said the governor as he looked | around him. Why, it's just the way 1t was when I used to romp around here, l 30 years ago! Way back then, my fatn- 1 CT used to give me two dollars on fair day. and I always had 1t spent by o'clock on the afternoon of entry day i'' That times have changed somewhat was shown by the fact that the governor could not be induced to take a chance on "baby-doll" although the vendors | tried their hardest to sell him tickets. Governor Lake was born In Woodstock and throughout the day he was greeted by friends and former school pals. Aft CT the round of the exhibition halls and midway had been made. the governor and his escort went to the grandstand and sat while the contest for draughi horses was run off. Following this they motored to the homo of Clarence w Bowen, on Woodstock hill, and here lunch was served the guests. The races had started when the party returned to the grounds, and as the governor went into the grandstand he was greeted with applause. From time to time, as his l eye fell on friends of his boyhood days the governor would smile in recognition It was apparent that Governor Lake wal enjoying himself ot the utmost and hil eyes beamed with delight as friend aft CT friend came up to where he was sit { nd lad ,R years ago. When, early in the day fl was suggested that the governors en trance in the afternoon be the signal fol a demonstration, with ' formal escort ana 8 parade, Governor Lake would not list en, and emphatically stated he didn' want any show.
 Representative Luther sKfth, who fl also president of the fair association presented the governor when .he latte went to the front of the grandstand t, speak. After the handclapptng had sub sided Governor Lake was forced tt stand while the band played Hail to tn Chief. With smile on his face he be gan by saying, My friends and neigh bors, I can beat horse race. but I can beat the bandr'
 He went on to aSk his audience I they realized that by making him ad ! uE6SS lLeIH lil6y were 5pOlllnS what wa to him a glorious day. q could stant up here and take the entire afternoon telling incidents that this day has re called to me. and which are pleasant t
 remember now. though often painful a the time" the former Woodstock boy be gan. T can remember when I starte
 to get my education over Hlere at tn
 little school on Goldfish fiat" and tn
 governor pointed over his shoulder
 School always opened with prayer, fol
 lowing which I got what deserved
 Except for the automobiles, woodstoc : fair is today just what it was when
 was boy. Father always used to giv
 me g and it was always spent by
 o'clock on the afternoon of entry da,
 And then I had to appeal to mothe
 There is an excellent way into thes grounds way over back, and T Knc'
 where it is, tool
 "Woodstock is the town where ., 2 my start" he stated. This is u !. town that gave me everything to do whi
 I have done It is from these hill town that out cities have been built, and oI z. state as welli
 Did you ever stop tD think whi !. these fairs, such as this one toda S mean and stand for?' asked Governt ,, Lake. 'NThey are the recognition of
 basic industry, agriculture Those
 us, who were in the war. and especial
 those who were on the other side. kno
 how much of national life. freedom n:
 liberty depedn on food and the feediI a, of . nation. These fairs also recogni ? this. But outside of the material pa
 and the recognition and stimulation
 great industry, the fairs are of gre ie worth They serve to bring us all t + gether on a single level. and they pro
 that we are free and democratic. Returning to tho part played by (
 hill towns in the development of the n P tion, the governor said. "As look ov
 history and see the development of O a- country, with automobiles and mode sr things, I like to think of 300 years a ~ when down. over these hills came m to from Boston and settled this town h. ours. With our automobiles, macads
 roads, and 70 miles trips between mea ,n we can hardly realize that 1t took the pr pioneers 1ve weeks to come here. ! W they were the ones that started t
 things We should be proud of. I ha 10 been in all but three states of this uni, B" l have also been abroad, but where,
 I go find that Connecticut is " T