Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-26
Especial to Kennebcc JournaD

Especial to kennebec JournaO
Waterville, Aug. 25-A jolly crowd
of children, old folks and Legion
aires swarmed the Central Maine
Fair grounds today on the open
ing day OF the Dist exhibition of the
fair. in spite of threatening clouds
which covered the skies the greater
part of the time. With the excep-
ton of several sideshows. nearly ev-
cry department was ready for the
crowd and the attendants were soon
hustling about in the busy fashion
of the event. Music from bands,
orchestras, Photographs, radios and
mechanical organs swung through
the air and the hundreds of people
who came from far and near to at
tend the opening program of the
1874 exhibition were happy. The
throb OF engines from the machine
tents and from the DuFour Rides.
the cries of hawkers who were each
trying to Guido the other in adver-
Using of their wares, the sharp in
cessant clisk of horses hQofs upon
the. half-mile turf and the under
current of talk from the multitude
VI AolhS pACoCllt, al SCSIISu lO UlSHu
together as emblems that put the
spirit into the fair.
Although children are admitted
free each day of the fair this year,
there seemed to be the same large
number of Riddles which are always
on hand for the first day. Laughing,
excited boys and girls darted here
and there about the grounds all day,
all trying to the best of their ability
TO see everything that there was to
be seen on the grounds and patron
izing the hot dog" and ice cream
stands to the extent Of their wealth.
Then the old folks were on hand
to enjoy the fun with the. young
sters. For the first time in years,
Old Folks Day came first. In this
way it gives the old folks a chance
to see more than they could on the
last day of the exhibition.
Two or three hundred Legionaires.
headed by National Commander
Quinn. attended the fair yesterday
as guests of the association. Many
of them, in Waterville for the first
time to remain for any length OF
time were very pleased with the op-
portunity to attend this show.
Drews Waterville Band furnished
music for concerts during the day and
was well liked by everyone This band
has been drawing record crowds at the
municipal concerts in Monument Park
this summer and seems to be just as
Popular with out-of-town people as To-
cal folks.
While parking space was plentiful
enough yesterday, automobiles were
thick and the special police were wide
awake to sec that there were no acct
dents.
The Metropolitan Life Insurance Co
has an emergency hospital fitted up
with modern equipment to give first aid
to the injured or sick. DR.. John G.
Towne Of this city is in charge and
he has the services OF two different
physicians each day OF the fair. That
this department of the fair is we'll
worth having vas shown yesterday as
five patients were given medical atten-
ton during the carly hours of the day.
The little tent is ideal for a resting
place for mothers who have small chill
dren ard babies will be given good
milk here each day as they were last
year.
There are several free attractions
this year, which makes the fair better
than usual. Prof. .Bonnette in his bal
loon assertion and parachute jump
held the crowd breathless yesterday
afternoon. Then the rest of the vau-
deville is splendid. Burley and Bur-
ley, who perform an acrobatic comedy
act. draw much applause. The Twen-
tieth Century konders give three acts,
all Of which are very fine. The three
horses, Moonshine, Sprakey and Near
bear, with their clown riders. are
enough to make the most sober person
shake with laughter. Mack and LIE Rue
give an artistic whirlwind novelty, and
the Kanazawa Four, direct from the
Orient, perform we'll
DR.. William ]. Young, city health
officer. was inspecting the booths and
eating places yesterday on the grounds
TO see that everything was in clean
shape for the Visitors. All frankfort
cookers arc covered with glass frames
this year.
In the Coliseum
One IS impressed upon entering the
Coliseum by the attractive booths and
the elaborate decorations of the entire
building, which is carried out in blue
and yellow bunting with countless fir
trees intermingled. making q most
pleasing effect.
There are many exhibits OF local
firms as we'll as others from different
parts of the State, and the booths of
the Lockwood Co. and the Holdings
worth & Whitney Co. are an education
in themselves.
Mrs George Johnson. who is the su-
perintendent of the arts and crafts de-
partment this year. has chosen pink
and white for. her color scheme and
has carried this out throughout her en-
tire space which is crowded with deli
cato specifens or hand-painted china.
gorgeous pieces of solid embroidery,
tatten, fillet. bead work. baskets Of ev-
cry kind and description. wood cary
ing, treasured antiques, quilts rugs and
some wonderful and valuable speci-
mems of wa tercolors and oils. Perhaps
one of the pieces most admired in this
depa was bedspread in the fin
est fllet done by an Asyrian woman
from this city.
A new feature to be added to this
department this year is large exhibit
OF crafts work done by the patients at
(Ean&tnuMA At