The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1890-06-07 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

TIIE FAIR. Though cloudy in the early forenoon, the behaviour of that mystic individual who looks after the weather arrangements was on Monday, the opening day, almost perfect. A gentle breeze carried little dust about the fair ground, thanks to the forethought which caused a good. supply of aqua pure to be distributed over the meadow, an improvement which contrasted greatly with the begrimed condition of visitore on Sunday. As early as seven o'clock the streets adjoining the scene of operationswere congested with a mass of struggling happy holiday-seekers, vieing with each other the privilege of a first look around. By nine o'clock the throng had visibly increased, and the various modes of gulling the innocent B.P. were in full swing. Later on the influx of excursions landed a number of visitors, the crowd at mid-day being immense. Skirmishing through Hales - street, I happen on the gentleman who undertakes for the small sum of one penny to reveal the mysteries of a spider's spinal column, a flea's foot, and the tongue of a fly. I am initiated into the method of looking through a brick—at times a most desirable feat—and, passing on, enter the fair proper. Occupying their usual position at the entrance, the Mesdames Suett are busily engaged in satisfying the cravings for toothsome gingerbread and tempting sweetmeat, as the rapidlydisappearing mountains of succulent edibles bear evidence. " Suett's 60th visit to the fair" is the proud record displayed at this establishment. On every side lan unusually large assortment of toys meets the eye, their cheapness a standing proof of the low cost of their production in the "Fatherland." The scene presents a perfect Babel. Shrieks of laughter from the youngsters intermingle with the uproarious mirth of convivial souls thronging the narrow passages, while ever and anon the sounds of the " gentle ' penny trumpet and the sheepskin drum find an enforced hearing. Happiness—unadulterated happiness—and good humour pervade the crowd, of whose eagerness L am impressed in more senses than one. A detour to the right brings me to the " crock " market, and still further afield cocoa-nut stalls appear in full swing. Looked at from Priory-street THE VIEW IS BEWIIAMBING and the vaned discordant strains deafening. Dealing out " prizes every time," I see an individual in a green jacket, and a number of patrons equally, verdant making, purchases. Of the steam merry-go-rounds, the switchback railway does a roaring trade at something like fifteen shillings a time, the "sea on land " and galloping horses also doing well in due proportion. Visiting the mechanical exhibition on the extreme right, after running the gauntlet of fortune-telling lasses from the sunny south, I stand confronted by Bostook's menagerie sandwiched between rival " ghost " exhibitions. Any doubt as to the efficacy of music and its soothing charms are dispelled at this point. With an organ capable of rendering the " Hallelujah " chorus and several bars of the National Anthem at the same time, and another murdering popular comic songs, the brass band stands but a "ghostly" chance of making itself heard. To distinguish individual efforts is impossible, and opinion still seems divided as to whether the trombonist attached to the menagerie clearly displayed the superiority of that instrument over the much abused drum of the neighbouring show. The proprietors in silk hats and resplendent with finery are using every known artifice to inane° visitors to step inside, the whole company being displayed meanwhile on the stage outside. Words evidently fail to express the grandeur of the performance inside, several members of the troupe having to resort to the sign language of the Choctaw or Sioux Indians in order to express such an edifying spectacle. Vocalization on one side; hypnotism (?) extraordinary on the other. "You pays yer money and takes yer choice " between " Maria Martin," " Sweeney Tod " or " The Mystery of a Gingham ;" the tragedy and comedy of life in fifteen minutes. Proceeding, I next visit the ART EXHIBITIONS, where the graceful as well as the disgraceful in art are on view. Copies of" Hypatia " and "Galatea" with the ever attractive "Nana" are most popular. A little further on, a jovial and merry-faced showman, such as Dickens loved to sketch, is endeavouring, by many spasmodic twists of his white hat, to prove that " Codlin's your friend, not Short."' Lady riders in flimsy attire,and other members of the company from the clown upwards, assist in. crowding the circus, a solemn, visaged man taking sundry mean advantages of an unoffending drum.