State

September 19, 1936 THE STATE Page Nine State Fair Today . . . and in 1892 Л comparison of the premium lists proves the fact that there have been many changes in our North Carolina State Fairs. The im¬ provement seems to have been almost general. By MOZELLE PAYNE BEAM IF you visited the North Carolina State Fair last year, you probably declared it to be the fluent you ever witnessed. Five years ago, you un¬ doubtedly made the same remark about the fair which was held that year. The same tiling applies to every other State Fair that has been held. And, iu the majority of instances, all of those claims were true, because the State Fair has gradually grown larger and better, year after year. If you want to obtain an opinion about the 193G fair, get into conversation with George Hamid or Norman Cham¬ bliss— the directors— and they will tell you unhesitatingly that “Our fair this year is going to be the best in the history of the State.” Even the old-timers, who grumble that “times ain’t what they used to be" will admit that present-day fairs are far ahead of the exhibitions of yesteryear. To realize this difference, anyone who is not old enough to remember the "horse-and-buggy days," has only to note the contrast in the Fair Premium Book of years past with more recent copies. The Fair Back in 1892 One of the old premium l->oks is in my possesion. Published in 1892, perusal of its pages proves that times are changing, and, so far as state fairs are concerned, definitely for the better. It is a slim little booklet, this dog¬ eared copy of the "Premium List of the Thirty-second Annual North Carolina State Fair, To Be Held At Raleigh, N. C., October 18, 19, 20 and 21, 1892.” And, compared with the attractive, larger Premium List of 1930, the old book doesn't make such a good showing. Both books, however, have one thing in common. Each announces, quite truthfully, that “This Year’s State Fair will In- the finest ever held." The old book declares: "The State Fair for 1892 will present more and greuter attractions than have ever been condensed into one week of pleasure and general reunion of people in the State of North Carolina.” The North Carolina Agricultural Society sponsored the. 1892 event. The President of the Society was К. II. Battle of Raleigh; the Corresponding Secretary and Manager was И. W. Ayer of Raleigh;- Vice Presidents (permanent) were Hon. Kemp P. Bat¬ tle. Orange County, Hon. К. H. Smith, Halifax, Gov. T. M, Holt, Alamance, and W. G. Upchurch, Wake. That year, the Fair gates opened “for the admission of visitors at 10 o’clock a. in., each day" and closed at 10 p.in. Some Rules and Regulations Order was kept on the grounds then, as now, but consider the "no matches” ruling in the following: "Drunkenness, quarreling, or the use of profane or obscene language, also gambling, pool- selling, or other games of chance, will not Ik- allowed on the grounds; nor fireworks, petroleum, gunpowder, matches, or any other objectionable or daugerous materials whatever." The prices of admission then were: “Single ticket, each day, 50c; Chil¬ dren under 12 years, each day, 25c; Carriages of visitors, with driver, each, aOc; One-horse carriage and driver, per week, $3.00; Two-horse carriage and driver, per week, $5.00." "The Most Liberal Premiums Ever Offered" to exhibitors were advertised in the old booklet. The departments for exhibits were: Department A, Field and Garden Crops, Maj. С. H. Clark, director. Among premiums offered were: The first premium for the largest yield lint cotton per acre, from 5 acres, $20. Tobacco — Best 10 pounds bright lemon wrappers, $20. Largest yield of corn from 5 acres (2 bushels to bo exhibited in the car) — first, $30; sec¬ ond. $10. Ground-pens— Best yield from one acre, one hunch to he ex¬ hibited, first, $10, etc. Dept. B-l, Horses. Dr. I). W. C. Bonbow, director. Dept. B-2, Cattle, Col. W. H. S. Burgwyn, director. Dept. B-3, Sheep, It. dames Powell, director. Dept. C. Poultry, G. B. Alford, director. Dept. 1), Orchard and Nursery Products, Cnpt. С. B. Denson, director. Dept. K, Pantry Supplies. J. S. Wynne, director. Dept. F. Manufactures, W. K. Ashley, di¬ rector. Dept. G. Mercantile Displays, N. B. Broughton, director. Dept. II. Ladies' Work, Col. Eugene G. Harrell, director. ( Premiums were offered for articles now almost unknown, such as “Lady’s dressing-sack,” "Wall pro¬ tector or splasher.” “Pillow-shams,” "Lace necktie.") Dept. I, Fine Arts, Paintings, etc., W. S. Primrose, di¬ rector. Dept. K, Agricultural Imple¬ ments and Machinery, T. B. Yancey, director. Dept. L. Curios, Freaks, etc., J. T. Wyatt, director. Special Attractions The “Special Attractions” for 1892 would not prove particularly attractive today. Chief among these was Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Show, featuring Gordon W. Lillie ( Pawnee Bill), "the friend of the pioneer,” and his com¬ pany, composed of cowboys, Indians, and trappers. Interesting characters, perhaps, hut who would waste time today looking, for instance, at “Fugle Eye, a white man adopted and raised by the Indians; bis wife, Princess Neoln, a full-blooded Indian woman," when we can watch “The Revelations of 193G?” Other attractions included "Magnifi¬ cent exhibits by all of Raleigh’s indus¬ tries and business houses, a grand pro¬ cession of allegorical and trades floats, grand gentians and halls, and the great¬ est pyrotechnic display ever seen in the South.” Also, the "Famous Switchback Railway, a universal favorite amusement"; “Exhibit of Birds and Pet Animals"; "An un¬ usually largo number of attractive and {Continued on page twenty)