Rensselaer Republican, Volume 14, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1882 — The Season for Fairs. [ARTICLE]

The Season for Fairs.

New York Suu. The season of fairs is again at hand. Churili fairs, charitable fairs, children’s lairs, fairs for discharging mortgages and paying debts, all find their best opportunity in the monih of December, since they can fill booths with gifts for the holidays, and buyers can combine benevolence with business. The various excitements of the lottery, whether in the form of the liish pond and the grab bag, where every body gets a prize, or in the regular rattling for prizes, continue to be a prominent attraction iu these fairs. Of course, the flower arbors, the fortune teller’s cave, the post office, and Rebecca’s well maintain their popularity, and there are generally side shows of plans of Jerusalem “Punch and Judy, tableaux, or what not. But ■ the greatest rage is that of voting canes, swords, badges, or other emblems to the most popular policeman, preacher, soldier, statesman, or sexton, This is usually the most exciting feature of a fair: aud as it is the one which earns by far the largest amount of money in proportion to the intrinsic vklue of the goods awarded, it Is likely te continue In favor with the managers of these entertainments.