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Most Famous Shows

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Parent Issue
Day
1
Month
August
Year
1889
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Go backward into the dark morntg and abyss of time until the wearied wings of reMarch tire out in the ancient twilight, and there y ou will find the institution of f airs already old, Far back beyond recorded htotory, beyond even ancient mytb, the primal nations held their early annual fairs. At first these fairi vrere relig ious. A tribe, a prlnoipality or a kingdom assembled its people yearly at ome city or thrine f or reUgiou festiraL Thither neoessarUy cama the traders and artúans, and the religión featiral became gradually a market fair. The wares of tbe merchante, the works of the artisans and handiorafts, the cattle brought for sacrifices and food were all compared together. Thna the market fair grew graduaUy into the eompetitire exhibfUon, fueh as all countries hare to-day. Tbus tho ancient fairs were TH MORKINO STAÍ13 OF CITILIZA.TIOI. There the congragated merchants and artlsans compared experiraoM as wsll aa ware, and learoed improvament Tbere the eorliest inrentors tama, taught, and fouod their rewards. Thare the whol natlon, as spectator, learned to progresa. There the gathering of animáis taught the improvemoot oí breeds, and the d .splays ot fruits, jrains and food advanced the early agricul turista. The oldest written books in the world ara the Tariou bibles of the human race. Every one of them- allke the Jewish scriptures, the books of the Bhuddista, of the Brahmins, of Zoroaster, tbe ancient paintingj of Egjptlan tombs and temples, the inscribed bricks of Ninevah, the ruins of Babyion- all meation fairs. The great fair of India is still held at Hurdwar, on the Upper Ganges. Every twelfth year it is particularly boly, and 3,000,000 or more pilgrims assemble. Elephants, tigers and other wild beasts are sold, with all merchandise, and a vast display of wares. EVERY NATION ON KAETH HAS ITS PAIRS, the Oriënt being flrst in point of time. Th great fair of Russia, at Novgorod of ten numbers 200,000 traders. King Alfred the Wi3 introduced the fair into England over 1,000 years ago. In the middle of dark ages, the fairs held in the European cities were very important, and did rauch to keep clrilization alive. The great fair at Mecca dates from shortly after the death of Mahomet The most important fair of France is held at Beaucaire, and the trada In one week has reached over $5,000,000. The fair of Madrid is held at th hermitage of San Isidro del Campo, when the grand pilgrimage and festival to the shrine of San Isidro draws immense orowdi. Italy holds her principal fair at the shrine of St. Mary Magdalenr, in Sinigalia. Oermany has her ereat fairs at Leipsie, Frankfort-on-theMain, Frankforlon-the-Oder, and Brunswick. The Engliïh, Scotch, Irish and Welsh eattle and other fairs are well know n. At the great Irish fair in Ballinasloe 75,000 sheep and 25,000 eattle ar often exhibited. At one Ipswich fair, in England, 100,000 lambs have been sold. Fairs began in Flanders in the year 960. ORKAT WOBLD'S FAIRS, at which the nations are summoned to competo with each other, are of modern origin. in ancient times the world was always at war, and peaceful riyalry is the white rose of modern civilizaron. The first world's fair was held in England. The second, a few years later, was held in New York, and was opened in 1852 by President Pieree and bis cabinet After the ceremony, President Pierce and other high dignitarles went into the Crystal Palace saloon, across the street, and drank brandy and water at tbe public bar. So different were the customs of that day. Mean w hile General 8cott, Pierce's defeated riral for the presidency, with one arm in a sllng and in nis sbirt sleeres, owing to a recent fall from his carriage, held a grand reception in the Crystal Palace fair building. Theu England held another world's fair, followed by that of Napoleon III, in Paris, and by that of Vienna. Then the United States held another, THB CEOTBHNIAL CF 1876. in Philadelphia, opened by President Hayes and his cabinet The French are holding one now in Paris, at which the Eiffel Tower, of steel and iron, nearly 1,000 feet high, is the most remarkable object At the Crystal Palaoe, in New York, in 1853 3, Powers' American marbles, "The Greek Slare" and "The Fisher Boy," and Kiss' famous gfgantic bronca group, uTha Amazon," from Berlin, wer the masterpieces of art. Still more recent are great expositions of state and prorinces, with immense and costly permanent buildings and grounds, and all sorts of magnificent special attractions, such as gjgantic concerta, processions, tournaments, games, etc Among these of noto har been the great exposition of Cincinnati, 8t Louis, Chicago, Buffalo, Atlanta, 8t Paul, Louisville, etc The Detroit International Exposition to ba hald September 17th-27, is projected upoo a scale largar than any of its predect&sors. lts buildings will ba Taster, costlier and flner; its premium liat will giva away in prUes oyr $100,000; itg graat Art Oallery will ihow tbe largest and costliest, and most interestlng collection of paintings, statuary and art treasures, from renowned artists; its grand oonoerU and continental band tournamen t; lts enormous show of b'ooded horsei, cattle and other stock; its Tast dilay of machlnery and inyention, and all beautif ui ad excellent goods and wares; and its Ion; arrar of spacial gigantic attractions, Whj make it notable in the history of great expositions. It will combina and display the productions of the United States and Canada, and ba truly a great continental fair. The public and private good that is aecomplished by SÜCH MAGWIFICKNT DISPLAYS is almost incalculable. Their competitlon giTes new impulses, and new ideas, and new inventions to au the industrio. They eonstitute a great popular art sofaooi for the cultiration of refined tast and a love for the beautiful and rare in the multitud. They teach farmers and stock breeders tha value of improved stock and progressiv metbods. They set the wheels of universal progress in the art of civilization in brisker motion. They draw states and nations, provinces and peoples together in th bonds of friendly and profltaMe rivalry. Tbey set the victorie of pace and good neighborhood high above the triumpbs of war and conquest. They preach the grand gospel of industry, tbnft and enterprise. Soms Bay City chaps wbo bad a hankerng for doing a thriying business without beIng subject to the stat tai, loatled a scow wlth drinkables and tbn saiiod around wnoog the summer reort to quench tbe thlrst ot the reaorters, wbo wer very, yery

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Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Register