The Billboard 1900-05-01: Vol 12 Iss 7 (1900-05-01)

= \ fives their support Sa Benefit Street Fairs. U — ‘ potent means for raising money for ho. pitals and kindred institutions. (By Will S. Heck.) ° Unless they possess a liberal endowment ‘and, hospitals, asylums and kindred chari‘able institutions often find themselves in a yramped financial condition, from which they trive in vain to extricate themselves. Every ‘esource is exhausted, and still the institu‘Lon continues to be in a bad way financially. hose who would naturally be expected to ontribute are found wanting. The widow, B odeed, is ever ready to give her mite, but fiose who have been blessed with this world’s oods are singularly retentive, and so the stitution flounders along through the mire "f debt as best it can. “The trouble lies, not so much, however, in he fact that the world is uncharitable, as nat it is careless and indifferent People as } rule are charitably disposed enough, but, nless the necessity for the exercise of their haritable instincts is brought home to them y the rude shock of some sudden 4d saster, ke the Johnstown flood or the Chicago fire, * sey continue heedless. Under these circumtances, what is the best thing to do? Obnously, the institution, woman's hospital, f rphan asylum, or whatever it may be, must GO INTO BUSINESS FOR ITSELF. ‘Thus, it will receive assistance from three jJasses: 1 First—Those who are its friends and sup* orters, and who not only assist in organtung and conducting the business, but also onvert themselves into its patrons Second—Those whose charitable motives are lubordinate to their selfish instincts, and rho, while they will not give a voluntary ‘ontribution, will patronize an enterpr.se ! otten up for the benefit of the inst.tut.on, ecause by so doing they kill two birds with ne stone. They feel that they are aiding a ‘orthy cause and at the same time realize rat they are getting something in exchange or the expenditure of their time and money. | Third—Those who are inspired by no move save and except the desire to enhance seir own interest, to gratify their own pleasTre. By a system of soliciting voluntary yntributions, only the first class is reached. y going into business for itself, by giving bme entertainment anything from an_ ice ream social to a street fair or carnival—the \stitution reaches all three classes and reBy soliciting veiuntary 4 f ontributions would flow into the coffers of f oing into business, it is aC e At ’ vsition of a mendicant asking for alms. By placed on a par ith any other business institution. It may ike a pardonable pride in the statement that ‘is giving everybody their money's worth aat for every dollar received for purchases r admission fees the one spending it gets ali value received. Of course, it would all e very pleasing and millenium-like if there va .cas such a broad sp.r.t of philanthropy 4d.f “oO ased throughout the world that voluntary ,£ btnributions would flow into the coffers of I * i bof Y« seful and <a Sere held, and 1 f" Smiliar T ! ” haritable institutions, to a sufficient degree Ny adequately support them. But, the reverse yeing true, the only thing left to do is to © into business; and I know of no enterprise Dhat promises so much in behalf of institu‘Dons undertaking it as the modern STREET FAIR OR CARNIVAL olFor such an enterprise we have numerous »b recedents. Many remember the great sucriess of the Sanitary Fairs held during the var, the object of which was to secure needed ‘Tupplies for our sick, wounded and suffering la @ldiers at the front All kinds of articles, ornamental, were sold raffles novel amusement features ‘vere introduced. The Humane Bazaar is a feature of every large city In10 umerable instances might be added in sup 10 ort of the absolute legitimacy of fairs and A ) f ee »stivals conducted for the benefit of benev ni lent institutions ib The modern street fair or carnival is just ‘ Nyow the fad It may be given either in the lummer or fall. In either case it will be suc fet essful, for nothing in the history of open t wT q © jr amusements in the past twenty vears has ee such a furore as the street fair or wdway and carnival. This form of amusey vent has developed within the past three ltears, though it undoubtedly has its inspiD ation in the ever memorable Midway Plai ‘tThnce of the World's Columbian Exposition ‘hat picturesque street, with its myriad 'vrikrange sights and sounds, brought us into 4D sntact with the peculiar people of the Orient ‘nf saunter between its villages and theaters 1 by aught us more about the ancient civilization f the Bast than poring over dozens of vol ‘mes of history, and ever since the World's ‘air, the Midway, with its Turkish Mu Subscribe THE BILLBOARD. sicians, its Japs and Arabs, its graceful, dark-eyed dancing girls, its Gypsies, its camels, its elephants and its host of other features, has never lost its charm, and during the coming season its attractions will be as potent as ever. Right here I would like to refer to the objection of those who claim that Midways and cannivals are immoral and indecent. -They are |not so, unless in the hands of incompetent and conselenceless managers. Conducted properly, ° MIDWAYS ARE EDUCATIONAL as well as amusing. on a respectable Midway as it is to conStruct one of a questionable character. The feature which is responsible for the bad impression of the Midway which has been formed in the minds of some people is the muscle dance, or ‘‘danse du ventre,”” which was unknown in this country before the Chicago Fair. This dance has been much abused. As originally given at the World's Fair and preSented in moderation, it consists merely in graceful, sinuous movements on the order of the gyrations of the Spanish dance, and is really interesting, because of the fact that it is pleasing to the eye and is characteristic ef the Orient What has made the dance execrable is the disgusting variations and Suggestive exaggerations presented under evil tutelage, by American girls—mere imitaters of Turkish dancers. It is a dance which many consider inseparable from the Midway; but, in reality, it matters little whether it is introduced or not. and fair committees may use the’r own judgement in the matter If intreduced, it should be confined to one tent strictly, and made a special feature of the Orient. Having decided to hold a fair or carnival the first thing to do is to ENLIST PUBLIC SENTIMENT Get the newspapers interested in it. Make overtures to the business men, who will be or should be, glad to lend the'r aid to an enterprise which will crowd the city with thousands of visitors and give them the ind'rect profits, while its direct profits are devoted to the cause of charity. Having succeeded in arousing public interest in the matter, you will have no trouble in getting the consent of the City Fathers to block off the streets necessary for the merchants and manufacturers’ exhibitions and the Midway. You will derive your revenue from the sale of admission tickets, privileges, program advert.sing, sale of booths, ete. Having secured it is just as easy to put for The Billboard now, a billposters’ paper for bill posters, your concession of streets, decide upon the location of your entrance, which should be a mammoth wooden structure of pleasing architecture. In some cities I have seen a band stand combined with the entrance Ten cents admission is charged, and this brings you into the exhibition street crowded with merchants’ booths on either side. You can rent the lumber for the construction of these booths, have them erected and realize a handsome sum by renting them to the merchants for from $1 to $2 per foot, according to the location. The midway or amusement Street is a continuation of the exhibition street Here another mammoth entrance is erected and another admission fee of ten cents is charged. There are usually from ten to twenty shows on the midway, each charging an admission fee of from ten to twentyfive cents. As may be imagined, the receipts from all these different shows aggregate quite a sum of money. A contract 1s made with some one making a specialty of putting on midways, who allows the association a percentage on the gate receipts of the midway and the receipts of the various shows. Space is insufficient, however, to go over the project of a street fair or carnival in detail But I have said enough, I think, to convince any one that it is logical, practical and thoroughly legitimate for the managers of a benevolent institution to go into the street fair or carnival business. Properly advertised, such an enterprise in any good, firstclass city should be immensely profitable WILL 8S. HECK New York State Fair: The New York State Fair bill has passed the legislature and has been approved by Governor Roosevelt. It creates a commission of eleven members, of whom the Lieutenant Governor and the Commissioner of Agriculture shall ex-offico constitute two, to manage the State Fair. The Governor was authorized to appoint nine commissioners, one a member of the State Grange, one a member of the State Association of County Agricultural Societies, and one a member of the Union Association of Agricultural Societies The commission mav hold a fair at such times as it may deem proper, and it may appoint a superintendent and other assistants and fix their compensation. A county or the the same week in which a State Fair is held shall, after 1900, not be entitled to share in any appropriation or apportionment of moneys for the current year, payable under saatute to county or local agricultural societies. The State now owns the fair grounds at Syracuse. The commissioners appointed by the Governor are: Frederick C. Stevens, of Attica; Harry Hamlin, of Ruffalo, and local association which bolds its fair during Charles Herbert Halcomb, of Syracuse, for three years; Elliot B. Norris, of Sodus, representing the State Grange: George I. Wilber, of Oneonta, representing the Union Association of County Agricultural Societies, and Samuel D. Williard ,of Geneva, for two years; James H. Durkee, of Sandy Hill, representing the State Association of County Agricultural Societies; George A. Smith, of Frankfort, and Frank D. Ward, of Batavia, for one year A bill also was introduced in the legislature which provided that any agricultural or fair society which permitted gambling on its fair grounds should forfeit the moneys received from the State under the agricultural laws A Typical Street Fair Scene. ye 9 Paris Exposition Opens. — As announced, the great ‘Exposition Universelle de 1900°° opened April 14 af Paris The day's ceremonies were a pecuhar mixture of sumptuous splendor and widespread confusion. The weather was perfect; 14,000 invited guests witnessed the ceremonies, be sides the hosts of Parisians and country people who flocked in thousands to the grounds Although the exposition is now open, it will be a month yet before many of the buildings and xhibits are complete and everything is ready. The opening ceremonies were simple. ’resident Loubet and suite were re ceived ¢ the entrance of the Salle des Fetes, and upon entering, M Millerand, the Minister of Commerce, immediately delivered his address, which was especially fine, and handed over the exposition to the Chief of State President Loubet replied in suitable terms, and the speaking part of the function was over The group among the @reat as sembly which was most attractive was the body of foreign representatives. Sinte Vic toria’s jubilee or the Czar’s coronation no such congress of strange and gorgeovs national costumes has been brought together The Mth was a holiday in Paris, and she was in gala attire, and when night came the city was literally a blaze of lights The Charlotte, N.C., Celebration. The Charlotte (N. C.) Elks’ Carnival and International Firemen’s Tournament is com ing along nicely It opens on May 20, and continues for five days, and during that time all Charlotte will be arrayed in its best bib and tucker, and the whole town will be in gala attire. Mr. C. H. Campbell, who is head of the committee, has arranged the following program First day-—-Exercises commemorative of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence Second day—Firemen’s Day Third day—Elks’ Carnival Fourth day—Athletie Day Fifth day—Colored People’s Day On Athletic Day—Friday—the program will be of unusual interest Amateur, or colleg ate, athletics will be especially emphasized American Horses to Compete. Royal Horse Show to be held at Richmond, England, next June, there will be a special class for American-bred horses imported into London from any port in the United States during the twelve months pre ceding the show The herses will be ex hibited in single harness. Tie first prize will be a 50-guinea silver cup, presented by the American Transport Line; the second prize, a 2-guinea cup, and the third prize a 4 guinea trophy A Brief Billboard Ballad. Never worry, fret or frown, But bill your fair in every town At the Never frown or fret or worry, But bill-—and wateh the people. scurry Never worry, frown or fret, But bill your fair—you'll get there vet