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JIM: A response (of sorts) to questions recently posed by Mr. Billy Joe Fudge JIM gives a fascinating account from past Adair County Fairs, but actually comes down hard on both sides of the notion that the presence of a carnival adversely affects moral rectitude, stating, equivocally: "As far as the collective moral rectitude of the fair-going crowd being an inverse function of the presence (or absence) of a carnival - that's a tough question, one better answered by the Great Minds of Adair." By JIM, who studies such matters The following is a response to a couple of Large Questions recently posed here A Question for Jim on moral rectitude, presence of carnivals by Mr. Billy Joe Fudge in regard to an earlier CM piece. The astute reader will note that the author, in best political fashion, uses many words to obfuscate the obvious: that he doesn't have a clue what might be the answers to Mr. Fudge's questions. My Swiss cheese memory (getting Swiss cheesier by the day, thanks in part, no doubt, to the ever-increasing amount of direct sunlight hitting my increasingly less hirsute pate), can not dredge up any recollection of having read about a carnival being a part of the Columbia / Adair County Fair during the first 20 years or thereabout of the last century. Perhaps my Brother-Cousin Mike, considerably my junior in years and considerably more learned and agile of mind, can shed light on this darkling path. During the era mentioned above, the Fair first and foremost was an agricultural/rural and social event. Charles Snow Harris, one of the directors, was also a full-time farmer as well as editor of the Adair County News, so a great deal of the ink used in reporting the goings on was devoted to listing the winners and runners up in the various competitions -- animal husbandry, crops, canning, and quilting, and, of course, the show ring events, and much of the ink left over from that seemed to go toward mention of out-of-towners and particularly of natives who had returned for Fair week. There were, however, other attractions over the years, two of the more remarkable ones appearing in 1901 and in 1910. In 1901, just weeks after the first Tin Lizzie ever to befoul the air of Columbia chugged around the Square, arrangements were made to have an automobile at the Fair. Patrons were advised to "bring a few extra dimes" in order to take a ride at the unheard of speed of 30 miles an hour. The News billed the mechanical marvel as "A vehicle that splits the wind, making the rider feel like he is flying." (As an aside, 1901 seemed to be an extraordinary year for the Fair. Not only did perfect order prevail, those in attendance at the Fair were so taken by the entertainments of the Mount Vernon Band that "all grumbles and frowns...were driven away by words of praise...no other band has so completely satisfied the people who have attended fairs in this section." And too, the band provided accompaniment for an impromptu cake walk by four young misses, aged 11 to 14 years -- Bessie Wolford, of Nashville, and Lina Rosenfield, Mabel Atkins, and Edna Lewis, of Columbia -- who "stepped to the tune of 'Goo Goo Eyes' for fifteen minutes" and won the admiration and hearts of the crowd assembled.) Movies apparently became a staple of the Fair in 1908, as the August 12 edition of the News that year promised "Moving picture show and negro (sic) minstrels at the Fair Grounds each day of the exhibition." Two years later, the August 31, 1910 issue reported that: "The KaDell & Kritchfield big show entertained at Columbia during the Fair and it was well patronized throughout the week. The show consists of the best dancers, musical artists and comedians...The moving picture department is something grand..." The "something grand" was an early -- and not quite successful -- effort at talkies, an effect achieved by synchronizing the movie projector with a phonograph machine. Generally, the synchronization left something to be desired and the sound was of lackluster quality -- but it was sound! One can hardly imagine the amazement of the fair-goers who plunked down the price of admission -- 15c and 25c -- for a screening. (A decade and more later, when efforts to produce true talkies still had fallen far short of the glory, the news observed that "A person can get more real enjoyment in a good picture show than he finds at a circus," then wryly added, "A great many persons remain away from a picture show because they cannot hear the lion roar.") As far as the collective moral rectitude of the fair-going crowd being an inverse function of the presence (or absence) of a carnival -- that's a tough question, one better answered by the Great Minds of Adair. The time frame in question was an era of public prudery (for lack of a better expression) when appearance was incredibly important. Other than amongst the contingent of always-present ruffians and scofflaws, partaking in games of chance in public, even ones as innocent (and virtually unwinnable) as those offered by a carnival, likely would have brought castigation upon one's self and one's family. At one point about this time, a group of Columbia businessmen went together to buy a billiards table for their own enjoyment, but the News deemed it necessary to profusely state the table was for private amusement only and that no gambling would take place over it. - JIM This story was posted on 2015-09-02 13:55:49
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