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SUPPLEMENT TO THE McHENRY PLAIINDEALER McHENRY, ILLINOIS, THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1908 The McHenry County Fair and Home-Coming Festival will Open to the Public Monday, September 7th, and Continue Five Days. The entries will close Monday night and exhibits will he in place at eight o'clock Tuesday morning, and everything will l>e in readiness for visitors at that time. Tuesday the Big Day of the Fair. The home-coiners will be welcomed Tuesday morning. Prep­ arations are being made for special free attractions and amuse­ ments for that day with the intention of making TUESDAY THE BIG DAY OF THE FAIR, at least in point of entertainment provided. All former residents of the county are invited to come and renew old friendships and acquaintance, partake of our hospi­ tality, and participate in the festivities of the occasion. Premiums Doubled, Insuring Unequaled Exhibits In All Departments. The premiums are practically double those offered in any former year, which insures unequaled exhibits in all departments. The entries on live stock will close Saturday, August 29th, one week before the fair. Poultry entries will close Saturday, September 5th. All other entries will close Monday, September 7th, but exhibitors are particularly requested to mail their entries to the secretarj' at least one week before the fair. Arrangements have been made for additional stalls and pens if needed for live stock. The poultry house is being enlarged to nearly double its former capacity. Space for a much more elab­ orate display in the Woman's Building is being provided by means of a series of adjustable curtains placed through the center of the building. Much improvement is being made for decoration and display in Agricultural Hall. The large Dining Hall also comes in for a share in the work of improvement; better ventilation will be provided, and the hall divided into two separate restaurants, which will insure its being handled more easily and much more acceptably to the patrons of the fair. Several hundred reserved seats are being placed in front of the grand stand, additional seating capacity provided at the south end of grand stand, and every effort will be put forth to properlv care for a large increase in the number of exhibitors and visitors. Speed Contests and Attractions Surpassing All Previous Exhibitions. There will he an unparalleled program of free attractions and exciting speed contests surpassing all previous exhibitions. The refined casting acts, sensational gymnastic and coinedv acrobatic feats are among the best that can be secured and cannot fail to please the most fastidious. One of the greatest and most pleasing features of the fair this year will be the noted troupe of Welling­ ton Zouaves, consisting of twenty people, conceded to be the finest drilled organization in the world. This organization has been declared "champion of the world" by the government milif tary experts who engaged theiu for the Jamestown Exposition. They are said to be the fastest drilling organization in the world, marching at the rate of 220 steps per minute. Their pyramid building, wall scaling and other acrobatic and military feats are remarkable. The management' considers themselves fortunate in being able to secure this noted military band, they having never before played to a fair in any city of less than <>O,OIK> inhabitants. Ideal Entertainment at a Bargain. The fellow who figured 011 buying himself at the estimate others place 011 him, and selling himself at his own estimate is conceded to have had in mind a good business proposition. But for a genuine bargain consider the price of admission to the McHenry County Fair. You can buy a season ticket good for each day of the fair for $1.00; or for #1.50 you can buy a ticket admitting both yourself and wife each day, a trifle over iS cents each admission. Buy a season ticket- attend everyday. Meet your friends and enjoy the best holiday outing of the vear. ANNOUNCEMENT The Fifty-Fifth Annual McHenry County Fair will be held 011 the society's grounds at Woodstock, Illinois, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday ami Friday,. September 7 to 11, 190S. These will be live red-letter days in the history of McHenry County. UTILITY The benefits of these Annual Fairs are manifold. As object lessons upon the varied resources of the county they are of in­ estimable value. Well managed fairs reach and benefit all avenues of industrial life. There is not a home, a farm, a factory, or com­ mercial enterprise that is not benefited either directly or indirectly thereby. Fairs are educational. This fair, with its comprehen­ sive exhibits, will do more to broaden the vision, quicken the perception, and increase the useful knowledge of the average visitor, tlian any other enterprise or institution in the same length of time. A knowledge of labor-saving machinery in everv day use can be secured. Live stock is not only exhibited, but is sold and exchanged for breeding purposes to the advantage of all parties concerned and the up-building of the live stock industry. The principle of education underlies all the work, and the whole is planned to be a representative exhibit of the resources of the county where the visitor may easily obtain a general idea of the occupation, arts, production, etc. Each department is an educa­ tional force in itself. The dairy department will provide an op­ portunity to learn how butter is scored and handled, and how milk is tested for butter fat. A member of the experiment station staff will test the milk for bacteria and acidity, and will explain how milk should be handled to keep sweet for a considerable time. Knowledge that may be worth hundreds of dollars to dairymen may be gained here in a few moments of time. What is true of this department is true of all other departments in a greater or less degree. LIBERAL PREMIUMS The premium list has been most liberally revised in all de­ partments and the attention of all exhibitors is called to the large increase in premiums offered, especially in live stock and jmultrv, in which classes the PRIZES are practically DOUBIJv those offered in any former year. This should insure the largest and most comprehensive exhibition ever held in McHenry County. LIVE STOCK AND POULTRY In horses, cattle, sheep, hogs and poultry it is confidently expected that the best types of the various breeds will f>e shown in largely increased numbers. The horses and cattle will be judged on the track in front of the grand stand, and there will be a grand parade of premium stock on Friday. Farmers can hardly afford to miss the opportunity for coining to the fair to study these animals; to see them judged by expert judges, and learn their characteristics and qualities. THE JUDGES have been selected with the sole aim of securing those who will render intelligent and unbiased decisions, and onlv those who are experts in the departments in which they are to serve. THE MANUFACTURES BUILDING The exhibits of dairy products and the pioducts of the arts and industries attractively displayed in the handsomely decorated booths of manufacturers and merchants of the countv, make this building one of great interest to all visitor-,. THE WOMAN'S BUILDING is one of the most attractive places on the grounds. Liberal premiums are offered, and the finest specimens of textile, orna­ mental ami fine art work are always attractively shown. The arrangement of exhibits will be materially changed this year in such a way as to make the displays much more attractive and pleasing than ever before. FRUITS AND FLOWERS The departments of Farm Products, Horticulture and Flori­ culture will be re-arranged, and this, together with the favorable season, the later date of the fair, and the increased premiums should insure splendid exhibits in these detriments. AMUSEMENTS The fair is a place where people may meet and exchange views; study improved methods; meet old friends, make new acquaintances and enjoy themselves to the fullest extent. A unique program of amusements and attractions of the highest character, including speed contests of gTeat interest, is being pre­ pared, which cannot fail to meet the expectations of the people. The greatest of all entertainment features will be the GRAND HOME-COMING FESTIVAL The first permanent settlement in McHenry County was made in Algonquin township by James (iillilau in the fall of 1834. The seventy-fourth anniversary of that event is approaching and the people of McHenry County are preparing to celebrate it by a grand County Home-Coming Festival to be held in connection with the McHenry County Fair the second week in September. A heartv invitation is extended to all old friends and neighbors to cotne back to McHenry County and participate in the event. The hospitality of the entire county, both city and country, will be extended to all who come. A large tent for the home-comers will be erected on the grounds, in which to conduct the program of music and speaking, recounting reminiscences, etc. There will be a welcoming address Tuesday morning, and there will be "a hot time in the old county" for four days, and hundreds of former neighbors and friends who have not met for years will gather from far and near to greet each other "in the old familiar place." McHenry Countv has a large representation scattered throughout this great country, and we shall not be satisfied with less than a full thousand of liome-comers next September. GEO. A. HUNT. Secretary.