Fairs of the Pioneers 189 



fewer inflamed slumber robes, less lingerie, fewer 

 restless tidies and stiff, severe pillow-shams and 

 beautiful pink satin pincushions, but there were 

 more home-made blankets, rag carpets, hand-made 

 quilts and more bread and butter "like mother 

 used to make." 



The chief point of difference between the old- 

 time fair and the modern fall exhibition is really 

 in the appearance of the folk who attend. Country 

 folk dined on homely, but healthy and generous 

 fare, and wore "hodden grey" in those good old 

 times, and the men and boys wore top-boots. The 

 top-boot period was left behind with the corduroy 

 roads, the old ox-team and other utilities of a by- 

 gone age. But many "grey-haired boys" have 

 fond recollections of top-boots, for the occasion 

 when as boys, they first donned a pair of long 

 boots was a red letter event to be long remem- 

 bered. Some old-timers never got over the habit 

 of wearing such footwear and refused to change 

 with the fashions. One of the great American 

 Republic's mightiest editors, Horace Greeley of 

 "Go West, young man" fame, and who was a 

 candidate for the presidency of his country, used 

 to wear top-boots on Broadway, and, they say, he 

 usually had one pantaloon leg caught up over the 

 ear of one of the boots. It was Greeley who once 

 said that a man never would amount to much who 

 was always worrying about the fit of his trousers, 

 and in this he practised what he preached. 



