ESSEX AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 41 



ports of the Fair of 1902. The Society was in debt and 

 facing annual deficits. Only twelve new members had 

 been added during- the year. 



But great preparations were made for 1903, and beau- 

 tiful weather favored the success of the Fair. On the 

 opening day a coaching and automobile parade gave great 

 eclat to the occasion. Led by mounted marshals, a line 

 of open barouches, bearing the officials of the Society and 

 the City, followed by a long train of four-in-hands, dog 

 and pony carts and automobiles, all beautifully decorated, 

 formed on Salem Common and moved to the Fair Grounds 

 in Peabody. It was estimated that ten thousand people 

 passed through the gates in the afternoon. Band con- 

 certs, hurdle- jumping, vaudeville shows, and bicycle races 

 entertained the crowd. Gasoline engines in operation at- 

 tracted much attention. The receipts were $3,000, less 

 by two hundred than those of the preceding year. 



The records of the following years vary little. Rain on 

 the evening before the parade caused a meager turnout in 

 September, 1904. A balloon ascension and parachute de- 

 scent had been added to the attractions, but repeated at- 

 tempts met with exasperating failure. There were fire- 

 men's races and hurdle races and a mimic Midway. The 

 great event, however, was the stirring address of Hon. 

 Henry Cabot Lodge at the dinner. 



New features characterized the exhibition of 1905. 

 The public schools were closed and children were admitted 

 free in the afternoon of the opening day. The Salem 

 merchants organized a Trade Bazaar in a large tent. 

 The show of live stock was the largest made on the new 

 grounds, working oxen, fine herds of milch cows, swinq 

 and poultry. 



At the dinner of the Society in September, 1906, Hon. 

 Robert S. Rantoul delivered a just eulogy of Benjamin 

 P. Ware, who had died on February 7, 1906, at the age 

 of eighty-four. His long life had covered nearly the 

 whole period of the existence of the Agricultural Society, 



