Trip to the Royal Winter Fair

Lambton County Archives Staff

In January 1940, Marjorie Clemens from Ravenswood School entered a student essay contest. Her poem recorded a memorable trip with the Junior Farmers to the Royal Winter Fair. It was included with essays and poems from other students in a publication by W.P. MacDonald, which can be found at the Lambton County Archives.

W.P MacDonald graduated from Ontario Agricultural College in 1915 and was the Agricultural Representative for Lambton County through until 1956. Lambton Heritage Museum has a virtual exhibit on MacDonald’s 2016 induction to the Lambton Agricultural Hall of Fame. Visit the virtual exhibit here, https://www.lambtonmuseums.ca/en/lambton-heritage-museum/lambtonagricultural-hall-of-fame.aspx

There are some events recorded, And some that never are, The trip we made down to the Royal in history has no par. Then every Lambton boy and girl who rated at the fair, In speaking and exhibits too By bus was taken there.

Some of us left from Watford town A little after eight, And since it was our first bus ride Not one of us was late. There was a bus for all the boys, Another for the girls, And W.P. was rushed so much His hair fair stood in curls. But when at last he had us placed Our trip was well begun, And all the sights were fresh and new, And we were glad we’d come.

At London something happened – say I wonder could you guess? We had our picture taken there And saw it in the Press. By 12 o’clock we plain could see Toronto must be near, And that we might somehow be late, There was no cause to fear.

We had the finest chaperones, And they took every care, That each of us was sure to see The best things at the Fair. And we had pinned long ribbons on With “Lambton” lettered clear, So folks could tell from where we came We were quite vain I fear.

We viewed the cattle, pigs and sheep, Of every breed and size; We heard the judges tell just why They gave to some the prize. We saw the horses walk upstairs Like they were on the ground; And every kind of fowl I’m sure Could somewhere there be found.

And one show piggy ran away, He’d go first left then right, The owner shouted “Catch the pig” But we weren’t able quite.

The smartest [Birdie] ever seen Clucked there upon her nest, She said the [strangest] things to us Just how you’ve maybe guessed.

But I liked best the hero dogs, Just plain dogs like my own, And we were told the noble deeds Which each had done alone. For some had barked a quick alarm, And saved a friend from fire; They wagged their tails as though to say, “We aren’t for sale or hire”. And one had saved a little boy Who could not swim alone From drowning and the dog now had A medal of his own.

We saw the silky foxes judged They looked so quiet quite; But they had muzzles on so they Could neither snarl nor bite.

The faces of some sheep were hid With tiny little curls, Their “permanent” could easily be The envy of the girls.

For us the marionettes all danced In costumes of their land. We wondered how they fixed them so They moved at their command.

We watched the blind fold sew a seam, And knit like you or me; They were so certain what to do You’d think that they could see.

The potter with the potter’s wheel Turned out some vases rare; We felt if we could take one home We’d treasure it with care.

We saw a lady dying wool Like back in Grandma’s day, With dyes of berries, bark and roots, And she explained the way.

A word about the apples too –We just wished for a bite From one of those big juicy spies, But no one said we might.

When evening came, of course we all Were ready for the show; The great Colosseum filled us with Saw awe as you can’t know. The ladies came and took their place In fancy evening gowns; The men with long-tailed coats, high hats Along beside sat down. We watched the Nova Scotian girls and ponies in a drill; And when they had the horses jump It gave us all a thrill. The cattle with their ribbons on Were led around the ring, And all the strange and wondrous sights –I can’t tell everything.

It was the first for most of us

To sleep in a hotel; The really silly things we did It’s perhaps not best to tell.

But [morning] found us all astir, And ready to see more, We drove around, and we beheld The Eaton well-known store, The Robert Simpson building too, The mighty edifice where Our parliament is wont to meet And do its business there.

Another day spent at the Fair –I’ll tell you now of the flowers –I think right there I could have stayed For many many hours.

The paths between led here and there, And little fountains played, Such gorgeous roses bloomed, and we had felt we’d been repaid

If only we had made the trip and seen the flower show.

Such flowers of every colour, kind, Their names I do not know. The dearest little cottage stood, With roses over run.

And there we saw the bride and groom, Who smiled at all our fun. Attendants all were in their place In wedding-day attire, And we must needs all stop awhile The pretty scene admire.

But 4P.M. came all too soon, We should be on our way. And we were weary and I think we felt we’d had a day. We sang most every song we knew As homeward bound we sped I’m very sure we all were glad To see our home and bed.

And W.P. Macdonald may Throughout the coming years, Take many groups of girls and boys, And win applause and cheers. But we the group of “38” Alone the honour claimWe were the very first to go This fact we loud proclaim.

To W.P. Macdonald now Give credit, ‘tis his due; We gave a bunch of girls and boys A great time it is true. And perhaps when we have grown old, With silver in our hair, We’ll tell our songs and daughters of Our first trip to the fair. And we will not forget to name The man who planned it so, And W.P. Macdonald’s fame Will grow and grow and grow.