The daily Gate City., 1855-10-12
Iowa State Fair.
Editorial CORES pondence.
E.tpr.vr T,,naInx- =,

h i arrived IN tins centre OF attraction about
O'Clock this afternoon, meeting little wor-
thy Of note on the way. fancy stranger
would obtain very adequate notion OF the
extent and populousness of the Des Moines
Valley. and of the resources of keokuk as u
point Of trade, by travelling over the road be-
tween keokuk and this place. He would at
| procession Of wagons loaded with goods or
going down after goods. And the citizens Of
keoknk would be equally surprised 10 see
the crowds of immigrants that fill the roads
up in this direction, bound West.
As reached the public square and saw the
4" show Of strangers. | began to think ma
chance AT the hotels was rather poor, when,
in the very MEX Of time, nv old friend e.
Baldwin stepped up and said was the very
man he was looking for. As Gale is the best
| sign Of good living to be found in the State,
| very gladly accepted his invitation, and am
now living like lord at the hospitahle man
sion Of my friend.
The Hotels, and the private houses. too,
seem to be full already, vet doubt if there
are as many people here now as there were
the night before the Fair last year. Still eve
rybody anticipates much larger gathering
than that Of last year. And | learn that
many persons are coming from the neighbor-
I ing counties with tents and camp equipage,
prepared to ''camp out" and provide them
selves.
We have some twenty Keokukians here
this evening, and have met number from
Fort Des Moines, Muscatine and Burlington.
while counties more convenient seem 10 be
pretty we'll represented. | hear that a Bra IS
Band from Bloomfield and another from Os-
kaloosa are on the way and will be in town
tomorrow morning.
Rumor reports that we are to have numer-
Gus competitors for the premium for horse
mdnSflip among the ladies', and that Senator
Iarlan's wife will enter the lists.
The great matter of excitement this after
noen was Bear sght." We heard Of it
several miles before we reached town, and
have heard a great deal more Of il since
The published programme set forth that a
bear was to hight two dogs, on the Fair
Grounds, at O'Clock this afternoon. on bet
Of $40. Price of admission 25 cents. The
President Of the State Agricultural Society,
we believe, very properly put his veto upon
such desecration of the Fair grounds, and
the scene of blood and fun was changed to q
: Livery stable yard IN town. This change OF
I, place was right 10 our hand, as it caused de-
! lay, and thus enabled the keokuk boys to SCI
c he fight.
OF course as the s'pursuit of knowledge
2 under difficulties" is part of editorial duty
attended, dreading to witness the blood,
] scene. After considerable 'Hflling ant
!. backing" all parties were put in trim anc
: trained up to the sticking point. The Bear
e which was medium sized, plump looking
black pet, was tethered to stake by "a ter
. foot chain, and the dogs were let loose ant
: hissed on. The dogs were good enough dogs
. and snapped quite viciously at the bear III
h iernately, as he turned tail to one in pursui
! Of the other. But old Brun, notwithstand
ing the ''little rope given him. soon seizet
the dogs, one after the other, gave them
= brief wooling and sent them yelling and limp
ing away After this easy victory three dog
were turned in on the bear and gave hin
A some liyeler exercise in order to protect hi
ie 'seat Of honor" but this trio Of the eann
e race soon give it up as bad job, and KEEP
). at respectable distance. doubtless adoptin
A. the maxim that s'dscre,ion is the better par
J. of salor," when one has To fight bear
!. We expected to see a serious and blood
ii fight dis-raceful to a civilized eommunit,
al but it turned out to be most ridiculou
ls farce with nary drop of blood, and very Ii,
tie hair drawn.
~ From AL this we draw the moral that
es chained bear is not very dangerous. if 70
II k7ep out Of his reach; aud are prepared
" -, lsise any of our friends who feel dispose
y bet that their dogs viii whip bear,
sve their money and spare the exhibition
j, their verdancy.
y shall not visit tho Fair grounds till morr
~ .ng, and 50 vou must wait till tomorrow Il
ne In account Of the preparations for the gran
p, p, exhibition of the Agricultural capabilities
~ Iowa.
~
sr- - The New York Sun, descanting {
10, he extrayagancies Of dress in that cty, @
lc- mates the annual cost Of dressing aud ley
IL, cling the ladies Of New York and yEint
an It from thirty to forty millions of dollar
m, = 'na~s' q i costs to maintain the gcntr
government.