Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-10-01
Gbe9ree Nxeas
BURLINGTON
FRIDAY MORNING, OCT. /, 1858.
Correspondence of the Free Press.
AN AGRICULTURAL FAIR IN MIS-
SOURI,.

AN AGRICULTURAL FAIR IN MIS-
SOURI,.
ST. Louis, Sept. l3.
This city did not emulate the enthusiasm Of he
sisters in celebrating the laying of the ocean cable
However much interest individuals may have fel
in tho success Of that enterprise, the community
ms whole, did not think fit to join in the hurrah
of the multitude. 1t now almost seems as if the,
were rescrving their powers and restraining the
enthusiasm in anticipation of occasion that seem,
at least to concern them more Immediately, if moi
more in reality.
Last week was wholly devoted to the Annual
Fair Of the Z" st. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical
Association" Tho great rush commenced early on
Monday morning, when the whole populace, resi-.
dent, trnnsitory and vsitora thronged the streets
and took forcible possession of every conveyance
every description that could be fund. Imagina.
ton hardly conceive machine to carry, or an
animal n semblance of an animal to draw whose
fac smile might not have boon found headed to-
wards the Fair Grounds. The motley assemblage
that constituted the immortal corps Of tho Uni
| versity 1nvincibles" was here magnifed in num-
bers if not in grotesqueness. The military out
On tho first day there must have been 10000
people on the grounds at once, and 1 never saw
together many carriages, (nice ones too most Of
them) were drawn up in one part of the grounds.
These were all private ones for mono Of the public
conveyances came within the enclosure. On Tues
day the crowd was somewhat less, but by Thursday
it was at the thckest. The total amount of pre-
miums distributed amounts to little over S2l 900,
and the Association have cleared, over the premi-
ums and all expenses, about $4,000. This is the
only way in which can give you an idea of the
magnitude OF the affair.
l shall not be guilty of the absurdity of attempt
ing description of the Exhibition. 1t has occu-
pied at least two columns a-day of the Republican
during tho week, and is best let alone in letter.
But generally, may say, that the Fair was infe-
ror to that Of last year, both in the quantity and
quality of the entries. I was especially disap-
pointed in the exhibition of Horses. Almost any
County Fair in Vermont, with little pains, could
maze finer display, both of Neat Cattle and
Horses; and when we think of tho grand cavalcade
of Morgans and Black Hawks at Burlington and
Rutland, this display is forgotten. Some of the
best Horses here and which drew prizes, were Ver-
mont Horses and one of them is now owned there.
But it is of the Grounds that propose briefly
to speak, you will learn less of those than of the
other things from the papers, while they are quite
as we'll worthy Of description. They are situated
about four miles from the business center Of the
City, in north-westerly direction, and contain
some so acres. The land is level gently sloping
and good portion of it shaded by large trees.
Nearly in the center is the Amphitheatre, which
will seat over 10000 people, and cover nearly as
many more. Back of the seats is wide promea-
adc, and underneath some 80 booths extending
round the Amphtheater at each Of which, without
exception, were to be found Lager Beer and
stronger fluids. In the center Of the arena is the
view of all the people, all the stock entered for
premium is led and its qualities displayed Each
Glass is brought in here in succession, and the pro-
gramme is arranged as to last the whole week,
SO that the is, throughout, the chief attrac-
ton Around this Amphitheater and around the
Judges stand are fountains, continually playing
cooling the air and delighting the eye with ten
thousand rainbows. The next building in order
is the Cottage, very neat pretty structure, with
udils SudmoeIsJ ioA tho "SSoiAAouoeiOh
of Ladies and Children. Then, scattered around
among the trees, is building for the department
of Fine Arts; machine house, where stationary
steam engine driving long shaft to which
were attached machines whose busy hum filled the
ear, and made fancy himself in the Pioneer
Mechanics Shop its busiest day next comes
a building where omnibusses, Hacks Carriages
and Buggies of all descriptions are to be found;
then the Mechanics Shop where all sorts Of things
are gathered-here Jewellers, Cabinet makers, and
men of every craft do ongregate-Sewing-ma
chimes, Patent Locks, Safes, Iron Fences, ct i'd
omne genus have each its proper place; next is
large collection Of Embroidery, all kinds of Needle
work. also flowers; in the center is arranged an
artificial mound some ten more feet in height,
on which were fixed all sorts of shrubs and plants
at the foot was pool of water, from tho middle of
which spouted fountain, and down the sides
trickled little streams that oozed from among the
moses and mock-stumps and dead sticks as natu.
rally as upon the fertile slopes Of the Green Noun
tans-this building was much tho most interest
ing of any. Besides these that have mentioned,
were several smaller buildings Tslsgraph-ofdce'
Post-ofice (veritable ones), little Porticos, and
wire Hennery, wherein all kinds of scratching
fowl, even to faipn, and Liberty's own bird-an
untamed eagle Around the grounds, next tho en-
closure, are stalls for the accommodation Of the
Stock, and in these they remain day and night,
except when they are brought into the arena for
inspection. Take it all in all, I do not think
better Fair Ground is to be found. These build
ings are not mere rough boards nailed together for,
the OCCASION but permanent structures, such as
add to the attractions of the place.
As dinner time approached, there were to be
seen, on all sides, grouped on the grass under the
shading trees little family circles and party circles,
with their cold lunch spread out before them,
chatting and laughing merrily, SO that the whole
fair seemed changed into large picnic or rather
innumerable little pic-nics.
The number of strangers in the City during the
week was very large. The cars came in loaded to
oyerfowing. Altogether, the Fair may we'll be
considered q success, when we consider the pressure
Of hard times which has forced even Western
people to be more cautious and calculating Some
dissatisfaction has been expressed with the awards,
and some alleged lack of encouragement diminish
cd some portions of the display; but think every
body enjoyed the occasion, and will look eagerly
for their holiday the year comes round again
Dr.. S.
n