Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-10-28
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL
The State Fair.

try to give some slight sketch of it.
Never having attended State Fair before, we
cannot, of our own knowledge, compare the event
of 1859 with those of previous years. From others
we learn that the late exhibition and gathering was
fully equal to any which had preceded it. Thursday
goth inst, was what might be called the "big day"
being that set apart for the speaking and for other IN
terestng matters and the assemblage was really very
large We would be within bounds in saying that there
were some six thousand persons present within the
grounds
In order to give our views of the Fair, we must
rather get ahead of time and make reference here to
almost the last incident during stay 1t beng un-
derstood tbat owing to the domestic affection under
which Hon. David Outlaw suffering, 1.-THE loss
of his wife) the Annual Address, which that gentle
man had consented to deliver must be dispensed with.
In this emergency the Executive Committee of the
Agricultural Society pressed number of dstin-
gushed gentlemen into the service, and in compli-
ance with the request of the Committee and the cali
of the multitudes, brief but able and feictous ad
dresses were made by Hon. Daniel M. Barringer His
Excelency, Gov. Ellis, Senator Bragg, Ex-Governor
Manly, Walter L. Steel, Esq, and Ex-Governor More
head No doubt Mr.. Outlaw would have delivered
very able and instructive address, but question
whether any one could have embodied in a single
speech the amount of mingled wit and wisdom that fell
from the lips of the distinguished speakers above men
toned Differing as the addresses did, they all agreed
in breathing strong spirit of North Carolina patriot
ISM and all referred to the Fair in what we concurred
in regarding as its most important aspect-as gather
ing together of the people of the State even more than
of her products We confess, that to u.s. this the
main attraction of the Fair Grounds. We the East
and the West meeting and shaking hands, and we thought
too, that we could see prejudices passing away and
mutual misunderstanding being reconcled. This, as
Gov. Ellis very Justly remarked, could not have been
done without the facilities of travel and communication
that railroad improvements have opened up to the peo
ple and we concur with the Governor and the other
distinguished speakers in their Fluctuations the
progress which North Carolina has already made, and
in their hopes of advantage from that which is ex-
pected to be made hereafter.
The Cadets of the Military Academy at Hilsboro'
visited the Grounds Thursday, under the command of
Col G.. c.. Tew and attracted much attention by their
perfect discipline.
So much for this aspect of the Fair AS regards the
Stock and articles of different kinds exhibition we
are not we'll qualified to Judge; will, however, give
rough notion of how things struck U.s. On entering the
SdCC VI ILC 4CdHJ duLuldOS OH SIOuuuo CnC
eye rested upon remarkably large show of Agricutu-
raj ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS cultivators, horsepowers,
CObbcrushers, reapng machines FANS etc. These
pied the centre Of the grounds One of the reapers
exhibited by Mr. w. A. Williams, of Wilmington. No
doubt many of these implements very excellent
Some were of North Carolina manufacture, and some
were sent from other States. his department was
very full and surpassed what could possibly be expected
of any County Fair,
Ranged around the grounds were the stalls for the
live stock. The display Of horses large and inclu
ded noble looking animals. 1t is proper here tc
remark that for some reason doubt satisfactory
One the of the exhibitors were not permitted to
be inserted on the cards attached to artce-hey were
simply numbered. So with stock no names of exhib
Ors put the stalls. We cannot therefore, refer
to anything in general terms. One or two of the
horses we recognized and among them Touchstone, be
longing to the Messrs Faison of Sampson He looked
remarkably we'll Dr. Carr, of this place. had very
good Stallion on exhibition There were some splendid
thoroughbred and grade horses from Caswel Granville
Alamance, and elsewhere, suppose for we had NJ
way OF knowing where they from, unless we acct
dentay across the owner. In the horse show th
State Fair was ahead. The exhibition was success
The hogs were good, but not remarkable We saw
better ones last year both at Dupln and Sampson-de
cldedy better This department could hardly be called
a success, although not exactly failure.
In the cattle department. too the State Fair appeared
to US to be hardly up to the mark. There were gooc
catte-some very good CATTLE but this point agair
we think our friends in Sampson and in Meckenburs
can and do make exhibitions of blooded stock superior
to that made this week at Raleigh. We say this will
no dsparagement to some very good stock that we saw
but simply in general way, taking show as whole
There were four Jackasses with very clear good voices
and any GU antity Of ears for music and certain Mule
who have ears enough but very poor voices. Singing
is not in their line, and they ought not to attempt it.
There were also sundry coops of fowls and much crow
ing We are not much of judge of these bpeds, but
our notion is, that they were very fine Two bears
formed the nucleus centre of two rings of admirers
who were quite anxious to see fight. They were
dressed in black bearskn robes, with very short coat
ais.
There were trottDg races every day. some single anC
some double The shortest time made was three minutes
and five seconds to sukeys The mueand iackass races
were perhaps the most amusing features of the occasion
Floral Hall was beautifully arranged, and contained
very large number of beautiful and useful articles
names and uses unknown. We saw them afar off, This
Hall with its beautiful contents and still more beautiful
Vstants is altogether beyond power to do Justice
by any description. The Lord help any single gentle
man who attempts it. The display of fruits was very
rich We never saw finer apples and pears. They are
getting to raise noble fruit in this State and we are
glad to see it. Near of the entrances to the Hall
we noticed closely compacted knot mainly composed