Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-09-23

SEVENTH ANNUAL FAIR
,.,..ea.. ce :, - Cor. su..
M ~
yesterday, the frstaey of our County 1T,
opened auspiciously, the sun risins brightly,
in cheerful contrast to the preceding few days
of gloom; but, in 4 short time, the sky was
again overcast, with threatening omsns of a
damp, chilly day. However, the impending
storm was stayed, and the day turned out
pleasant-except, perhaps, being little too
cool for the season. ,...,, ..,s
At an early hour, the streets Of the city
began to I'll up with teams from the country,
and there were indications Of general turn
out to the Fair. At II o'clock, according to
previous announcement the procession of
farmers and mechanics started from the Court
House square for the Fair Grounds. It pre-
scented an imposing appearance, and extended
the full length Of the business portion Of
Second street. Nearly all the wagons were
appropriately decorated with field and garden
products. While the agricultural display was
quite large, the mechanical did not come up
to our expectations. What they lacked in
numbers, however, they made up in Augsness,
A colossal wagon, fitted up for the occasion
by the coopers, attracted no little attention.
It was drawn by five yoke Of oxen, and con-
tanned about forty coopers, who displayed
appropriate banners and specimens of their
work. If every branch Of mechanics had
entered into the spirit of the occasion as well
as the coopers, they would have had staving
time, indeed.
After the procession had reached the Fair
Grounds, and the articles intended for exhi-
bition had been deposited in their appropriate
places, a picnic dinner was served to all
present, of which they must have partaken
with remarkably good appetites, for when we
reached the grounds, short time afterwards,
the large quantity of good things provided
had vanished like snow under the rays of a
tropical sun. Through the kindness and
consideration of some of the lady managers,
however, we were not subjected to the dis
agreeable necessity of going without our
dinner, like certain old gentleman celebrated
in popular song, who was "too late to get his
supper"
An examination of the articles on exhibition
convinced us that the display was but little
inferior to that of any Fair ever before held on
the ground, (not excepting the State Fair,)
and in SEINE respects much superior. In the
pantry-store department, the entries num-
bered 1875. The ladies deserve great praise
for the interest they have taken in the Fair.
The young misses made crsditable display
of bread and butter for the IS premiums.
Those who competed for these premiums are
Miss A. E. Holcomb, Miss Julia Joy, Miss
Mary Morford, Miss Sarah A. Herman, Miss
Mary Fay, Miss Corinne Cattell, Miss Blanche
Hawley, Miss Louisa Ady, Miss Emily Ady,
Miss Emeline Hershey, Miss Susan Dodder,
and MISS Esther Gilbert.
In our exploration of the fine art hall, We
found beautiful specimens of colored crayon
and pencilling, by Mrs. NJ. ingalls,; also, some
exquisitely wrought leather work and pencil
drawing, by Miss s. Lizzie Moore; very
novel and beautiful hair wreath and silk
embroidered cape, by Miss Kate E. Phillips,
of Mt. Pleasant; and several specimens of
elegant satin embroidery, by Mrs. G. R. White.
In the same hall, Mrs. VIM. White displayeda
fine case of millinery, and G. P. Hall exhibited
number of daguerreetypes in the best style
of the art, including likenesses of the two
gubernatorialc candidates, Gen. Dodge and Mr..
Kirkwood. We observed, also, specimens of
penmanship, by c. Parker, and of draughting,
by W. L. Carroll, of Davenport, together with
four splendid original oil paintings, by Miss
Lu. Compton, of this city.
The more substantial and useful articles of
domestic manufacture were not neglected, as
an array of carpets, quilts and hosiery amply
attested. The number of entries in this
department was 80. ...
In the mechanical department, H. LoAand
exhibited fine sample of farm harness, and
Chas. Nealley, W. H. Stewart and J. P.
Ketcham each had cases of boots and shoes.
John Barnard also exhibited one dozen of
well-made brooms
Of fruit, the display was grand and tempt
ing. I.B. Essex, Of Rock Island county, ILL.,,
exhibited 81 varieties, and DR.. James Weed,
of this vicinity, SO varieties. The number of
entries in this department was "a. We
challenge any section of the West to make
better showing of fruit than the exhibition at
this Fair.
Vegetables were shown in abundance, and
many of almost fabulous dimensions. Such
squashes! such tomatoes, onions, cabbages
and beets! lit beat anything of the kind we
ever saw before. The finest potatoes and the
most varieties were shown at this Fair that
were ever on exhibition here. One variety,
called the Nova Scotia, exhibited by N. Graves,
was Of superior quality. He received a
bushel of these potatoes from Maine, last year,
which cost him $11, but he says he is so we'll
satisfied with them he would now pay $50 for
bushel, rather than do without them. He
is endeavoring to introduce the variety among
the farmers here, and we hope he will succeed.
There is no question that the common variety
of potatoes is running OUT in this country.
We observed stalk of corn, upon which had
grown ten well developed ears, but did not
learn by whom it was exhibited. In the |
vegetable department, there were o. entries.