Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-10-06
LOCAL INTELLIGEN CE.
Wilmington Fair.


nnmcs or "honor to whom honor is due" what he
and the impressions he received and they hereby
submitted for notice or oJrion us your good judgment
shall dictate.
"Thc Annual Fair of the Wilmington Agricultural
Society" was this day celebrated. which brought to-
gcther large of citizens to witness its
hbition. The display was on well selected lot,
owned by the Society, and ut liberal outlay of mon
cy, time and labor, has been tnstefuy fitted up for
the permanent use Of the annual show 1t is situated
in their neat, sunny village, standing upon the bank
of one Of the tributary streams, which to make
up the volume of the Decrfeld river, and contributes
n share of the material which annually cnrchcs the
noble alluvinl meadows through which it flows Its
location so beautiful, reminds of ancient city
"beautinl for situation with mountains round about"
near which flows the Ghon aud the brook Ced on.
Here where once stood the old grst-mil (still
membcred solitary and alone, aud the residence Of
the miller with his locks whitened with age may now
be of the revolutions of the last half century,
in which industry aud enterprise has turned mn UNI
productive wild into fruitful gardens. around which
cluster this delightful village Of neat houses, spacious
stoves and shops, commodious churches and school
rooms furnishing ample capacity for the science seek
ing and meeting-loving community; favored with Il
literary circle consisting of ministers, lawyers DOCTORS
least, intelligent farmers, who, by their reading and
industry understand both the theory and the practice
Of theiT profession. The stores and shops are well
stocked with fancy and substantial articles which the
taste and fashion of IN enlightened community de-
mand. In the marble shop are seen specimens Of
workmanship honorable even to mn Italian artist and
which is only mentioned rs the type of the worthy
ness of their mechanics. Their water power is i'm
proved with remuncrang profit to owners, and utility
to citizens. Even the proprietor of their hotel knows
how to get up city dinner with city price. In this
favored location was held the Farmers lloolav-of
all holidays the best. Here gathered all classes of
ciety TO greet each other ON common ground, TO ex-
| hbit and examine the products Of each others toll
taste and skill and join in the festivities of the day.
Here were joyful greetings, and wukings, and smil-
ing, and chaitncS, and hcart-bcatngs with the bellies
and the beaux, with emotions. which may vet ripcn
into the happiness of domestic life. One OF the sister
hood, once youug wonders why young people will do
| so.
The presiding officer Of the day is fair specimen OF
Yankee shrewdness Il gentlenan-iarncr one q; the
oldest and best farms Of the township As president
he understood his position and discharged its duties
with credit to himself and honor to the society lie
was sustained by subordinate officers not whit be-
hind, in gcnilcnanly department or business Ike ac-
ton.
At the appointed hour their band Of music. com
posed OF gentlemen citizens, taud without mistake,
well trained band oo,) appeared in military costume
in good taste, and contributed their full share Of inter
est to the pleasure Of the scene rs they discussed
music swcctly, to the delight Of the assembled crowd
The band was headed by the marshal of :he day and
his assistants, in partial military dress well mounted
on high melted ,ceds who led and preserved the o.
der of the procession which gracefully novel forward
consisting Of upwards Of thirty yoke Of oxen, draw
ing heavy omnibus wagon with an ornancuted can
opy, tas,cully decorated with evercrccus and flowers
something in the fashion Of the rcuuc Of an Eastern
Monarch which was charmingly freghicd with ma
irons and their daughters One os the special novel;
ties OF this scene was a Van Amburgh performance
by lad supposed to be about ten year, Of agc, Of
handsome form mud manly behavior with pair of
yearling steers, so completely trained lead the
long OK train without yoke or chain walking closely
by each others side as even and orderly rs oxen in
the yoke, oOcdent to the voice of their youthful driver
a' he modcstly gave his orders. They would "haw'
or gee, stop or 60, at his command, unawcl bv the
surrounding crowd the shrill sounds Of trimpc,-
toned music before them. He could go over them or
under them, or between their legs or walk upon their
backs as they stood side by side or straddlc their
necks, or their backs, ride ON them n, he would
ride colt. This team was from the southerlv section
of the town. Another team from the northerly section
was introduced in similar STYLE az n connection for
the prize aud if possible cxcellins the fir,r in mnr
fccncc, beauty, strength aud numbers, The teams
being separated, each yoke of oxen was taken labelled
with the specification Of their age weight and owners
name and chained TO posts for inspection There we're
on the ground nearly one hundred pair Of oxen and
steers in the yoke. There were also calves, cows
young cattle. bulls, horses colts, sheep and swine in
pens and At other fixtures, to swell the number Of live
stock to about three hundred animals, The apparent
value Of their breeding animals was seen in the ex-
cellence of their stock: which is the result Of
single year, but Of long succession Of years under
the culture Of ambitious, wi,c-hcartcd farmers in in
Producing and. patronilng the best blood The oxen
and steers in the yoke of good size evenly
matched in good taste to size and color and worthy
of the name Of blooGed stock. Some were of II bright
red, but mrge proportion were of Il mixed color
One YOKE was black, another white. Every yoke was
entitled 10 proud owner \ ct there were points for
distinction on which amateur woulL make his crit
icsIns. One pair of steers and one pair of oxen,
called steers, seemed 20 bear the palm Of commenda
ton the latter pair weighing over IRE Thousand IRE
haHdred poan1s Those seeking heavy teams. well
~ oN'H NhhtHi Wcll ana wei broke for
service and afterwards to be tnttened for beef NAV
find it much to their advantage visit the farmers Of
this place. On the ground was a sow and her litter
a show worth seeing; also pens Of young stock, rip
enng into maturity, soon to equal if not to excel
their progenitors
Floral Hall decorated in fine taste in which
were tastetuly displayed good variety of ornamcn-
tai, fancy and substantial articles The butter and
cheese, of superior quality, is just what should be ex-
pected from those who know how 10 make it, The
cans OF sweet meats and preserves charming to the
eye and so inviting to the taste may be excclled but
we know not where. Their maple sugar, almost as
white as the driven snow is specimen Of one of their
richest harvests, manufactured in early spring from
their native groves. The vegetables and fruits were
not numerous but credtabc to their gardens aud their
cutlvators. The variety of potatoes, arranged in
case is in proof of the good judgment of an expert
mental hortculturist. The manuiactur articles bv
the ladies were in correspondence with their personal
attractions, industry and refinement. Specimens of
peLmanshp showed I'M cnviablc attainment in the art
The specimens Of printing from II neighboring town,
exhibited the power Of the press and the skill of those
who know how to use it, and give direction to the of