The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-10-23
For the Guardian
A Trip 10 the Stnte Fair.

| ulu vi Iic SJate VI itollblcs ny tHc way Slut
We started for enjoyment, in rational man.
ner, and there certainly could be nothing more
rational than to cheer for honest Old Abe, and
let people know we were truly republican in
our views 1t may be considered rather out of
place, (by the fastidous) for ladies to cheer,
but the good old days of the revolution are not
so far back in the past that we can forget that
our ore-mothers- (peace to their ashes) We're
very demonstrative, and truly republican in
their acts and feelings and their mantle has
fallen on the shoulders of their republican
daughters. hope the time will never come
when their hearts will grow cold in the cause of
liberty, or when they will wish to throw off
the mantle so goriously bequeathed. But this
is a depression. As We rode along | could but
observe, as we met each pedestrian, that they
carried their politics in their faces ; so much so,
that we could almost invariably tell who were
for Lincoln, and who not. We had some comic
scenes-lor instance, one of our number cheer
ed for Douglas, to note the effect. The man,
| "a smart intelligent one too) looked up with a
smile on his honest looking face and said-'I
should think he needed it." This called forth
shout on our part The Douglas men We're
generally fat and red faced, looking very much
like drinkers of lager beer and poor whiskey.
They looked cross and funny when we cheered
| for Lincoln.
| We at last found ourselves at the truly beau
tiful City of Iowa, and was rather surprised to
| find it SO large and prosperous. The streets
were thronged. 1t looked as though every town
and village in the State had sent forth its repre-
sentatives by scores-sor everybody was there,
with their wives and babies. | am sure the
nursery must have been deserted. The fair
ground was mile from the city. A. fine plat
form was erected for the judges, a band station
ed on the upper tier, which discoursed sweet
music. Over them waved our national flag.
There was splendid show Of cattle, that spoke
well for the farmers of Iowa. 1t was compli-
ment enough to be owners of them. The fine
specimens of mechanical skill and invention
there displayed shows that our country is a
progressive one and that we of the north are a
self-relant, and independent people, can make
our own agricultural implements, and have the
smartest men to use them That is the beauty
of freedom. Only one thing panied me-that
was the horse -race-one way Of gambling. II
seems prostitution of the nobler powers 0;
man and beast. We next visited the tents, and
it would take II week to enumeratc all the useful
and beautiful articles exhibited, showed the
taste, skill and industry of our Iowa ladies
| think they can't be beat by any State in the
Union. A dress made by a blind girl attract
ed much attention it was very neatly done
Rich millinery, beautiful artificial flowers, EN-.
broidery and wax work, tempted longer sur
vey than time permitted us to give. There was
a fine collection of drawings, paintings, and
crayon pencilings; among them, conspicuously
placed, was the handsome face Of Lincoln. II
any one calls him homely, they are not good
Judges True his face boasts OF no feminine
beauty It's development Of noble intellect
l cannot, even in out line, give description O
the vegetables, each Of such q superior kind
Il was good as IA feast to look ut them. AND
the flowers what shall | say Of them ! They
are always dear to me. could scarcely re
frain from taking them against all rules of laH
and order. / lett them Rith regret and silent
adieu There were specimens Of fruit and pre-
serves, jeliies, wine pickles, cheese, and every
thing that was nice of the sort, calculated t.
tempt the palate, but bar on them all
We left the ground with our heads crammed
fall, to digest at leisure
That evening spent in the society o
friends at the American House, the host and
h ostess being old friends of part of our com
pany. In the morning started out to visit
the city and its institutions. The first place
of note the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb
| could not repress my tears in beholding so
many intelligent looking boys and girls with
two avenues Of pleasure and usefulness closed
to them forever We conversed with them
with slate and pencil, and found them quick
and apt in their answers to our questions.
They seemed to enjoy it. We shook hands Mt
! parting and bid them silent adieu. A few
steps brought us to the Blind Asylum. We
were met at the door by Mr.. S. Bacon, the
principal, and introduced ourselves. He was
blind, but conducted us over the house accurate
j " as any one could. We visited the school room
i they were reciting grammar in concert. | can
not express the painful emotions of my heart
at seeing SO many sitting in darkness, while
actual active life was all around them 1t is
worse, even, than being mute They must
always feel their way along. and be forever de-
MED the pleasure of seeing the glorious beau
ties Of nature. They were not denied all pleas
ure, they enjoyed music. We had music on
the piano soon after we went in, by a gentle
man who had been blind eleven years. We
had rich treat in hearing the band all togeth-
er. think there was six boys. from ten to
fourteen, who played on violns, one ona flute,
three older on more difficult instruments, two
on bassoons, two on clarionets, two on bass
viols, Of very large size. The time was per-
feet When they commenced playing invol
UNFAIRLY arose to my feet perfectly enchanted.
We seldom hear such music. There was soul
in it, it was something TO be thankful for in
their everlasting darkness No not everlasting
only for time. Eternity will pour food
Of light on each Of them, they shall see and
be satisfied.
There were many fancy articles made by the
girls, such ms bread baskets, knit hoods, scarfs
little socks, slippers, purses, children's stock
ings, all very nicely done, and would be a
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