Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-09-10
The state Fair.


warm, but not oppressively hot. The Fair
may be considered TO have opened in the
afternoon, at two o'clock, with the meet
ing Of the Wool Growers Convention,
which took place at Mechanics Hall. AT
ter the enlivening strains Of music by the
Marble Valley Band, Colonel Needham,
Secretary of the Society, introduced to
the audience the Hon. II. S. Randall of
New York, as the 0rat or of the occasion,
WHO announced as his theme "Ihe Sheep
of vermont-their Origin and History
The address occupied about an hour in
delivery, was rerlete with interesting
factsespccially gratifying to vermonters.
We expect 10 publish the address entire,
and therefore refrain from giving an out
line. At the close of his address, Mr..
Needham, being loudly called for,proceed-
ed to give some account of his visit to the
International Exhibition at Hamburg.
He remarked that it was with good deal
of timidity aad distrust as to the success
of the Vermont Merinos, that he APP
preached that German city, and many
times when on the sea, he had expressed
doubts of their sueeess--and at all events
his highest ambition would have been
more than satisfied in obtaining one single
first premium for Vermont sheep. True he
had great confidence in the Judgment OF
the exhibitor, Mr.. Campbell, who had tax
on n.,,as 10 acquaint himself with the
sheep of different countries, ana was pre-
pared to defy the world. VIZ Neepiiail
conversed with many intelligent Gel Mans
who assured him that he was simply
trolling in the mud, and carrying Goals 10
Newcastle The German papers Tor more
than a month previous to the time OF 'he
exhibition, had been endeavorlng to fore
stall public opinion by making sport 'ot
American sheep-as if anything good
could come out of America, But here
we were, said Mr.. Needham, 4,OOo miles
from home. Here were our II little sheep
against about 1000 from all Europe.
The Emperor of the French had a large
number on exhibition, and MT satisfied
with the pens provided, he had, at his
own expense, constructed magnificent pens
for his sheep. If the contest had been
between pens, Napoleon would undoubted-
ly have gained the premium. But we
didn't lose our American pluck. We
were determined that our sheep should
have a fair trial The Committee con-
sisted of eighteen gentlemen, of large for
tunes, and many Of them wearing the rib
hons in their button-hoes which indicate
nobility of rank. They appointed the
time of meeting to be at six o'clock A. NJ.
Surely, thought Mr.. n, they do not mean
so but not to be behindhand, he obtained
conveyance at five o'clock and hurried
to the spot, where he arrived two minutes
behind time, found everybody there, and
the subcommittee already engaged IN
their work. The American sheep went
into class of about GOO, and the sub
committee were two days and half in ex-
. aiming them, and forwards their dongs
were to be revised by the whole commit
tee. The result was, the award of two
first premiums and one second premium to
Americans. Immediately there was a
CRY raised about bribery and corruption
the committee had been bought up, The
German papers declared that those sheep
had "a months fleece on. But the com
mittee OF eighteen were unanimous and
firm in their decision, and paid over the
premiums.
On account of the ISLANDERS in oircula-
ton about bribery and corruption, Col.
N, in company with Gov. Wright of IL
linois, who had been delegated by the
President of the United States, determined
to offer sweepstakes premium for the
greatest weight of wool to weight of car
cass, and have a shearing on the spot.
The Americans entered promptly, but not
a German, nor Frenchman. made his
appearance. Then it was that the Ger
man papers had the magnanimity to own
up. "The Americans" said they, shave
been tested. They have been weighed
and have not been found wanting.'
Mr.. Campbell, through his Interpreter,
overheard one of the German exhibitors
say, ~ would give five hundred dollars if
my sheep had never come to this fair. |
should like to have it to say that If my
sheen had been on exhibition thew would