Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-10-11
l oATTLE SNOW IN oLDnN TIME,

the General Assembly OF Maryland ordained
that fair should be held in Baltimore town
On the first Thursday, Friday and Saturday
oil October yearly, and the commissioners
OF said town made all necessary arrange
mcnts, list of premiums, Sc.
we lind record Of this in the old Mary
land Gazette, one Of the few papers publish
ed at that time in the Colonies, and which
was continued TO the death of She late Joseph
Green, of Annapolis, having been published
IN turn by Jonas Green, the elder, his widow
Mrs. Catharine Green, and last by their son,
with whom it died; an Ever Green, as it was
called by McManon. The Gazette of Sep
TENDER Sth, 1747, published the proceedings
Of the commissioners of Baltimore town, as
follows;
WHEREAS, There is fair appointed by
act oil Assembly to be held IN Baltimore
town on the first Thursday, Friday and
saturday IN October, yearly, the commits
sloners of the said town hereby give notice
that whoever brings TO the SAID fair, on the
tirst day thereof the best steer, shall receive
eight pounds current money for the same;
also bounty OF forty shillings over and
above eight pounds. The said steer after
wards, on the same day, to be run for by
any horse, mare or gelding, not exceeding
five years old, three heats, a quarter of mile
each heat, not confined TO carry any certain
weight. The winning horse to be entitled
to the said steer, or eight pounds Ill money,
at the option of the owner.
ION Friday, the second day of said fair,
Will be run for the sum of five pounds cur
rent money, by any horse, mare or gelding,
the same distance, not confined to carry any
certain weight. Also, bounty of forty
shillings will be given to any person who
produces the best piece of yard-wide country
made linen, the piece to contain twenty
yards.
ION Saturday, the third day, hat and
ribbon will be cudgellcd for; pair of pumps
wrestled for; and achtte shift to be run Tor
by negro girls
| "All persons are exempted from any ar
rests during the said fair and the day before
and the day after, except in cases of felony
and breaches of the peace, according to he
tenure of the above mentioned act"
1t will not be claimed that the premiums
of this fair were magnificent, yet they were
in full proportion, no doubt, to the expendi-
lures then INDUCED in Tor town purposes;
neither did they cover all the ground en-
brace1 in modern premium lists. In the
leading element, however, our modern Scat
tie shows the horse racing, it will be &C
knowledged our foreiathers were not behind
us. They did not confnc themselves to a
trot, nor was their phrase puritanizcd into
trials of speed" 1t was honest running.
and they didn't care who knew it.
| Their first premium was to encourage the
production of good beef, which, as loyal Eng
lishmen, they were bound to do. This bore
directly on their own interests in the beef
market of Baltimore town, and the interest
of agriculture. The premiums Tor horse
racing were for about the same purposes that
are answered nova good deal for the uni
versal excitement and interest, and some
fling for the improvement of the breed OF
horses.
The premium for "yard-wide country
made linen" was intended TO attract and
interest and compliment the notable house
wives of tho day, when the best ladies Of the
land, like solomon's "virtuous woman
would ''scek wool and fax, and would work
willingly with their hands" We remem-
Der, by the way, something Of this country
made linen which our good mothers made.
1t was not just the fine linen that the Pro
verbs describe, nor does our memory go back
to the days of this fair we arc speaking of.
On the Maryland farm, where the writer
OF this was born, there was crop of flax
grown each ycar,which was broken, hacked,
spun and woven at home, as was all the crop
of wool of this linen was made the sum-
mer pants and shirts OF the negro men, the
| frocks and shifts of the negro women, and
Tor their summer wear there were long shifts
for the girls. II was made also into towels
for family use, and were rough enough at
| first, but soon wore smooth and soft. We
never tried it for shirt wear, but an acquain-
lance of ours having donned garment OF
this material, respectfully asked his father
| to permit one of tho negro boys "to break it''
for him. This country maden WIGS of a
dark color, and the 'white shift in the
town was doubtless of Irish linen, and con-
sidcrcd splendid holiday outfit for sable
maiden of that day, albeit it scandalizcs the
progressed ideas which enlighten us now.
INN
DEATH OF CHILD FROM THE EFFEcfs on
A MISTAKEN MEDIoINE,-Aboutf four O'Clock
on Monday afternoon, the 23d ult., Matte
A. Lee, sprightly and interesting little
daughter of MIR. f. j, and Mrs. L. IL. Con
rad, died at the residence of her parents, OF
Main, near Fifteenth Street, from the ellectl
of Opiu8, administered by mistake for ipeeae
The child was sick Of Group, and under the
professional treatment of Dr. Warning. Ill
prescribed six grains of inccac and twenty
grains of cdL0nlel, TO be made into six pow
ders. In preparing the prescription tn
clerk at the store of Mr. r. W. Powers un
fortunately mistook ipeeac for opium, and
cost the little sufferer her life. 1t is SAID til
prescription is written indlstlnctly, and can
not be readily deciphered by any one unac
| qualnted with DR.. Warnings handwriting
The Doctor, however, says the letters Up
were distinctly written, and could not b
J mistaken for opi We do not think too muc
care can be observed in writing prescrir
! lions, and certainly druggists and their clerk
f. should be necessarily vigilant and eve
!. cautious in compromising them. Especial
a should this be the case where any ingredeT
4 is used which may endanger the life of
/ patient. Little Matte, the victim in til
G present case, was in the fourth year of he
IS age, and child of much sprightliness an
c promise. Her parents have been plunge
D into the deepest distress by this sad bereav'
k ment, and the unfortunate circumstance
attending the melancholy event have muc
IS intensified the poignancy Of their grief.