Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-10-26
COrrespOndence.--An Illinois
Fair.

Polo, LIS October iS, 1867.
| FRIEND LUrE 81 have been attending a
Fair since Tuesday. 1t is quite impossible
to convey in a letter correct idea of the tea
lures OF this Fair, which are well worthy of
careful consideration Most people have
! general idea of Agricultural Fairs, but refec-
! tive minds can derive from such exhibitions
of the results Of industry and practical learn
! ing what they cannot convey in terms ex-
pressive Of the valuable lessons impressed up
en- them. At Fair you Sea only results
But the man who thinks, reaches back through
long series Of efforts in order to compre.
bend the beginning of a great achievement.
and derives from reflection information Of val-
ne to himself, and which he can. in its future
application. render useful to his fellow men.
1t has always seemed TO me that there is
something very beautiful in this institutnn-
this harmonizrng mechanism with mind-this
hororing Of the handicraft of labor by the
varied influences of the Beautiful. Gather
ed together in a Republican assemblage are
all the representatives of Use and Beauty
On ono side, steam, the imprisoned genius,
acts as the accomplishing slave of human
will, quietly activive, ready to put his giant
arms to all manner Of wheels. On the other
side are the gay and glittering plumcs which
when on the head of many household. will
to loving eyes, make sophistry Of Thompsons
line
Beauty when unadorned adorned the most"
Here. singing as they sewed, the "song of the
shirt" as the poor sewers may have sadly
done, and yet they sadly do. are the Sewing
Machines. When we see them running up
the rapid seam, yet not like the poor seam
stress, TO suffer at each thread and die along
the line-vhen we see them putting in in
visihly, the thread so fairly and swiftly, can
We but recall Charles Lambs beautiful little
| poem, which relates how poor girl, sewing
alone, had fallen asleep over her stitches. and
how angels came to her, and one, an emblem
of her purity. stood over her sleep, guarding
her with white lily, and the other angel
companions. while she dreamed. made all her
work complete Is not the sewing machine
an angel to the seamstress, and by its labor
may she not find time for dreams and sleep
Looking at the results of the Fair, Illinois
must be proud of it. They suddenly and al
most unconsciously find themselves the supe-
riors of their brethren in other States in some
of the departments connected with the culti-
walton Of the soil, and almost peers in all
In live stock they have absolutely achieved
towering supremacy. In the theory of Guilt
walton, but few, if any, arc their superiors !;
and in practice. it is certain that decade of
! years viii not have elapsed before the magi-
cal power of improved agricultural machine
ry will leave none to point to Illinois as n
laggard behind the car of progress.
Day after day scenes of extraordinary ami
nation and brilliancy have been admired by
all who enjoyed the inspiring spectacle of ar
mics Of beautiful women and earnest men so.
cially collected to witness their own splendid
achievements. The first day was de5oted TO
cattle and sheep. The display of short horns
was never exselled. and the science of breed
| ing this stock seemed to have reached It's cul-
mination, leaving no room for development
except i'm expansion. The ring of COWS show
cd perfection in all that makes the animal
useful and beautiful. I do not think better
sheep were ever seen. In horses, it is sufi-
cient to say that the exhibition throughout
was remarkably fine.
Agricultural mplements.-The show in
this department. from all parts of this Union.
was magnificent beyond description even the
| Stubble Turner. invented by John G. Henry.
Of Point Douglas, Minnesota, TO which to
! which the attention Of farmers was directed
with an intensity that argues favorably for
| The adoption Of that machine into practical
use.
! Domestic ManuEctures.-Thi department
was well represented, the ladies' having taken
it under their especial protection. First class
articles of home manufacture, in wool. were
abundant, and also the delicate specimens IF
needle-work, threaded by the fair hands of
| beautiful and industrious women.
| Floral and Fine Arts-These Departments
were so constantly thronged that a fair and
full investigation was impossible. The con-
tributions were abundant and tasteful.
In Grains and Vegetables, Pierce County
will leave them In the shade.
| But the length of my letter admishes me to
close. LAKE SHORE.
1