Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-11-04
Second Annual Fair OF the Agri-
cultural and Mechanical
association.

Editors Memphis appeal:
The second annual Fair OF the Water
Valley Agricultural and Mechanical As
ISOLATION commenced on Thursday last
(the 29th A brighter or more beautiful
day could not have been wished for by
the friends of the Association.
At the appointed hour, % a.m.) Capt.
H. s. Duncan, the chief Marshal,
mounted on q iue charger, assembled
the cavalcade opposite the Cnlins House,
and, preceded by the Water Valley Brass
Band, marched to theFeir grounds Ia the
northern portion OF our embryo city. On
arriving at the same we found assembled
quite 8 goOdly array of the beauty Of the
land. From some misunderstanding but
few entries had been made previous to
the opening day, and, as a consequence,
quite 8 rush was made on the Secretary
by those eager for q premium. This, OF
course, crsated confusion " worse con-
founded" and but little was done on the
first day. The Grafton ofCOl, L. @ G. La
mar (Mississippls fevOrite SOM Was to
have been delivered at II o'clock, but
was postponed until the next day, on
account of the smatlDess of the crowd
(sbout 250) and other u "tOO numerz
Gus to mention" With this announce
ment the exercises of the first day closed,
with 8 'issck race" a new thing with US,
introduced by Nfr. BsrgluUd, 3 native of
Sweden, but for the last fifteen years 3
resident Of Water Valley The race wss
quite exciting and created much smuse-
ment. But little stock Tor horse Tatber)
was introduced into the ring the first
day. All retired that night with pleas
ing anticipatiO1s OF the next day's per-
formanees, only TO have the same dashed
to the ground by u of the gioomisst,
raiDiest days that It has ever been our mis-
fortune to endure for a long time, bu5such
was the fact, and snugly ~enscOnced in
our room, we sadly viewed the Fair
grounds from w residences just oppO-
site /; q picture of sad desolation, as the
pelting rain descended IN the empty
seats, that the day before contained the
best and fairest Of our land. Man pro-
poses, but God disp0ses, I" and such vas
our condition On Friday. Speoulatious
were rife, and bets freely offered by the
sporting fraternity, Of course, that the
Water Valley Fair was a failure, and
that the originatOrs had better "shut up
shopn and never speak Fair talkn
again. But after consulting with the
A" weather clerk.n who knows, the Board
of Directors issued a programme for
Saturdays entertainment, and all
went to bed that night feeling sat
ished that the same would be
carried, and Col. Sam Tate, the
President of the Southern Railroad Asso-
citation, Issued orders for the various
shops to be closed st ten o'clock Satur-
day morning, TO give the employees az
opportunity of listening TO the great
speech of Col. Lamar, which was an
nounced to taks place st IL O'Clock.
Well, Saturday morning arrived, and q
fairer day could not have been desired by
the most sanguiBe. II the previous day
hsd been " fr%ightfully unfsir" for the
Fair, this was all that could be expected.
at an early hour the streets were filed
to overlooking, and st 3 an, when
Capt. Duncan had assembled his squad,
there were no less thsn three thousand
people on the move to the Fair grounds.
'rhe previous day, IL taken as an iudica-
ton Of the fact, from our stand point,
would have shown that there existed no
one else on this mundane sphere but our
own oonceited self. How sadly mistaken
we would have been on Saturday morn
ing, in considering ourselves as merely \
unit in this vast universe, when the busy
hive, of both men and women, lined the
streets in the directions of the Fair
RIOuuu5 III lGCAi HnSu We AEIlN6ut TIC
vast amphltheater was filed to over
flowing, no less than 5000 people being
on the ground. At eleven an, Col. NJ.
D. l.. Stephens, the Vice President of
the Association, in the absence of A. G.
Buford, the President, introduced the
orator Of the day, Col. Lamar, who, in
an address OF two hours, delivered one of
the most chaste practical speeches 70 the
agricultural, mechanical and business
classes generally, that has ever been the
good fortune Of your reporter to listen
to. Unfortunately, Col. Lamar de-
livered this speech with no idea
of having the same published.
But IS there were several reporters pre-
sent, taking notes, we hope, with the as
sistaDce of the Colonel, to give to the peo-
pie of the South a paper to think and
study on. Coming from n OF the men
Of the SOuth-R statesman and scholar
bis words will have no little weight His
advice is given to ali classes alike, and
should not be idly passed by. 1 regret
that space forbids me from giving you 8
synOpOsisj but, as ] before remarked, q
report will be furnished the press.
After the conclusion OF the address,
dinner was announced, and TO those
fortunate enough to have provided them
selves with provision baskets Jared sump-
tuously, bat the general arrangements
for ealing were bad, and q good many
enjoyed the afternoons performances on
empty stomscbs.
The ladies have made 8 fine display,
and FlorS, Hall is fairly overstocked
with their haudiwork. nsintiEgs. etc..
adorn the walls Of the building,
in p~rofusion. A fine display is made Ia
needle work, such as quilts, eoveTlets,
clothing of every description, and if we
were on the awarding committees, it
would be q hard task to select any single
article for the best. The awards have
not all been made yet. The arrange
ment has been bad for furnishing the
press with reports, and l ana unable to