The Portland daily press., 1868-10-10
The Maine state Fair.
Last Day.


"Did you ever see anything like it?" said a
gentleman to us Friday in the Hall as the
crowd pushed and jostled, now this way and
now that. cit seems to me that instead of the
interest in the Fair being on the wane it ID
steadily on the Increase and if it should be
kept open another week it would be money in
the pockets of the Treasury" And we have
no doubt of it. Such an interested crowd as
it has been, too, in everything. MAN and
wife with two minor children" were bound to
see this show through and through even il
they died from fatigue, consequent upon see
ing everything from thimble to horse-trot.
And in this connection we would ask. why
do people lug round infants in arms in these
large crowds? Is it because they can't induce
any one at home to look after the poor little
unfortunates? How pitiable they look, their
little faces all wrinkled up with pain or fright
Or both, and the miserable mother, with coun-
tenance pale from over exertion except where
two bright crimson spots blaze in the cheeks,
looks as if she should drop down and die in
her footsteps.
During Thursday afternoon the throhg
were continually pouring up and down that
iron staircase and in the evening there was
hardly breathing room for any one in the diff
erent departments. We have stated that dur
ing Wednesday over 1000 persons visited the
Hall. We should have mentioned that was
the number of tickets sold at the door and
does not include the vast number of life men,
bers, and season ticket holders. In fact we
learn that the average number of tickets soId
at the door per day was 4OO0 At one time dur
ing Friday morning the police were compelled
to keep the throng of ladies at the foot of the
stairs, leading to the Ladies' Department, until
there was room for them above,
The weather of Friday was even preferable
to the proceeding days, as the heaty shower of
Thursday afternoon and evening had had the
effect to lay the dust and clear the atmosphere
SO that every one felt braced and exhilarated
We have endeavored as far as was in our
power to mention the names of the various ex-
hibitors, with the articles exhibited during the
progress of the Fair and if any have been
sighted, we trust they will forgive us and
rest assured the omission was unintentional
Last night being the close of the Fair the
hall was terrible jam of men, women and
children. We presume every body that could
+
mission ticket, made use of it on this occasion.
Chander's Band were in attendance and dis
coursed their sweetest music to the gratifica-
tion of the immense throng
AT THE PARK-FoRENooN,
Friday forenoon was clear and beautiful
and the attendance at the Park was quite
large. The first attraction was the trial of
the draught horses, which drew together
number of people to witness the testing of
their strength in drawing loads of great
weight. Some smart pulling was done, al
though the ground was very slippery and
there was much friction to be overcome.
There was trial of horses in pairs, and
much interest was manifested in seeing which
could pull the greatest amount The exami-
nation of mares and geldings next took place.
and some very pretty ones under two
years old were exhibited. Mr. Palmers
mare of two years old was remarkably fine.
Perhaps the most interesting feature of the
forenoon programme was the exhibition of all
the prize animals. 1t was a grand show of
noble animals rejecting great credit on the
person that raised them. Among the most
noted were those belonging to John F. Ander-
son of South Windham, Hon. W. A. P. Dill
lingham. ..... r-
AFTERNOON.
The concourse at the Park Friday afternoon
was larger than at any preceding time during
the Fair. The number was estimated at 5000
10 10000. There were several hundred vehicles
ni'ed with ladies. For two hours before the
'inie ior the races to commence there was a
continual stream of carriages and pedestrians
pouring IN through the gates. .'.
Az nan past two o'clock Governor Cbamber-
lain, In company with Seth scammon Esn
President OF the Agricultural societv arrived
at the Park escorted by the Mecban;c Rlnes
under command of Capt. Parker. with tho ross
land Band. Col. Kicker, of Augusta ch;of
Marshal, and Mr.. Samuel Chadwick. of port-
land, his aid, led of. On arriving at Tho
judges stand the Governor was greeted with
three rousing cheers. ef \
The races did not commence until three
. ciock The first trot was for sWeepstake
purse, open to all horses owned in Maine, mile
aea.s.oest threein FIVE to harDess $40O to the
mr. nrst' 500 to the second, and s75 to the third.
Inc judges were George Burnham, Jr.. of
Portland John NJ. Stimson of Alfred. and T.