The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-09
SECOND DAY OF THE FAIR.

Old Hyems came csreering into the environs Of
New Orleans about daybreak yesterday, and paid
bis first visit this winter in all his state, to the
city and the Fair Grounds. The day was bleak,
gusty and drizzly. Even those venerable oaks,
Whose boughs are messed with age
And high tops bald with dry antil-'ty'
seemed, notwithstanding their massive strength,
to feel the sudden change, and to be grander and
more gloomy than is their won't. Wherever
constant passage had worn a road, the
ground was sticky and exceedingly unpleasant
to walk upon. The grass itself was wet, and
pedestrians had hard time in passing from one
peint to another inside the race track The
weather was Indictment enough to keep everybody
away, but, to our pleasant surprise, we foun4 on
reaching the Octagonal building, that quite alarge
number of ladies were busiy examining the rare
and beautiful articles Of talent, skill aud TASTE
which were ranged in admirable order throughou
the edifce. We saw, in this department. the
pleasant faces of many of our principal manufac-
whom were Messrs. Moody, Tyler, Todd.
Lilienthal, Won Hofe, etc., exhibiting their
admirable works, and explaining the nature
usefulness and value of each article to the crowds
OF curious inquirers. The description of the in
terror OF the various departments will be given
further down; our present business is with the
open fields. On reaching the inside of the track
we made bee line for the floral pavilion. The
damp morning had brought out all the fragrance
Of the Iroses and jasmines, and we experienced
the same olfactory sensation if entering per.
iumery store. We found Mr.. Moss still busted ia
the trGnsplanting of shrubbery and flowers but
Respondent from the inertness of horticultarists
Ia the neighbOrhood, as we'll as in the different
districts OF the city and Carrollton, in sending
plants OF any description to fill up the 10.
stertices of his ample and slightly pavilion.
II the floral garden this year is not
what 1t should be, Mr.. Moss is not TO blame in
The least. He has devoted great deal of his
time and labor for weeks, nay months, to making
tie proper arrangements for receiving trans,
planting, and taking care of articles confded 10
him during the fair, but those who should send
have not sent, and with the exception of the
plants contributed by Mr.. Moss himself (many of
which are very rare and beautifully, there is
scarcely specimen to be found in the conserva.
tory. Tables made OF oak and oaken bark, chairs
Of all sorts, some Of iron, others of oak and
hickory, with alligator skin bottoms, worm fences
Of green saplngs, grove of cedar and pine, the
willows growing near the edges Of the fountain,
and the moss in the crevices of the miniature
rocks, all together give the place a very pleasant
and soothing effect. There are some beautiful
red and white camelas and luxuriant growth
OF Chinese bananas growing in one of the recesses
At the entrances are several tasteful soda foun-
tsins, where excellent liquors and cakes are kept
The Ramie plant is also 10 be found here-a plant
lately imported into the South which may, one Of
these days, usurp the place of cotton in the abres
of America and Europe. Tie Ramie plants in the
pavilion are from the plantation of DR.. Knapp,
IN St. bernard parish, and Mr.. Moss tells us that
three which be planted in an unfrequented por-
tion of the Fair Grounds in November, 1866, have
grown so rapidly as to be able to furnish, at this
moment, from three thousand TO five thousand
shoots for planting.
The steam plows were not in operation yester-
day; but we visited Phifer's corn, cotton and
pOtatoe pillow and cultivator, which took the gold
medal at the late State fair in Utica, N. Y, and
the merits of which Mr.. A. Il. Cotton, the South.
ern AGENT was at good deal of pains to explain to
us. This pillow is furnished with six shares and is
drawn by two LOTses. The driver seats himself
or walks, and the whole concern is remarkably
light and compact The shares can be diminished
to one, or can be placed near together or wide
apart at will. They can also be lowered or raised
so as to pillow to any depth, from IL to inches.
We were shown very fattering letters from plar-
iers in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, some of
whom say one man with two horses can do more
work with Phifer's Improvement than six hands
and six mules or horses with the ordinary pillow.
The price is only $50, including freight from Co.
!apbja, s. ibis aEtlele is well worthy the at
tenton of planters. IL also has a continuance
which sows grain and phosphate manure directly
after the burrows turned.
we also noticed a soapboiler, near the oc-
tsgonal building, in full operation which is said
to make excellent soap after only fifteen minutes
boiling. Whilst looking about to itemizs ANYTHING
OF interest, We remarked three policemen ad.
Vancing from the police headquarters towards
certain point, and guessing from their savage
LOOKS That something uncommon was brewing We
followed in their wake. A poor old drunken
roysterer was reclining under oak, whose
msudlin blasphemy il was painful to listen to-
They seized him, raised him TO his feet and forced
him along rapidly to headquarters. Already
there were three white women aud one black one
all drunk, in limbo within, and when the old Slenus
was thrust IN, there was heard from outside such
waniDg, and tumbiing, and cries of distress, that
We make no doubt the bacehantes were pummel.
ing the old devil. unmerciiully for his involuntary
Invasion OF their privacy. The chief of police
ought to see chat separate quarters should be pro.
vded for male and female offenders at the Fair
Grounds. As soon as the old man was Gagged a
dispatch was transmitted to town for Black Maria.
and al the time of this writing the five prisoners
are doubtless sleeping off their debauch in the
Second or Third District lookup.
Aleathern-lunged roarer whose voice resounded
beyond the palngs of the Fair Grounds and who
would make rare orator for the radical party,
II loud talking, nuency andimpudence are all that
party require of their speakers, at this moment
attracted the listless visitors over to Young
Riley's" canvas tent. This stentor was evidently
from CockagDe, originally, and his words were !
somewhat as follows: "Walk in ERE ladies and
gentlemen; ERE is the greatest Wonder of the
hsge. Inside 'ere you may see young Riley with
twenty-five full grown sarpents a-twistin' around
his neck and limbs, he not carin' Won straw
'ETe's Won Of the smallest in the lot (hodng out
Elk foot chicken snake.) a reg Tar rattle snake
with his fangs in prime horder, which | will pnt
,ls 'ead in my mouth and fear no danger,
be is so tame and sensible" Sure enough he
suited the action to the word, and pOked the
reptiles head into bis cavernous mouth. The
snake made one convulsiVe wFiggle as If in the
spasm Of death, and slaughtered out apparently
lfeess. If either was poisoned il surely was the
snake. for. during the little while we staid, il
looked as limp and faccid a strand of worsted.
Whilst Efforts were making TO resuscita.e the
chicken snake, another beef-eater emerged from
under the canvas and cried aloud: I'm going
TO do what was never done before-I'm gwine to |
enter cage full Of wild and savage tigers, which !
eats ali other men up. Pay your quarter and come
in TO see me get into the tigers cage" And with
o rufhani swagger he rushed within. NOBODY fUi. |
lowed, when out he came directly, repeating the |
same words. "Will nobody come in Well, then |
III enter the tigers cage, anyhow" But he |
didn't. For he squatted on the sawdust, near the |
opening, out Of the cold north wind, and silently |
Lit his pipe.
The race By hand of mile round between five |
bre engines, to-Wit: Hope Hook and Ladder No. |
J. Columbia No. 5, Mechanics No. G, Trad Ferry |
steam engine) No. II, Perseverance No. IS, and |
Orleans No. II, was postponed until next Sunday,
on account Of the heavy and slippery condition of
the track. All the companies, we are told, ex-
cept IL and 81, voted for the pOstponement.
Atthp invita- tim of Mr. Rsue Damahv of ha firm |