The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-08
TIE orExISe OF THE STATE FAIR.

an sssemblage as on the first day of the first
State Fair in November, 1866, but still there
were persons enough on the grounds to show that
the people Of New Orleans are interested 10 the
success of the enterprise.
At meridian, precisely, piece of artillery from
Company K, of Graham's battery, U. s. artillery,
fred salute of twelve guns Immediately after
which, whilst Jaeger's band were playing
solemn march, Archbishop Odin, preceded by
procession of forty reverend fathers of the
Catholic Church, and escorted by Fathers Turgis
and Moynhan and by distinguished officers of the
Fair Grounds Association, entered by the grand
portal, and walked to the amphtheater, where he
was received upon the judges stand by President
Marks, who welcomed him in few cordial and
respectful words.
With the venerable archbishop was the Rev.
Father Reculon, priestly gentleman from the
French empire, who was the first orator of the in.
sDgurstion. The archbishop seated, and every
noise settled, Father ReculOn, with uncovered
head, shielded from the potent rays Of the sun by
an umbrella which an officer of the association
held over him, began his address to the prelate,
the president and the multitude. He paid high
tribute to the advancement of Louisiana, and To
the patience Of her people under long continued
adversely ard Suffering. He also looked upon the
success of the fair as assured, and trusted that
the exhibition Of mechanical. agricultural and
artistic improvement and inventions during the
continuance of this fair would stimulate our pop.
citation &c still further exertions 10 the of in
dustIy and progress. The fathers address was
listened to with respectful attention, and seemed
TO produce an earnest impression upon his hume
IOUs audience.
The Invocation, as sung by the choir of ladies
ard gentlemen from the st. Louis Cathedral. ac-
companed by the famous brass baud of Jaeger,
was really superb. That finished maestro, Mon.
sieur Dubois, acted as chief of the musical cere-
monies, and his guidance was sure guarantee
that eTything was in accord. The orator of the
day, the Hon. James B. Eusti5, then made his ap-
pearance, and delivered an address which, in oar
opinion, was undeniably one of the most eloquent
and philosophical ever listened to 10 New Orleans.
After Mr.. Eustis had got through, the music re.
newed its Symphonies, but pretty smart shower
began 10 patier upon the broad planking at the
smphitheater, which brought matters to a prem
azure close. The bright little bonnets and exigu.
GUS parasols were but poor protection against
the falling rain drops. and the ladies began TO
leave their seats and TO seek shelter under the
amphitheater itself. Luckily it was only an
"April shower"-soon over; and the glorious, bat
too ardent sun burst out again, in couple of min,
utes, IN full refulgerce.
From the amphitheater we stroled into the
various fair buildings, where the articles on ex-
hibitOn are deposited. As women have far bet
ter taste than the lords of creation, we bent our
way TO the floral department, whi,her they
seemed to be the most attracted. Catering the
spacious area, We found Mr.. Moss, the famous
hortieulturist, busily experimenting the trans
planting of various shrubs and fragrant flower
bushes, and at the same time having kind an
sTer and smile of welcome for all who passed
near him. The rocky sylvan fountain in the floral
pavilion seems like the uumoested haunt of some
hamadTysd so picturesquely natural did it ap
pear. Around the bubbling water were pine
trees and other evergreens, banana plants, with
heavy lunches Of luscious fTuit and " ater a wers
tsstefnlly mixed in color as to resemble Ia
some degree the coral reefs of the Caribbean.
We are sorry the gardeners about the city have
been ciatOry IN sending out their contributions
They may rest assured Mr.. Moss will take
proper care of anything they may confle
TO him. Emerging from this delightful retreat
we were attracted by huge canvas dIubs repre-
senting all manner OF human mOnslrosiues judy
ing from the counterfeit presentment of the in
dividual, which lComed up in front of a canvas
tent, we considered "Young Riley" to be the most
remarkable man of the age. lie was surrounded
by thousand snakes. some of colossal proper
tons, and all threatening his OersOn with uams-
taxable lintent. These snakes the Snowman ont
side called boy constructors" and we Judge that
young Riley Was the boy and the snakes the con.
strictOrs. The heaTtess Snowman refGsed US ad.
mission as a dead head and we passed on, more
in sorrow than in anger. 10 the tent adjoining
this narrowing representation, reposed the
Learned hog, Shakespeare" 40 what base
uses must we come ct last ~ The most exalted
name in all Literature applied to a learned hog
There were also two or three Professors" aud
"long armed gibbonn or ape, whose tail was
sixteen times longer than lis arms.
We then entered the machinery shop or depart
ment, where everything was in a condiGn of chaos,
the carpenters and tie backsniths intent upon
their business of putting up and asserting the
goods for exhibition. There were no visitors 10
this department, and we presume the workmen
were very glad Of il. Thence we repaired to ;he
octagOnal building, the lofty and inpos ng cuoola
OF which adds greatly 10 the appearance OF the
FAIR Grounds. The lower floor was crowded with
beautiful wCmen and children, looking with de-
light at The iDnumerable specimens of the skill
and ingenuity OF Louisisniins. Here mixed in
dazzling confusion, were shawls, needle work
netting, laces, quilts cushions gold aud silver EN-
brcideTy, gloves, flowers, worsted work. gold aud
silver smithing, jewelry, artificial teeth, ee "a It
vases, pots OF perfomeIy, tapestry, aud all
the artistic bandiwork that lighter industry
Is capable Of masking. Some beautiful specimens
Of tapestry were hung on the walls worked by
Mrs. Livingston, en eyed Louisiana lady of seventy
nine. Up stairs were paintings, photographs
drawings in cIayon, water colOrs, exc. Among
these we noticed a speaking photograph OF Cen
Hancock and picture of the morasses on the
lower Mississippi. Ga way down stairs we
were attracted by the sound of piano PLAYED
by master hand. We found the piano to be the
manufacture Of Gustave Won Hofe Young Ger.
man artisan, whose factory is on Magazine street
tetween Sixth and Seventh streets, where pianos
every way equal to Chickering'S, are mann
featured TO order. There were also other pianos
Of native fabrication, of which We may take &C.
In The D echaDical department there seemed, to
our ineXpefi need sight. to be an Infinite variety
of wood work, iron work, wOrkmen's tools man
tie pieces, (really magnifcent) lamps scales,
harness. b. oems. collins, bath tins, water coolers,
pistols, guns. rifles, breechOaders, oars paddles,
hunting bags, cutlery, cOttonades; beautiful coras
spoDges, ard other euriosities from the Gulf of
Mexico ;; sofas, trunks, hogsheads, barrels boots
shoes, hats, saddeTy, billiard tables blank books:
tenpn balls and deliberately carved buttresses of
cypress as rich and glossy as mahogany; copper
stills; furniture Of the most gorgeous description
paints and brushes, wall paper, and a thousand
other things which escaped our notice. The
liquor department was not ready, and was visited
by few. So with the other departments On
very ingen.Ously made work table was the follow
ing singular inscription This table has been
made by no mechsnc.'
Our description is merely desultory. as we con-
s!der II better TO delay more elaborate one until
every department shall have been duly arranged
About O'Clock went over into the field to Wit
nessthe operation Of FultOn's patent steam plow
This machine is worked 10 the following manner:
Two engines we're under full head of steam one on
each Size Of the t. eek, and probably four hundred
yards apart. double wire cable, similar in
appearance To the Atlantic cable, pulled the pillow
from one engine TO the other. steersman was
on ihe plOw, who guided it with apparent ease
and the burrows were as straight as any we ever