The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-01-19
SATURDAY AT THE FAIR GROUNDS

standing The piercing wind and the sable sky,
great crowd had gathered on the grounds By one
O'Clock, and all appeared to be deeply interested
in the numberless curious inventions and exhibit
tions they saw around them. No lesson can be
more practical or more profitable than great
State fair to the population at large. At a fair,
the people are brought face to face with the in
struments Of usefulness and economy which they
had heard great deal of talk about, but of the
virtues Of which they had always been incredu-
lous. They find that the rude plows and har-
rows. the steam engines, the sugar crushers,
the saws and cutters, the washing machines, and
other contrivanees of old times, have been sur
passed by modern inventions, reducing time,
labor, space and expense seventy five or eighty
Ier cent. That where half a dozen servants in q
household or half eoZen hands in the field had
to be employed, they can be proitably replaced
by intelligent implements of house wifery aud hus
bsndry, guided by one experienced attendant. 1t
is hardly necessary to speak OF the stlmuant given
to rivalry, and desire to improve upon all sorts
Of models. The people Of Louisiana, and of New
to the gentlemen composing the Mechanical and
Agricultural. State Fair Association.
We were greatly struck with the beauty of the
two marble statues in the center Of the octagoDal;
the one representing boy wrapped ia feecy
maniel, the latter SO artfully carved as to resem
BILE strikiDgly a real sheepskiD; the other girl
cberub extracting thorn from the foot OF
four-footed pet which looks up with eyes as
tIustingy innocent as her own. Who Is the
sculptor we know nor, but we are sure he has no
reason 10 conceal his name. We looked more
carefully at the pictures yesterday. which are on
exhibition in the second story Of the octagonal,
and found great deal to admire, and an equally
great deal to condemn as mediocre and unde-
serving. II we do not mention all which we had
mentally included in the former category, 1t must
not be thought it is with the intention to class
them with the latter. OF the mediocre we shall
nd ha 0pa ava fa0p pur r0uo
TO be all mentioned in our limited space. The
interior of g m0nastic cloister small oil paint
ing. blending light and shadow in a
marvellous degree, struck us as inf
nitely the most meritorious performance
on the walls. The eye seems to penetrate from
the vanlted chamber, in which two monks are at
their devotions, away into the innerm0st recesses
Of long range Of pillars and inches, even to the
" deep sacTisIy and affairs pale" Then there
was an admirable picture of the noble Hancock,
the man whom Robert E. Lee characterises as the
first one in power who has raised one corner Of
the sombre pail which hangs over the Southern
country. And there was the stern old sea.dog
Fsrragut, his lips compressed and giving evidence
of his infexible snd dsuntless spirit. The por-
trait of the illustrious Beauregard Is very fine
and life-like one; and everybody who frequented
the City Hotel ten or fifteen years ago
will recognize the genial face of John Hew.
lett as he looks kindly but seriously down
from the canvas. This picture is by Healy, and
an excellent one il is. There we're also portraits
of Generals Lee and Andrew J Jackson, of Calhoun,
Webster Clay and others, but their merit Is not
equal in point Of art to those before mentioned.
There was copy OF Raphael's great cartoon re-
presenting the Lords Supper and the miracle of
the Savior, which, though bold and free in the
conception, bad Lot the depth and breadth Of col.
oring which care and experience ought to give.
scene from the lowlands Of the Mississippi, by R.
Claque, struck US as wonderfully true to nature.
The mighty river is within its banks, vegetation is
hourishiDg luxurianty, and there are barely
n H. laft thn Iawa ~ h.
sistles foods at high water, to remind US that no
skill or labor can make this fertile region per.
manent habitaton for man. The fight between
two stations in an Indian encampment at the base
OF u g Rocky mountains we have already spoken
of in terms Of commendation. 1t is evidently the
work Of an artist who has spent years among the
savage tribes Of the far West, and bears every
evidence of urdisenlbldnce.
The picture of MessTs. Noise and Pearson, repre-
sentipg the members of the Mstaire Jockey Club,
is wonderful for the striking resemblance to those
gentlemen in form and face, copying even their
unconscious habitusl attitudes. The grouping Of
so many persons in so small space, each figure
preserving its individuality and as recognizable
as life itself, is an evidence not only OF artistic
skill but Of genius.
We were attracted by copies Of the ceilings of
famous Roman villas, and the other intricate
works of ancient and modern Italian masters,
made by our able and modest townsman, James
FIeret, Esq. There is hanging on the walls pic
tuTe in "paper cutting" representing Freed
mans PardQlee." Two OF tne mannOOQ5 are Qls'
cussng politics and reclining lazlly on the porch
Of a log cabin, through the interstices of which
the rain snd wind have free access to the interior
whilst the sable housewife is vehemently scoldiug
a boy and girl who are poring over their school
books. The poultry are in the garden, the horses
are tied and forgotten in the midst of the grass
less yard, ard everyvhe. the image Of squalor
and improvidence. This work is decorated with
q blue ribbon. In glass case, up stairs, We saw "
some China and porcelain ware, the plates and
nF xvhic oh ruar adj mir tad hv 8 q
school girl of Is years.
We cannot refrain from a passing compliment
TO two worthy men who minister to the inner
wants Of visitors-Messrs. Mich Waters and Max
Nihoul. Mich is the popular host of the Orleans
House, a branch of which he has established al
the Far Grounds. Those Of the returned COnfed-
crates who came down the river on the Saratoga
must remember Mich Waters, the kind, true
hearted bar keeper, who would take no money
from them, but furnished them uns'intngly from
lis excellent and ample stores. Mich is still the
same, and his liquors at the Far Grounds are
identical with those at the corner Of st. Charles
and Common streets. His stand Is between the
Club House and the smphitheater, and he is
always pleased to see his friends. Tom Flana-
CHAN is with Mich, and they pull together kindly.
Mr.. Max Nihoul is the proprietor Of the beautiful
ard popular confectionery saloon, corner Of
Bayou road and Rampant street, and although
be is a foreign born citizen, the peo-
pie of New Orleans own him debt which they
can never repay. Alene and unfriended he stood
against the innovations OF the colcred population,
who, after succeeding in making the city cars
free TO white and black Unfortunately, Insisted
on thTusting themselves into public places of re-
freshment and amusement Max NihOul stood firm
for the whites, and although thousands of armed
and threatening negroes gathered around his
store and dwelling, every Sunday, for six or seven
consecutive weeks bis honesty and resolution
finally vanquished his opponents. Max has saloon
lear the great bell on the track near the grand
entrance, where the hungry fair and their beaux,
snd the youngsters, can appease their appetites
with ham and tongue, sandwiches, galGntine,
cold turkey, soda roffigDacs and champagne.
There were present several parties OF school
children and young ladies from the different
academies OF the city. Prominent among the
latter were the fair scholars of Mrs. Brand, all
bilhe and joyous,lrosy with health and exhiarated
with the delightful country air. They all were in-
vted into one Of the show tents by Colonel Et-
chtlman and Mr.. Tyler. where the trueulent beef
eater thrust the head of huge chicken snake into
bis eavernous mouth, and where the vlpers
clustered around "young Riley's" manly form in
as lively style as the worms around the skull OF
Alonzo the brave. About two score Of the rising
generation Of the nations wards were ushered
about the grounds by their teachers. They be.
haved very decorously. and kept ranks as well a;
L. loa in Va ouu