The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-09
THE ABBEVILLE Fair.
winding up the Festivities-Distribu
ting the Prizes-Riding and Driving
Feats.
[FRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
Hnr-Dnun.rcr Iouarnh ne

Abbeville forever, say l. She is and must
continue to be the Banner District Of the State.
must again regret my not seeing reporter here
direct from THE NEWS, for can't do the subject
half justice.
Two days did not suffice for our County Fair,
for on yesterday the people came pouring In again
by the hundreds to see whatever the Executive
Committee had to show them. The regular hour
of ten O'Clock called forth the music, and present
ly came into the hollow square the beautiful
stock The groomed mares and their gambolling
suckings, worthy Of stock country's exhibition,
and then the mules, followed by the braying
asses. Each in turn, as he deserved 1t, received
the blue ribbon and passed on.
Music again, and few moments Of idle time
for the hundreds to discuss the justice OF the COM
mittee's decision and then followed grand and
beautiful display Of all the premium stock, driven
and led through the public square
Just at this time was quietly perambulating
the crowd, and was much amused at the volun-
tary remarks Of the wags here and there. One
fellow shouted, "Tak about old Abbeville being
dead. / tell you, men, she's just been born"
One colored man said to another, II tell you Jim,
no chance for nigger here; too much White 1o!Ks
about.n "Hurrah for South Carolina, old Able
VILE Is going to be her capital" cried third.
columbia had better look out, the next State
Fair will be held in Abbeville," said fourth, &C.,
&c. And all these remarks were made in the best
good humor; not riotous or drunken man in
that immense throng.
About this time the president announced on the
street the premiums would now be awarded in
the Courthouse where the ladies were requested
TO repair, as seats would be secured for them.
The Courthouse seats about five hundred persons,
but it did not seat near all the ladies present
thought to myself just then, 'look here, Jim this
is no place for white men, nor niger either" the
house being called to order the premiums were
awarded by some selected member of the Execu-
tive Committee reading out the awards to the sue
cessful competitors, and some other member re-
ceivlng from the secretary and handing out the
premium. Some one in the audience demanded
display Of the premiums, and Immediately the
president opened few, and asserted TO the au-
dience that every article distributed purporting
to be silver was the pure article, and was so war
ranted by that honest and enterprsing firm Of
Messrs. W. G. whilden Co., Charleston, OF whom
they were bought-a compliment well put and
clearly deserved.
Some competitors, Of course, were chagrined nj
the decision of the several committees. But this
is what was expected; though, think, in the
main, all hands were satisfied.
H. At the close Of these exercises, which consumed
couple Of hours, the president announced that
the exhibition would close with one more scene,
and that, perhaps, the most interesting OF all.
And so is proved to be- The young men in at
tendance upon the Fair had by voluntary contri-
button, made up a. purse OF thirty dollars TO be
awarded by committee OF select gentlemen Tor
the best horsemanship. The committee had the
square cleared, and seven gallant contestants en-
tered the "ring." Such riding has seldom been
seen in this State. The committee required the
young men to walk, trot, lope, go at half speed
dismount mount, &C., and, finally, to perform
"the acure eight commit all sorts Of gyrations
among the trees on the square, and 10 rlae just as
no other men in the world, it seemed to me, could
be made to ride. Finally the contestants were
reduced by the decision OF the committee to four,
and as no one Of these could be selected as sue
cessful competitor, the judges awarded to each
premium from the treasury Of the Abbeville Agri-
cultural Society, and returned to the gallant
riders the "pool" for which they had SO manfIliy
striven.
Following this contest was another for the best
driving, and after an exercise sufficiently long
to wear out both driver and horse, the prize IA
fine hat) was awarded to young citizen of the
district who, with great SKILL drove his pet anil
NAL, one OF his own rearing, just where and as
the committee desired him.
Thus ended, Mr.. Editor, the first Fair in South
Carolina since the war-a success beyond the an
ticipations OF its best friends. And what CON-
ment upon the croaker's idea, that4t was too
soon to begin this mighty work OF inducing the
owners of dear old South Carolina to regenerate,
recuperate, dlsenthral and resurrect their native
land The good work has begun in old Able
vine Nay the Lord extend His influence from
the mountains TO the seaboard. c. II.