Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1869-10-07
THE COUNTY FAIR.

The weather, the first Of last weel
was beautiful, and the Fair opene
out finely. Many people in town
however, who like US could comman
but one days time to visit the Grounds
put off going till Friday, expectin
the last day wonld be the best; but OF
Thursday night there came up rain
which lasted during most of Friday
and Of course that proved a dampe
on everything.
THE FAIR GROUNDS
Arc beautiful. We don't believe Their
can be any nicer in the State. But Of
Friday they looked dismal enough
the tall trees dripping with the rain
but few people scattered around, un
der umbrellas and other shelters, and
all looking for all the world like sc
many Micawbers waiting for some
thing to turn up" It was a very
unfavorable time to see anything
properly; but we made the most Of it
taking notes as fully as we well coult
under the circumstances.
THB HALL
Is not large enough, is too dark, and
leaks considerably. It is the best the
Society can do for it at present; but il
is to be earnestly hoped that before
long a new, larger and better Hall can
be built. The Society is struggling
through difficulties, and doing un'
doubtedly the best it can. For every
enterprise there must be "day OF
small things"
THE PAINTINGS.
Entering the Hall from the east, at
either door, one noticed some fine
Chromos, exhibited by G. G. Brobst;
and further along there were several
oil paintings, by Miss Shoup, Miss
Spence, w. X. Furguson, and other
members of the class taught here by
Miss Morton some months ago, we
believe. OF a different class of work
but good, we noticed some fine paint
ing and granting of wood by T. H.
Woodruff, d. w. Dukes, and others
whose names we did not learn.
OF ORNAMENTAL WORK
There were quite numerous and ex-
cellent specimens. Among them we
noticed some fine brackets, wreaths of
flowers in crewel-work, a bead-work
stand-cover, hair wreath, wreath of
bead-work, and some other samples,
by Mrs. DR.. Wetherell; hair wreath
exhibited by Mrs. Vanatta; number
of lamp-mats, fancy baskets and other
niceties, whose exhibitors names we
did not learn; nice Agricultural
wreath, made of small leaves, nuts,
seeds, &C., by Miss Maggie Carruthers;
some ornamental shell-work, and a
beautiful moss frame for picture, by
Miss Olivia Tharp; and numerous
other articles which we have not room
to specify.
AS TO HOUSEHOLD GOODS,
Such as quilts, coverlids, sheets, pill
lows, drawers, socks, carpets, and
other work on which the fair hands of
the ladies may usefully show their
skill, the ladies themselves are more
competent than we to judge. We
only know that they were there, not
in large numbers, but nice enough for
or anywhere. Some Of the
quilts, spreads and comforters, espe-
cially, must have been the envy of
those old bachelors who saw them and
called to mind the seventies Of the
winter. After all, however,
we endorse the action of that Commit
tee at a certain Fair in New York,
who in their Report made award as
follows: "Best Bed Comforter, Miss
Mary Watson" But even our un-
skilled eye could not escape beauti-
full carpet, of 25 yards, woven and
exhibited by Mrs. Jacob Kline, of this
Township; and fine fur robe, exhib-
tied by Mr.. John Brownlee-though
we suppose he didn't make it himself.
And ofbutter, bread jams, preserves,
jellies, cakes, wines, and the like,
there was display rejecting all credit
on the ladies. Mrs. w. +. Campbell
alone, of Dallas Township, had enough,
and nice enough, to make almost a
small Fair of itself. Not having been
on any of the "Tasting Committees"
Of course we couldn't get at the real
"proof of the pudding;" but the APP
pearance of all these goodies was
enough to tempt the appetite Of the
sternest Anchorite.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS,
Of course, were in general not extra
ordinary. We have had too bad a
year for anything. We saw there
some fine corn, pumpkins, beans, po-
tatoes, &C.; but the display was not,
and in the very nature of things could
not be, q fair showing for the County
as compared with former years. 1t is
to be hoped that next season will be
more favorable to the Farmers.
FRUITS, &C.
The show of Fruit was not extraOr-
dinarily large, but 1t was beautiful.
There were. as nice apples, plums,
grapes, &C., as we saw at the State
Fair, where three States were in COM
petition. There Is no use In doubling