Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-10-25
Stauntolt Spettatol'.
Tuesday, October 25. 1870.
Augusta County Fair.

The Augusta County Fair was held last week
In accordance with the announcement preyious-
ly published. The time was fixed before the
great freshet occurred which did so much dam
age to bridges, roads, farms, &c. Such was the
destruction that most persons came to the con-
cluson that it would be unwise to attempt to
hold the Fair at the time appointed, for they
believed it would result in a Notifying failure.
The farmers, generally, supposed that the Fair
would be postponed. But the President-Col
Jno. B. Baldwin-was not SO easily discour-
aged. He never faltered he despaired not
his decision remained mistaken and, In topes
Of condolences, declared his purpose to hold :,
Fair at the time appointed The Fair 'no
held, and the result has justified t. &C. 80"
80 herooally entertained by Is P,es;dsnt l ~
Notwithstanding the destruction of h.;aa".
preventing the transportation - a..;olas
exhibition from abroad. "a "''-'0a 'o'
from . d;s,a..a a Ind lettering persons,
nlaaa-ar, ..om attempting to reach this
- the serious damage to county roads,
rendering them almost impossible specially
81 with vebicIes-and the incalculable loss IN
ficted upon farmers In the destruction OF crops
and fencing, the Fair proved to be, both in the
number of persons in attendance and the num-
her and character of the stock and articles ex-
hibited. all the circumstances considered, quite
a snrnassing success, and has had the effect
of inspiring increased confidence in the bosoms
of those who felt any solicitude about the Fair
as a permanently established institution -
Doubts have been dissolved, and the most san
guine hopes have been confirmed. In future,
each succeeding Fair-if the circumstances be
propitous-wilI exceed its predecessor.
Owing to the very crowded condition OF our
columns this week, we will be compelled to
make our notice as brief as possible, and cannot
speak of the exhibition and the incidents at
tending it with that particularly which they
deserve, and which, under other circumstances,
it would afford us pleasure to do. Our remarks
must be brief, to conform to our space and
to be brief, they must be merely general IN
their character.
On Tuesday, the 1st day of the Fair, the
weather was favorable. and the number of tick
cts sold and the number Of persons in atten-
dance were nearly equal to those on the first day
of either of the preceding Fairs-the receipts
being nearly as much as on the first day of the
Fair last year, and the number of persons in
attendance being about three thousand. With
the exception of machinery from distance, the
entries for exhibition fell but little short of
those of last year, and for cattle exceeded it
Quite number of horses were entered, but
the exhibition Of horses of quick speed was not
as good as that of last year. That was the
chief defect in the exhibition of this year
though there were some pretty good trotters,
PAGERS and rackers
Little Eva Benedict, a child Of seven Sum-
mers, with profuse faxen ringlets, accompanied
by yourger sister, in an exquisite little carri-
age manufactured by her father, with an air of
composure and remarkable nonchozance, drove
around the track a pair of beautiful matched
and harnessed goats which excited the admira-
ton of all, aud intensely enthused the little
boys who crowded around the miniature carri-
age, and made the welkin ring with their merry
shouts of pleasure and wonder. To this tiny
driver Of this little team the committee award
ed diploma, as will be seen by reference to
the list of premiums awarded
This was the day appointed for the balloon
ascension, but the wind blew such breeze as
to make it impossible to initiate the balloon suffi
GENTLY to bear the weight Of the aeronaut, so
that, to the disappointment Of the expectant
spectators, ii had to be postponed till the next
day.
On Wednesday, the 2nd day of the Fair. the
weather was still favorable, and the number of
persons in attendance was about double that of
the day before being about six thousand. In
this connection we would say that in the exhi-
bltion OF persons, male and female-but espe-
elally the latter-we believe that we could take
the premium in world exhibition. Tn this
respect. cur exhibition of stock would be ga
No. /, and no mistake, and in cur race. we
would distance all competitors.
In the trottiug race, the victory was won by
VIM. ii Mooyman sorrel horse, Solitude -
Whether W. Fl. Nj. is delighted with that kind
OF solitude in which Pope says, heavenly pen
sive cotempation dwells, we know not but
ne certainly is delighted with that Solitude"
which. like good christian, runs with swift
ness the race set before him." and gloricus!y
wins the prize of victory.
Why, upon the authority of Lord Bacon. is
our friend, VIM. Ell ~, either wild beast or a
god? Because he is delighted with Soil
tude; for Lord Bacon says:
Whoever is delighted with solitude, is Ell
Their wild beast or god"
On this day-Wednesday AS the bre exc was
not SO strong as on the day before, Prof. Strong
succeededin having the balloon sufficiently inAa-
ted to make the promised ascension, Wilhelm
the absence Of Miss. Lottie St Clair, who was
sick, else would have made the ascension as
advertlsed-he did at about II o'clock TO the
admiration of the thousands who were present
and deeply interested spectators of the perilous
enterprise. The balloon assembled beautifully
to the height of about 800 feet, when it began
to descend, which it did more and more rapidlv
till 1t landed the eronaut on terra frD,n. about
three hundred yards from the point Of ascen-
sion. The spectators were sadly disappointed
TO see him come down SO soon, and felt relief
Wnen they discovered that he was not
much hurt by reunion with mother earth.
The failure of Senator Thurman to fiji the
appointment made by him, sadly disappointed
many who were anxious to hear him, as his
character as man Of ability and sound
political views is appreciated by our people,
VINO are ever willing to honor Northern or
w eSterl men who entertain nd hol1l -.