Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-04
JACKSON.
West Tennessee Agricultural and Me.
chanical Association Fair.
Second Day.

An Immense Crowd I'm Attendance
Works of Art: "A Thing OF Beauty
ID q icy FOrever''-A Lost Art Ne.
stored - Unique Specimens OF the
Carver's Art-''Tripping ON the Light
Fantastic Toe"
To the Editors of the Union and American;
JACKSON, Nov. l, 1S7l.--The weather
this morning was as disagreable as WIN
ter's day. The wind blew chilly from the
north, and the clouds hung low and looked
blue. Overcoats, shawls and fires were In
demand, and there was every indication that
the fair would be failure. But the people
of Madison, invincible and not to be dis
appointed in their annual festival, came out
by the thousands, and by II o'clock the
amphitheatre was choch full of life and
beauty. Not only was the amphithea-
ire filed, but groups of boys and
young men anxious to improve
their fortunes and fill their purses,
were gathered about the thriving tables
where, for the pitiful sum of twenty-five
cents, ten dollars might be made. The side
shows were also crowded, and the man who
could swallow knives, eat tobacco, or pierce
his arm with ia butcher knife, occupied a
more desirable place in the opinion of many
than Gen. Grant.
WORKS OF ART.
Floral Hall also was crowded, and fair
ladies, escorted by gallant gentlemen,
swarIned about the works of art and indus
try, making altogether a picture of life so
warming, so fascinating and 80 cheering,
that your reporter almost forgot that there
was no wine, brandy or Robertson county on
exhibition. Among the entries in this de-
partment since yesterday, is a collection OF
oil paintings by Mrs. James Bright, among
which the Arkansas Traveller justly claims
the greatest attention, from visitors, Christ
entering Jerusalem, The Cayalcade, Re-
turning Home at Eventide and q Fruit
Scene are also much admired and are pieces
of considerable merit, indicating high Or
der of talent by the artist. The coloring is
excellent, light and shade and perspective
are perfect. Mrs. DIR. Nelson, of Bolivar,
the daughter of that excellent gentleman,
DR.. Wilkinson of Jackson, has on exhibit
ton specimens in portrait painting, show
ing the successive steps taken by student
in learning that art. Beginning by painting
blocks, then arms and faces and ending by
painting from life the human form. The
arrangement is Interesting and the eXscu-
ton Of the pieces excellent. This same esti-
mable lady had specimens Of work in port
ichemania beautiful beyond description.
In water coloiing, embroidery, ETC., she
equally eXcels, and in looking at specimens
of her handicraft we did not know whether
more to admire the work or condemn the
public opinion that gives so little encOur-
agement to works of genius. Mrs. Nelson
still paints and with proper encouragement
would become a shining light among the
artists of the land.
Miss Lula Vert, IA years of age, also
shows taste and talent in fine drawing of
a little girl crossing a stream with her skirts
appraised and calling to her brother "Wait
for me- that gives the name to the picture.
Her pencil drawing of flowers is also very
superior. But of all the persons exhibiting
in the floral department Mrs. Z. L. Andrew
shows the greatest versatility. Among other
objects of Interest shown by heris avase filed
with pressed flowers, the grasses among
which were plucked from the graves of the
Confederate dead Hurled in the garden at
tached to the Female Academy at Clarks-
vile. Her wax work of fruit and nuts was
the most perfect we ever saw. Coloring,
shape, size and appearance were so natural
that we are sure birds would peck at them
were they placed in the open air. The rot
ten specks on the apples and pears served to
heighten the deception. Her method is to
take mOulds of the fruits and then fill the
moulds with wax. She selects the finest
specimens of fruit. The peach, for instance,
from which she took her model, bore off the
prize at the st. Louis Fair. A picture done
in chenille by this lady,is surprisingly beauti-
4,,l t6ar &c ole clo
skill, patience and taste, making things Of
beauty from worn out articles. The en-
5roidery executed by this lady was also SUI
perior, and in closing our notice Of the arti-
cles she had on exhibition, We unhesitating-
ly say that her genius is as YER
satile and her taste as correct as can be
found anywhere. We feel proud of such
and it gives us pleasure to direct public at
tentiOn to such merits as hers.
Mrs. Kate Miller showed apiece of tufted
work representing a parrot perched on a
wreath of flowers, which is elegant.
COTTON BLANKETS.
An interesting and useful article recently
patented by a Georgian and for sale by
Dunaway, Anderson & Co., is a sample of
cotton blankets. These blankets are as soft
as lambs wool and as beautiful as textile
fabrics can be made. The Aztecs had an
art ofweaying fabrics of cotton so beautiful,
so warm and so durable that the Spaniards
offered large sums to be acquainted with
the process Of making such goods.
They refused to impart it and it
was thought to be lost art, but this Geor
gian has re-discovered it, and hereafter We
may expect to see blankets as valuable in
every particular made from cotton as from
wool.
UNIQUE CARVING.
Mr.. Phips Miller shows ''what-not"
carved from a piece of gum timber, in
which the shelf is supported by carvings
representing vines, and surmOunting the
shelf and surrounded by carved vines is
a cross, in the centre of which is circle not
larger than dime, in which space the Lords
prayer is engraved. The whole thing is in
imitable, unique and beautiful. Mr.. 10.
Caruthers also exhibited some very neatly
carved frames, leaves, representation of a
paddock, etc. Both these gentlemen are
highly gifted by nature.
LARGE TURNIPS.
OF the agricultural products in the floral
department the turnipS were surprisingly
excellent, We measured one that was
twenty-six inches in circumference, and the
others in the basket would weigh equally
as much as this one. They surpassed any
thing of the kind we ever saw.
FINE HOGS.
During the evening of the first day there
were many entries of hogs, which shows
the interest West Tennessee is taking In
such matters. Berkshire, Chester and Pc
land China were brought i'll the ring, and
were the admiration of all lovers of the
pOrcine species. DR.. Stephens, of St. Louis,
bore off the premium for the best four over
one year old. r. II. Taylor, of Haywood
county, got premium for the best boar
under one year old, as well as the premium
for the best boar of any age. He also got
a premium for the best SOW over one year
old, and John NJ. Withers, of Madison, for