Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1871-10-24
Spettatur,
Tuesday, October "a, 1871.


Augusta County Fair-General Remarks
The Fourth Annual Exhibition of the "Au
gusta County Fair was held at the Fail
Grounds near this place, on Tuesday, Wednes
day and Thursday of last week, the 18th, 18th
and 10th instant.
The weather was delightful during the Fair
being clear and bright and of just the proper
temperature for comfort, and the rain of Mon
day had the effect of preventing dust. The
Fair was success beyond the anticipations o.
the most hopeful and sanguine. There was 6
marked improvement over former exhibitions
in all the various departments, showing that
the citizens of this and surrounding counties
are becoming more and more interested In the
Fair, and giving hopeful assurance that each
succeeding exhibition will surpass the prece-
ding.
This year no sensational announcements were
made to attract crowd and no great efforts Of
any kind, having that end in view, were made,
yet the attendance was as good as on any form
er occasion. On the first Gay, several thousand
persons were present, End on the second and
third days, the number was variousy estimated
from eight to twelve thousand. The surround
ing hills were filed with carriages and horses,
and the space Immediately surrounding the
track was thronged with thousands OF interest
ed spectators, presenting scene of animated
beauty and loveliness worthy the pencil of the
painter and the pen of the poet. We were
pleased to see that the surrounding counties OF
Albemarle, Rockbridge, Rockingham, High
land md Bath were well represented both In
Inc number and character of their citizens
present.
We hope that it will not be long before our
County Fair will be converted into District
Fair embracing the counties We have named as
well as others that may wish to be Included
We desire these counties to become more I'M
mediately and directly interested in the exhl-
billions to be given here. We wish to see more
of their people and more of their productions
here on such occasions.
1t was especially gratifying to witness the
Improvement both in the number and quailtJ
of the stock, productions, and manufactured ar
ticles exhibited by the citizens of this county
as it shows that the Fair is beginning to exert
the beneficial influences for which 1t was estab
lished. The beneficial results of these exhlbl
tons will become more and more apparent eacf
succeeding year. Each one should strive to dt
his or her part in making each exhibition OK
coed the preceding.
The ladies deserve great credit for what the.
have done towards making these Fairs success
full, and they can, and we have no doubt Will
do great deal more. They aid greatly no
only by the exhibition Of articles OF skill ant
industry, but by adding, by their welcome pres
ence and smiles of approval, grace, beauty ant
attractiveness to such occasions. Without TIT
fair. there would be no Fair. Should the fal
cease to attend, the Fair would cease to exist.
In this connection, we would state that TOT
much praise cannot be bestowed upon those la
dies who devoted their time and labor at thu
refreshment tables during the Fair for the ben
eft of the Soldiers Cemetery. The receipt
thus obtained for that laudable purpose a
mounted to the sum of $47S.
The multitudes of men and women, VIII
were present during the several days of tn
Fair, seemed without exception, to enjoy tn
exhibition very much, and we have no doub
that most of them will attend the next Fair
and bring many with them who were not her
on this occasion. We think that we are JUST
fed in giving assurance that the next exhibi
ton will exceed the one given last week Gu
farmers, and their wives, SONS and daughter
are beginning to take hold of the matter il
good earnest, and they will make these occa
sions not only interesting and pleasant, but EN-
inently instructive and beneficial
FIRST DAY-TUEsDAY.
AS the experience of previous Fairs hat
taught that the first day was devoted in grea
part to organizing the committees for the worl
to be done, and consequently not of so mucl
interest to spectators as the subsequent days
there were not as many present on that day a
On the second and third. There were present
however, on the first day about two thousand
persons.
At 9 o'clock A. NJ. the Chief Marshall anc
his assistants and the Superintendents of De
partments met at the Office of the Executive
award in the several departments.
The excellent Band composed chiefly of thu
blind pupils of the Institution for the D. D.
Blind, led by Prof A. j. Turner their &C
complished music teacher, appeared upon the
Grounds and discoursed sweet music.
A number of fine horses entered for exhibit
ton were ridden and driven around the track
making good display.
The trotting race between Mr.. John Moor
mans sorrel horse, Solitude" and G. Benton
Coiner's bay horse, '.Shoo Fly" excited con.
siderable interest. The contest was close, but
the victory was awarded to 'Shoo Fly" ''Sol-
itude' lost by ''breaking"-as it is expressed
In the language Of the turf-and not, in the
opinion Of many, for the want of speed.
SECOND DAY-wEDNEsDAY.
On Wednesday morning, it became quite ev-
ident at an early hour that the attendance on
that day would be larger than had been antici-
pated, for it seemed, from the number of car
rlages and horses coming from all directions
and vending their way to the Fair Grounds,
that ''all the world and the rest of mankind
had left home to visit the Fair. The number
In attendance was estimated by some good
judges to be about twelve thousand. We did
not think there were so many, but we do not
profess to be able to judge of numbers with
any approximation to accuracy, and willingly
defer to the judgment of those in whose iudg-
ment In such matters we have more confidence