The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-09-28
AT THE FAIR.

Well, I've gone, and went, and been to
an Agricultural Fair, for the first time in
my mortal life. These institutions are
very much in vogue here in the West,
every county has had or is going to have
one. Then there is the State Fair at Wat
seco. The Iroquois Co. Fair, which we
attended, was held at the little railroad
town of Onarga; it lasted four days; we
were only there one. There was quite
fair display of fruit for a comparatively
new country. Pears, apples and grapes
were the principal fruits on exhibition, the
latter being plentiful and cheap hereabout.
The grape is such a delicious fruit and
wthal so easy of cultivation that wonder
every farmer does not raise sufficient
quantity for his own use.
The vegetable department also made
quite display, with big potatoes, pump
kins, squashes, melons, &c. The display
of flowers was very poor, probably owing
to the lateness of the season.
Among the stock displayed were some
imported Norman colts, more remarkable
for strength than beauty. They were
dark iron gray with long flowing white
from one of Rosa Bonheur's famous pictures
and looking at these noble animals arch
ing their graceful necks as they were led
over the green sward fancied they might
have been the originals, from which the
little painter produced her famous picture.
There was trotting race and pacing
race, the latter was most interesting, as an
old raw bone, driven by seedy looking
bachelor, doth horse and man had play
ed out look, was pitted against dashing
young gray, driven by kid gloved ex-
quisit. The old horse came in ahead in
every heat amid the deafening shouts of
about thousand spectators.
Four lady equestrians displayed their
skill in Craftsmanship, contending for
prize; and the winner seemed quite proud
of her blue ribbon.
Weston the walkist was present and
walked five miles in an hour forward, then
half mile backwards, then he mounted
the Judges stand and made speech which
we did not hear being to far away, but
whatever was the tenor of his remarks
they were received with much applause,
and this walking humbug for the want of
any opposition was the hero of the hour.
Over the arch in the Exhibition Hall
hung a fine steel engraving of President
Grant, and we did not see anyone SO much
engrossed with other sights, that he did
not pause to gaze affectionately at the
pictured face of the Chief Magistrate. In
fact they will not grant you leave to say
anything but Grant hereabout, any allusion
to the hero of Chappaqua is greeted with
scorn and laughter, hard but l reckon tits
fair.
Riding home we enjoyed glorious sun
set on the wide prairie, gay with the tassel-
ed corn it seems to me have never seen
the sun set in reality before, the vision is
so unobstructed, it constantly calls to mind
pictures we have seen of sunset on mid
ocean.
The great enemy to advancement here
about is fever and ague, the worst feature
about this monster is that when he enters
the settlers cabin hope and energy departs
from the heart of the most sanguine and
gloom and dependency reign instead.
School houses are new and comfortable
and quite numerous. and this we will find
to be the case wherever the Yankee is OF
has been. He believes in shooting the
young idea straight up without giving him
time to get stunted or grow crooked.
A. A. C.