The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-10-12
Letter From Steuben County, New York
NO. 5.
BATH, September goth, 1872.

beautiful Indian Summer days seem deter
mined to make the years grave bright
with trailing scarlet leaves, and the sky as
blue as it is when Spring soft songs begin
to murmur among the bloom of May.
Taking charming ride through the val
ley this morning, We saw scene that for
unique beauty could not be equalled. We
only regretted that we could not have it's
evanescent loneliness photographed for our
distant friends to see. Before us rose one
of the highest hills that surround the town.
Between its lofty peak and the base rested
billowy cloud of mist-its bright opaline
folds so thick that it presented only a vast
surface Of sunlight tinted whiteness. 1t
seemed as though little bit of the sky had
moved down to earth, with dark evergreens
and flaming naples cleaning on its edge.
We watched it until the vapory mist grad
ually wrapped the dark body of the hill in
gauzy veil.
In former letter we promised to write
an account of "the County Fair" held
here. But before our pen glides on to that
pleasant task, let me crave our worthy
Editors and readers pardon for sending
The Wing illegible chirography. We no.
| ticed several egregious errors in our print
ed letters that we are sure were not in the
manuscripts, and probably resulted from
the type settlers inability to read correctly
our wretched scribbling. For instance,
| part of word was omitted in one sentence,
transforming an adverb into an adjective
and making the same modify a verb-as
"elegant finished " instead of elegantly
finished" We cannot resist the tempta-
ton to furnish our friends good reason
for the many inaccuracies.
The Fair began on Wednesday the twen-
ty-fifth, closing Friday evening following
with a dance. We did not visit the
grounds the first day as the Fair House was
being put in order, and the different arti-
Giles entered. We ascertained that nearly
two O. thousand articles were exhibited
for competition.
The Fair House is situated in extensive
grounds with wide half mile race course
in the rear. 1t is a large building, two
stories high. The second story, in the
interior, forming wide gallery that runs
around the whole building and overlooks
the first floor.
Depositing our tickets in the Treasurers
Office at the entrance, we entered the
grounds and walked around to see the fine
cattle, sheep, fowls ETC., ETC., in their differ
ent stalls. These stalls were placed on the
sides of the grounds and SO arranged
that animals confined within them, might
pay their three days visit to town with per-
feet comfort. Those taking the first pre-
MUM were adorned with scarlet ribbons,
the second with blue, and the third with
green. The lowing of the cattle, bleating
of the lambs and cacklng of the hens COM
bined to give the scene barnyard effect.
A short distance from the stalls were scat
tered some small tents, that are usually seen
following a clrcus-troupe. If one might
trust to the Haunting painted advertise
ments without, we should have expected
to see within "the wonderful double-head-
ed calf" "immense sea-monster " and ga
novel and highly entertaining minstrel per-
formance."
In close juxtapesitiont to these tents stood
a quadruple-swing, which two men slowly
ground around in complete circle. We
we're much amused by the Arcadian Ro-
meos and Juliets who trusted themselves in
this novel arrangement. Romeo invariably
placed his arm around his shrinking COM
panion, as the swing went high in the air.
1t was done with so much simplicity and
Inconsistencies, that we could not restrain
a smile. Indeed, our visibles were often
brought into active play by similar scenes
during the Fair.
Entering the door of the exhibition rooms,
we slowly walked through the first floor.
Nearly everything under the sun, that can
be made available by man, was placed
here. One-half side was devoted to sewing
machines. Every one had an operator,
busiy stitching, and this hum uniting with
the notes struck from half dozen pianos
and organs combined to make discordant.
but not altogether unpleasant noise. The
band from Elmira stationed overhead,
drowned all smaller sounds when it gave
US some admirable melodies. Among the
mber-" Maggie, when you and l were
Young" with variations, which carried us
back to Elkton and the Summer evenings
when the enterprising little band there
practised the same tune SO indefatigably.
The paintings and chromos were very
attractive, to Judge from the number of
persons gathered near that Department.
One, clone Lake in Autumn" was per-
feet gem. The fancy articles were too
numerous to enumerate. Elegant sofa pill
lows, pin-cushions Of all styles and sizes
that would have done credit to a certain
lady in Elkton noted for her tasteful man.
| ufacture of the same, elaborate embroidery
| in all patterns and tides ditto. The old
fashioned bed-quilts and door-mats made
probably by some thrifty farmers family
were very curious, and reminded US of
Mrs. Stoves New England tales in which
she brings such things into conspicuous
play.
The flower stand was exceedingly hand.
some. One article winning the highest
premium-was an immense boquet, with
tall gladiolus in the center and forty varie-
ties of verbenas, with other flowers arrang-
ed around the glowing pyramid. The
fruits stand near it, next occupied our at
tention. 1t contained all kinds of canned
as we'll as fresh fruits. Glowing peaches
kissed by the sun on the shores of Kewka
Lake, heaped up with white, pink and pur-
pie grapes; yellow, pink. tinted pears rest
ing lovelingly against large, pale-green
plums and purple damsons; huge cider ap-
pies placed with emerald-tinted ounces
and delicate little lady apples. Ceres the
triple goddess of grain, fruit and agricul-
ture was surely well pleased with this dis
play. The fruits of Bacchus were we'll
represented in the shape of numerous bot
ties of Champagne and Still wines from the
Pleasant Valley Wine Company.