The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1872-09-19
STATE FAIR.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Sept. II, ~.

Having become thoroughly disgust
cd with the rapacity of hotel.keepers
in this city, upon an invitation from
the Board, we removed our quarters to
the Fair Grounds. Here we lodge and
board, not your correspondent alone,
but goodly company of ladies and
gentlemen--congenial souls, who have
health, spirits and sense sufficient to
appreciate good time, even if it
should not be surrounded by all the
Injuries and comforts of home. We
have disposed ourselves in the various
halls, and envy not those who find rest
at $3.50 per day down town. The first
sound that greeted our ears this morn
ing was the pattering of the rain upon
the roof A drizzling rain fell all tho
forenoon; the grass is wet and the
track muddy; and the programme has
been varied to suit the condition Of
things. A bright sun and stiff breeze
are rapidly rendering things much
more endurable, if not positively pleas
ant; and the noon trains brought in
thousands Of people who care but lit.
tie for such trifiing matters as show
er when q State Fair is in progress
In the Halls, Amphitheatre and every
where, are crowds of happy faces;
and from our position we can witness
many warm greetings, that will shed a
charm over the lives of those who
meet for months to come. Under the
escort of the editor of the Farmers
Journal, we have just visited the Am.
phithcater which is crowded to over
flowing, 6,00O persons finding comfort
able seats, and presenting to On observ-
or at the Judges stand ono Of the fin
est sights upon the ground.
The various committees are at work
deciding the merits of individuals of
the different breeds of cattle. A sound
as of rushing wind is heard, as the
excited multitude speculate and re-
joice over the success of the trotting
of Mulligan, Of Muscatine--time 2 sol
A trot for a citizens purse of 81, 900
was announced for TX p. IN, but has
been postponed until tomorrow
Horses of all work and four years old
stations are now being exhibited at
the stand, among which are some as
fine animals as any State can boast
Jno. Ii. Bacon, Of Washington, has on
exhibition four splendid animals of
the Bashaw stock; j. H. Sanders, Of
Sigonrney, presents one Norman that
is not to be excelled by anybody here.
Mr.. s. has also span Of elegant driv-
ing horses. There are on exhibition,
l6O horses, 260 cattle, 175 hogs, 225
sheep and GO fowls the last embracing
all varieties from the diminutive Ban
tam up to the enormous turkeys and
Chinese geese. There is great fall
ing off in the entries in some classes of
stock, but the quality is superior. To-
morrow. we shall be able to furnish
items in regard to premiums.
FINE ART HALL.
We haze Listened to the Pianos and
Organs until they have almost ceased
to be to us, musicol instruments; but
we did, this morning, witness and
hcarken to a performance by one of
owa's daughters-Miss Lizzie Bacon,
of Sioux City-that was almost per-
feet and charmed every listener. The
Sewing Machine men are here in full
force, except the Howe Co., who left
yesterday full Of indignation, the cause
of which we have failed so far L learn.
Opposite, on either side of these, are
fine collections of portraits and paint
ings, one, the property and work Of
W. T. Kilborn, of Cedar Rapids; the
other belonging to party in Dubuque.
A little further ON Miss Addie Al
bridge, of this place has on exhibition
| NV Poiaaso VI uuCA mcI1Iy anu HOI
only painted but sketched by her un-
taught genius. But here follows
story: In the same class nre several
competitors and presuming upon the
young lady's ignorance of the infu-
ence of "cross lights" and want of
friends, her pictures were placed in
the worst possible position. But those
who wished to eclipse her modest
worth "reckoned without their host"
and this incident has served TO give
her notoriety that is not undesirable.
To leave the pictures with but pass
ing glance at Mr. Roots 100 almost life
size photographs would be impossible.
Never have we witnessed such excell-
ence in the art as is shown in his Ar
| gento pictures. One of the Agricul-
Nral College boys carries off the hon.
ors for the best collections Of pressed
flowers and grasses indigenous to To-
wa; and the collection of minerals
from the same point is interesting and
instructive. All eyes are delighted
with G. L. Stemplc's collection ofstuff-
| ed birds.
There are two or three other collect
ions that attract much attention. Be-
yond these come more pictures; but
alas the most remarkable of these, is
portrait OF Gen. Grant, and the same
impossible horse with the rider in that
same impossible position, that Gen.
Jackson has SO frequently been made
to assume. On the other side of the
hall, are specimens of needle work,
contributed by the ladies Of this place,
that are exquisitivly beautiful. One
glance over head at the 40 or SO vari-
cites of carpcting, and the 100 quilts
and we are done, except to notice be-
low, the last house that we all shall oc-
cupy, but perhaps for all of us not
equally as costly and beautiful. A
casket for the dead, surrounded by all
the ornament for the living, is pic
ture.
There were $1,000 people here to-
day, and the light fingered gentry are