The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-10-10

The Fair at Cumberland Centre.

Yesterday was day perfectly adapted to an
out-of-doors fair, and the good people of Cum
berland and surrounding towns improved it to
the utmost Their Playground is situated on
high plateau just back of the Greedy Institute
and commands most beautiful view in all di-
reetions of country beautifully diversified by
hill and vale, water and forest-the latter lux
uriously rich with the luminous brilliant coors
of October
An unusually large number of people were
present, all in holiday attire on foot and in car
raSes lads and lasses rehearsng the old
old story, matrons anxiously looking after
their ecstatic urchins and sturdy yeomen
learned in cattle, horses and crops, looking at
everything with a knowing eye 49,
There was good show of family horses.
ab5ut twenty carriages forming the stately cor
tege which swept around the track--one noble
great gray horse being driven by bright, nice
looking young lady, who handled the ribbons
firmly and gracefully, thus vindicating the
claims of her sex to ore branch of their rights
There was fine breeding mare shown by Syl-
vanus Porter of North Yarmouth, with beau
tiful black four-year-old colt. There were also
two fine two year-old Patchen colts shown by
Richard o. Conant and Ansel L. Lorinc, re-
spectively. OF other stock there was large
variety of excellent specimens. The entries
were q pairs of working oxen, 9pairs of steers
81 COWS and hefers, 16 calves, 13 sheep, inn
mense full-bloOded Chester swine, belonging to
Beza Blanchard of Cumberland, and large
line of poultry, consisting ofichoice breeds of
hens ducks and turkeys Notable among the
stock exhibited were a very handsome pair of
four-year-old steers belonging to VIM. Russell
of Cumberland, pair of large white oxen of
David Allen Of Cumberland, who took the LIST
premium in the hauling match, pair of finely
matched cattle of William and Sar1uel Merrill
of Cumberland, a pair of very large three-year-
old steers of Charles Morrill, of Cumberland,
fine pair of three-ycar-old steers of George Alb
bott of Cumberland who took the first premi-
UNI, a large handsome white Durham COW of
VIM. Blanchard, and fine full-blooded Jersey
COW of r. o. Conant.
In the Town Hall, at some little distance
from the grounds, was the exhibition of pic
lures, fancy articles, flowers, fruits household
manufactures and dairy products, which so
over-crowded the hall that temporary booth
was erected in front of the building for the
show of vegetables and grain. One small
apartment was entirely occupied by pictures
some very fine and showing admirable taste in
the selection and arrangement Among the
pictures portrait of Eliphalet Greedy attract
ed much attention, the work of his great neph-
ew, Alison Greedy, growing painter of much
promise, formerly of Cumberland, now of Law
renee, Mass.
The show of apples was very remarkable, be-
ing more abundant in quantity and better
quality than were shown at the late lamented
State Fair at Bangor, The butter, cheese,
pickles and preserves were vastly appetizing,
while the rugs, quilts, knit goods, artificial
flowers and other household productions reflect
great credit upon the good taste and industry
of the Cumberland and North Yarmouth Ia
dies. The squashes were immense, the beets
the turnps gigantic, the melons
luscious, the corn and potatoes not so good as
last year, while the succulcnt pumpkin was in
a very un-Yankee-like retire ment. There were
some cranberries shown by the venerable Asa
Greeley of Cumberland, who says he raised on !
one square rod of land this year too and three
fo,uths bushels which should encourage our
farmers to look to the culture of this favorte |
berry, which is especially adapted to some
kinds of Maine soil and is always certain of a
ready sale.
The entertainments of the day closed by a
loot race of several boys who competed for
purse of six dollars or so raised by contribu-
ions among the crowd. The prize was won by
very bright looking youngster named Frank
Merrill, who ran around the course at the rate
Of mile in Al minutes
We must not omit to mention in terms of
heartfelt gratitude those ladies who spread
y Prnce"-ly banquet for the ravenous Journal
lists who were there in great force-of appetite.
The management of the Fair under charge of
Marshal Osgood was admirable, and the offici-
ais were courteous and attentive to their guests.
There was no disturbance of the peace, no