Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-10-21
AUGUSTA COUNTY FAIR.

| throughout the Fair, being clear and warm
The Fair was success, not only in the number
and character of the entries, but in the number
of persons present. Whilst in some departments
the exhibition vas not as good as heretofore, yet
| in the more important ones, it was much better
| than ever before. particularly in the horse and
| cattle departments. The exhibition of horses
and CATTLE both in number and quality, was not
| only superior to any made here before but was
such as would be no discredit TO any State Fair.
| This is the judgment and expressed opinion of
| sensible and experienced stock men who know
what good stock is. There were not as many sheep
| and swine on exhibition as some former occa-
sions, but they were very fine, and some excelled
| any heretofore exhibited. Such was the case with
reference to machinery, poultry, domestic man.
| ufactures, needle work, &C. The exhibition Of
fruits was very good, showing that some of our
best farmers directing their attention to fruit
| culture and that oursoil and climate are admi-
raby adapted to the growth of the various useful
fruits among which apples occupy the first place.
We have not the space to mention the articles ex
hibited nor the names of the numerous exhibit
| tors. The official premium list, which we pub
fish in full in this issue, will furnish some idea
| of the number and character of the articles on
exhibition, but that, of course, embraces but
part as it gives only those for which premiums
were awarded
The general expression of those who attended
the Fair that of delight at the new Fair
Grounds, which are deemed superior in many
respects to the old, and of pleasurable surprise
at the character of the exhibition, which was
much better than was generally anticipated.
The present grounds are more convenient than
the former, and have the advantage of good
springs for the accommodation of visitors, be-
sides the beautiful lakelet enclosed by the race
track for the watering of stock. This beau
t1ful sheet of crystal water, Is not only useful,
but highly ornamental, adding greatly to the
beauty of the grounds, and furnishing means
of pleasure to those who delight in boat riding
The desideratum is number of beautiful shade
and ornamental trees which, in time, will be OBJ
tanned. When this shall be done, these grounds
will be beautiful-admirabiy adapted in every
way for the uses to which they will be applied
They will unite usefulness with beauty, and con-
venience with pleasure
1t is fortunate for the Fair that these grounds
were purchased when they were, for we know
of no other place. equally convenient to the city,
which could be SO well adapted to the purposes
of Fair. And for its purchase at the nick of
the lamented and distinguished founder of the
Fair-Col. Jno. B. Baldwin. How strongly and
sorrowfully his absence from the Fair was felt,
and how mournful the reflection that his friends
would never again behold his beaming counte-
nance nor hear his cheerful voice at the Fair as
heretofore.
We have no means ofjudging, with any ap-
Proclamation to accuracy, of the number of per-
sons who visited the Fair during the exhibition
They were coming and going almost constantly
and it would be impossible to say how many had
been upon the grounds. We do not know how
many were there at any particular time-we on
ly know that there was a good attendance,
amounting to, probably, from five to six thou
sand persons on the second and third DAYS The
attendance on the first day, as was anticipated,
was not SO large as on the second and third as
the people have become to learn the fact that,
except to those who wish to give the subjects of
exhibition careful examination, the second and
third days are of more interest. The scene was an
animated and imposing one, considering only
the persons in attendance and, to u.s. the visitors
constitute the most interesting feature on such
occasions As good the stock exhibited may
be- we consider that Of the people of this county
the best-no better stock of people can be exhb-
tied, in our humble opinion, on any part of the
habitable Globe. The pride of Augusta is her
population.
Like the mother of the Gracchi, when asked
for her jewels, she points with confidence to her
children. The hillside in front of the Judges
stand was thronged with vast numbers, for whom
the numerous seats provided were inadequate,
| whilst the Rotunda building was filed all the
| time to repletion, into which and from which,
throughout the second and third days. the peo-
pie of both sexes were entering and retiring like
bees from hive. The result establishes that
| that spacious building is entirely too small and
| that another and larger one should be built.
| Around and in the neigh borhood of the Ro-
tunda was the chief scene of animation. In
| front of it were the machinery, farming imple-
ments poultry, the lottery wheels, of which
there were quite number, pitching rings for
knives, the blind man with his hurdy- gurdy,
Hardy's premium carriages and buggies, Wad
dell q Lutz' patent car coupling, which should
be all railroads. a, many other objects of in
| terest, whilst on the East was show in tent
| and the rotary swing in which ladies and gen.
temen rode, in sleigh-like seats at considerable
elevation from the ground, round and round with
much velocity which many seemed to enjoy with
| great gusto, and in the rear was capacious
| booth from which edibes were dispensed for the
qualification Of the inner man, whilst at great
er distance on the West, Jaccheri and Hans
Scherer provided all that the hungry or thirsty
| might need to revive them.
The Southern end of the ellipse, which is the
shape of the track enclosing the lakelet,
thus presented throughout the Fair the chief
scene OF animation whilst the hillside in front of
the Judges stand on the East of the ellipse was
| thronged with seated visitors, chiefly females of
| youth andSeauty, who presented an interesting
and attractive spectacle.
| In the rear Of this crowd on the East were
the pens containing the fine sheep and swine
| on exhibition, and the West side of the
| illipse, Immediately in front Of this assemblage
were The stalls containing the large number of
| fine horses, mules colts and cattle on exhibition
In the centre was the beautiful lakeet reflect
| ing like mirror the images of the objects
above and around it, whilst upon its crystal sur
face glided the pleasure boats freighted with the
prescious cargoes of beautiful women and brave
men, whose speaking eyes ''spake love to eyes
which spake again"
In the meantime the track was occupied by
horses either trotting or at full speed-making
| the whole scene Of animated interest to the be-
holders, which they seemed to enjoy.
| FIRST DAY.
On the first day, the most exciting race was