Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-09-28

MisrellaneoMs.
TIE B4BT snow AT TIE MAINE
.STiTE FAIR
From the Lewiston journal

1HE Dfb SNOW AT TIE MAINE
STiTE FAIR.
From the Lewiston journal
The infantry was marshalel in strong and
enthusiastic battalion behind the curtain on
the spacious platform OF City Hall, amid the.
atrial castles, ancient forests and kitchen
scenes, more or less out-of-joint.
The mothers with their intants were in at.
tendance on the pla.form--the chaps being of
that age in which it is necessary their mothers
should know they are out and go with them.
The curtain was raised ever and anon to dis
play the angelic throng and to allow those in.
terludes OF feeding which it is proper every
healthy infant should be allowed at regular
intervals.
The Committee of Judges were the Execu-
tive Officers Of the Socety-gentlemen learn.
ed in these matters, of wide observation and
large experience in thoroughbred stock.
To show the high minded course which the
Committe elected to take. we may say that
Mrs. Blanks baby instead of appearing as
Mrs. Blanks, appears as No. so and so-thus
ohliterating from their judicial minds every
influence that might come Of an infants high
lineage, aristocratic parentage or other dis
turbing causes-and so leaving their minds
high and dry on the rock of pure infantile
merit. This much in the cause of even hand
ed justice and the salvation of their own hair,
did the committee-to their far-sightedness
and discretion let it be credited. Yet, in pur.
suance of our duty as absolutely faithful his.
:orians, we are constrained to allude to
A HITcH IN THE ARRANGEMENTS
For which we prepare the minds of our read.
ers gradually, as becomes go weighty a
theme.
We should have thought that any force of
intelligent Trustees of State Fair, unless,
forsooth, they were childlcss, unwived men,
ought to have understood that every wel!-reg-
ulated yearling infant at eleven O'Clock in the
morning of each day, is supposed to be sweet
ly dreaming in that sacred ark-the cradle
And yet this hour in which Morpheus claims
the cherubs, is blindly billed as the crisis for
the State Baby Show. II you wish to take
the infant at disadvantage, take the infan. de-
barred of the regular eleven o'clock repose.
The infant is then furious, barbarous, little
untamed animal. In all sincerity, we protest
against such treatment OF large and respect
able and increasing portion of our commun nifty
IHE WHOLE LITERATURE OF CROWDS
Might be overhauled, and we doubt il any such
crowd could be found as the crowd that the
babies drew together at the City Hall, at 10
O'Clock on Friday. To use an inelegant
phrase, it was the boss crowd of the whole af-
fair. At least three thousand faces got in
sight of the intantile platform. and as many
more people yearned in vain for a chance to
get the sight. Corridors, stair cases, side
walks were covered with people of all sizes
10 get through the jam was impossible, to get
out of it. especially impossible. From the
platform sit was sight TO behold" this crowd
all eager. converging sToia the galleries and
floor, very sea OF faces towards the babies
BEHIND THE SCENES.
1t was allowed few choice spirits of the
male gender only, fathers of large families, to
get foothold behind the scenes, The prepa-
rations for the awful hour of eleven we're on
an immense scale. Ladies gathered and tos-
sed their babes in air and compared biograph-
ical facts. There were about thirty little ur-
chins and urchinesses in all-some too old to
join the competition-as healthy lot of che
rubs as you very often see together, with
cheeks like beds of spices, lips like lilies or any
other properly cultivated vegetable.
The select audience behind the scenes was
admirably cared for by the Executive Agricul.
tural officers who tossed fretful cupijs into
the air, emp,ied official pockets of watches,
keys and knives in vain effert to repress their
untutored vocal organs.
Elegantly were the infants clad-tucks, lace
bibs, frills, sashes, long white robes, such as
were put into angelic groups so long ago un.
comfortably poised in mid air by the old mas
ters.
The youngsters we're remarkably chubby
and well fed. Not few of them were aside.
presumably hoisting in their morning refresh
Dent through bottles-this is q Maine law
State and in other pre-ordained ways. 1t
mus, be said to the credit of the little round
angels that they were remarkably good
natured-especially considering the never-to.
be-forgotten blunder of the Trustees in the
matter Of the hour, before named
There were babies in the BODY of the hall
which screamed Justify, but the prize babies,
were they not all models of good conduct for
persons having so slight experience in the
world. Indeed is it not true that most of us
behave the worse, the older we grow? But
let philosophy just now, rest.
II the babies were good natured-what can
not be said for the mothers. They were the
most amiable OF mOthers-not without an un.
der current of anxiety skillfully concealed
tut yet models of kindly nalnre. And as
Benjamin Franklin or Martin Van Buren
was tossed about by the trustees, toying with
the official watch chain-who would be sur
prised if we should affirm that never did the
nursery reach a more ideal state in this un-
ideal world. And here let US say that of all
gentlemen skiltul in trifing with babies, com
mend US to the Treasurer, Mr.. Hubbard. He
All this tia these momentous babies ere
cover,ly inspected by their proud fathers, in
interstices OF scenery, from behind painted
columns and impossible palm trees. You
heard our old friend of the feminine diction
ary as often as you heard the ladies' open
their lips: "Just as cunnin as she can be-"
"Aint she cunnin'?" awful cunnin' isn't
she 7" and that other word-''sweet." "Aw-
full big one for three months old, amt she,"
says an elderly lady, drawing the words de-
liberately from the bottom of her breast
There was half hour absorbed in refined
interviews about arrangement of robes, in
curling op-knols, in by low baby bunting and
a general rehearsal of that high literary au-
thority, Mother Goose. Seine of the cupids
persisted in capering about and .oiling their
robes. Others burrowing in elegant caprices
OF needlework, crowed for joy over mamma 5
neck, with dainty hands and snowy arms and
cheeks blushing like the sunny side of a
Baldwin apple.
Some OF the mothers-nearIy all were re-
markably young and pretiy-found occasion
for doubt as TO the prize falling to their babes
on the ground that Mrs. Blanks baby was
more richly dressed hut we are assured the