The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-11-05
The Gonzales Fair.
GONZALES, october "A, !

GONZALES, October "a, 1874.
Editors Democratic Statesman - Leaving
the beautiful City of the Hills on the nine
teenth, after a rough and tiresome ride oi
sixteen hours, reached this place about IL
P. NJ, and early next morning began the
necessary preparations for the accomplish
ment of my purpose: to see Gonzales
Fair-daughters In compliance with your
request, inclose few general remarks.
Returning to the home and friends of my
boyhood after an absence of a year and q
half, and having but four days at my com
mand, was so besieged by kind friends
who wished "to have few words with
me, as to render reportorial investigation
impossible. '1
Entering the Exhibition Hall the marked
improvement since my last visit at once inn
pressed me. Rare and choice exotics, in
terspersed with vases and bouquets Of the
richest and sweetest flowers, tastefully ar
ranged by the hands of their fair owners,
occupied an appropriate place. Adjacent,
the finest productions of the garden and
farm, from the commonest vegetable to the
most refined sugar and syrup, were open to
view. Pears, apples, peaches and other
fruits, preserved and natural, together with
catsups, jellies, jams, cakes, pies, several
varieties of the staff of life, and all the
other good things the ladies 80 Justly pride
themselves upon making to perfection, oc-
cupied a table, causing your corTespon-
dent to feel under his vest San aching
void that naught but these could ever
ILL.," Honey, the most beautiful imag-
Unable, wines of several kinds, vinegar.
Texas bacon that would have badly dis
counted canvassed ham, butter far superior
to Goshen, lard, etc, formed a group. A
magnificent Texas saddle, manufactured al
Hoheim, Dewitt county, hung in one cor
ner. A lady's workstand, Of native black
walnut, with top most beautifully veneefed
in flowers and Masonic work, made by Mr..
A. Kline, Of Gonzales, elected the admira
tion of all. As specimen Of cabinet work
/ doubt if it could be excelled. In the Other
end of the hall, paintings, drawings, pho
tographic scenes, ETC., OF tasty design and
the most perfect execution bead, button,
hair, seed, wax, leather, worsted and skel
eton work, in the shape Of baskets, boxes,
flowers, fruits, vines, leaves, etc. ladies'
fancy needlework; silk, worsted and cotton
embroideries, on fabrics Of as many kinds
lace and tatting In all their varieties; crochet
work; quilts, counterpaDes, and many other
articles pertaining 70 this department; q
for the style, quality, and beauty Of itE
goods would have reflected credit upon any
city: a fine representation Of frat-class
mercantile establishment; and a host Of
other attractions which could not be mum.
bered for multitude, attracted q constant
throng of admirers. A sewing machine
agent was busily engaged making anything
called for, sometimes actually running two
machines at once.
Labor-saying machinery was quite M
merous. One article worthy Of special
mention Is q cotton sprinkler, for the de
struction Of the cotton worm. It Is simply
cask, mounted on a pair Of wheels, which
straddle the middle row, with D contri.
vance, something like the street sprinkler,
for sprinkling three rows q once. =. y.
Rhode, Of Colorado county inventor.
W. III. MeClaugherty, Of seguins ex-
hibited cotton scrnper and chopper, which
must facilitate the cultivation Of the fieecy
stable very matenally. Il scrapes she cot
ton of nicely, and thins IL - desired.
Corn and cotton cultiyators, ploWs, drills,
ETC.. were eagerly examined By the farmers.
A gentIeman from Lockhmt Whose name
do not remembeT) exhibited novelty IN
the shape Of q churn and grindstone.
operated By one motion. A new lsh trap
set e night angleas with one between fol
bait which, when pulled BY anything,
clasped together on the pnncipie 0l q gtce
trap. Turtles, the Gshernans pest, MAJ
nov be caught With ease, think.
The stafe agent for the Queen Of The
Vest WateF drawer vas busily engaged