The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-01
ALEDo CORRESPONDENCE.
The Mercer County Fair.
ALrDo, wednesday night, Sept. 90, Is

ALEDo, Wednesday night, Sept. 30, 1875.
The weather opened up most gloriously
with the commencement Of the week, augur-
ing we'll for the success of our county fair,
and 1t has continued to be glorious ever
since, To-day, which was really the first
Of the fair, the attendance was larger than
at any previous fair, and should the
weather prove propitious for tomorrow,
we confidently anticipate the largest crowd
ever drawn together on the fair ground.
The number Of entries is larger than ever
before, while the order of arrangement re-
fleets the highest credit upon the manage
ment. n ........ |
Numerous hacks carrying passengers to |
and fro; the itinerant Snowman, the patent |
medicine man, the red lemonade and pea |
nut vender,-all these constitute scene
Of busting actively quite foreign to our
usually quiet village. A description of
one county:fair is pretty generally a. des
criptiJn of all fairs. An assortment of
cabbages and pumpkins for display under
the head of agricultural, an endless variety
of washing machines represents the me-
chanical department, few boQuets Of
flowers constitute q floral hall, a lot of
cheap paintings, with innumerable
sewing machines combine in designating a
hall of fine arts, and the rest Of
the fair is made up of side shows, sectarian
eating booths, and countless candy and
lemonade stands. After all, it is really
the crowd that makes the fair success
With large crowd, everybody is perfectly
good natured and submits to being hum
plugged with the best possible grace. 4
When slimly attended, no matter how fine
the exhibitions, the fair will be voted a
failure. To me, the picture of Hezekiah
and Sarah Jane, lovingly linked in arms,
gaping about in wondrous establishment, is
the best sight of all. Watch Hezekiah
step up to peanut stand, and with
reckless prohigacy purchase five cents
worth of nuts, and then turn to his charmer
with the remark, by goll Sal. them's
good, why don't you buy some" The
pictures Of verdancy everywhere displayed
at these annual gatherings, form a piano.
rama decidedly interestingSsf Kalaido-
scopic variety, and without which fair
would not be fair at all
On entering the fair grounds, after din
ner, found everything IN general bus
tie, indicative of pronounced success, and
the officers of the fair in excellent spirits,
and full of confidence for the morrow.
Commencing on the right and passing
around, Icame first in contact with the
herds of short horn cattle, That of Robt
Holloway had just arrived on the ground
having just returnedIfrom the state fair
and being blanketed, and tired, were not il
condition to be exhibited to any advantage
This herd was on exhibition at the Rock
Island fair, consequently it is not neces
sary for me to mention them in detail
Mr.. james Feather, of Sunbeam, had &
herd Of fourteen Of the finest animals evel
seen at any fair. l noticed, in particular
the celebrated bull. BELL Duke" got b.
Sweepstake, red, four years old, a perfec
picture of the bovine species, and weighing
twenty-five hundred pounds. 1t is one o
the finest animals in the state. Minor,
was another handsome bull, weighing
twenty-one hundred pounds and Of tn
purest breed ''Rozella 2nd," large ant
beautiful roam COW, weighing over tw
thousand pounds, attracted much atten
ton from cattle fanciers. Mr.. Feathe
has some of the finest blooded cattle to b
found in the state. On the 18th prox
he will sell at public sale, forty-thrc
head from his fine herd.
In floral hall, the whole interior spac,
OF the building was occupied with choic
specimens from the magnificent conserve
tory Of j. G, Pepper Esq. There. wer
several hundred varieties of rarest plant
and flowers, arranged in circular form, an
constituting a pyramid of floral beaut
especially attractive to the ladies.
In fruit, the profusion, ofrarest varie
les has never been equalled at any pre-
yious fair. There were several hundre
varieties of apples, nicely assorted an
labelled, This display of Mercer count
fruit is a fine illustration of the adaptable
Nty nf kka coil III, e.. -
The display Of carriages, buggies, an
spring wagons was particularly attract
i've feature Of the fair. Messrs Masons
Evans, of Davenport, exhibited a vel
fine carriage, and several buggies. MI
Charles +. Cunningham, of Aledo, exhibi
ed fine open and top buggies, with or
sleigh, which in point of workmanshi
would pass muster in the large cities.
The swine department was splendid
presented. The Chester Whites, Polant
Chinas, and Berkshires are as numero,
as they are splendid in size and excellenc
In sheep the variety was not so great, b.
those exhibited were of the finest spec
mems.
In the fine art hall were many beaul
full articles ofendess variety, Prof Woo
enlivened this department with very fiji
music. l noticed in particular case
very beautiful silverware, from the jewe
ry establishment off. H. Ramsey, of til
place. This case, composed of tea Sc
fruit stands, sugar bowls, card stands 81
proved exceedingly attractive to the ladie
who gazed with covetous eyes on the di
play of beautiful ware
In the trotting race for double tear
this afternoon there were FIVE entries, b
only three started. The race was excitin
closely contested, and was one by G.
Cole-time 3.03.
The base ball game this forenoon f
the county championship and prize W
won by the lctorias, of Keithsburg, bes
ing the Andes, of Aledo. This was Il
first of the SERIES
A theatrical troupe is holding forth du
ing the week at Byerss Hall.H ALEDo.