The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-30
OTTER CREEK VALLEY ASSOCIATION
Sixth Annual Fair at East wallingford.


the Otter Creek Valley association, at East
Wallingford, about two thousand people
were present at midday. The morning
was pleasant until II o'clock when sllghl
shower passed over and then the SKIES
were bright until the close.
AT ten o'clock the vacancies in the seVe-
raj committees were filed and they at
once entered upon the duties assigned
them, aud promptly reported the award oil
premiums. The people amused themselves
in looking over the articles and animals on
exhibition, the floral hall being crowded
for many hours. The entries of the morn
ing had largely increased the exhibition,
especially in the ladies department. 1t
would have been our pleasure to enumer-
ate many of the creditable exhibitions in
floral hall, but the crowd prevented min
ute examination of the articles. Suffice it
to say that few, if any, similar exhibitions
in the state the present year have excelled
ii. The ladies Of the vicinity ali seemed to
have been emulous of contributing every
thing that would add to its adornment and
success. The exhibition in the other de-
partments were largely increased from
Thursday. All in all everything was con-
ductel with skill and good Judgement.
AT 2 o'clock p. M, the East Wallingford
cornct band, under the direction of Major
N. P. Round, chief marshal, aud NJ. IL.
Dickerman, assistant marshal, escorted the
president, speaker and officers Of the socie-
ty from the hotel to the speakers stand.
After music by the band, w. II. Congdon,
esq, president of the society, introduced
Edward j. Hyde, esq, principal of the
Wallingford graded school, as the orator of
the day. Mr.. Hyde proceeded TO the de-
livery of carefully prepared, suggestive
and eloquent address upon agricultural
Art" which was listened to with close at
tention by large audience. We give q
brief abstract of
Mr.. HYDE's ADDRESS.
We have met together to-day to celebrate
the great and noble arts of industry, | can
not say the humble arts in Difference to the
popular phraseolOgy which circumscribcs in
narrow limits the products of the soil. The
splendid spectacle Of the annual fairs held
all over our own lovely New England
would rebuke me if | did. Meanderinc
through the hall erected at the centennial
grounds ct Philadelphia, and dedicated to
the farming interests of our country then
as never before the sublime nights to which
industry has gone--the superiority OF
-, - al, 49,.
self same mind which to-day lives and
moves all through our peaceful valley
and in quiet and unpretending way exerts
no mean influence upon the veal of a
great nation of which we form but the mi
nutest part. And when we call to mind
the fact, that it lie but two centuries since
the savage warrior wandered over the hill:
| and plains of Vermont, since the sound OF
the war whoop and other yells of the chase
were the only evidences thst race of hu
man beings existed within our borders, al
| their weapons, tools and instruments, but 9
| tomahawk, a scalping knife and hunters
| bow, whel we remember this fact, Will,
| at the same time our eyes are taking in ;
| picture of superior lovliness, embelishet
| by all the arts and contrivances of civilized
| life, we might almost imagine that tht
| genius of civilization had been free and ha(
| stretched forth its wand and wrought thi
| fancy scene as the growing glory OF 1T
| triumph.
How striking, gentlemen. is this spec
| tacle of our annual fairs of the times il
which we live. Ia other daya, it woulC
have have been the tournament, with its
raised galleries, scaifoldings, tents ant
pavilions. decorated with the magnificenct
| of luxurious age. 1t would have beer
the feasting hall, hung round with helmets
| and swords, and shaggy trophies of Thu
chase, or in the palmy days of Rome, i
would have been the vast ampitheatrc ant
| in IN ito deep recesses the band of gladia
| tors, their musclkes knOtted with tn
| agony of the conflict, while thousands o
the flower of the land, Rome's flares
maids and matrons, beheld the bloody con
test. But, to-day, no such scenes of bar
baIism and butchery meet our eye, aud, a
we look around us, we see instead the pro
ducts of loom, and planning tool, and irol
and marble, and shiny metals, and all tn
the thousand varied productions of the sol
spread out before us, the fruit of the in
dustry of our day and our generation. w
see, too, that the busy and delicate han
of woman has been here. The butter, tn
cheese, and other products of the dairy, til
facy works of every hue, and description
the uteful blended with the beautiful
Meanwhile, music more melod!ous tina
that of the war song, or the shout
ings of Rome's filings its note
over the gay scene and all aroun
us breathes of peace and prosperity.
1t is a characteristic and striking eXhib
ton of the arts that conduce to human in
provement, and it is to some reflection
suggested by this train of thought that
wish on this occasion to invite the after
ton of this assembly, and knowing this
there are other features of the day nor
fascinating than the annual address l wi
detain you but few moments.
This topic is very naturally presented b
the occasion that has brought us together
For suppose no one will consider that tn
annual fair is held merely for the sake of
splendid and idle display. Not that
mean by this that there is not sufficient {
beauty in 1t to render it worthy of bein
made for its own sake. Indeed the deligh
I full and satisfied visitor can hardly ask fC
any thing beyond the mere pleasure OF se
ing it, but this is not its only object. NJ
is it its chief end and am to crafty pr
vate ambition or to advance private int
ests. The occasion points to somethin
beyond, it points directly TO the ultima
and great design of this and similar inst
tutions, which is not merely to benei
, yourselves but to benefit your town, yol
county and your state Not merely to d
velopc and foster the arts of agricultur
Q life but to deveope and foster and exa
the life of society, that life of soce
which depends for its highest welfare upo
an Intellectual and moral culture.
The speaker then proceeded to speak
the culture of the mind and heart, and {
the civilization, elegances and comforts
life, the products of the soil are Of but Ii
! tie avail if man grows elfeminaie and co
rupt. Far better that our nation shou
have never attained its greatness and gran
eur. Such is not the reward of toll for
some philosopher has said industry ar
civilization go hand in hand and in propC
ton as a nation eXats itself by the practi
of industry, in just that proportion do /
individuals of a nation adorn themselv
with all the embellishments of civiliz
| life