Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-10
Litelfleld Town show.

LTTeHFIELD PLAISs, OCTOBER o. 1871.
The Litchfeld Fair, which was appointed for
the 4th, on account of the weather was postponed
until to-day. This was the seventh ANIMAL ap-
pointment which had proved unfortunate on ac'
CONT Of storms, and many of our citizens have
feared that there would by failure this year ow-
ing to general encouragement. But the morning
though cool and windy saw the streets filled with
vehicles Of all descriptions. from variou. towns,
hurryng to the grounds for fear they would be
too late TO get chance to stand.
Then cana the man with the great squash
who has earned the credit of growing the largest
ever grown in Maine, and perhaps in New Eng
land, measuring more than seven feet, aud weigh.
ing mare than barrel of flour; then in process
sion came smaller squashes and pumpkins aud Gu
cnmbers, then the men who struggled with large
beets and monstrous turnips, and overgrown po
totoes. followed by procession Of men and boys,
each bearing long trace of full corn in the ear,
until one side of the large hall was packed with
the best specimens of field and garden products
we have witnessed for years.
The exhibition of fruit very good, but not
so large as usual Mr. j. l.. Perry presented sew
eral varieties of very nice apples, and three
four varieties OF grapes. The principal exhibitors
of fruit were J. l.. Perry, +. Toothaker, Jesse
True. w. &. Weber, Lorenzo Metcalf and Ham.
ilton Baker.
The floral exhibition was very fine and added
much to the appearance of the hall. Especial
credit Is due DIR. Enoch Adams and Mrs. j. l..
Perry for the perfection of this arrangement.
We had scarcely entered the hall, when our at.
tention was called to quilt, which an old friend
informed us contained 1899 pieces, and was
made by little girl of five summers. Seeing our
look of admiration, he mistook it for incredibly,
and very kindly offered to let count the pieces
if we did not believe what he said We begged
to be excused, and assured our friend that we did
not think of doubling his statement, and that
quilts of that kind always have from Ii, 900 to 49,
900 pieces, and were made by little girls of five
years. The lines well filled with quilts and
rugs and carpets OF all sorts and kinds of home
manufacture.
of it 1--WE know because we, in COMPANY with three
ladies. undertook TO wade through it, We no
ticed beautiful wax cross with twining vine, by
Miss Eta Pickering. Miss Hannah ID. Smith
presented moss work in shape OF a cottage and
grounds nicely laid out with rustic seats among
the trees, which attracted much attention; also a
representation of her home, the residence of Dea
Isaac Smith. This picture was very ingeniousy
wrought with wofsted on cardboard. magnifi-
cent worsted wreath, exhibited by Mrs. Lapbam
was pronounced by ladies' perfectly splendid"
and not Wishing to get ourselves into trouble in
such crowd, we said, Isn't 1t 7" 1hey said, at
is indeed
Everything passed off smoothly, until we came
to pair of twin babies exhibited by Miss Fannie
Sprague, when the ladies Of eur company actual
ly turned pale with rapture; aud we were dumb.
We didn't handle those babies much. We feared
we should break them; though their mother said
they were quite strong and she didn't take much
pains with them either" We thought they were
cotton. We know they were dressed in cotton.
The exhibition in this part Of the hall was very
creditable 10 the wives and daughters of Litch-
field.
The show outside the hall was not as large as il
would have been bat tor the rain, though there
were some very nice stock. John and Benz amin
Woodbury. exhibited one pair of steers measur-
ing IT,, which were quite an attraction. There
was a goodly number of horses and colts, more
than we remember to have seen at any exhibition
here before, and the hen show was a success as
was also the show of peanut vendors, lead pencil
brokers and soap Dealers etc, etc.
On the whole the Ltchield fair sustained its
old renown in this, its 10Th annual exhibition.
and all went home well satisfied that the day had
been spent pleasantly if not profitaby