Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-09-19
Mad River Valley Fair.

earlier In the season than was the case last year,
the fair came within the realm of good weather,
and the only thing to complain Of in that regard
was perhaps little too much heat for general COM
fort. The several features Of the programme
were well carried out, and, AZ whole, gave en-
tire satisfaction to the large crowds attendant on
the occasion. Indeed, the attendance has never
been so large, both days, in the previous gath
erings Of the societya fact which proves that the
inhabitants Of the valley awake and ready TO
come out at such times, especially II the weather
IL favorable. The show OF cattle was much larger
and better than before but we cannot say
the same Of the show in the hall, which, although
excellent as regards quality was much less in
quantity than has been the case since the organ
| ization of the society. This, however, will prob
ably be remedied by another year; for we know
that the people of that region can II they choose
TO make the effort fill the hall TO Overlooking with
specimens Of their handiwork, and productions Of
| the soil, which will be worth looking at An
other thing. while we do not wish to find fault
| with anything done the occasion, we think
| that perhaps the second day of the fair would
have held more interest for the crowd il so much
Of the stock and so many articles in the hall, had
not been removed after the first day; many Of the
| people present on the second day were not there
on the first, and so had no opportunity Of seeing
some of the best Of the stock But those in charge
of the matter probably had good reason for allow
Ing this to be done.
FIRST DAY.
Tuesday, the first day, was mostly taken up in
getting ready for complete exhibit At eleven
| o'clock A. NJ there the usual directors meet
ing for the purpose of filling vacancies. At one
o'clock p. NJ. occurred the grand parade of cattle
This feature of the programme an interesting
one displaying it did the best cattle in the val
ley, and showing that the people there are not 10
be beaten in the handling OF stock and the pro-
duction of the very best.
Nothing more took place in the afternoon save
the trotting Of two races-one for three years
olds, with purse of twenty dollars; and one
open to all horses that never trotted for money,
with purse of thirty dollars The following is
the score of the three-year-old race:
George Fisher names Julia Crane. ...........l 2
W.. Josin names Brown Dick ........,....... 3
s. somervile names Nellie Jones ..............
Time .......................... $40, 35. ais JO5
The score of the green race is as follows:
l.. r. Josn names Patrick.
Otis Wallis names Black Bess.
s. d. Allen names Kitty R......,..........,......2
Time 3O3 SOL, 302.
SECOND DAY
Wednesday, the second day, brought out the
largest number Of people, and of course The
day Of the fair. At half-past ten A, NJ, there was
grand parade of horses. At eleven a. M, the
show of matched driving horses took place. In
this o. G. Wders team was the only one entered
Having no competition, he took the premium
lie has splendid team, however, and his chances
of taking the premium would not have been less
} ened il there had been other entries. At half
past eleven A NJ, occurred the show of single
driving horses; quite number participated in
this display glance at the premium list will
show who took the premiums At one p. NJ, q
trial of working and horses was held the re
suits of which also appear in the premium list.
At two r. NJ, an able address was delivered by
L. +. Palmer Esq, of Waterbury. The speaker
was considerably brief and so, although the SUI
D shone rather warmly " most of the time, the ad
dress closely listened to and appreciated by
large audience. We give below a brief summar.
+ of Mr. Palmers remarks:
The speaker announced as his subject, 81 Thu
relative power of agriculture as compared witt
other pursuits and its effects the individual,
He took the ground that there was really no diff
$ ference between the power of agriculture and tina
r wholly insolvabe only by the assertion that it i
not the kind, not the nature, of the work, but tn
d manner of doing it, that produces the desire,
result. 81 have ever observed that it is a pecu
& liar property in every assembly of men, that Their
d is room enough over their heads crowded as the
may be lower down." wrote the witty Dean of 81
Patrick, a hundred years before what Wende
Is Phillips so often said Daniel Webster told
II young student" there room enough in tn
r, garrets" But Daniel Webster did not point OF
l. the stairway that led to his lofty chamber. Dea
Is Swift did not indicate the highway that conducte
II to his lofty plane. He merely quoted the famor
y lines of Virgil, wherein he described the ease
/ sinking down to hell and the difficulty of gettn
A. out "If have seen farther than Descarte it
OF because have stood the shoulders Of giants,
" modestly wrote Sir Isaac Newton, There is IL
'e only solution of this question, No man can tai
y a wde-sweepng survey of Gods universe, and
III what has been done except from the shoulde
u of some giant of the past The speaker did IL
nc deny but that long pursuit in any field of lab
Us or study might develop certain faculties to the
'e cluson Of others, and may bring fuller compe
We sation but taking it all in all, and consideriI
nc the fact that the hand, head and heart must
~ developed, he utterly denied that there is al
Sc such advantage in any of the labors of socie
III to-day. There is no valid reason wi
al the agrculturist should not be learned as Ell
~ qent and wise in all the counsels of the sta
~ as those of any other profession. Mr. Palm
spoke In advocacy Of the invocation of science
es aid us in every branch of industry and REFER,
70. to Newton Lord Bacon and other learned men
gu examples of those who had thus successfully i
us voked its aid, He said we could not igno
p- science if we would Science enters into ever
ut thing we do;-it warns us and clothes us.
re presides at our BIRTH and follows us to the pc
us tails of the next world r. closed his address
OF saying he had served his pu.oose, and was full
ny satisfied, If he had impressed u?on his audien
~ the truth that the one great need o. America W
vi the education-the higher education Of its wor
es ing classes, and that we must build upon ev
~ broader foundations than did our fathers.
VS. Immediately after the address the races we
Vi called, There were three OF them-one for for
'' years-olds, with a purse of twenty dollars o
for all horses, with purse of thirty dollars; al
% stallion race, with a purse of thirty dollar
y. The following is the score of the race for for
49, years-olds:
Norman Robinson Black Nelly .............. l
on H. Beard Kitty Wood. ..................
nc o. c. Eaton names Dick,
ke dio SsV SVz'
Ter In the free-for-all race the score stood
III l., r. Josn names Patrick. ................2
we Frank Felt names Captain Page....,...,...
nut A. +. Loyejoy names Mountain Maid.....4 4 4
40, T.. A. Dumas names Red Hot,,..,,...-.,... 2
q H. c. Brigham names Billy Be-. ........., drawn.
he Ttme............ .. SOC, $780, 400 SOL 30l, S0l.
", The score in the stallion race stood
al J, /. Palmer Fleetwood. ..............3
| "a n. 1
III d. +. Freeman names Frank.
", alo ~" So2'
&c The trotting was good, and satisfied the locke
to on. II grew dark before the races were finishs
Its and one heat was left for Thursday morning
=, THE STOCK.
Ira Richardson exhibited fine Devon bu
=, three years old l.. A. Fisk had ON the ground
~, fine pair OF Devon steers, Of the same age, Edv
N | nxht oil hnl a