The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-10-31

THEM.-RACES LARGELY AYTESDED-iH1 u u Z Z
AWARD OF PREMIUMS NEARLY CONF
pLETED-THE PROGRAMME FOR TODAY.
THE MILITARY DEMONSTRATION THE
], CHIEF FEATURE. 's'
Yesterday was a pleasant day for the State
Fair. The weather. it is true, was un-
promising enough up To 9 O'Clock, out after
that hour the clouds faded away and the sun
in. all its October sp'endor came out 70
:" "blessen and to brighten" .4,is. VI,
The attendance was but moderate. The
fashion nowadays--so far as visitors are
concerned-is to concentrate the Fair into
one grand day u II people cared to see the
exhibits more than their fellow-creatures
thew would have gone yesterday, when the
day was so tine; when it was well known
there would be no /" crush" and when
every animal and every article, could have
been thoroughly inspected. But teyerybody
wants to he there when everybody else IS
there. Hence there was no crow q yesterday.
It was reserved for TODAY: - -
The parade Of the Manchester aRaSa-
mullins was conspicuous feature OF the
davis programme. It gave pleasure to-
great many. The speeches which the occa-
SION called forth were very good. Man-
chester thus contributed considerably to the
success OF the Fair
The races were we'll attended, though the
Grand Stand was not very liberally patron
lied yesterday. =, fisttt.
MANY of the committees completed their
Iabors and submitted their reports. The eN-
hihjts mot being labelled with the exhibit
ors' names, the awards were made TO num-
hers. The premium numbers will have to
be compared with the books Of entry before
the Official lists with names will be prepared
for the press. III our enterprise had Deen
az avail they would all have been published
this morning. AS the rule was made TO Sc.
cure greater impartiality, exhibitors at least
should not omplain.
The Society has done the public service
in having Kessnich's band on the greunas.
Their selections are well made and their
music delightful. 1t is home product OF
which we can with some proprlety boast 70
our visitors.
The number OF sidc-shows and "catcll-
penny" enterprises on the grounds tlis
year equal, il they do not far exceed, those
OF former years. AS n general thing they
are tolerably we'll patronized-chiefiY by
our country cousins.
The exhibition Of horses in the amphl-
theatre yesterday was very fine. the lovers
OF this noble servant OF man will be fully
repaid il they go over to the horse depart
ment and look into the stalls.
They will find there animals which, con-
sidered with reference to pedigree and form,
will prove delight to them.
This will be the greatest day OF the Fair.
The Agricultural Society announce that the
annual address will be delivered by Hon.
ID. W. VOORHEES,, Of Indiana. There VIII
be grand display of city and visiting mill
| tary. and an animated contest for the prizes.
Three premiums are oflered--to-wlt., $500
to the best drilled company. $500 to the
next, and Sl00 to the third. The following
companies have given notice OF their lntcn-
ton to compete: Companies a, g., Z, +,
and G, OF the First regiment, the Richmond
| CITY Guard, the Richmond Blues, and the
Peninsula Guard from Hampton. The Olo
Dominion Guard from Portsmouth will also
be present, but being Just re0rganized vii
not take part in the drill. After the drilling
the military will be reviewed by his Excel
lency Governor Holiday and General 10
seph E. Johnston. ~ ,.,... .r..,
/ The banks, the public offices generally
and the freight depots Of the city, will be
closed to-day to allow their. employees to at
tend the Fair. The post-o1ice will be closed
from IL till O'clock. f..:r...i...
But to turn back to the exhibition ant
the proceedings Yesterday. !
The Manchester Ragamuffins.
The event OF the day was the dress
parade, tournament. and races OF the Man
chester Ragamuffins, or X. X. K. *. Abou
IL O'Clock the procession entered the Fair
Grounds, and was received with cheering
Business in the other departments was TO
a time almost suspended, as all officials ant
/ unofficials seemed anxious to witness tn
movements OF these merry and motley son;
OF Momus. After short parade, that thel
beauties might be the more seen and ap
preciated, the tournament was announced
THE TOURNAMENT.
For this grand tourney some dozen O.
more of the most badly-mounted, worse-ca
parisoned, and worst dressed Of the knight
ly krew entered. After being arranged i,
line-all badly dressed, whether to th
right. left, or centre-Judge William l
Clopton, Of Manchester, VINO had been sc
locted to deliver the charge, addresset
them. ..l ~. -r:-i., TX
Judge Clopton began by saying that tn
man who made people laugh was create
public benefactor than he who conquered
\ nation. He said that after great wars. pest
lences, famines, and other calamitles, 1t wa
mete aud proper that the people should see
!, pite from their sorrows, some balm j
Gilead, and assuage their woes in rationi
enjoyment. The games OF the ancient Greek
were instituted with this view, and all pee
Piles since had in some form carried out AM
) improved upon this philanthropic idea. Th
God of Humor, merry Momus, has had in a
ages and all clmes his disciples, who hay
laughed and grown fat.
, He then addressed them as knights-eS
horted them to be gallant, true, charitable
chaste, and temperate. He bade them b.
all means to adhere to that last virtue, i
order that they might not only themselve
return safe, hut deliver unscathed TO tn
bosoms OF their families the fair maiden
entrusted to their knightly keeping. ID
briefly spoke OF the gallant Knights OF tn
days of chivalry-of the Round-Tab g
good King Arthur, and Of the Horseshoe
and besought them to enter into the contes
as knights OF honor, who would suecor tn
distressed, protect the wronged, never t
draw their knightly swords save in goo
cause, nor sheathe them with dishonor, an
! in all honorable ways to win and cherls
beauty's bright and brilliant eye.
This is but an imperfect. random sketc
of Judge Clopton's chaste and beautifu
speech.
4 After spirited contest, Thomas Fl. Re
binson, Knight Of Terrapin Hill, havin
1aaken six rings, was declared the winner.
I Sir Knight Robinson named as Queen o
Rags and Tags the peerless Donna There's
Tthomasino Aiyarino, belle OF Lower Swans
bono. s,-4.
The blushing donna. having been pre-
sented by the heroic Knight the trophy,
gorgeous paper crown, appropriately fes
tooned and decorated, was produced.
Colonel Thomas j. Evans. Tho had kindl