Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-08-30
A New Thing in Virginia.

GREAT SALE OF THOROUGHBRED SHEEP
SIX HUNDRED PERSONS FROM vIR-
GINA, MARYLAND. KENTUCKY, WEST
VIRGINIA AND NEW YORK, PRESENT
GOVERNOR HOLIDAY AND OTHER DIS
TINGUIsHED MEN ON THE GROUND
TWO HUNDRED SHEEP SOLD AT 500
EACH-ExCELLENT ARRANGEMENTS,
lReported for the Staunton VINDICAToR.]
MEEM's FARM, Aug. 2Sth.
The scene here this morning was entire
ly new for Virginia. Under II spacious
arbOr, shaded from the sun, stood scores
of thoroughbred ep-sllver-heeced Cots
wolds and woolly Southdowns. fastened by
neat leather head-stalls to racks, their
ears punched for metal tags, on which was
the wearer's number from to POO. Ad-
joining this was an amphitheatre of seats.
arranged in a Semi-circle to the height of
ten feet from the ground, covered with a
roof Of evergreens, and in the centre was a
little arbor with a dais, on which stood Il
writing table ana chairs. On this table
was box of tags, and book containing
the breed and number Of each OF the sheep.
Not far off were two immense rams, who
had been in their glory at the Centennial
Exhibition, and were in their glory now.
in being up for admiration. but not for
sale. A hundred yards away stood IA barn,
| and inside were long tables. bearing lunch
of delicious ham, mutton, bread, tomatoes,
and so forth, and back of this was an
array of five hundred bright new tin cups,
surrounding reservoirs Of sweet and butter
milk. At various places stood water carts
with an abundance OF ice water, which
was replenissed all through the day. Near
! the spot stood handsome band wagon,
drawn by four horses, richly caparisoned
| in red clot.., and which contained the
ssLee Correct Band,'' OF the neighboring
village OF New Market. Not far from the
lunch, which was tree to all, was booth
| of evergreens, gay with parti-colOred
cloths, which had beer erected by the
ladies OF an Episcopal church i'll the
neighbOrhood, who had on sale delightful
coffee, ice cream, cake, and lemonade, for
those who wished dessert to the bounti-
full dinner of the barn, and scattered
through the grounds were little girls and
boys, selling cigars for the benefit of the
same religious object. Everything was
good except the cigars, and they were aw
full. No living woman Was ever yet able
to select cigars to advantage, however good
the object for which they are to be sold.
I do steadfastly hold to the doctrine Of
the Apostolic Succession, but if any of the
| Apostles ever hear Of these cigars there
will be trouble. Brethren, charge you
take heed unto yourselves, that ye buy not
cigars sold for the church, seeing that ye
shall not be held blameless when We swear
at the same. Looking eastward from the
scene am describing. lies spread out the
splendid Meem Tor ''Mim," as they call it
here) lands, and rolling through them is
the Shenandoah river, at the tOut OF the
blue mountains Riding about giving di-
rections about everything is tall, vigor-
ous-looking man of fifty years. drt ssed in
a white suit, and with hair silvered by
ripe age. This is Gen. Gilbert S. Men,
the owner of these lands, and Il man who
has crowned with the sale of to-day the eff
forts OF years in improving stock in Vir-
ginia. He is a farmer, a breeder, Il
travelled gentleman, and has won a repu-
tation in the legislative halls of The State
Ho 10 hold nd of
to-day was viewed with apprehension of
| failure by the warmest friends Of the idea
he is pushing, which is so much to benefit
his State, but the result made every one
| hilarious.
THE VISITORS.
About 10 o'clock the train of visitors
from up the Valley came with 1eO passen-
gers, and among them were Dr. Pollard,
State Commissioner of Agriculture. DR.. l..
r. Dickinson, editor OF the ''Southern
Planter and Farmer" r. Barton HaxaIl,
| well known farmer of Orange, Rev. JnO.
E. Massey of Albemarle, w. j. Ficklin,
son of the famous Slaughter Ficklin of
Albemarle, the following gentlemen from
Augusta, John II. Crawford, WayJ Bell i,
c. Benton Koiner. Meredith Hogshead
Benz. Smith, John H. Parkins, John Leon
ard, VIM. Shirley, J. W. Gilkeson, NJ. S.
| Gilkeson, II. s. Hamilton, DR.. Davii
Hanger, F. M. Bell, E. M. Cushing, W A.
Burke, Vice President of the State Agri-
cultural Society, Andrew Bowlin, Alex
Mowry, David Beard, r. G. Byers, VIM.
Crawford, Samuel McCue, Jas. Craw ford,
Marshall Crawford, VIM. Moorman, Alex.
McCue; the following from Rockingham,
Peter 5. Roller of the famous ST. ck firm uf
Roller Il Frank, Geo. Chrisman, another
famous stock raiser, W. J. Chrisman, Sol
ONION BURNER, Hon. John L. Harris, d.
Best, Isaac Wenger, d. r, Glen, J. B. Rol-
ston, Jas. Funk, Raleigh Keefer and 9TH
ers. An hour later a train Of six coaches
came from down the Valley and among
the passengers were Gov. F. W. M. Hulli-
day, John NJ Miller, President of the Shen-
andoah Agricultural Society, David Mil
Ter OF Frederick, stock raiser, Benj. New
man farmer and the richest man in Sheu-
andoah county, Hon. Henry G. Allen
Speaker of the House, Senator Smith of
Clarke county, DR.. Mcclure of Frsdt rick,
David Miller and Daniel Wood large
stock raisers. Maj. johnson of Prince
William, Col. R. H. Dulaney of Loudoun,
owner of the finest horses in the State,
VIM; Dinges of Frederick, Anthony Cline
President of the Board of Supervisors of
Frederick, Henry Baker Of the Winches-
ter firm of Baker Bros, Ed. Baker of Fred
erick, Of the Va. and W. Va. boundary line
commission. Mai Ed McInnald of Ku