Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-09-17

The event of last week was the stat,
fair, which commenced here on Tuesday
and closed on Thursday. The first day
proved to be lowery, and the rain Of
Monday augured poorly for successful
gathering. On Wednesday, however, the
welcome sun beamed most propitiously upon
all, and the delightful weather of Wednes-
day and Thursday was all that could be de-
sired. Nor was this rain an unmixed evil
The dust was thoroughly laid, and under
the refreshing influence of the previous
showers, all nature seemed TO revive and
put on its loveliest aspect.
During Monday and the forenoon of Tues.
day the busy notes of preparation were
heard on every hand. Immense numbers
of stock of every description were rapidly
signed them, aud there seemed to be no
end to the quantity and variety of miscel-
laneous articles which were brought out for
the healthy competition which state fair
affords. 1t is the opinion of some of the
veteran officers of the society that this was
the best exhibition and the most successful
fair they have ever had-though some of
the elder magnates shook their heads signif-
cantly, and spoke of the earlier fairs which
were deemed on the whole more satisfactory.
But the memory of those of this generation
runs not back to that time, and we presume
that antiquity lends an additional charm to
the former gatherings.
There is legend among the officers of
the society that in 1879, when Horace Greeley
then prominent candidate for the presi-
dency-delivered the address before the So
ciety at st. Johnsbury, the attendance was
larger than it had ever been previously, and
they have since been sure that it would
never again be equaled. But that year was
an exceptional one. Party lines ran high
and the political cauldron was seething with
unexampled fervor. Mr.. Greeley had warm
friends and adherents everywhere, and they
turned out en- mdsse to do him honor. 1t is
no disparagement to Mr.. Wallace or his adj
dress to state that he did not draw as well
nor give as good satisfaction as Mr.. Greeley.
With the possible exception Of this occasion,
the fair held here last week was the largest
in point of attendance, and in fine displays in
every department, during the entire existence
of the society. To prove this statement as to
the attendance it is only necessary to state
that the number of tickets actually sold
on Wednesday was nearly thirteen thousand,
and the number present could not have been
much less than fifteen thousand. This is
the first fair for a long series of years when
the receipts of the society have exceeded the
expenditures and this they do here by about
twelve hundred dollars. This fact fully Jus.
titles the officers of the society in locating it
here, and furnishes an excellent guaranty that
for the coming two years, at least, the fair
is located at the proper place, and will not
burden the society with any increase of in
debtedness.
There was evident from the first an hon
est and earnest desire on the part of the
officers of the society to do all in their |
power to render the fair success, and in |
this effort they were thoroughly and cor
daily seconded by the efforts of our citizens
and the crowds of exhibitors who came
promptly and freely forward with their arti. !
Giles for competition.
That the fair was success was evidenced,
not so much by the vast crowds in attend I
ance, as by the persistency with which they
remained here-the numbers present on
Thursday being nearly as large as on
Wednesday, and Friday hardly saw the last
of those who regretfully left town, after the
conclusion of all the exercises which per-
tanned to the fair.
But it was not only in point of attendance
that the fair was successful. The articles
on exhibition in every department were
very numerous and very meritoriou' rs.
pecially was this so in the classes of horses,
cattle, and the floral and mechanics halls.
Our detailed report of the fair-on the first
page-as well as the premium list, attests
this fact to the fullest extent. We think
we have never seen finer display than that
furnished in floral hall, which largely con-
sisted of the beautiful handi work of the
deft fingers of the women of this county,
while. mechanic'a hall offered to the enter
prising farmer many useful devices for light
ening his labors and rendering more nearly
perfect his productions.
The facilities afforded by the railroads
and various teams for getting to aud from
the grounds were excellent, while very low
rates of fare rendered them accessible to all.
The officers of the society were unwearied
in their efforts for the general good, and
these, supplemented as they were by the
hearty cooperation of our citizens, left little
undone for the comfort of the crowds of
strangers within our gates. Indeed, we
have heard no word OF complaint from any
source, and this fact in crowd like that
present, and in which there is apt to be so
many chronic grumblers and faultfnders,
is the very best possible evidence of the
completeness of the arrangements, and the
faithfulness with which they we're car
ried out.