The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-11-22
THE STATE FAIR AT ABERDEEN
MIssISSIPPI,


display.
The editor of The COMET was among
the visitors to the Mississippi Stocf
Raisers Fair Association held at ADer
deem last week, and followed up at Me
ridian the week following, beginning
at the latter place last Monday. The
attendance and display at Aberdeen
was finer even than the most Jealous
advocates and friends of the movement
hoped for. Considering the fact thai
the work and arrangements for a Fail
were only inaugurated few months
ago, its success at both Aberdeen and al
Meridian was perfectly surprising, and
gives gratifying proofs that the people
of East Mississippi are alive, and ready
to employ the means necessary to the
Improvement of their material condi'
ton and Their social intercourse.
At both cities there was an extensive
display of blooded stock, and some fine
horse racing, with quite profuslon OF
the products of the farm, garden ano
workshops, gaily and tastefully capped
off with numberless specimens OF the
handiwork of our ladies.
In Aberdeen the immediate control
and direction of the Fair Association
were in good and energetic hands. Maj
A. J. Sykes, the President, and Capt
@. 0. Eckford, the Secretary, gave
their time and enthusiasm to 1t, ano
discharged the trusts imposed upon
them with consummate ability and per
feet satisfaction to all concerned. The
leading farmers and distinguished mel
of Monroe, as well as all the ladies, CO
operated with the managers, and thus
made the occasion one Of great interest
enjoyment and profit. The proceeds
from the first Exposition, we learned
would pay the whole cost of it, ano
this may be regarded as a very emphat
ic success, and an augury of dividends
for the future.
We had the pleasure OF meeting
many old and valuable friends III Aoer'
deem, and of forming many he"
agreeable acquaintance. THE COMET
is not stranger in that section, ano
quite considerable addition to its sub
scription list was made. Aberdeen is
one of the most solid and best educated
towns i'll the State. The streets are
wide, and the residences are tastefully
built, with plenty of room inside and
outside. Aberdeen clings to the old
ante. bellum idea of comfort and hospl-
tality more tenaciously, perhaps, than
most towns do. There is one point,
however, in which the condition OF
Aberdeen is perfectly wretched-ip hel
so-called hotel, styled " European
House" We do not wish to be under
stood as saying anything against this
" House, y but will merely remark that
if we had an old sinner of all enemy,
towards whom we cherished a pious
desire to hasten him on to his reward,
we think we would be willing to accept
the " European at Aberdeen as a
suitable purgatorial halfway ground,
and send him there. If there was
enough of malice in us to wish to
see any enemy of ours consigned to
the country prepared for sinners, we
could readily be comforted if they
would substitute the European, at
Aberdeen. 1t is pity that charm
ing little city like Aberdeen, with so
many of the biggest and best citizens
of the State, and noted for its hand
some and accomplished ladies-a de-
lightful little city, peopled with COM
munity that for culture, enterprise,
prominence, hospitality and thrift, is
not surpassed by any other of its size
in the South, should have its beauties
marred and its situation so greatly de-
tracted from by so-called hotel like
the European" AS hotel, the
European" is failure, provided the
comfort of the guests has any connec-
ton whatever with the items which
go to make up success. In the mere
matter of filthy lucre, we doubt not,
the management of the European"
was successful. They had grocery
and an eating STALLS cents for a
drink and 80 cents for meal-cheap
enough, providedyou get drink or a
meal-and the head man did his level
best to accommodate all who applied.
He deserves credit. He displayed eX-
traordinary hotel generalship. With
capacity for II or Is guests, he ex-
banded to three or four hundred, and
the campaign was successful for him
but don't press any of the guests for
an opinion about the eating and sleep
ing. Success in that direction is
rather too problematical.
The Fair opened in Meridian last
Monday, but did not get under full
steam until Wednesday. The first
two days were mainly occupied i'll
completing entries and making ar
rangements. We were present during
the first three days, and saw enough |
to satisfy US that it would pan out |
successfully. Our friend, NJ. L. Jen-
kins, President Of the Meridian Fair,
is one of the main driving engines,
and he is also an extensive exhibitor.
Mr.. Mat Mahorner, of Macon, is the
Secretary, and is filling his post with
complete satisfaction. The horse rae
ing was drawing feature at both fairs;
our splendid looking fellow-citizen,
Maj. w. f. Gibbs, Of Columbus, had
charge Of the pools" and if he can't
throw enthusiasm into hOrse-race no
body else need try it. Ofcourse there
was sudden transfer of funds in
certain individual cases, but we are
happy to assure the friends of THE
COMET that it did not lose a single