The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-08-21
Greenfield Fair.

The Fair Grounds at Greenfield are
half mile north of the village. Forty
acres are enclosed, about four-fifths of
which is woodland. The trees are
mostly white oak, with some elm,
maple, and other timber. The ground
is just rolling enough to carry off the
water. There is well of good water
near the center of the grounds. The
track is ON the east side, and is one
third Of a mile around, and is about
forty feet wide. On the west side of
the track are seats enough to accom-
modate perhaps one thousand persons.
The seats are arranged one above an
other, like the seats in circus. The
people from the surrounding country
mostly came in buggies. They un-
hitched their horses and tied them to
the trees, and the buggies were pulled
up tie the inclosure ON the south side,
and hundreds of persons sat in their
buggies and had fair view Of the
track performances. The display Of
trotting horses was very fine indeed.
A brass band was stationed up in the
second story of covered platform,
and furnished excellent music.
On the west side of the grounds
were stalls for horses, on the south
stalls for cattle, hogs and sheep. There
was no running around of loose ami
mails. We have not space to speak in
detail of the stock. It was exceed
ingly fine. The owners were engaged
in washing the animals. Hogs and
cattle were sponged off with clean
water, even to the ends Of their tails.
The hogs were nearly all black. Some
had few white spots on them. They
were nearly all of the Poland stock.
One weighed 700 pounds, and another
790 There were two lots of Jersey
Reds, new breed, nearly the color of
spent tan bark. Frank Littler, of
East Monroe, Ohio, had lot of these
hogs, and he appeared to be sanguine
that it is the coming hog. Some Of
our farmers should write to him. There
may be money in this hog.
The display of agricultural imple-
ments, fowls, flowers, domestic manu-
factures, &C., was very complete.
There were five or six shows, each
with brass band; there were half a
dozen striking machines, a lifting ma
chine, an electrical battery, lots of
gambling devices, such as an attempt
to pitch rings over nails in a board; j;
there was blind man grinding a mis-
cradle organ, and he never ceased five
minutes at time during the entire
day. He had a recommendation
printed in bold-faced paragon type,
pasted on his organ, saying that Mr..
Gibson had been blind seventeen years,
and that he was an honest man, and
had large family. This was signed
by several citizens of Columbus. with
none Of which we were acquainted ex-
cept Gamaliel Scott. Below this was a
certificate signed by r. B. Hayes, Presi-
dent Of the United States. A few per-
sons dropped nickels into the little
box ON the organ. And still the poor
man ground, and ground, and when
we left the organ was squeaking out
"The Sweet By and By" Never can
we forget the sad countenance of the
poor man, as he opened those sight
less eyes.
There was nearly every thing imag-
Unable for sale. All kinds of "Cheap
Johns" yelling, and shouting stale
phrases, such as Candy hot and candy
cold, candy for the young and candy
for the old" 1--WE sell in England,
we sell in France, we sell wherever we
get a chance"
Among the shows on the ground
was Strings Minstrels. We saw
Wellman Varian, of Jackson, who is
travelling with this troupe.
We could tell many incidents of
what we witnessed in one day at this