The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-02
The Fair.
WHAT. THE VIRGINIA STAR. THE CoLoRED
NEWSPAPER, AND THE JOURNAL OF AGgr-
CULTURE sAY,ABoUT THE CoLoKED MILITARY


NEWSPAPER, AND TIE JOURNAL OF AGRl
i CULTURE sAY.4BoUT THE COLoKED AIL1TAR,
AT THE FAIR NEXT FALL.
1 The following is taken from the Angus
No. Of the Journal of Agricutture OF th
State Agricultural Society:
TIE ;EAIR.-Anongsr the notices whicl
have appeared In our exchanges OF the mex
State Fair, no one is more to be appreciated
than that by the Pirginiu Star, paper
published in this city in the interest OF the
! colQred citizens OF the State, and edited b,
Alf: L. z. Brooks, an fntellfgcnt coloreC
lawyer. We have to thank this paper 10,
other and former Kind words and expires.
slons OF confidence and interest in *ne af.
fairs OF the Agricultural Society. Speak
ing OF the proposed competitive drill by
the colored military companies Of the State,
it says: "We are decidedly OF opinion that
our companies should take part in the drill.
The lnsiSniticance OF the prizes to be award
ed ought not TO weigh as an objection, since
it is not for them in themselves considered
that the companies will compete. The i'm
portant rand controlling fact which should
induce an attendance at the Fair and a parti-
cipation in the drill is The opportunity
which our soldiers will have OF giving a
public exhibition Of their skill and efii-
cheney in military tactics on an occasion Of
great public interest and Importance to the
entire people OF Virginia. During that
week large representation from every part
OF the Commonwealth will be present in
Richmond. The progressive and substan-
tial citizens Of the State will bring hither
specimens OF their labor and triumphs In
agriculture, mechanics, and every branch
OF Industry, and manufacture TO which
they have. devoted their attention. 1t is an
occasion, too, when more good feeling be-
tween all orders OF men exists than at any
other time; and it is eminentlY wise and
proper that our military organizations
should share and promote this friendship
and cordiaity Of feeling.
g The time has come for colored men, not
only as soldiers but rs citizens, to manifest
an interest in the prosperity of the State,
and it is only by closely Identifying them
selves with its permanent and substantial
concerns that any progress or elevation can
be arrived at. >.
,i"The management of the Agricultural
Society is to be congratulated for the con-
sideration they have manifested for our SOL
diers and the race they represent. Now
let Richmond, Lynchburg, Petersburg,
Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Farmvile pre-
pare TO be represented in their native SOL
diery, and together present before the pco-
pie Of Virginia such scene Of spomp and
circumstance in the congregued negro
militia as will surprise aad please all who
witness it,"
We cannot too highly commend the sent-
mentS contained in these extracts, or the
ielicitous manner Of their expressions; and
there is but one word TO which we can OBJ
l. or T ;ol tn Lo
amount Of the prizes offered. We would
not remark on this even, except that it may
be inferred that the Society has been Mig
so OF explanation will lie sufficient. When
the Executive Committee were considering
these rrizes it was stated by Chiei-Marshal
Major Brown, on authority OF one OF the
officers OF the battalion, that the colored SOL
ders preferred that the amount OF the prizes
should he lower than those offered to the
white soldiers, in order that the entry-fec
should be proportonately reduced. And
it should not be overlooked that on the day
OF their drill the admisSion-fee to the
grounds has been reduced from fifty to
twenty-five cents, thus opening the doors
wider TO the public Of all classes.
The general prospects of the Fair. are
especially encouraging, and il the white
people OF the State will be animated by the
same feelings which are foresbadowed by
the organ OF the colored people no former
occasion will excel the coming Fair in re-
spect to the multtudes who will attend and
in the display OF products.
The scarcity OF money amongst the farm
ing people for the past ten years has mate
rally checked the great flood OF visitors
from the country which distinguished our
fairs before the war. We know that large
number OF people would gladly come, but
they fear that the means they have at COM
mand are inadequate. The city people
being limited also in their resources, the
same bountiful hospitality which once pre-
vailed is not expected and cannot be eX-
tended now.
TO meet this condition, the Secretary will
ia Il few days opcn ut his Office 4 register,
and all hotel and clearinghouse keepers,
together with private families who may be
willing to take boarders during the Fair,
will be invited to forward their names, loca-
tion BY street numbers, and rates or board
by the week and day. This register will be
kept open one month, and afterwards will
be printed in handbll form and distributed
through all. parts Of the State.
BY this means every person wishing to
come to the Fair will be enabled to count
the cost aud make his arrangements accord
ingly. The absence Of such information
has kept back many in former years.