Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-09-15
Mad River Valley Fair.

these past months the project In the minds Of the
people to hold the usual annual fair on the grounds
in Waitsfeld 1t was not very much talked
about, perhaps, but factions speak louder than
words" and 30 on the morning OF Thursday, Sep
tember 9th, there could be seen the usual collec-
ton Of stock, and those articles usually exhibited
at fairs.
The weather was entirely propitous on this
and the day following, although the great need
OF rain made us hope there would be showers as
soon as we all got home The first days attend
ance was rather light, but on Friday quite large
company gathered to feast the eye and meet old
friends.
We think "the fair" in this valley has come
to partake somewhat of the nature OF Thanks
giving day-the family embraces all within the
limits OF the society, and this is our annual re-
union where we meet for friendly greeting and
kind inquiry for each others welfare and pros
perity.
There were nearly as many horses ~ last year,
excepting matched horses for driving, three en-
tries for work. and great many nice colts. One
owned by Captain o. C.. Wilder OF a beautiful
roam color, one-year-old, we admired very much
Eugene Mccarthy had one three years-old which,
uHUhitcfcu, oucys nib CDHiHhhu Without Dit UT
whip, and James H. Baird had splendid colt
two months and nine days old, which was very
gentle and handy; trained by my children, the
girls" he told US with honest pride. We also
noticed handsome chestnut Morgan colt, owned
by Will Henry which bids fair to become valu-
able animal, and, taken together, the whole ex-
hibit was very good indeed.
CATTLE.
At first glance it seemed that the show of stock
was very small, but on CT sc inspection we think
the quality and condition OF the animals has
never been excelled There were a good many
large Durham cattle, as the premium list will
show, but we missed the famous herd Of L. X.
Joslyn, those "bg white oxen" having met a sad
fate in death by fire last fall with some Others Of
the same herd He has a few Holsteins on exhi-
bition; one COW, thoroughbred from the Cheney
herd Of Boston, which gives twenty pounds Of
milk at a milking; and we learn that he will keep
this breed largely in time to come. In Devons we
all, and fifteen OF them thoroughbred; large, fat,
and handsome, and the cows averaged two hun
bred pounds of butter each last year. This year,
four heifers and nine cows together averaged
twenty-three and three-fourths pounds Of milk
one day in June, and twenty pounds will make a
pound Of butter. The Jerseys still grow in popu-
larity for dairy in the valley. Alfred Josyn had
seven head of thoroughbred, very large and
rangy, and G. o. Boyce had one bull, pure blood,
while many others have Grades There were
some Of the largest calves ever on the ground
James Baird, 4th, took the first premium
weight not given); Drew Palmer have one
pair OF dark red matched steers which lack but
fifteen pounds of twelve hundred; another pair
nearly nine hundred are well trained, and in this
department we saw some rare performances
1.-THE boys" Myron Hanks, Levi Wilder and
Frank and Fred Palmer have done well this year,
and the steers are already educated for oxen as
soon as time adds to their growth.
SWINE.
Only two entries this year-sows with cunning
little fat pigs, seven and nine respectively. and
all white
In the pens we see fine-wool sheep again for
the first time in several years. The weight given
in fat sheep-three of them-was III, 1856 and 100
pounds and there was quite large show OF
Cotswold, both thoroughbreds and grades, by Al
fred Joslyn and O. C. Wilder. One buck, two
years old, weighs 2l5 pounds
FLORAL HALL
is not filled up quite as 1t should be, or az 1t usu
ally is for 1t has been credit to the ladies OF the
valley, some years even comparing favorably
with the county fair; but what we did have was
very good indeed Mrs. A. NJ. Pierce had a large
display Of pot plants very thrifty and handsome
and the cut flowers shown by Mrs. b. Phillips
were tastefully arranged 10 form the word, Vel.
come" Mrs. Arbee Durkee had brilliant show
OF gladioli, and there we're some cut flowers from
her daughter, not entered for premium, that were
very beautiful We would linger here to recall
one OF our number who has contributed &C
largely to our enjoyment In this and other de-
partments, Mrs. Emmelne Spauding who now
| rests in her lowly bed, under and among hel
| flowers We loved her kind and gentle ways
| and mourn her early death; may we all meet hel
in heaven. In domestic manufactures we CONT
| first to the flannel made by Mrs. Arbee Durkee
| seventy-three years old; spun, woven and neatly
embroidered with linen floss (also Of her owl
| spinning, as she was taught to do when little
girl. Would II not be well for little girls to tax,
some stitching in school again? There were foul
pieces of very handsome rag carpeting, also som'
| very pretty rugs; not many tides nor much spin
| ming or knitting, although Mrs. E. L. Marble o
Fayston and Mrs. Lewis Bagley did very well in
| deed, and reference to premium list will show
their success in that line. There were some yer,
perfect specimens in the line of quilts of variou
styles. And we had a very fair display OF card
board, splintwork, and all those pretty things
that will help make our homes more beautiful, al
Mr. Tinkham told us we should do. C. II
Wright agent for the New Home sewing machine
was present with two machines, both of which h,
sold This machine cannot be beaten for rea
honest work; but there was another one in tn
hall, Just as good, the New Model Weed ma
never seen equsled, pearl stitching and with al
attachment does embroidery with three colors o
silk, red, white and blue. Charles Sawyer o
Moretown Is agent. The Ferguson bureau cream
cry churhs were exhipiteu ny L. NJ iyior
| Waitsfield agent He also uses them In his owl
| Ii -, -, :. t.. ,., 4,
| dairy, and they were regarded quite favoraDy D.
dairy-women.
AGRICULTURAL HALL.
In this department the show was very meage
IN quantity, but good In quality we 10 nc
think this Is owing entirely to politics and tn
presidential campaign, for we know that With
the limits OF the society there have been five ne'
barns built by men who have formerly taken a
active part in our fair-C. Spaulding, J. Holden
Rufus Barnard, 4. W. Bisbee and l. H. Joslyr
The last three are built to replace barns burne