The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-12-23
An ESGLIsnIAN's IMPBE ssIOSs or
THE CAPITAL. STATE FAIiC.

Capt. John Edgar, highly intelll-
gent Englishman, who Is looking for
homes for Englishmen in Texas. Il
appears, was At the Capital State
Fair, and IN letter 10 the Newcas-
tie Daily Chronicle he gives his im-
pressions of things as he saw them
on that occasion He thinks the as
ISOLATION could make a grand annual
fair with proper management, and
writes in the highest terms of the
associations property. He says:
Horse-racing is the chief attrac-
ton at this fair. The unmixed Tex
as horse is a small, shabby-lOoking
animal, but tough as wire, and capa-
BILE of doing more work than per-
haps any other of his inches and
weight. / expected 10 find the rae
ing donesmainly by the best and
fieetest of this class, or crosses there
with, and was surprised TO find the
English. race. horse. instead. While
England is largely indebted 10 the
states for many of the necessaries
and conyeniences Of life. the latter
is certainly her debtor for first class
horses and cattle. The racing is done
in dashes and heats. a dash is 4
straightaway race, and may be
any distance from three-quarters OF
mile TO three miles. Heats, UNI
known in England, save at small
country meetings and lloppings, are
popular and indispensable here,
where the funds are limited and the
sports have to extend over so long
period. All races are weight for
age. l don't profess TO know much
about horse racing, though | have
seen a few Plates won since
Grapeshot's year. Texas has jas
'Underhand" in horse called In
comode, a six-year-old bay, that in
size, build and action forcibly re-
minded me of the triple winner of
the Geordy's Derby, and carries
everything before him. The racing
was called good, for the finishes
were generally close, and appeared
to give satisfaction TO the spectators.
"There was a really good show of
horses for all work Some of the
heavier breeds. though not of the
massive, build so common in England
and Scotlsnd, showed quality and
possessed the properties best adapt
ed for the climate and work they
have to perform, while the carriage
horses and roadsters would not have
disgraced the. Royal ring. The
show OF cattle was moi 50 good; at
least there was not much variety.
No prizes were offered for native
stock, the object evidently being The
encouragement of the breed Of tbe
best Engii-h strains and crpsseF with
the natives.
"The display of farm aud garden
produce was miserably small for a
state that stands so high in these
branches, and grows to, perfection
nearly everything that springs from
the earth. Everything exhibited
was of high class quality and proved
what a grand show there might have
been had the farmers. been less
apathetic. In the doral department
there was. a really, fine display.
though little competition. Nothing
proves the wonderful salubrity of
this climate SO much as the way
English hothouse plants grow, out
of doors with as little attention as
garden flowers in England,
These exhibitions. demonstrate what
may be accomplished en- the soil of
Texas in agriculture and stock rails
ing. and show that failure is more
the fault of individuals than of
lands or climate" -