The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-01-18

The Middle Florida Fair.
The two first days were so exceedingly disa
greeable that scarcely an opening was made
Those intending bringing exhibits had been de.
tered by the continuous rains of the preceding
week, and the managers it is said, were seriously
discussing the ACCESSIBILITY of postponement up
to Tuesday afternoon, when the weather cleared
and Old Sol arose Wednesday morning in all
his splendor. Those having their exhibits con.
venient brought them in and the Fair progressed
without further interference from the weather
clerk
The ladies' departments were fairly repre-
sented, despite the threatening elements Had
the sterner sex performed their duties as well,
the attractions of the exhibition would have
been much enhanced OF the many specimens
of ladies' handiwork, We will only mention q
few that most attracted our attention, though we
might have overlooked many that were just as
deserving of notice
Some embroidery on old-gold satin, by Mrs.
Elizabeth Douglas, was very handsome; a cro-
cheted ladies' shawl, by Miss Eva Cameron, at
tracted much comment and admiration; but
most wonderful of all, was a pair of gents half
hose, neatly embroidered by an aged lady Dor
dering close on four score years. Mrs. Isler, an
other very old lady, exhibited some splendid
specimens of homemade counterpanes. We
noticed, also, some handsome worsted work, q
large horse head, by Mrs. A. L. Randolph Span
ish embroidered handkerchief and pillow sham,
by Mrs Llambias; six patchwork quilts, by Mrs.
Winthrop; several calico quilts, one very
handsome piece of application work, by Mrs.
Hopkins; neat and attractive toilet table,
by Mrs B. G. Lewis very neat and handsome
embroidery, by Miss Sarah Beard; beautifully
worked mats, tides, &C., by Mrs. Poole beauti-
full embroidery on white flannel, by Mrs. Ball !;
a pair of embroidered slippers, by Miss Cerinne
Walker handsome sofa cushion and table cover,
by Miss Lewis beautiful afghan, by Mrs. Ran.
dolph; very neat and pretty piece of over casting,
by the aged mother of Colonel w. K Beard !;
neat and attractive paper mats, &C., by Mrs.
Gusts. We noticed many other beautiful speci-
meas of crochetcd and needle work, too numerous
to mention, but we cannot forbear mention of
some ladies skirts shawls, rugs &C., on the west
side of the room that were very attractive.
The children's department was also very at
tractive. Many pretty little mat, tidy, &c, was
there to bear witness 10 their industry We are
sorry we have not time and space to find out and
publish the names Of all the enterprising little
lads and lassies who contributed so much to the
interest of the exhibition, but we can only give
the names of a few. Little Marie Waters exhib-
tied six substantially worked button-holes. Lit
tie George Perkins displayed a neat set Of furni
ture made with his pen-knife alone.
The little ones also added much to the art de-
partment. Without them and the ladies, this
branch of the exhibition would have been
blank. Our local photographer intended making
an exhibit of specimens in his beautiful art, but
could not get them ready on account of unfavor-
able weather. There were several very neatly
executed works of art, but we did not learn the
penmanship, Tyre and birds in shell work,
rustic work with stuffed BIRDS some pencil draw
ings, some beautiful ornamental hair, wax shell,
fish-scale, shuek and palmetto work. The ladies
Of the ST. Johns Church exhibited q very neat
little oil painting on an oyster shell, by Miss
Mcclure. Much attention was attracted to q
collection of wax slatuary made by three little
boys of Station 8, Masters Bruce Tom and DON
aid McCaskll, all under eleven years of age. A
crayon drawing, by Master Johnnie Craig, was
well executed, also some crayons and map by
one Of Colonel Brevard's little daughters. A
collection Of curiosiics by Master Ephraim Bre-
ward, contained many rare specimens, and was
quite the centre of attraction.
Mrs. Huntress exhibited miniature patent
bedstead for invalids-invented and patented by
by her late husband il displayed much ingenu-
ity, and possessed many conyenences for bed
ridden invalids
Some very pretty specimens of cabinet work
were displayed by Mr. T. c. Gilmore, the most
attractive of which was writing desk composed
of several thousand different pieces, representing
10 different species of wood, all of separate and
distinct colors, and was very handsome He also
exhibited bycicle or velocipede of his own
make
Mrs. Brevard, of this city, exhibited some very
fine specimens of home-raised silk cocoons. This
important, but almost unknown branch Of in
dustry, would, in few years, IL extensively en-
gagged In, become profitable source Of revenue
to our State, and we propose enlargipg upon this
subject Ia some future issue. VI
1 In all the other departments there appears TO
have been but little interest manifested, as many
of the products Of this section were entirely LEFT
out Of the exhibit Notwithstanding this, the
display was quite varied, and the productions Of
the kitchen, dairy, garden and farm, were all Of
good size and 6ne quality, rivaIing in excellence
and variety the productions Of any section Of
the Union. This shows what can be done In