Daily Republican., 1882-09-28
THIRD EDITION.
THE STATE FAIR,

DSMlMN w1ANhRH - OSN~ W.
the Delaware state Fatr-TO Last
Day Longer.
Special correspondence Of the REPUBLICAN.
DOVER, Del, Sept. q.
If there is anything in the world
easily affected by rainy weather
it is q State agricultural fair. There
are hundreds of exhihi ors here ready
to testify to the truth of this assertion.
The fair opened yesterday in the midst
of a succession of heavy rain showers
and cold disagreeable northeast wind
This had a very despiriting effect upon
exhibitors and prevented others from
bringing their exhibits. From this
cause there is q very meagre display of
stock but of such things as fruit, iellies,
pastry, pies, and cakes the exhibit may
be said to be full, certainly it is very
fine. Instead of thousands being pres
ent on the opening day of the fair there
we're but possibly 800 wet and
draggled persons dodging around from
one covered building to another, under
umbrellas and wrapped in gossamers.
There was mud everywhere and 1t was
difficult for horses to pull even empty
wagons through the mud. But the ex-
hibitors take the weather good natur-
edly. They say if they had the making
of 1t they would construct it on differ
ent plan, but while pleasing themselves
they admit that they might not suit
other people. "This is the fifth year"
said one of the managers "that we have
held this fair and this is the first rainy
season we have had in all that time.
Surely we ought rot to complain vt one
bad season out of fve." The race
course being in q miserable condition.
it was impossible for horses to trot in
Justice to themselves and SO the races
announced for Tuesday were postponed
until Wednesday.
Wednesday opened, and although
the rain was not descending in such
torrents as on Tuesday, dark, overhang.
ing clouds canopied the skies and hung
ominously overhead. When the hour
came for opening the gates the crowd
was not waiting to enter and the first
train from Wilmington with all it gath
cred up alonh the road did not increase
the attendance fifty souls. But people
kept coming, on foot and in hacks and
carriages, until at ore time in the after
noon there were probably 1000 persons
within the 40 acre enclosure. By the
way these are spacious and spIendidly
laid out grounds. the association evi.
IDENTIFY having been determined to do
things in no half hearted manner. The
races course is oval shaped, some eigh-
ty feet wide and half mile in circum-
ference. From the middle of the OBJ
long enclosure the stars and stripes
foated majestically from atifty feet high
flag staff. The judges stand is Octagonal
in shape, three stories high, finished
with profusion of cut gingerbread
work, snd Enthusiastically painted.
The Judges occupy the second story
and the Board the third, but this after
noon was so cold and disagreable that the
Board occupied seats in the Grand Stand
where they would be less exposed. By
the way Oglesby's band of Chester is
engaged for the fair and every perform.
anCe sandwiched between the heats is
the signal for loud applause. The sand
accommodates some 5000 people The
first story is used for the ladies exhibit
department. This department comes
the nearest perfection, being entirely
under cover and securely protected from
rain. Here there was variety Of knit |
and needle work.. as carriage afghans, |
quilts with countless patches, tides,
Children's dresses, pianos, organs and
other musical instruments. The exhibit
ed fftRhiitesS fftRhiites wpies GSke9 iellie9 and AGe Gsp-
ling any we have seen for years, and re- |
fleets the highest credit upon the ladies
of Dover and vicinity.
Near the center of the field stands a |
four winged building in which cereals, !
grain, monster stalks of corn, corn in |
the ear, big pumpkins, some of them
weighing 1876 pounds, big beets, pota-
toes, sweet potatoes, carrots, turnips,
seeds, dried fruit, grapes, apples, pears
and an endless variety of things were
exhibited. In this department. T. X.
Jones s. Bro, of Dover, formerly of
Wilmington, madeEa very fine display
of house furnishing goods. An orna-
mental pyramid CT red ard white COL
ored boxes of horse and chicken pow
ders, exhibited by T. B. Culbreth was
one of the attractions Cf the building |
Rice & White Of Wilmington, also oc-
cupy portion in the exhibit Of four
very handsome carriages In another
building Garrett & Furry and McLear
& Kendall of Wilmington, exhibit
splendid lot of carriages. W. 4 Ca
hoon of Dover, and Smyrna firm also
make large exhibit of carriages.
In the Second story of the four wing
ed building is the art gallery, where a
very large and fine exhibit Of oil paint
ings, crayon3 and plaque decor
ations are exhibited. The most of the
paintings are by young ladies, amongst
whom are the names of Misses Rose
Virden Of Smyrl a, Anna II. BAteman
of Wyoming, Sue r. Colt of Smyrna,
Mary Comegys of Dover, Virginia
Hickman of Lew es, E. Potter of Do.
ver, Kate Kearaey of Port Deposit, |
Md, L. Bloomington Cf Philadelphia,
X. K. Bell of Sun yrua, Kate Tschudy of
SMYRNA, Tillie Blo,miugdale of Phila- |
delphia, Ella BreretOn of Lewes, Sylvia
A. Wright Of Dover " NJ Woodward
of Smyrna, and Ida and Hattie Smith |
of Willo " Grove
The stock department was most af-
feCted by the wet weather and fell far
below the usual standard.
f. A. Gray, of Wyoming, exhibited |
a number Of very fne full blooded Jer. |
sey cattle; j. Galley Smith, Of Willow
Grove, some of the same kind Of stock;
A. Todd, j. Frank Depney and D. M.
Wilson alBo contributed to the cattle |
show. D. NJ. ThOpas exhibited a mum.
Der Of Cot5wad sheep aui Thomas w.
Wilson, H. G.. Cooper and W. II. Myers
exhibited several peEs of pigs of various
sizes, ages, colors and breeds.
A smaIl building had quite large
number Of dogs of various breeds and
chickens, pigeons, ducks and geese. !
The mingled noise that emanated flom
this building was bewidering, The
entry of horses was very much inter
ferred with by the rain, but still large
number was on exhibit.
The agricultural Implement display
was meagre, bat Mr.. Emerson, of Dem
ton, Md, exhibited singular steam
road engine and grain separator.
oSoIook In fha oftarnnnn the