Morning journal and courier., 1882-09-20
State Fair.
Opening Day-A Grand Exhibit - The
 Display at the Town HaIl-The Races

Day-A Grand Exhibit - The
 Display the Town Hall-Ths Races
 -Miscellaneous
 The State fair opened st Meriden yester- day with good attendance. The weather was all that could be desired
 AT TOWN HALL.
 The exhibition of vegetables has attracted the undivided attention of the farmers in the vicinity of Meriden as we'll as from all parts of the State. This department, not withstanding the unfavorable season, is fully up to the exhibition of previous years.
 In the vegetable department, which one meets on first entering the building, there is large variety and meritorious display, and shows that the farmers do notlos their inter- est in such matters In the hall there is the display of fruit of every kind, although hardly up to that of last year, as that year was an extraordinary year for fruit, the only noticeable falling off being in grapes. The bread and butter, cakes and all articles in the culinary department attracted the usual at- tention of the criticising ladies and they also received the attention of the gentlemen to a great extent. The hall was full of the custo- mary articles of ladies' wearing apparel and fancy articles which show the ingenuity and industry of the ladies. The exhibition con- sists of tidies, covers baskets, shawls, and the bedquilt of innumerable pieces made by hands well advanced in years, one made by 8 lady of ninety-one years, which was made of linen and thread which was made by hand. All of the exhibits were worthy of mention and in every way excel those of previous exhibits in Meriden. The merchants do not exhibit as in former years as all are busy, and the space seems to be taken readily by out of town parties who ex- hibit different class of goods. The manu- facturers do not exhibit as much as in former years, the Meriden Britannia company being the largest exhibitors this year, they showing their britannia goods and also glass goods that would put to shame some foreign manu- lecturers The Chapman Manufacturing company also make a fine exhibit of saddlery goods. The attendance at the hall during the day was limited, but in the evening the hall was crowded the glass blowers attract ing the most attention, but the yeast exhib- itors, sewing machines, organs and various other articles received their share of atten- ton.
 AT THE PARK
 ! The exhibition at the park of cattle, sheep, l horses, poultry, agricultural implements, carriages, etc, is said to be as fine as previ ous years, and those who visited Worcester 1 Mass, during the fair at that place state that the exhibition at the Connecticut State fair ! excels the exhibits at that place. The mum Der of entries in each department is unusual l ly large, all being of a high meritorious l class. One of the most interesting exhibits | is the cattle, all classes being well filled and | the many fine animals shown are we'll worth seeing. The first thing on the programmeTues l day morning was the one year old steers, then 1 came working oxen from six to four years | old and grade steers. The premiums or | steers, working oxen and fancy cattle were l awarded.
 THE RACES.
 ! The races Tuesday afternoon attracted large crowd. much larger than there was usual l ly in attendance the first day of the fair ir
 previous years. The first race was the
 800 GLASS.
 In this class there were seventeen entries
 but only nine horses answered to the call ! when Polly B and Prince Imperial were
 drawn. Happy Medium was at the pole al
 the start and kept to it until the close, win
 ming the heat easily; time, 2:324. Arabian
 Chief, Dave Crockett and Ben were distanced
 leaving only four horses. which were evenl. ! matched, to finish the race. The second hea
 was not so easily won by Happy Medium, sh' l being pressed closely by Stephen G., wht
 shows good speed. The third heat was more
 interesting than the previous ones and mucl l enthusiasm was manifested, and we fear n<
 small amount of money exchanged hands or
 shis heat. Happy Medium and Harry Pel ! ham came in neck and neck and consequent
 ly the heat was declared dead one. In tn, fourth heat Happy Medium at the star
 showed her determination to win the hea
 and kept the lead throughout The follow ! ing is the summary: