Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-09-29
WARDSBORO FAIR.



The Wardsboro fair was held Wedpesdov
under favorable auspices. the day heinz ali
that could be desired. The exhibition was
on the whole a very decided success large
number of people, for a town fair of tbis
character, were In attendance, and all ex-
pressed themselves rs well satisfied with the
show. The Londonderry band furnished mn
sic for the occasion, which was well ammo.
ciated We heard IL remarked several times
that the exhibition was better than at the
county fair, but we should hardly admit that
though our county fair should be so far
ahead of what one small town can do as not
to subject us to such remarks.
The exhibition of oxen and steers is gen
orally the leading feature in the town fairs
of this county. Wilmington, Wardsboro
and several other neighborinp towns In tbe
west part of the county, were once famous
for their working oxen, and are SO still to a
lesser extent. noted cattle buyer, who an
nually collected and drove a great many cat
tie from this region to Duchess county. N. Y.
used to say that he knew of no other dis
trict of equal extent, where so many GOOD
working oxen could be found. or late years
the more general use of horses for farm
work, which the mowers and other maehin-
cry have made necessary, has caused work
ing oxen to be somewhat neglected. None
Of these towns can now show as many or as
good working oxen as could have been
shown fifteen or twenty years ago. Besides,
the eager demand for them during the mast
year, and the high prices for which thew
have sold, have caused many of the best OK.
en- to be bought and driven out of the coun.
ty. Considering these facts the show of OK.
en- was very respectable. About 40 pair were
exhibited, the heaviest ranging in weight
from twenty-eight hundred to thirty five hun
drcd. We noticed large number of good
four years old steers among them S. ID.
Mays L. A. Whitcomb's, and N. E. John
sons. W. @. Parsons of West Wardsboro
had pair of extra well. matched three years
old steers that differed only sixteen pounds
in weight d. f. Brown had a heavy pair
not quite three years old, weighing 29Ol lbs
David Eddy had yoke of cattle weighing
$3.50 lbs. L. A. Whitcomb showed a good
pair of steer calves. There were many other
cattle, perhaps equally mertorious, which
we have not space to mention.
There was a fair sprinkling of grade and
thoroughbred Jersey cows and other Jersey
stock, showing that the farmers of Wards.
boro are making effort to improve the dairy
qualities of their herds. II. n Fits, A. F.
Durkee, &. II. Wilbur, and Watson * Higgins
were among the exhibitors in this line. There
was fair show of sheep-not large in mum
Der, but good in quality. In poultry the ex-
hibition was rather deficient, consisting only
Of pair of African geese shown by o. NJ.
Newell and Seabright chickens by Rawson
of Jamaica. There was quite a respectable
number of horses shown, and some very
good ones.
A largo quantity of fancy articles were
shown in the hall of N b. Gales's new build
ing. They were tastefully arranged, and the
hall show was altogether quite equal to the
other departments of the exhibition. Among
so many articles of merit we dare not single
out any for special notice. Fruit and vegeta.
bles were not in large supply but the quail
ty was good. The hall contained profu.
sion of flowers very tastefully exhibited.
Short speeches were made by Willard
Shepard of Stratton, Col. Franklin of New.
fame, and Rev. E. S. Morse of Wardsboro,
the substance of which we should be glad to
report, but any attempt 20 do Justice to the
speakers would make this article too long
Following the speeches came the foot race,
the potato race, and performance of novel
character not down in the programme. In
the latter a rope was grasped firmly by ten
men at each end and at signal, the tug of
war began, each party making desperate eff
forts to haul the other after them. 1t was an
exciting contest and wrought up the crowd
of spectators to uproarous cheering. Ed
Howe was captain of the victorious party.
In the foot race Otis Philips of Townshend
was wnnier of the prize. The first prizs in
the potato race was won by Frank Plimpton
of Wardsboro and the second by Frank Waite