Milford chronicle., 1883-10-05
THE STATE FAIR.

Last week we spent a daV at Do
yer, examining the articles exhibited
not for the purpose of giving a list
Of the articles, and of the exhibitors
but for the purpose of seeing what
progress is being made in these mat.
ters in our midst. So far as apricul-
tural and horticultural products are
concerned, it might better be called
the Kent County Fair, for New Cas-
tie county did little for it; and to
their shame be it said, Sussex coun-
ty did nothing at all, so far as we
could discover, except in horses.
The fair would have been a total
failure in this respect, had it not
been for the men of Kent, and the
ladies of that county.
We saw much to praise. and mucb
to blame, but in our criticism we
shall speak first of the former. as If
is the foremost in our thoughts and
we would much rather praise than
find fault, as we are not at all cvni-
cal in our nature.
The ladies did nobly. Their ex-
hibit Of fine needlework, pastry. and |!
preserves, we have never seen eouol-
ed at any fair-except that of the
Queens Co. Fair held at Mineola on
Long Island, n. Y. The ladies of
Long Island have always been noted
for their attainments in all that re-
lates to house-craft. Until we saw :
the exhibit at Dover, we never else
where saw them equaled; and we are
not prepared to say that the ladies t
OF Long Island surpass the ladies of t
Delaware in this respect. The cakes {
and pastry looked very toothsome +
and inviting, except that the pies /
struck us as being somewhat lean. s
The standard thickness of a beef r
steak among the lovers of good liv- S
ing, is three-quarters of an inch: and r
the same rule holds good in pies. a
One quarter of an inch for paste. and V
of an inch for illino. V
In the department of fruit presery- 81
ing, both for variety, and quality: D
we have never seen as fine an exhib- Il
it. We suppose this is largely due st
TO the experience, and knowledge at Y
tanned from practice in the preserv- cs
ing Offruit and vegetables as a leading sy
industry of the state, especially Of cf
Kent county. 1t was admirable. Y
The display of needlework was al an
10 very fine, both in the plain. and ge
ornamental departments. We were co
nuch pleased to see but few ofthose
Nominations in needle work, patch OF
york quilts. A visit to any well con- su
lucted lunatic asylum, would con- vo
'ince the visitor, that the greatest fol
depts in this kind of work are era H,
y people. Sane people cannot COM th,
ete with them. What can induce tb,
eople to cut up fine material into wa
d sorts Of unshapeable scraps. and the
len sew them together again. with ess
luch waste of time, patience, and the
ye-sightl Two eOr three of those cal
e saw gave us neuralgia in the ha,
res, the patterns were so bizarre. plv
ad the arrangement of the colors so
ltirely regardless of all harmony. so
bsolute ugliness, is we believe the kel
aterlon OF merit in this class. If tur
}, they certainly deserved the high ord
It honors. 1t was a great relief to sell
rn from these to the delicate fancy of
ork in the shape of laces, embroid- inc
y and similar products of needle bui
In these the true delicacy of the
taste, and finger craft. find riol
eir h1tlhg expressions. We pity the
man VINO cannot appreciate the
smm. I'm hon
We never saw finer display of the