Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-09-26
THE W1RDsBORO FAIRS
4 CreditabIe Exhibit Under Unfavor.
able Circumstances.

able Circumstances.
Tho morning Of Tuesday, the day appoint
ed for the Wardsboro fair, was rainy, with
the prospect of storm continuing through
fine day. II ceased to rain at about o'clock
aud for the rest of the day there were only
threatening clouds. The fear Of rain, how
ever. deferred many from attending, vet there
wa. large number present, nearly as many
ns were there year ago The number of
cnitle and articles exhibited was, OF course
smaller in consequence of the threatened
rain. Owners OF fancy articles and premium
horses and cattle do not like to expose them
TO the rain Had it been a clear day the ex
hibition would have been one of the best ever
held in town. As it was, there was an excel
lent show Of working oxen, though far from
representing the best that the town can do.
There were in all about ~ yoke exhibited.
They we're driven in line, accompanied by the
Londonderry cornet band, through the princi.
pal street of the village to the fair ground,
making a show in this part excellng that at
the county fair.
The heaviest yoke of oxen exhibited were
- pair of & year old cattle owned by S. d.
May Of Jamaica. Their weight was 3G4O.
They were well formed and extra in other re-
spuct5 than weight. nice pair of oxen q
year, old, weight $40, were exhibited by ].
h. Gleason, and there were many others wor-
old steers belonging TO VIM. II. Parsons.
Weighing $500 pounds, we judg, d to be the
best proporioued and handsomest cattle on
the grounds. Perhaps the greater part OF all
the oxen exhibited might be called extra in
matching aud in general form and style. All
except SIX or eight of the ~ yoke exhibited
were from Wardsboro, yet it was said that az
many more, equal in quality, might be found
in the town. WardsborO was complimented
~. e.. NgI
working oxen for use on the FARMS instead of
horses. Oxen were more profitable than
horses, and too many horses on the farm were
domoralizing. There was an exhibition Of
trained oxen, the trial being mostly Of draught
ON u stoneboat, at which Herbert Barrett's
cattle won the first honor, and A. E. Torrey's
the second; and NJ. i. Johnson the first on
trained steers.
In other kinds of live stock than working
oxen the exhibition was not large. Cows
were exhibited by three or four different par
ties, but only two or three of them were es
specially hceabe in appearance. One of
the best was owned by A. f. Torrey of ia
maca, who had the only herd exhibited. Mr.
lOrrey also exhibited n pair of extra steer
calves Bulls were seen in small number
aud We failed to notice anything strikingly re.
Iuarkuble in this hue Sheep of fair quality
were shown 10y three exhibitors but two Of
them had only one sheep each.
Among the horses three year old colt
owned 10y julius Wilbur, was nice enough to
attract attention. There were several brood
mares with good colts. Driving horses we're
exhibited by II. G.. Sage aud Dexter Wait
uud a stallion by @. NJ. Pratt
Tue competition for the honors in the
poultry business was not very exciting but
pair Of buff Cochins, some Leghorns and a
pair of ducks we're exhibited.
In the hall the display OF household and
fancy articles was not large, though most of
the articles exhibited were meritorous. The
sewing machines aud the musical instruments
with their agents, of course, were there and
attracted much attention from the ladies.
There was fair though not large show of
fruit. There were half dozen exhibitors of
apples showing each from to 30 varieties.
There were plums, pears and grapes, but not
enough to invite wholesale larceny. The
show of vegetables was very small, but some
Of them were very good, among these beet
weighing 81 pounds, and measuring in cir
conference about two feet. The names of
most of the exhibitors of fruit. vegetables,
household and fancy articles appear in the
premium list.
large and admring crowd twenty rods or
more in length gathered on both sides of the
road, aud others on the steps of the houses
and in the balconies to witness the potato
race and the foot race OF boys in sacks
In the potato race the boy that picked up
first the most distant potato and finished h S
row first won the best priza.
The number of refreshment stands was less
than usual, and those on the ground, We con-
clude, must have had good harvest. There
was temporary dancing hall which was
quite largely patrouized by the young people
during the day, and we understand till the
small hours Of the next day.
Many who heard the address of NJ. W.
Davis of Westminster will consider that the
best part of the fair, as it most certainly was.
Mr.. Davis spoke with little or no reference to
his papers, surprising his effort at the county
fair. The address abounded in practical sug-
gestions, sharp hits and home truths. Con
cealed in plain but vigorous and spirited
talk about the homely, every day matters OF
the farm, it contained sermon worth doz-
en- ordinary pulpit discourses in its moral ef-
feet. At the conclusion a number of strang.
ers to the speaker came forward to take him
by the Laud and congratulate him.
We are under obligation to the gentleman.
Is and efficient secretaries of the society,
Mcssrs Gleason and Bissell, for favors re.
coiv,d in collecting the material for this re-
port.