The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1884-11-08
DURHAM COUNTY.
trS PRODUCTS AND MANUFAC-
TJRES BESIDES TOBACCO.


The Elegant and Varied Display of Art
and Ornamental Work Done by the
Ladies.
Extended notice has already been made
in these columns Of the exhibits made by
the Blackwell Tobacco Co., and the r. F.
Norris Il Son Manufacturing Co.; and,
though these do not make up the sum to-
tai of the excellent Durham county exhib-
it, they comprise SO important a part of it
that the rest may be more briefly de-
scribed.
The gist of the lesson that Durham
teaches is that pluck and energy will ac-
complish anything. The county used to
be considered a very poor tract of land.
But now it grows almost everything to
perfection that grows on uplands- -tobac-
co especially 1t was Durham county to-
bacco Mr. II. A. Reams's, you remember)
that received the prize. In the section
given to the agricultural products there
are besides tobacco, Several very fine
specimens of which are shown) cotton
corn, variety Of vegetables, wheat and
other grains, and especially grasses. The
taste shown in the arrangement and deco
ration of these is as noteworthy as the
products themselves are significant The
canned and preserved fruits tell the story
of a present abundance and possible plen-
ty and wealth along this line.
Durham is fast becoming one Of the
great manufacturing centres Of the State,
along other lines than the manufacture
of tobacco, in which, all the wide world
knows it leads. Among the manufactured
articles exhibited are specimens Of plaids
from the Orange Mills Of the Willard Man
ufacturing Co.; a variety Of leather and
tanned skins (some very fine, indeed, J
tanned and dressed by NJ. G. Byrd, of
Durham !; candy, manufactured by Mr.. j.
\. Gresham, and especially specimens
(and agricultural testimony, too) Of the
Durham Fertilizer Co.'S fertilizer-a brand
new product of an inland town, and al
ready a product of prime value and i'm
pOrtance. There are good specimens of
building stones, too, and collection of
earth from the arteSlan we'll OF Col. W. T.
Blackwell, taken at various depths from
near the surface to a great distance. The
little centre table attracts attention, it be
ing none other than the one on which Gen.
Johnston wrote his surrender of the Con-
federate army.
Durham, its chances, its industries and
its people, can best be described in this
way if your most energetic nervous
Northern gentleman goes there, he must
quicken his pace, or he will be left. Yet
the county lies almost virgin yet, and the
wonderful little city itself is but in its in
fancy.
Ladies' Work.
The Durham ladies have arranged in a
very tasteful way their large collection of
fancy articles and fine art exhibit, and in
such a way, too, as to make each eNhlbl-
tors work show to good advantage. A
pair of slippers exquisitely braided on
rubber with a horses head embroidered
on the front of each, by Miss Lessie
SOuthgate, attracts a good deal OF atten-
tion as something novel as well as beauti-
full Two beautiful lambrequins, one
done in Kensington stitch by Miss Sarah
Chambers and the other new style OF
embroidery called COUGHING by Miss Hanks
are very rich and effective, and the ar
rasene work by Mrs. Southgate call forth
great deal of admiration. Infants
robes embroidered, crazy quilts of exceed
ing richness, paintings, crayon drawings,
fan of white turkey feathers, a hand
some rug worked in crOsS-Stitch with d
white horse in the centre done in tufted
work attest the skill Of the Durham ladies'
but most suggestive exhibit, now that
the question Of wOman's work, and what
she shall do for a living is SO pertinent, is
one made by Mrs. E. J. Parrish 1t is q
case full of dainty china which she not
own kiln, and the repousse work by Mrs
w. H. Kerr may be classed with it. What
these ladies do for their own qualification
could be done for pecuniary returns. An
easel very beautifully carved, and made
Of Durham county wood, in a Durham
cabinet shop, supports a painting by Mrs
T. j. Parrish, of the Bennett House, the
scene Of Johnston's surrender. Mrs. M
c. Palmer exhibits some specimens OF
knitted lace made from 100 threads, OF
which she makes 5 different patterns. a
silk quilt made by Mrs NJ. B. Ellison, who
is quite an old lady, shows very well II
the case beside wedding dress made by
Worth which cost thousand dollars. II
the energy for which Durham is famed
this fine display shows that the ladies
keep pace with the men and SO demon
strate, of course, that the prosperity O
the town is on well ornamented as vel
as a solid basis.
The MOurner's Bench.