Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-24
OUR HOME TALENT TELLS.
Companies B, A, and C, Of the First
Regiment, Three Highest.
ALEXANDRIA COMPANY THE F0URrH.
Rowitzers, Stuart Horse-Guards, and
Two Infantry Companies to
Drill To-Day.

have been a financial failure instead 81
what Il is-a great success. The dust was
so bad, and was getting so much worse as
the roads were ground and ground by the
wheels OF vehicles, that there was quiet
determination on the part OF large part OF
the pubic TO look az the military parade in
the city and to iorego the Fair. The rain
altered all that. Ii terminated a drought
that bad possessed the land fer months, and
came on Just at dark, and continued at in
nrvals through the night. The rainfall
" not heavy-nothing like the country
needs-but as n beginning was not only ae-
eop'able, but was peribct blessing.
II Frightened The face OF nature, for ii
washed the dust from the foliage. and II glad
dened the heart oi man, a. was shown in hap.
pier countenances, IN brisker movements,
end in the spirit and livelIne.s that 1t seemed
TO infuse into trade. Yesterday dawncd
upon tie city and the FAIR with as sweet a
smile as could have been wished. The
sky was the blue Of the early autumn,
now and then veilcd by light clouds, the
air was crisp and fresh, suited 10 new win
tor clothes and not demanding heavy wrap
peTs or oyercOats. while the roadways were
free alike from dust and mud. II there was
ANYTHING at all to spoil the pcriectness Of the
day il was in the weather Indications
which suggested "loeal rains" and there
fore umbrellas. and most people went 10 the
Fair-Grounds so provided, bat there wa'
no occasion 10 use them for other purpose
than slir-shades.
TIE MILITARY PARADE.
Tn feature OF Yesterday was the military
parade. Tie soldiers draw the people al
ways: not "the ladies and the young
folks only. but men and women of all
ages and degrees. and il was a pretty sight
these had 10 look upon yesterday.
The home and visiting companies were
formed on Broad street in two blttaioDs-
tie First regiment. under Colonel Ander-
son, forming the first: the Blues. Wash
ington Light Infantry. Farmyille Guards.
and Alexandria Light Infantry forming
The secondhand were under the command
Of Lieutenant Colonel SpotswOod, Of the
First; the Stuart Horse bringing up the
rear in gallant style.
pUsIC.
For music, there was the Soldiers Home
band from Old Point, First Regiment band,
and a tife-snd-drum corps brought on here
with the Alexandra company, OF which
company Mr.. G.. A. MushbscS, ~eilknown
here in legislative circles. is captain.
HOW THEY LOOKED.
The Washington company were con-
spieuOus in their white coats and bIlcx
shoecOs, but not for that only: they locke l
and marched Ike true soldiers and gentle
men.
All Nirriniars here felt proud Of tbs ex-
cellent hearing Of the FarmyIlle and Alex
sndra companies.
As for Richmond's soldiers, il is high
compliment to say that they looked better
than usual.
This turnout, as q whole, WAS very nice.
co the people said who lined The street,
and ieastCd their eyes upon the pa
raGe. and thousand. OF these folks fol-
lowed "the nOddng plumes and "rst-
ling drums" 10 the fair-Grounds.
VALUE OF SOLDIERS.
General wickham, president. and Dir.
George W. Nsyo, secretary, have all along
during their incumhency OF Society Offices
recognized the fact that nothing 80 adds to
yste-receipts as a military display.
once upOn n time there was grave S'-
eussion in the Executive Committee Of the
Society ss 10 whether the military should
be admitted without paying the gsie-iee :.
Tie question was decided afiirmstveIy;
but in the light OF recent experience il
could not possibly be raised.
The Fair would be an annual failure
without the military.
The street parade over Yesterday. the
First regiment, the Blues, and the visitor,
embarked on the cars for the Far, willis
the Stuart florso Guards praneed out there
on their own metllesome chargers.
TIE PEOPLE.
The attendance at the Fair was very
large. II was certainly one OF The SOciety's
very largest crowds. When President
HAYES and Cabinet were here at the Fair
there was an Unprecedented crowd present.
Estimates afterwards. made upon the basis
of gate-rCcriJts. showed that il numbered
about GO 900. There were hardly s. many
present Yesterday, but the falling Of could
not have leen very large.
The rain and The military did it.
A visitor was heard TO remark TO high
officer Oi the Society. "That rain last
uielt was worth 81 ,0e0 70 you
With face expressive both OF earnest
Ecs, and tbankiulness, the officer answered.
lit was worth $4,000 TO u.s."
Certain it is that il the duStiness OF Wed
nesday had continued yesterday's crowd
would not have been what il was.
soNR LITTLE DUST.
lSit was. the rain had soaked the earth
% little that, under the influence OF the
brisk broezc that was blowing nearly all
day and the tread Of thousauds Of feet OF
men and beasts, the dust, about | or
O'Clock, began TO rise and was considerably
complained CT towards evening.
DRILLING.
A square OF ground between the p-e.-
dent. Office and the brick row was marked
of. sentinels posted to keep the crowd
back. lois drawn for the order Of drilling.
aud the contes. began. Each company bad
hali an hour and The programme eailr d
for about fftv movements. The spectators
conpregated about the drilling by thou.
sands, and were lJcrsI in their applause
when good "hils" were made. The IA
yors Of this sort were pretty equally di.
yided between home and visiting COM
papies.
The three Judges 0ieulenauts OF the
United states army stationed at Fortress
Monroe. selected by General Tid5all)
stood on the driI-gr0und close to the
company and watched every moVament
with the eyes Of experts, and marked er-
Tors with the impHrtisiiy OF men whoss
sole desire is 10 do right.
WALLER LIGHT GU4ED AND CEIYs rIGsr AND
SECOND.
The prize drill resulted as follows:
I. B Walker Light Guard, 81 900.
2. A (Grays). $500.
3. C(Guard CT the Commonwealth, 800.
A. Alexandria Light Infantry.
:. Washington Light Infantry.
The lsst-nam(d d company excited the ad'
miration OF the crowd by the great beauty
OF their drill. and there were showers OF
con pliments for them; but they lost time
in mere ofnalnentatiOrs, and d'dnt ger
through the requisite number OF move
ments az Laid down in the schedule printed
snd provided. There were some errors
marked against them, too. but TIE move
ments they made were generally superb
The Walker Light Guard particularly er-
celled in Quckness. They were not only
tattically accurate, but made good time.
and executed more cvolutions than any of
the others. The verdict Of the judges
speaks their praise. The Grays did mighty
well. The ground covered with dsad
grass upon which they drilled was
so slick that il wss no wonder that one
Of their best men slipped and fell. Capts'n
Bossieux became unwcli 10 the midst OF
the drilling and found IL Necessary TO re-
iiuqnlsh command 10 Lieutenant Spence.
ON 81