The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-09-09
Mad River Valley Fair.

The Mad River Valley Agricultural So
ciety held its fourteenth annual fair at
Waitsfield on Wednesday and Thursday,
September I'd and 3D.. In the long list of To-
cal, county and state fairs weekly given in
the newspapers, we believe this is the first
in date, and the society may well be con-
graduated on fearlessly stepping to the
front and showing what real agricultural
show should be. 1t is composed largely of
landowners, who themselves, with their
sons, wives and daughters, work with hand
and brain to make home and life what they
should be in the noblest sense. Farmers
clubs debating societies and agricultural
papers, combine, with education and re-
Hgion, to make this a signally prosper
Gus, intelligent and happy community; and
this fair, like its predecessors, was almost
entirely free from all rowdyism and ntem-
perance. Wednesday was very cold and
rainy, but the officers were promptly in
their places Stock of all kinds filed the
pens, and everything was done in the hall
to make the exhibit complete. Thursday was
clear and cool, and the fair grounds pre-
sented an animated appearance from early
in the morning until late at night. The
crowd was large, the music by Waitsfed
cornet band was excellent, and the trottng
the most spirited it has been for several
years, particularly the second race on
Wednesday. After the close of the trottng,
Thursday, four bicycles Were gracefully rid
den around the track, though the COMPETE
HORSES
There were no less than ffty-sx entries
in Glass No. l. besides seven pairs of
matched horses. Dan Crowley received the
first premium on colts less than six months
old, his being an easy quick stopper. There
We're some thirteen other entries, all be-
ing very good. Henry S. Chipman's one
year-old colt, sired by " Engineer" took the
first premium. The first premium on stall
lions, four years old and upward, was given
to " Ruther," and the second to " Ruther-
ford" both owned by L. II. Joslyn Nine
single drivers were entered on the books
and yet the Judges said the first premium
rightfully belonged to f. II. Long of War
rem, who drove his horse but did not observe
the rule of entry in due season.
CATTLE.
The neat stock was in universally good
order, and it is well known that some of the
best in the state can be shown here n. ID.
House took the lead in Devons, showing
fourteen head, and all of registered stock
The Dutch or Holstein cattle, owned by l..
IL. JoSlyn, Were very handsome-large and
sleek-looking-but they do not seem to be
so popular in this valley as the Durhams
Mr.. Joslyn showed the first thoroughbred
one-year-old heifer of this breed we think,
in 1879, and he has steadily increased his
herd to its present proportions. He is also
a large owner and breeder of valuable
horses, and is a model farmer. The calves
on the grounds were unprecedented for
size. Perhaps it was to the advantage of
this department that no "fifty-dolar-a- pair
man had been through the place buying up
the best. Eight pairs Were entered. Otis
wallis had dark red pair, Just six months
old, which weighed eleven hundred and
forty-five pounds, and NJ. x w. Palmer
another pair, called little better by the
judges, the weight of which we did not as
certain. The Misses Fisk exhibited thor
oughbred Durham bull calf, eight months
old, which weighed six hundred forty-three
pounds. John Somerville also showed a
two-years-old bull calf, weight fifteen hum
bred pounds and o. c. Wilder one of the
same age, weight sixteen hundred thirty
two pounds. Two pairs of steer calves were
well trained by John Atherton and Fred
Palmer and a one-year-old pair were per-
fectly controlled by their trainer, A. ID.
Barnard
FLORAL HALL.
The hall was well filled with domestic
and fancy articles tastefully arranged and
much credit is due to i. b. Fassett and Mrs.
d. g. Griggs for their executive ability and
good taste in all those details of arrange
ment which go to make a good display.
Several nice quilts, good many rugs Some
OF them very nice) and the show of tides,
banners and lace-work were in every way
creditabe to the ladies and misses of the
valley Quite an advance has been made in
the last three years in the art department.
Genie Boyce of Fayston had some oil paint
lngs, nearly all floral subjects, that were fine
limitations of nature; Hattie Elliot of Water
bury, three landscapes, very nice. Edie
Walbridge of Waitsfield, quite a young
miss, exhibited two panels (howers) that
We're perfectly true to nature and very well
done, but not entered on the Judges books
Several other oil paintings, some Kensing-