Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-09-17
Madison Matters.
PROM Our Regular correspondent

The state fair opened Monday with
much the largest exhibit that was ever
upon the grounds. 1t rained all day
Tuesday and till noon on Wednesday.
Wednesday afternoon was clear and
cold; the Indian lacrosse teams began
their game at 2:45. The game is played
by twenty on side. There is pole in
the center of an area about 200 wards
square, and at each end of this arena
is pole, toward which each team will
endeavor to drive the lacrosse ball. AS
soon as the game is ready the red men
collect IN group around the center
pole, the chief standing in the middle
OF the group with the ball Each man
carries in his hand small stick about
three feet long, at the end OF which is a
small cord racket. abont four inches in
diameter, just large enough to scoop up
the ball. As the band struck up the
red men, painted in every conceivable
color, and clothed in gaudy outfits pc
culiar to the Indian, with feathers
streaming from their hair, set up their
war-whoops, which mingled with the
music in strange discords. Up went the
ball and out went the Indians, racing
after the ball, up aud down the arena.
and Yelling with wild delight. An in
ming is played when one or the other
side has driven the ball against the end
stake OF their opponents. Two out of
three innings constitute game. The
leader of each side wore a strap of
sleigh-bells, and occasionally the Indi-
ans would chase the ball into the center
of the whole group and then a wild and
violent struggle would ensue till the ball
could be set free again. Sometimes it
would be sent over the ropes into the
crowd, and the spectators would scatter
IN all directions as the players came OF,
In hot chase. In took over an hour to
play the game, each side winning one
of the first two innings. Over 5000
visitors viewed the game on Thursday.
which was much more exciting than the
one on Wednesday. The Indians left
for Chicago on Friday. Their part of
the entertainment at the fair was q
grand success. The game, for violent
exertion and agility, is far superior to
any of the civilized sports. The ball is
made of tough root and is thrown
from the Indians racket with terrible
force.
! Fine Art hall was made beautiful by
the richest offerings of Wisconsin talent.
oil and water-color paintings of rare
merit were on exhibition by Mrs. E. Y.
Richmond, of Appleton; Mrs. Clarence
Clark, OF GAINESVILLE, and G.. A. Shaw,
of Madison; Mr.. Stuart's and the fine
paintings by Mr.. G. l.. Burdick, of
Madison, are hard to be excelled. Mrs
4. Z. Richmond's scenes on the Wiscon-
SIN river and Lake Superior were also
much admired. ii. Hanson's painting
of duel, drawn from u newspaper IL
lustration, is masterpiece. The west
ern wing of the hall was occupied by
VanCott's music pavilion, where the
finest pianos, organs and silverware
were exhibited. Near this was the bo-
tancal and insect collection of w. FL.
Chase. The Domestic and White sew
ing machine companies stood in COM
petition at the central part of the hall.
Miss Florence Cox, of Madison, and
Fannie Walker, of Lodi had fine ex-
hibits OF water-coor paintings and fancy
work. Mrs Craven's fancy work and
Mrs. Askew's curtains, piano spreads,
! lace-work, etc, both of Madison, and
Mrs. Williams hair exhibit, Madison,
took several premiums. j. c. Proctor,
of the Northwestern Business college,
exhibited pen-drawings. Near the
north entrance of the hall was the stand
of A. j. Devoe, of Richland county, who
had fine display of white bronze mon
uments and statuary.
Horticultural hall was filled with the
best fruit and flowers the state affords,
Baraboo and Waukesha county com
/ ing to the front The Baraboo meu ex-
! hibited Russian apples of rare variety,
the best of which were those belonging
to Messrs. futile, Hewlett and johnson.
d. T. Pilgrim, of Milwaukee, and sew
eral Dane county men occupied the west
side of the hall with samples of their
fruits.
Agricultural hall was next visited.
and was filled with fine exhibits of
seeds, grain, potatoes and farm products
of all kinds. Mr. c. E. Angel, of Osh-
kosh. had a very attractive display of
seeds. The state experimental farm
contributed large exhibit of her pro-
duce.
Machine hall came next and the first
exhibit reviewed was the splendid dis
play of buggies and carriage. by the
Henney buggy company, of Freeport,
lii. Mr. S. l.. Sheldon, of Madison, is
the general Wisconsin agent. There
were five different styles of springs ex-
hibited. and the judges said they were
the best on the grounds by giving then
two first premiums on carriages, oyel
scores of competitors. This broad ex
hibit was reviewed daily by hundreds o
farmers. and Mr.. Ii. ID. Hit, superin
, tendent of machine hall, pronounced
: them among the finest ever shown at
i state fair. The Abbott buggy company
{ of Chicago, of which Mr.. Sheldon i
r also the agent here, had "A fine exhibit
: Harness and neat collar-coupling by
2 Mr.. Chas Hoebel, of Madison; Schmd
e buggy company OF Madison, and Buch
holz, of GAINESVILLE, were well represen
ted in the vehicle line. f. a. johnson
of Madison, had fine showcase of an
ti-frction roller skates, which are Wis
consin invention and of rare merit MI
!. Downie, of Whitewater, showed the LAT
est and most improved fire-escape We
: invented; simply rope and clasp whic
will let one safely down any wall JUS
so fast and no faster The Doty wash