Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-10-13
The Fair.

The first exhibition of the fair under its
new auspices was opened yesterday. As a
county organization its career was useful
and progressive, but the difficulties of main
tanning interest in a purely local institu-
ton annually increased. Such has been
the experience of communities as favorably
situated as ours for this purpose, and it was
proper to cast about for the means of sus
tanning it on larger plan, and increasing
the interest which was falling off. There
fore the foresight which conceived and
matured our county into district-instltu-
tion was a wise proceeding, and estima'
ting by all that can be observed of the en-
tries, and the indications of the first day,
this chief town of the valley will continue
to be centre for the annual exhibition of
a growing material development. The
progress made in Augusta, and in all the
counties which have united in the district
association, by introducing the best kind OF
livestock, and by testing wheat and other
grain culture, the varieties best adapted to
our soils for obtaining superior results, is
most gratifying. Albemarle and Nelson,
two of the counties embraced in the organi-
cation, with their adjacent neighbors of the
Piedmont section, are rapidly enlarging
their horticultural areas, and widely ex-
panding their orchards and Vineyards
These pursuits serve not only, as in Their
commencement, merely for gratifying
cultivated tastes and homo enjoyment, but
have become the special industries of that
highly favored region, returning fair money
profits for all the capital and skill which
have been and are being expended upon
them. In no district of country are
there so many superior resources as
abound in the counties forming the
Baldwin District Fair Association. to
ineite to industry and effort, with the
assurance of bountiful returns. We
have the opportunity to reach degree in
DEVELOPMENT which will cause our region to
be sought for by enterprising men with ex
perience and capital, and the liberality OF
want of it with which we sustain our fairs
To sustain these exhibitions requires mo-
only attendance Of the people upon them
but the products of the soil should be ther'
in their richest specimens. Evidences of thu
treasures in our mineral resources ane
forests can have place, and the skill ane
genius of our men in manufacturing, /
contributed as they can be, will add mor'
than we may suppose to the favorable i'm
pressions we all desire strangers and visi
tors shall form of our people, and ou
country.
This is an occasion when We all NEE
under the influences of common purpose
to witness the evidences of progress in ou
varied industries and to interchange gratu
lations and to cultivate social amenities
1t is time when burdened care is for The
day laid aside to realize that the roughel
scenes and hardships of life need not al
ways be present. 1t blends the feelings
in unison with our nobler manhood as WE
pursue some of the highest objects Of hu
man existence that are here specially pre-
scented to our minds. 1t is an occasion
when our thoughts should revert to tht
past-in association with memories which
cluster around services and talents, tha
agriculture could claim as it's own, though
the allurements of conquest and plaudits il
the forum were ever ready with new victo
res to crown their superiority. The mos
enduring testimonial we can render to thu
memory of the founder of this institution
is to expand its resources and increase its
usefulness-to make it great in benefac
tions and in development-to Irvine its his
tory inseparably in all the future with oul
own goodly heritage, in fair, and pleas
ant, and fruitful land.