Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1886-10-28
THE FAIR OF FORD COUNTY
AS SEEN BY A LADY.

4 -O-
Confusion being recommended as "good for the
soul'' readily concede all the good imaginary or
| otherwise contained in an act SO easy and simple
to that mystical element by confessng that was
very agreeably disappointed in the fair. The fact
of its being the first attempt at anything of this
| nature, in conjunction with the newness of the
country, would naturally. though not necessarily.
lead to be very reasonable in their expectations.
| All doubts which ore may have entertained as to
its proving a success, were dissolved into nothing
ness upon entering the Grand Art Hall. where the
display in every department was such that much
less-newly settled country might have well been
proud of.
The first department we entered was the Agri-
cultural Hall. I was totally unprepared for the
| fine display OF agricultural products. The SEEM
| ing-evidently seeming only as pretty fairly
demonstrated on this Observation-Disclosures to
rural occupations existing in ur.immedate vicin-
iy, had led me to expect very different results.
The first object of interest which attracted at
tention was majestic Castor-bean stalk, which
lowered high above cur heads, causing us to feel
very small in comparison; near it two melons,
perfect monsters in SIZE which il would have been
folly for ether than modern Samson 10 attempt
to lift If size be indicator of strength, TO look
at the onions would have caused the lachrymal
glands to expand, while the potatoes were SO gem
in size that for one person to attempt to eat
| whole one at meal would be suicidal in the ex-
IRENE. The squash and pumpkin were very fine
and suggestive Of such luxuries as pumpkin pies.
which thought made us so hungry that we turned
our attention to the rather unique dollhouse,
which some ingenious hand had devised of corn,
cane, wheat and oats. 1t was one of the mo I in
teresting-to me--fcatures of the department The
memories it awo>e were of q less palatable nature
than those of the pumpkin--flling the va
cum in the Uranium of tiresome children being
much less to my taste than eating pumpkin pies
In the midst of this labyrinth OF vegetation repos
ed the huge head of a defunct buffalo, bearing up
on its noble Cwhy notD brow this inscription: .Ehe
changes made since my early recollectlons," which
were indeed, great.
Leaving this department ''change came DER
the spirit Of Dreams and we could almost
fancy ourselves in fairyland delightfully."- unreal
did the picture now presented seem. In the center
of the building and directly in front of us was a
succession of circular tiers Of plants and flowers,
''the like of which we ne'cr had seen before
Several plates of tempting red apples, represent
ing the Kansas City nurseries) occupied very
conspicuous place among thein-if such fruit exist
ed in Adams day, then cease to wonder that he
fell-whie birds "too numerous to MENTION
were straining their vocal organs to the utmost in
their cndeavor to be heard above noisy humanity.
We next passed to the right wing OF the hall,
where the exquisite skill and taste displayed in
the arrangement OF the fruits and dry goods Of the
firm of X. NJ. Wright Il Co., at once attracted and
charmed the artistic eye. 1t was masterpiece
in its way, and the designer certainly deserves
great credit for the skill and taste so admirably
exercised. While commenting upon tie house
composed of fruit cans, were rather startled to
find it inhabited by one of the masculine pcrsua-
sion, who in keeping with his surroundings, look
ed good enough to eat. To note I'll the interest
ing features of this wing would occupy too much
space, so, with hop skip and jump more ener
getic than gracefully we are very near the grape
arbor, where grapes Of the superlatiye degree,
hang in the most tantallzing profusion. We were
next introduced to Prof. Faux, representing
business college in Hutchinson. His specimens of
penmanship were decidedly fine. Ills neighbor,
the Davis Sewing Machine operator, cclipsed all
others in the exhibition of fancy work done by his
machine, if he is a republican. Our attention was
now turned to the .'Fine Art department, where
the man Of silk culture monopolized so much Of
our time, that the mysteries in ladies fancywork
were harriedly passed ever, but were the less
admired and appreciated-Ione but the ingenuity
and patience, combined with skillful fingers of
woman could work such wonders. The Art gallery
was an honor and credit to the county, and con-
tanned many fine works OF art. The public schools
cxccllcd in map drawing, which excited no small
degree of interest. Outside of the Art Hall were
the indispensable q side-shOws--one containing
an elephantine baby, while poor woman declaim-
ed to the passerby 'the greatest curiosity of the
age Cher husband presume) from her tent DOOR
must beg pardon of the deer for speaking of those
side shows; first, heartless piece of humanity
was tormcnting the poor creature when we 'called"
upon it, and | was wicked enough to wish the deer
would serve him like the goat of Almanac rcnown
did his torlnenter, ''iift him about ten feet and
stand him on his head" The last, but none the
less pleasing feature of interest, the races. /
blush TO own it, but enjoyed this part of the pro-
gramme very much, owing suppose, to an inmate
weakness for fine horses However, those riders
and drivers were provoking in the extreme. They
kept the Thermometer of ones expectations up to
fever heat by continually starting only to retrace
again. The five mile race by ladies was reserved
till the last. But two entered the ring one lady
and gentleman in disguise. The lady who was
fearless, though not correspondingly graceful,
rider, of course won.
The exhibition of fine stock far exceeded cur
expectations in this country OF Texas cattle and
ponies, ard reflected great credit upon the stock
men Of this county. This fair certainly proved
the fallacy Of the supposition that the ''infant"
civilization of the comfy is any drawback to its
success both present and future lone.