The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1886-08-12
THE FRUIT FAIR.
GROWS SININTEREST AND USEFUL
NESS YEAR BY YEAR.
At the Old and Famous Town OF Fay.
etteviIle the Display Makes the Chronic
cIe's Mans Mouth Water.
Especial Cor STATE CHRONICLE.


Especial Cor. STATE CHRONICLE.
FAYETTEVILLE, n c., Aug. 8, 1856. I
had the pleasure last week of attending
the fifth annual meeting of the Fruit
Growers Association of North Carolina.
| believe | can safely say from what | saw
and heard that, Notwithstanding the wet
year which We have had, it was the most
successful Fair this association has ever
held. take great pleasure in saying right
here that heard good many of the Off
GERS of the association say that IT was oW-
ing greatly to the location that made II
the success it was. Our good neighbors of
Cumberland know well how to do things
right, as the appearance Of the large two
story brick building III which the Fair was
held abundantly showed. The building
contains two large rooms, one above and
one below and everything was in readl-
ness for the reception Of the fine display.
Long wide tables We're conveniently ar
ranged above and below for fruits; racks
were built for flowers and plants; very
convenient music stand was erected at
one end of the building and was occupied
by the Fayetteville Cornet Band, which
rendered selections from the most popular
airs. The ladies had faithfully performed
their part Gas they always dO,) for by their
artistic taste the sides and walls of the
tive appearance, decorated with ever
green's and pretty pictures, they also took
a part in arranging the stands and tables.
| was very much amused at an old gentle
man, who, with his clumsy fingers, was
trying hard to arrange pile of beautiful
luscious peaches, but they would tumble
down, but Just as soon as the soft gentle
touch of woman's fingers began to play
among those peaches it was marvellous to
see how quick they assumed a graceful
pyramid shape.
The opening OF the Fair began ut -
O'Clock Wednesday by a speech of welcome
from Hon. G. NJ. Rose, of Fayetteville,
who spoke about five or ten minutes, AND
IT WAS 4 SPEECH OF WELCOME sure enough.
| refrain from attempting to write a sy-
nopsis of it for fear Of doing him an in
justice. Suffice it to say that if there was
a stranger in that crowd that did not feel
welcome and at home after hearing it and
seeing Mr.. Rose Oh the stand, all that we
have got to say is, he should have taken
the next train for home.
The speaker for the occasion, Hon. Oc-
taviuS Coke, was then introduced in a few
very appropriate and graceful remarks by
Prof J a. Holmes, of Chapel Hill. Capt.
Coke did himself honor on this occasion,
as he always does. His speech was ust
much applause and appreciation. After
the Speaking started around to see what
was to be seen. | took in the lower floor
first: ON table No. l was a general mix
ture of peaches, apples and pears. Mr..
John @. Mclean, Of Cumberland, had a
display on this table that was hard to beat.
No. , and 3 were loaded down with many
varieties of different kinds of fruit, and |
was tempted almost to slip some, but here
and there were little cards which said
.'hands off, > so | had to content myself
with sigh. The fourth table contained
a display Of apples by Mr.. G. L. Anthony.
There were sixty-seyen varieties of apples
on this table which took the first premi-
um on apples Mr.. Anthony also had a
fine display of peaches, pairs, grapes, &c.
In the center of the room was one of the
greatest attractions of the hall-it was
eight pieces Of ice frOze at the Ice Factory
forming a pyramid. In the center of each
piece of ice were frozen apples, peaches,
large lunches of grapes, boquets of flow
crs and evergreens. 1t was very beautiful
and was prepared by Mrs. Garrison, Miss
Alice Campbell, Miss Maggie Pemberton
and Mr. Arch. Campbell, Jr. On the ninth
table was a display of wines from Tokay
Vineyard that, | think, may challenge any
country. There was also on this table a
fine display of dried fruit exhibited by
Mr.. J. A. Lowery. | would like very
much to give the name Of every exhibitor
and everything there, but both time and
space prevents.
| thought l had seen good deal on the
lower floor but when | landed up stairs |
soon came to the conclusion that | had
just begun to open my eyes Here found
the finest display Of grapes that my eyes
ever rested on. On one table Mr.. r. 5.
Huske, of Fayetteville, had six very fine
varieties; Messrs. Womble & Bachelor, of
Raleigh, had 90 different varieties,-this
was next to the best display of grapes in
miums Capt S W. Noble, of Whining
ton, showed IS varieties and the largest
that were exhibited also many new va
rleties that are of recent culture in this
country One of the most attractive dis
plays | saw in this room was the flowers,
plants and shrubbery of Mr.. j. NJ. Lamb,
Proprietor of the Sunny Side Floral Gar
den. Among other things he had was a
banana ard pine apple plant, which Mr..
Lamb says he expects to bring to perfec
ton next season. Mrs. Thompson, Hall,
Wimacks, Kyle, Pemberton and Miss An
ME Rose had fine displays of flowers.
There was very large crowd on We'd
nesday, but when the boats arrived from
Wilmington Wednesday evening late and
the trains came in, by Thursday 12 o'clock
the hall was crowded and the receipts at
the door were more by good deal than
they had ever been before | heard a little
fellow say, who was trying very hard to
push his way through the crowd, "this
house is so full that it can't get much
fuller" 1t struck me Us about as good
a way as any to estimate the crowd. The
Fayetteville Fire Company brought out
their steam engine Wednesday evening to
lay the dust between the market house and
the hall and the young gentlemen are to
be cOmplimented for their forethouyht, as
the dust was very unpleasant. This en-
gine was bought by private contributions
and the company is composed of the best
young men of Fayetteville
The German given at Williamss Hall
Wednesday night by the Fayetteville boys,
complimentary to visitors, was a pleasant
and enjoyable occasion. | did not attend
but heard a young man say that it was
the most pleasant German he had ever at
tended, and the main reason that made it
so, said he, was that ''the Fayetteville boys
took so much pains to make US fellows
from distance have good time
did attend the ball, though, Thursday
night, given for the benefit of the Fay
etteville Independent Light Infantry. This
is the oldest company in the State and was
organized in 1898, and has held together
from generation to generation. Most of
the boys to-day belonging to the company
.,o crraD6 sons an6 rroot uraD6 cons of