Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-10-20

FAIR NOTES, Etc.

FAIR NOTES, Etc.
Continuing is report of the Fair with the
occurrences and incidents pertaining TO it.
Thursday, the third day, by usage at all our
Virginia fairs is the peoples day. so to speak,
and perhaps the streets of Stanton never be-
fore presented such jam of a moving crowd.
SECOND DAY.
The programme of the second day announced
among other features that Colonel Robert
Beverley OF Fauquier, President of the State
Agricultural Society, and DR.. NJ. @. Holt OF
Surry a fine representative of our tide-water
farmers. would deliver addresses. They were
in attendance and responded at the appointed
hour at the grand stand, Major Jed Hotchkiss
introducing both of them.
Colonel Beverley, in opening referred to his
appearance here, and congratulated the man
agement upon the success which his observa-
tions warranted. He was visiting as many of
the fairs of the State as his time permitted.
with the view of aiding all he could the cause
ofagriculture. and to express The pleasure the
State Society would have in drawing to its next
exhibition from all parts of the Common
wealth the support to which it was entitled.
His speech abounded in many practical
views, and in naming the great advantages 1t
would receive from National and State legisla-
ton, all of which, except in a parsimonious
and wholly insufficient manner, had been
denied to that interest, representing 81 per
cent of the population of the country. and from
which came so per cent of its foreign EXPORTS
He compared the bountiful appropriation by
Georgia and other States to the meagre allow
ances Virginia doled out to promote this inter-
.Gz l,{n1
foreign countries and governments sustained
it, to the United States which was actually
behind the smallest, except one, not only of
'ttAe great, but the smallest powers of the civil
lied world.
Itisto bss...s4et tel that references to SO much
OF Colonel BeVerley's speech are necessarily
omitted. In conclusion, he urged organization
on the part OF the farmers to send representa-
tive men-farmers in fact-to the State and
National legislatures, for not until they made
their power felt In those bodies. was there the
remotest possibility of correction of the in
justice which was melted out to the agricultural
interest, and at its expense. in sustaining all
others, and of far less Importance to the peo-
pie, and in perpetuating the power and stand
ing of the State and General governments.
Colonel Beverley was followed by DR.. NJ. @.
Holt, of Surry, tide-water farmer, who has
given IildDy iODS years VI dcNOGeu soiNiCC ~
his section and to the State in able efforts to
rebuild our fortunes and to make Our old
Commonwealth as worthy of herself under the
new order of things ss she was magnificently
grand under the system of government and
structure of society which came down TO US
from the early days of our sovereignty. Like
Colonel Beverly, he, too, uttered many sayings
which every farmer could take into his most
serious thoughts, and from them lay down 8
wise course of action. Statistics which showed
the deepest research and having Idirect bear.
ing upon the future of the producing interests
of the whole country-as well Virginia
were brought out in great fullness, and in di.
rect application to their condition now. With
India and other foreign countries in their new
role as the growers of bread supplies, and the
Argentine States and other new countries
entering as competitors in furnishing meat
: food all backed by govern n ent aid and i'm
0a9ar 7e capital, aiming directly at cripplipg tn,
produetiveSs%o urces of the United St4les, was
a new state OF things, and IL had to be me
successfully or else the decay of our future
prosperity would begin to appear. Labor ques.
lions and in fact everything bearing upon oul
condition an agricultural people were dis
cussed with much ability. History, past and
present, in full illustration of the views of the
speaker. were presented in elegant oratory Of
the richest language DR.. Holt made a most
favorable impression which will finger fo1
years in the memory of those who heard him
The third days programme, has been
usual gave opportunity for the Reunion Of
Confederate veterans. The military present
the Stonewall Brigade Band. Staunton Artil.
lery, Capt. Long, and Cadet Corps of the Staun.
ton Male Academy, and the students of DUNG
more's Business College forming ON the righ
n the order named preceded the column O
veterans, all under the command of Chic
Marshal, Meade f: White, marched to thu
Grand Stand where an Immense crowd was il
waiting to hear the address of the orator of thu
day, General Thomas L. Rosser. whose fame al
distinguished cavalry General during the
war is well-known, but not soul in tina
vast audience had knowledge of him
popular speaker nor could they have. for b.
had but seldom responded to calls for tina
kind of service.
THIRD DAY.
General Rosser, in his address, touched ever
heart by the manner in which he spoke of tn
dead and the living, of those who battled fo
the cause which was lost. Without regard to tn
order in which he delivered the speech, tb
reporter will glance at merely few of tn
sentiments SO beautifully expressed b.
him. A large portion of the address was devC
ted to subjects which it was not anticipated
would touch but as he progressed and er
larged upon the themes he had selected, th
audience became deeply absorbed in his utter
ances of solid and practical truths.
Agriculture was and is the basis of civiliZs
tion,-the foundation stone upon which rest
American liberty. The occupation of th
farmer, and the inspiration he draws from hi
pursuit, and its associations are different from
and more elevated than, all other pursuits
Life has its lessons, and all life is school,
Upon this idea he dwelt at some length in aC
dressing young men as he did from experience
and counseled them to abandon theories an
hopes which were failures, and to enter tn
new and progI essive era with determinatio
and confidence.
Addressing the young men who entertaine
the idea of abandoning Virginia for the Yves
ne skeched something CT their feelings whe
concluding 10 go. and gave them view of til
sad realities which would, in too many instar
ces. come to pass, for 1t was not now as it wf
before Monopolies had secured fhe control ,
all the lands worth having and worthy of the
efforts to obtain. The allurements offered
induce emigration by the great Corporation
owning the lands were as false as they were
lusive in the endS4nd many who have gor
there from Virginia are now turning their ey,