The Press., 1888-10-18
TI,e Amm11al Fair
Of the Stafford springs AHrIcuasuras
 SOci@4ye

ts 7 44f 3S E5 &st q E. ss 5 I Tuesday, the opening day.. vas not fail in promise, as to weather, ,in the early morn ing. And, although in spite of the fas
 threatening clouds, hundreds of people came in over the different thoroughfares yet it was early evident that many othel hundreds. and of course many exhibits were kept at home.
 Yet the entry lists, steadily growing up to the time of opening the. fair. compared at least fay, raby with, those lof former years. Never was finer lot of cattle shown on the grounds. taken as Q whole. Jerseys and Devons were there, as in former years, Gov. Hyde's lot of Devons, as usual, being prominent. Holstein stock, which has of recent years been also shown here, was thisAyear g kadiAg attrac- tion, the herds of Hon. Julius Converse and of Mr. Andrews, of Woodstock, draw | ing around them "a considerable circle of ffanciers. The list of exhibitors of thor oughbreds was long one, and fine grade animals also divided attention. The sO- ciety may we'll feel proud of it's stock ex- hibit of 1888. The town cattle show is no misnomer here, whatever it may be with the average New Engl md society =
 In the early fairs sheep exhibits were few, and not noteworthy. Whsther, 'pro- lection 10 raw material" has ddne it Or not, it is certain that the sheep department of the Stafford Springs IS not to be overlook ed as to merit of exhibits 5sfsE .t,
 The poultry show was excellent, and in mum beF of entries, as we'll as duality, was creditable. In vegetables the number of entries was not above the average, but the verdict of the farmer visitors wsEs favorable as to the quality. So of fruit. '--.,
 Horticultural hall did not look it's name, the fruit and vegetable exhibit being this year made in the building erected last year for the dog show, but this year given up to the poultry, fruit and vegetable depart ments. This was done to make room in horticultural hall for the grange exhibits, but only one grange exhibited Staf. ford-which for the first time made fair exhibit, and though hastily gotten up, its arrangement and extent of display was highly creditable. Fruit. vegetables, dairy products, bread, canned goods, but and quilted pieces, and other needle and fancy work, ,attested to the industry of the grang: CTS. Besides this was museum of an- tique relics, including dishes, tools, books, yard long piece of the first ocean tele- graphic cable; contributed with many oth- CT articles in this line by Mrs. R. Wes- ton. Mrs. J. W. Witt had we'll preserv- ed almanac of 1760. An arch bearing the name and number of the grange esurmount: ed the exhibit. The grange did well un- der the circumstances, having on the eve of the fair given up it's plan of building of it's own with an exhibit therein.
 The west end of horticultural hall was hu q, nsoo1 lima If dairy ovhShiko also butter making machinery. In the center of the room were stove exhibits. The Richmond stove company of Norwich had stoves for heating and cooking, principally from the stock of Anthony Adams Next was similar exhibit by the. Ressey < Mo Leod Go. of, Troy,-N. Y. Each exhibit contained elegant patterns, radiant with plate, polish and mica, with best styles of grates, dampers, fiues and conveniences.
 In the main building the room was not as fully occupied as in some past years, the state of the weather being to blame. Ei- dredge & Adams of Rockville showed mod els of cemetery work, and specimens of small work in stone. This firm is well known by it's work in our cenaHteries. The Flynt Construction O. showed photos of elegant buildings of their e lon, ,conaist- ing wholly of those built of Monaon gran ite. G. H. Baker & Go. elegant line of carpets, also few pieces of fine parlor fur niture from their warerooms. F. N. Crane harness goods. In one corner was 'tPyle's Pearline, '" in another candy n1anufactory, opposite corners contained stands for sale of beautiful fish scale work, and Wier's de- vice for using kerosene for fuel.
 Fancy and useful works were displayed. Herbert Smith of Mashapaug had a note ol 0& flies, also of arrow heads and other curios- ities. Mrs. tM. G. Smith with other exhib- it's had quaint looking doll, the pride of one who was Q young miss along in the '30s. MrsL. M. Burleigh of Palmer spec imens of painting on china which had won favorable mention and liberal award at the Bay State fair. In oil paintings, Misses Celia Holt and Hattie Ellithorpe were ex- hibitors. Old bibles and other antiques, and many other articles are passed over for want of space to particularize. The Shon- finger Organ Go. were exhibitors, also E. A. Buck x Go. of hardware and spor tsmen's goods. .@.. -N ''''s@; s
 Thus was the show started, and a good ly number were in full enjoyment, when about ? p. m. rain began to fall. One crowd was in full enjoyment. of the dog circus, and it was good one, and was just completed when the rain began. On an- other part of the grounds the trial of draft oxen was holding the attention of great crowd. One heat each of two races had been trotted when the increasing density of the weather induced the officers toannounce a postponement to ssthe twoi1nextz fair days"
 WEDNESDAY. t[
 The early@morning was one of promise, and even after the clouds thickened hatter- ing indications brought in the crowds un- til it seemed necessary to attempt to go on with the fair. Before the trotting began, how ever, rain fell, increasing so that many left the ground, and everything was suspend ed. Later there was cessation, and the show proceeded, minus the trotting. The dogs again performed to a delighted crowd 1; the exhibits were inspected; the rope walker performed, and at the appointed hour Prof. Hogan made his ascent.
 This last was a fine performance. The balloon rose until the clouds had shut it from the sight of most of the people, and suddenly the Prof. was seen coming down, the parachute gracefully swaying, and the fearless aeronaut waving his hat to the crowd he had just left. He landed on the hillside short distance southeast of the grounds. It was beautiful sight.