Morning journal and courier., 1889-09-20
A GAY DAY AT THE FAIR.

 conjure responsive smile to the face of President Bill of the State Agricultural asso- citation. "Now then," thought he, "we're going to have good day at last"
 It was, indeed, fine day. The fair grounds were muddy, but the day was bright overhead, and this was enough. Aeriden mud in all its villainy was there, but 1t was forgotten and the gay crowd of 6,OOO visit ors swarmed about the grounds and turned the place into as lively and picturesque a fair ground as one ever saw. People were there from every part of the State. New Haven visitors are met with on every hand. They seemed to be great experts In farm methods, and to see them one would think that New Haven grows the finest farmers in the State.
 A slight shower fell upon the gaily decked tents and the crowds that surrounded them in the morning, but it lasted only few min utes and the fair visitors were again soon focking about the many attractions and novel spectacles which were to be found on every board. In the afternoon another lasted from half-past four o'clock till after i've. Then the sun burst from the clouds again.
 BALLOON ASCENSION AND JUMP.
 What proved to be the most interesting feature of the afternoon was the balloon ascension and parachute leap by Professor Northrup. The crowds swarmed up to the side of the race track where . good view could be had of the big canvas, which was being filled on the level enclosure within the circuit. A big crowd of people also stood around the half filled balloon in a wide circle and closely watched the operations of Manager Most, McKinn and his corps of assistants. It was nearly half.pa 3 when the big balloon was fully inflated. The ascent was pretty one. The balloon went nearly perpendicularly ups ward. When about 1 ,000 feet high the pro- lessor let go and landed on hill outside the park fence after e slow and oscillating des scent. The crowd cheered as it watched the man~uver and surrounded the hardy aero- naut after he landed. They followed him to the judges stand, where he climbed to the first landing and waved his hat to the crowd below.
 HEAVY TRACK AND POOR TIME.
 In the mean time the races, If we may be pardoned for calling them so, were being held. The track was heavy and no time could be made. Meriden mud asserted it. self here as elsewhere in spite of the labor which had been expended to harden the course. The gentlemen's driving horses to road wagon, purse $55 and the colt stakes for one-year-olds were trotted. In the first but two horses entered. They were the chestnut gelding, Chestnut, owned by P. A. Skinner of Middlefeld and the Smith of Hartford. The bay mare easily time was 8:43 1-2; 3:34; 3:1s 1"2.
 In the colt stakes, Amble, by Gen. Fur. ner, dam, Idol Kate, owned by 0. H. Ravens of Wethersfiald took both heats, trotting the half mile in 1:551S and 1:5l1S. The grey colt Halvan, by Holdone, dam Shena Van, owned by George H. Clark, of Meriden, was the winners contest ant but did very poorly. MT. George H. Clark Is the owner of the Silver City Stock ting he drove his $25,0 ,000 stallion Holdone around the track. It was much admired, es- peclslly by the multitude of ladies in the grand stand. MT. Clark sold his cold Halo during the afternoon to R. Hoe, Esq, the printing press manufacturer of New York
 To-day will be big day for racing. A special class for gentlemen's driving horses, owners to drive, will be held at Il o'clock this morning and in the after- noon there will be four races.
 At 1 o'clock the 800 class will trot. At 9 o'clock the 2:45 class comes on and the 2:35 class will follow. The entries for the two last afternoon races are:
 2:45 CLASS.
 2 F. s.sn sss sISSlss,s,Se RsTsy, as MatCE: j E L.
 F. Ryan. M E1e New aans Britsn Sew S England M Boy.
 J. shillngaw, Hartford, b g Tom Carpenter.
 Matt Darcy, Hartford, b z Joe Jefferson.
 H. 0. Hart, Plantsville, gr Snow flake.
 Thomas Gray, Providence, oh m Lizzie H.
 sssss oh c. G. Eiwell, Providence, blk m Lucy Smith.
 2:95 CLASS.
 Geo. E. Tripp. Mystic Bridge, Happy Thought aM.s Fl. Sloan, % Hartford, % Laay e Ris. .'' 'A'A
 James H. Lewis, Bridgeport g George purdy.
 Sa%ss HnIsIsS H ass NsM NSsafspUs TaSsa oh % Wonder
 LAST NIGHT IN TOWN HALL.
 Another gay evening was passed in Town hall last night. The ladies who take this de- partment of the fair under their special charge take the utmost care in having every thing progress in the most felicitous man ner. The hall was filled almost to overflow ing last night. A fine concert was rendered by Crowley & Waples' orchestra. The pro Rramme was:
 March" Crusade" sousa Poiis-"J oily BiscEsmith' . ........... Buckley Cornet solo IWm Phoenix. x................ Selected Es-"Lig6tnine' Elash.i accompanied by the ,,, author, Prof j. F. Glider. ,, March-"Second Rngfment". "............, Reeves
 The judging of fancy work in the hall was finished late yesterday afternoon. The only New Haven lady who took prize, and prob- ably the only one who hsd anything on ex- hibition, was Nancy Gorham. She took first on tray cloths, bureau scarfs, sideboard scarfs; second on splasher.
 AMONG THE ORANGES.
 A favorite promenade for the hosts of visi- tors was, as 1t always is, among the grange displays. The big grange building and the tents were crowded all through the day. The awards for grange exhibits were made yes- tsrday by the judges, W. M. Stanley of East Hartford, R. R. Woleott of Wethersheld and D. K. Stevens of Killingly and were: First, Wallingford, $50; second, Meriden, $40; third, Mattabassett, Middletown, $35; fourth, North Haven, $25 fifth, Berlin, $20; sixth, Middlefeld, $15; seventh, Westfeld, $1O.
 Special awards -Wallingford, COW and milkmaid, $5 Percival, Kensington, vegeta- ble blow, fine needlework and crocheting, %; North Haven, watermelons, grain clock (sixty varieties), and grain windmill, $5 each; Berlin, banner, motto and miniature farm, 90 each; Newington, honey, wax, painted banner and celery, $5 each; Matta- bassett, canned fruit, $5; Meriden, train of vegetable cars. pillar of flowers, each $5; Northford, very good general exhibit, $5.
 MARKsMxN BusILY SHOOTING
 The marksmen again kept up a constant cracki cracki over behind the north fence. Mir. Whitney of this city made his first ap- pesrsncs and did good work. The shooting results were:
 Event No. 1-Putney of Danbury and Jew cit of New Haven, list; Whitney of New Ha- ven, Connor, Avery and Sherman 2d.
 Event No. 2-Whitney and Sherman, list; Avery, Bill of Middletown and Bates, 2d.
 Event No. 3-Six singles and three pairs, Whitney, 1st; Bristol and Putney, 2d.
 MANY PREMIUMS AWARDED.
 The judges did large days work yester- day and hundreds of premiums were award- ed. President J. A. Bill justly received good many of them. New Haven exhibitors were successful In the poultry show. In White Leghorns-Breeding pen, F. l.. Ed- wards, Westville, took first; O. P. Jordan, New Haven, second. Fowls-F. l.. Edwards, first; O. P. Jordan, second. Chicks-F. L. Edwards, first; O. P. Jordan, second. O. P. Jordan also took first in Hondan fowle, first In silver bright bantams, breeding pen and Il