davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28
FIRST AGRICULTURAL FAIR.

1t Was an Exhibition of Two Sheep Under
an Elm Tree.
While Chancellor Robert r. Living
ston was in France he purchased some
very superior Merino sheep of the
Rambout flock, which he brought with
him to his fine estate on the Hudson.
Mr.. Watson. in 1908, made the chan
cellor visit, and from his flock of
Merinos selected two which he took
with him to Pittsfeld. The sheep OF
the country were then of the coarse,
loose wOoled, native varieties, and the
swine were of breeds equally defective.
Visits from farmers became so numer-
Gus to see these French Merinos that
Mr.. Watson decided to give an exhibi-
tlon of the animals, under large elm
tree, on the public. 81 1uare. in Pittsfield.
Many farmers, and even females, were
attracted to this first novel and humble
exhibition. From this incident Mr..
Watson reasoned thus: eff two an
imals are capable of attracting so much
attention, what would be the effect of
display on larger scale of different
animals?" The farmers present saw
the drift of his argument. and some
twenty-six signed a paper to hold an
exhibition of stock the ensuing October.
From this small beginning-an exhibi-
ton of two sheep under an elm tree on
the public square at Pittsfield- orig
mated all the State and county fairs
now annually held in every State in the
Union. To Mr.. Watson alone must
the credit be given for originating the
first agricultural society in America. if
not in the world!
In 1910 the first cattle show and
agricultural society secured charter
from the Legislature of Massachusetts,
and the preliminaries were perfected
for formal and extended festival on
the following September. When that
eventful day arrived. at an early hour
the village of Pittsfield was thronged
by thousands of excited and interested
spectators. The procession was splen-
did, novel and imposing. beyond any
thing of the kind ever witnessed or
heard of. One interesting feature was
sixty-nine oxen, connected by chains,
drawing a plow held by the Oldest man
AZ oAAO NOdhtls ACooCo OJ q Oo1o VA
music. Each member was decorated
with badge of wheat in his hat. A
platform on wheels, drawn by oxen
carried broadcloth loom and spinning
jenny in full operation. 1t was great
and glorious day for Pittsfeld and the
farmers of Berkshire County.
MIR. Watson was not only the founder
of the first agricultural society, but
was also the first president to preside
over the first society. and on this oc-
casion delivered the first address to an
agricultural audience. and the first to
announce the premiums. The prizes
were small, amounting altogether to
$40 The next exhibition, in 1912,
showed a large increase of premiums.
amounting. to S2OS. Sum
do uoratd
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

THE state of Kansas to-day is prob
ably attracting more attention than
any other state west of Mississippi, on
account of the abundance and quality
of its farm products. Today Kansas
can show to the eastern farmers a
wealth of cereals as has never been
seen before. Here lies an empire that
produces more than all the New Eng
land states put together, more wealth
than all the mines in the world, the
estimated products of the mines being
S175. 600, 900. Kansas farm products
will be more than 5000, ,OOO, ,OOO.-St.
Louis HlObe Democrat.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

On, the corn that is cut and in the
shoch, the hay it is in the stack, and
wen soon be putting it into the stock
and getting our money back; we will
fatten the pigs and bossy calf, We'll
fatten the cow and the steer-we will
pile it on thick and then we will laugh
for this is Kansas year. If the croak-
er comes round with his dismal croak,
to pity our woeful lot, we will tell him
to put his head in soak, or wollop him
on the spot; for the times are good, the
outlook's bright, and nothing to wish
or fear-there is plenty of everything
in sight, for this is Kansas year.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

f6Ck VI As h Z AaClOrms
Secession never paid and never will
pay, either in notion, a church, a
secret society, OF anything else. If
belong to a church and want a quiet
life, and the preacher breaches too
much hell and damnation, am not
going to draw out of the church and
start another. just try to think the
preacher is hitting some other bald
headed fellow i'll another pew, and 1
close my eyes and try not to look guilty.
That is the way the democratic soldier
must do in the G. A. B..
''Think of the number of good fell
lows there are to every ninespot. Think
how, every year, SO many are dying,
and figure up that it will not be many
years before we shall be mighty glad
to catch hold of the hand of an old
soldier, and we shall never ask about
his politics. 1t will not be long before
there will not be enough.for a quorum
in any post; and think Of the number
of boys we shall have to act as pallbear-
ers for in the next twenty years. When
death enters post there is no politics
thought of. All the boys gather around
the coffin of comrade, and hope he
may get to the good place in fine shape.
BY and by all the boys who sing March
ing Through Georgia" and eat baked
beans at the post banquet will be either
scratching the strings of harps and fly
ing around IN space without any clothes
on, or they will be signing for fire
screen or zinc ulster in hades.
81 don't suppose all the republican
soldiers will go to hell. The thing is
going to be mixed in each place just
about as it is here, and if go to the
place where the music is, and any re-
publican soldier breaks a harp string
and wants to borrow oneI he can just
reach right under my wing and take it,
and shall never ask him wheather he
voted for Harrison or Cleveland; and if
it is to be the other place 1 go, when
the war is over here and I have a suit
of clothes made of asbestos, that keeps
the fire out, and I see a republican
soldier there who has no fire-screen,
and I find the fat is frying out of him,
he can have my ulster half of the time,
and no questions asked.
''I shall stay in the G. A. r. as long
as live and try to keep the republican
fellows from being too fresh, and let
the thing do not quite like go in one
ear and out of the other, while l eat
baked beans for all that is out. ."-Peck's
Sun.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

SCHOOLS throughout the county are
now well under way for the winter
work. Many of them have not yet as
large an attendance as they will have
when the boys get through helping
gather corn and lay by other fall work.
Don't keep the boy out of school too
long, though. Let him get to his
studies as soon as you can possibly
spare him-he will thank you for it in
years to come. Parents will do well,
too, to visit the school as often as they
can and give encouragement to both
teacher and scholars. Kansas is proud
of her school system, and she has
cause to be.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

from 4S to 60 cents a bushel bringing
in about s14 an acre. In some of the
eastern counties corn is the main crop
and the product is yielding 40 and so
bushels per acre, with an average price
of Is cents per bushel, thus bringing
from s6 to $3.50 an acre. 1t will be
seen that there is quite a balance in
favor of a wheat producing country.
THEY sAY-That the creamery will
be in operation in few weeks That
Barton county is to have one OF two
more railroads is another year -. That
the northern half of Barton county
cannot be beat for. wheat raising.
That someone purchased bottle of
beer in Hoisington one day last sum-
mer. :. That A. III. Baker is in his
glory when on the floor in debating
society or when he has an eastern man
cornered on a real estate deal.
Albert Items.
From "Spunk" ~
j. S. Winget is again in. Albert after
three weeks 'scourting'' in Great Bend.
Andy Campbell is ''under the
weather. this week.
By the vote taken Saturday night
Miss Laura Cooper was voted the
girl in the building.
We were favored with some excellent
music Saturday night by Mr.. and Mrs.
Davis but the boys paid dear for it.
Rev. Davis has changed the day for
preaching at this point. his next dis
course will be delivered here on Decem-
Der Stil.
Charlie Gabbert has a claim "down
the valley now. He got them both
Sunday and John Gallon walked home
with the boys.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28
NEIGHBORHOOD NOTES.
Ellinwood News Notes.

=
We are glad to note that Mr.. Koett
is again able to be out. He has been
on the sick list some time.
Our enterprising lumber-man, S. H.
Chatten, has moved into his beautiful
residence on Topeka Avenue.
III. J. Roetzel has a very fine display
in his store window, being comprised
of stoves and sewing machines. very
artistically arranged.
Wheat is beginning to come in fast
now, the farmers have found out that
the grain buyers here are paying the
highest market price.
The Catholic church in this city has
a beautiful new organ. 1t was gotten
through P. B. Kimpler. We saw it and
believe it is the finest church organ in
the county.
The Ellinwood orchestra Will give
one of their delightful dances on
Thanksgiving evening at the opera
hall. All should attend as this will be
one Of our best dances. Turn out.
School was dismissed in the grammar
department of our schools this week,
owing to Mr.. Bullock, the principal,
being called to the southeastern part of
the state by telegram, announcing
the sad intelligence of the death of his
mother.
Joe Sprinkler is getting to be quite
an inventor and is getting his reputa-
tion UP rapidly. He changed a churn
of Mr.. F. Koett's SO that he was able
to churn the best butter out of sweet
milk in fifteen minutes. 1t was origin
ally barrel churn and after Joe put in
a churner, within the barrel, it worked
with the above stated results.
By mistake the following did not
appear in last weeks issue, but we
present it this week, with as good a
will. On Tuesday of this week, Leo.
Feist and Miss Theresa link were
united in marriage by Rev. l.. Epp. A
great many guests were present whe,
after the solemn sefemohy was per-
formed, enjoyed themselves In dancing
and games. When meal time came the
guests all repaired to the dining room,
where they found table spread with
the finest delicasies, which virtually
bent under its weight.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28
ELSEWHERE will be found the state

ELSEWHERE will be found the state
ment of County Treasurer Krause,
showing the amount of taxes levied on
each S10O valuation for state. county,
township. city and school district pur-
poses. Take the amount of your
assessed valuation and multiply by the
total of your state, county. township
and school district taxes and you will
know the amount of your taxes for
1889. The valuation of your property
will be the same as last year except
where improvements have been made,
or the valuation changed by the board
of equalization, since the assessment
of 1888.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

traducer, at her command ''pray
LOUDER" to exclaim, "God as my
judge, 1 beg pardon. I admit that I
have lied about you; I admit that
never knew anything wrong about you.
Now, please, Mrs. Burns, let me CO."
To this the lady finally lowered the
cooked revolver, and the slanderer was
allowed to depart. He left on the
next train.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

A Texas democrat of eighty-five
years has just had twenty-first son
born to him. It is manifestly idle to
talk about redeeming state in which
nature thus conspires with art to mock
and discourage the republicans.-Globe
Democrat.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

THE Hutchinson Nesos and other
republican papers in speaking of the
question of resubmission reminds uf
of the fellow who told Noah to "Go on
with your old mudscow: its only 9
little shower anyhow
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28
Hoisington and Vicinity.

From the Dispatch.
A Chattauqua circle will likely be
organized in Hoisington soon.
The ladies' of the NJ. E. church will
give dinner and supper in the Baker
building on Main street Thanksgiving
day. Everybody invited.
A heavy advertising merchant is a
great help to town. He brings trade
from distance and thus helps all who
do business in the town.
Barton county is, in an agricultural
sense, a wheat county. She raises
more wheat than any other cereal and
profits thereby. Take the present year;
wheat yielded an average OF over %
bushels per acre, which is selling for
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

AN EXCHANGE has the following
sensible article: Wanted, a friend
one who will recognize me when 1 am
compelled to wear patched breeches;
who will take my hand when / am
sliding down hill, instead of giving me
a kick to hasten my descent; who will
loan me a dollar without requiring
twenty dollars worth of security; who
will come and see me when ann sick.
who will pull off his coat and fight for
me when odds are two to one; who win
talk Of me behind my back as he talks
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

WHAT do all Of those manufactured
interviews" and specials on the
resubmission question, published in the
wind-puffed sheet, the Hutchinson
Nesos, amount to. anyhow? Nothing
the very tail end of nothing whitfield
down to fine point.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

SPEAKING of men and things, Great
Bend men are getting tired of the
thing who is inf1icting the Gsttersnips
on a detenselesS public.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

Five county treasures have defaulted
in Kansas within six months. This
makes the people anxious for q little
more rotation in Office and great deal
more honesty.-Topeka Journal.
OUGHT to be more solid, democratic
counties like Barton, then there would
be less number of absconding couty
treaSurerS.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

How COMES it that the Wichita
Eagle and the Hutchinson Ne,us come
out so strongly, the former for resub-
mission, the latter against, in their
recent issues? Easley is no more of a
probibitionist than Murdoch, and we
believe if he had chance would vote
to remove the amendment. Is all
this policy, or is it hypOcrisy?-Lyons
Tribune.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28
WHY WE ARE THANKFUL.

many Ll1QgS our pcOpIc nave 10 Do
thankful for in this year of our Lord,
1889.
We are thankful because of the
bountiful harvests that have been
garnered by the hope Of our land, the
sturdy farmers. Hard and faithfully
they toiled for year after year; some
times with fair success, and again
with apparently little reward for their
exertions; but the time came when
every acre blossomed and brought forth
abundance and to spare.
We are thankful because of the
universal health of the people of this
county. There has been no epidemic,
no scourge of disease or death to visit
our land and carry desolation to our
hearts; and though some homes, it is
true, have been called upon to give up
their best beloved, yet the great mass
of our people have enjoyed exceedingly
good healtf1..'
We are thankful because of the
advance of education in our land.
New schools are opening; new avenues
of learning are becoming more popular
with our thinking people, and our
teachers are becoming better, broader,
more liberal aid" expanded in their
way of thinking and their modes of
teaching.
We are thankful the city of our home,
the beautiful city of Great Bend, has
continually advanced in moral and
financial condition during the last
twelve months; thankful that our con-
viction that she would steadily pro-
gress, regardless of the depressing
effect of the bursted s'bocm" of 1857
the time when we all went wild over
town lot speculations and delusive
futures. We are thankful that our
people no longer sbank" OH ''pros-
pects," but place their hope upon a
certain reality of steady and healthful
advancement.
We are thankful that Barton county
is democraticl After the election of
1883 we were depressed in political
spirit; we feared that the hand of
monopoly had grappled the throats of
our people, we were fearful that the
foot of a monied aristocracy had been
set down so hard upon the necks of
the honest voters of our fair land as to
choke out of them all desire to rise up
in their own strength and assert their
rights as American freemen. But, we
are thankful that such fears were
groundless; thankful that the light of
tariff reform, of personal and indiyid-
ual rights has flashed pefore our people
and illumined the darkness of sO-called
'prOtection" SO that the farmer has
begun to see where he is not counted
in and the laborer observe where he is
counted out of republican protection"
Indeed we are thankful that the masses
have begun to study more closely the
questions of Importance, the questions
that effect all homes-and the humblest
homes the most-and are expressing
their convictions at the ballot boxes.
We are thankful to the many friends
ton county, who have shown an
appreciation of our effort to publish
live and newsy paper, and we shall
endeavor to continue the improve
ment Of the paper.
We are thankful to the Great Ruler,
to the Fountain of all Good, for all the
blessings that have come to Ourself and
our neighbers and friends; and hope
that all may continue to merit an
abundance of physical, mental and
moral health, wealth and prosperity
and spiritual hope and happiness.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

The sugar mill at Medicine Lodge
settled with all the farmers the other
day and one of them received 81 200.
1t would be hard to persuade that man
that the sorghum industry is not a
success in Kansas.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

patch, is still quareling with Rice county
papers over the result of the election
of judge. Goodness alive, Ira, you
ought to rejoice with all the rest Of the
district over the election of Judge
Bailey. Never cry over split Rose
water.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

COFFIN says he is going to close the
Wichita "joints." The two joints
that need most closing just now are
the ones on each side of Ralph Easley's
face, just below his ears.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

THE Santa Fe railroad has issued a
circular requesting that the custom OF
employees making valuable presents to
their superiors be stopped.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

''LOOK at the freedom of the ballot
in lava and Ohio, and then look at
Mississippi and Virginia. exclaims
the Chicago Inter- Ocean. Certainly.
Look at it. Its all democratic isn't it?
And look at it in Massachusetts too.
1t was protected by a ballot reform law
there and it knocked down the repub-
lican majority 10000 or so. What we
want is more freedom of the ballot. :
K. C. Times.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

ALL the barb wire factories have
formed a trust under the name of the
Federal Steel Co." Spell the second
word "Steal'' and it will fit the trust
To dot
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

HON. G. G. FOSTER, Judge of the q.
s. district court, will give Ingalls, rub
for senatorship, on the resubmission
iocuo
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

A FLY lay bleeding and wet with
gore, crushed on the bald mans head;
but in dying he sprung this ghastly
jokes I'm mashed on you" he said.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28
COMMENTS AND CLIPPINGS.

TIE United States of Brazil sounds
very good. How long will it be before
we have The United States of Canada.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

WHAT do our eastern and northern
neighbors think about people drilling
in wheat after the middle of November?
1t is being done here. Many acres have
been planted to wheat in Barton county
since the 18th inst. Some of our best
wheat this year was that which was
put in late last fall. From all parts Of
the county comes the same report:
That wheat is in better condition for
the time of year than has ever before
been known in the history of Barton
county.
Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-11-28

BLAKE says, The weather during
the month of December, 1889, will be
very severe in the United States and
Canada, and most of Europe-part of
the time very stormy-the rest of the
time very cold. The wealthy should
make extensive preparations for per-
sonal comfort-then pray for the poor -
According. to his calculation-org guess?
-sure-enough winter weather COM
menced on Monday last, the 25th inst.
Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-10-18
Every Day a Banner Day.

The programme for the coming
fair will be unusually elaborate and
interesting. Each day we aim to pro.
duce multiplied attractions fresh,
bright, dazzling, and engage as
many elevating and instructive
exhibitions, games and amuSe-
mentS, as can be secured, and all
Of the rare and striking novelties
that the genius OF the times has
been able to invite to enliven and
enrich these occasions, and have
power to educate, amuSe and en-
Tighten the people, SO far as they
are available and consistent with
the character of the fair, will be
exhibited, thus assuring an unusually
attractive and elaborate programme
Of everything that can lend a charm
of fascination to THE GREAT FAIR,
or that will appear cOnspicuOuSly
grand, attractive, instructive and
amusing. The ambitious aim of
the managers is to strive to make
every day a banner day with special
ceremonies and attractions peculiar
to itself. and on the whole to make
the fair the most noteworthy and
successful of the many brilliant eX-
hibitiOns that any society has held
heretofore. To this end no merit
OriOuS feature, act or speciality found
elsewhere, will be spared an at
tempted engagement or duplication
and our patrons NAV regard. without
apprehension, that our fair will be
superior and unsurpassed i'll every
respect,
Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-10-18
Ladies Departm ent.

The Floral Hall will be the cynOsure
of all eyes. There will be surfeit of
the best and most beautiful specimen of
woman's industry and skill textile
fabrics, knitting and fancy work. The
richest, the mast laboriOus aud costly,
the handsOmest and choicest master
pieces of skill and arr in needlewOrk,
thus making it place to linger, study
and admire the beautiful productions of
woman's handiwork. Extra induce
ments will be offered to secure an en-
larged exhibit of the varied and val
liable drawings, etchings, paintings and
engravings, sculp pture and carving.
As we'll as multitude of ether exquis-
ite gems of creative and decorative
fine art, antiquities, and old and val
liable keepsakes and curiOsities. There
will be generous profusiOn of rare and
costly flowers and plants, fragrant
bouquets, floral ornaments and designs.
To these will be added musical instru-
ments, sewing machines, elegant and
costly merchants displays, &c. The
sum total of all which will be an ex-
hibition repiete with every: hing agree
able to the eye OF taste the hall will be
trimmed and decorated with unusual
artistic skill, and embellished with
uncommonly rich and beautifying
adoroments, thus adding to the natural
elegancy and splendor of such an ex-
hibition, polished, refined and fasci-
lating sup eriOrity'