Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1891-09-16


We had the pleasure Of attending the
Winchester Fair on Wednesday last. 1t
was. in double sense, fair day We have
never seen a more suspicious day-the sun
shone resplendently all the day long, and
the air was Just crisp enough to make 1t de-
lightful. Several thousand persons were pres
emit but the grounds, which are unsurpassed
for beauty and adaptibility, were ample for
thousands more without erowding. We
mingled quite freely with the people and
are pleased to be able to say that we did not
ace more than one intoxicated man. There
were many things on exhibition we'll worth
taking long journey to see. Some very
fine stock-horses, cattle, sheep and hogs
superb specimens; not much machin-
erv. but in garden truck and household
goods for ornamentation or utility, fancy
work. etc. etc, fine exhibit. The amuse-
ments were numerous and varied. The dis
play of Chinese daylight fireworks was tiue
land in parenthesis we may remark that
this exhibit, b Us, the most interesting
of the dav. was an output of the generosity
of Mr.. c. B. Rouss, the millionaire mer-
chant of New York.. Col. Whitehead
made an address to the farmers, but little
attention was given to speech-making.-
Fine horses and their swift running attract
"a much attention. The balloon ascension
and parachute deseension of Tuesday whet-
ted the appetite of many tor Wednesdays
repetition. especially so as the day was so
ine but during the initiation Of the NAM
moth serial ship it took fire and was COM
pletely consumed, and disappointed the
waiting aud expectant throng.
But interest centred in the ROuss reOep'
ton. The generous patron Of the society,
Mr.. G. B. Rouss, who has given his thou
sands for its promotion, arrived on the
grounds at noon, accompanied by ex-Mayor
Atkinson. lie was taken to the grand
stand and introduced by Capt. JnO. J. Will
liams, president of the association, and
presented by the society with compliment
tary resolutions elegantly framed and re-
ceiyed by him in a feeling and Characters
tic manner. A house had been fitted up
for his convenience and use, aud during the
afternoon he received aud feasted hundreds
Of his friends. As well as We could esti-
mate the number thOusand-half of them
ladies-paid their respects. He had made
generous provision for their entertainment,
and all tastes were in his mind when he
gave orders to his caterer. He received
each pleasantly, and evidently enjoyed this
annual gathering of old and new friends OF
historic Winchester ana from The country
all the way from "Rumuymeade" to APP
pie Pie Ridge A pleasant incident of the
occasion was the music by the "ROuss
Bond. an organization that recognized Mr..
RS generosity by adopting his name.--
Twenty of them, with brightly FURNISHED
instruments, filed into the room. With up
lifted hat Mr.. K. acknowledged the COM
pliment oil their presence in his brief, bust
ness-like way, and concluded by asking
them First give US Dixie then help
yourselves to peanuts, wine or anything
else at hand, aud if a single one of ZEN
went away without horn more than he
had with him at the beginning, it was not
the fault of the host.
The officers of the society were inietati-
gable ia their endeavOrs 20 make the fair a
success, and we're especially, we thought
gratihed by the presence of Mr.. R0uSs and
appreciatiye of his contribution to the pleas
ure of the multitude
Col O'Ferrall was also present and haC
hearty hand shakes from his constituents.