Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-10-09
Shenandoah County FaiP.
First, Second and Third Days.

Saturday Of last week and Monday OF
this were busy days in Woodstock, but
especially was 1t the case at the Fair
Grounds aud at the Office of tho Agncul-
tural Society. where active preparations
were in full progress for what all felt was
to be the biggest fair ever yet held in the
Valley. weather permitting Tuesday
morning, the first day Of the great eXhi-
bitlon opened cloudy aud threatening and
many faces began to draw out to dole
full length. But Pawnee Bills Wild West
show with the Indians, Cow Boys. Butfa
loces &C., and the side shows, merry-go-
rounds, and all the other thousand and
one things were here and the fair must go
on. From an eaily hour the people COM
menced moving toward the grounds I'M
til bv the middle of the day the crowd
numbered more than 1t did on the first
day of lat years fair. All seemed to be
enjoying themselves, and even after the
rain commenced. at first in dishearten-
ing sort of drizzle and then in tolerable
shower, they seemed to take it as mat
ter of course and took In the many ex-
hibits and the exciting representations OF
wild western life by Pawnee Bills troupe
with great good nature and evident pleas
ure. The exhibits on the first floor of the
main building consisted principally of
agricultural productions, and the array of
grains, vegetables, fruits, &C., was really
bewildering. This part of the building
also contained some fine displays OF
pianos, organs, buggies, carriages and
other vehicles, saddlery, and magnifi-
cent display of ware from the Harrison
burg pottery. The second floor was as
usual crowded with the beautiful and |
tempting display of ladies God bless
them) handiwork, and the pro'usion of
preserves, jellies, canned and dried fruits,
bread, pies. cakes, butter and hun
dreds of things that a man don't even
know the names of would take
whole week to describe. At the needle
and art work the ladies went into
raptures, and all day long their hearts
were bowed in worship before one
or another of these beautiful productions,
but the reporter, being a man, took one
faint, fleeing glance and then sneaked
off to ponder over that same old puzzle,
"why are women and all their belonging
SO much sweeter and better than men Z"
SECOND DAf.
Wednesday morning broke apparently
with the whole earth overcast with clouds
and the rain poured down almost without
but notwithstanding this the
crowd was a fair one, much larger than
could have been expected under the de-
pressing circumstances. Elegantly dressed
' Dung ladies' tramped through the rain
with the best possible good nature.
Pawnee Bill with bis brave little wife,
by his cow boys and Indians
gave their performances with much spirit
TruRD DAY.
Thursday morning showed plenty of
blue sky through the fast disappearing
clouds. and every heart almost IN the
Valley felt lighter Almost with the fist
light of the morning the people COM
menced pouring in from all directions IN
buggies, carriages, wagons, &c. The ex-
cursion trains, with all the cars that the
powerful engines could pull came rolling
IN loaded down with Joyous humanity
until by the middle of the day tie large
grounds were filled with, what appeared
TO be every body in the Valley from
Stanton to Harper's Ferry, with hun
dreds from Page, Warren and the rest of
the State. Competent judges esti-
mated the crowd at ten thousand. 1t
could not have been less. The Wild
West show was repeated in a way to
please everybody. Their exhibition was
followed by the following races; First was
the trotting 300 class, for purse of $500,
in which there were six entries. four
started The race was won by j. l. {.
Jr.. owned by Dan. Cornell. Best time
2 26I Second 9 80 class. Four starters.
Won by Reform, owned by c. +. Thomas.
Best time 2 Al.
Third running race, mile heats. Three
entries. sane started. Won by Mountain
Girl in three straight heats.
Owing to the bad weather of Tuesday
and Wednesday the Fair will be contln-
ned over Saturday. Pawnee BilPs Wild
West giving many new and interesting
features on that day.