The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-08-05
LANSING'SLETTER
A Day at the Royal ASricul-
tuTal Show.
The BRITISH FARMERS.
The Prince Fails to Recognize the
Providence Boy.
A DAY AT STRATFORD- -ON-Av0N.
Shakespeare Memorials and Avon-side
wanderings in the Old rown-Not
Much Politics in This Letter, but 1t is
. Good One, Nevertheless.

ing completed, with the limited time
allowed, my business at Birmingham,
decided on my way to Stratford-on-
Avon, to visit the Royal Agricultural
Show at Warwick and thus have an
opportunity to judge by observation the
condition of the people in the rural dis
tricts, for here they congregate.
The journey to Warwick is through a
delightful country with cultivated land
giving every sign of prosperity. Reach
ing there, one is surprised at the gala
appearance of the streets. From the
station to the show-grounds, some mile
and half, arches with growing plants,
long lines of green stretched from tree
to tree, poles on either side of the
thoroughfare connected by strings of
banners, flags and transparencies with
words of welcome, together with the
natural picturesque appearance OF the
old-fashioned town which proudly traces
its origin to nearly the year one, all tend
to please the traveller and add to his
pleasure.
Warwick is quaint old town, with a
population of about $4,000, situated
upon hill overlooking the river Avon.
The dwelling-houses as a whole are very
old-fashioned and give evidence of great
age, although in great state of prerser-
walton. Built very low, with tho first
floor q little below the sidewalk, and the
second scarcely out of reach Of a fair
sized man, projecting little over the
street, the windows are composed of
small oblong panes OF glass, with iron
bars IN front in many casess On the
way to the fair one cannot help noticing
Warwick Castle, the beautiful home OF
the Earl of Warwick. 1t is a very old
structure, although from time to time
parts have been torn down and replaced
by new, and portion was destroyed by
fi.e. Probably the oldest part standing
Is the huge Casar's Tower, nearly $50
feet high, and supposed to have been
erected soon after the Norman conquest.
The portion now occupied can probably
be traced back to the Fourteenth century.
The Church OF st. Mary and Guys
Cliffe House are interesting relics of the
past centuries, around which halo of
romance seems to linger.
Turning our steps toward the fair, we
are treated to q succession of pretty pic
lures of country life. Perhaps before
continuing it would be as well to give
an explanation as to what the show is,
and why 1t is here. 1t is called the
Royal Agricultural Society's Show"
and is held once year in different
places for the benefit of agriculturists
and stock raisers. The first meeting was
held at Oxford in 1880, and was COM
posed of 1,100 members, while it now
numbers 11,018 and still increasing.
Let us enter and note the different
manner in which 1t is conducted, If any,
from our own. Huge vegetables, raised
by using particular seed, are surely
common. Machines for churning but
ter, threshing wheat, grinding stone,
steam rollers, stationary engines, gas
engines, garden utensils, even machin-
cry for shearing sheep and milking
cows, products from the dairy and
farm, cattle, agricultural implements,
besides many others too numerous to
mention, are on every side. The Eng
lishman loves horses, no matter where
he may hail from, and in many cases Is
an excellent judge, which accounts in
part for an endless number on exhibit.
Cattle, also, OF every kind attract a
goodly portion Of the crowd.
No entertainment is necessary to in
sure good attendance. A cattle pa
rade in the morning and horse parade
in the afternoon is the full programme
of the day. / think also from observa-
tion that the ladies enjoyed it fully as
well as the gentlemen. These people in
many cases We're splendid specimens of
healthy man and womanhood. In many
cases the man wore knee breeches and
thick stockings after the manner of the
Scotch, and seemed to delight in afford
ing the spectators view of their sturdy
legs. Their well-knit bodies were in
equal proportion, and some who were
stout and short, with their rudy faces
and wide-awake hats Immediately gave
thought to pictures displayed of John
ny Bull" The wives looked equally
healthy and robust, and with their chill
dren formed a pretty picture.
A thing, in particular, which attracted
my eye, was horse-shoeing contest
Three men at n time were busily en-
gagged in making and putting on shoes
worked from the raw material. 1t was
rather slow work, but decided novelty.
I also noticed the fakirs and general
Snowman were compelled to remain out
side. and even then at considerable
distance. This was an advantage, as
one might spend very pleasant day
with only dinner to purcasc; but in
many cases the visitors even brought
that.
During my visit stood for several
moments within three feet of the Prince
of Wales, Duke Of York, Duke of West
Minister, Earl of Warwick and many
other dignitaries. and had il not been
for the crowd, and especially a large
policeman, might possibly have handed
up my card. AS II was, I hardly think