The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-03-04
THE COUNTY FAIR.


Miss Nettie NJ. Alien) under date Of
Feb. 22nd, was received too late for
last issue:
EDlToR GOLD LEAF:-On Friday night,
Feb. 10Th, q large and representative
audience was gathered i'll the spacious
Assembly Hall of the State Norma! and
Industrial School to witness an enter
tainment given by the students compli-
| mentary to the Educational Committee
from the Legislature, who We're on visit
OF inspection to the School.
\ very unique program was provided.
by which every county in the Old North
State was represented in some character
istic way by its fair daughters. Tie in
genuity which the young ladies displayed
in CARRYING out the details OF the County
Fair would do credit to any student
body and the managers OF the State falr
might we'll have taken notes.
We would fain z We an account OF each
County as it passed in review before our
eager gaze, if time and space allowed,
| but special mention can be made only OF
| those most striking and characteristic.
1t was enough to make the heart OF a
| North Carolinian swell with pride when
| her various industries and resources were
SO wildly and charmingly displayed
| the fish and lumber from the eastern
counties; the tobacco industry OF Pitt,
represented by a real, live tobacco SAKE;
the cotton pickers OF Halifax made the
welkin ring with a typical negro song;
the melon trade of Wayne, represented
by an old-fashioned "break-down" in
which each "nigger' carried her own
"watcrmillion;' the far famed hurkle-
| - TOW al nd
turpentine of Richmond and Robson;
the Old Nash brandy; the granite and
marble of Surrey; and more too numer
Gus to mention.
| The ''jolly tars'' of New Hanover re-
called us with a negro song sung with
great gustO.
We cannot pass Guilford by unnoticed
| The Normal School, of course, was rep
resented by them in full blast but the
| most charming effect was produced when
q company of young ladies' having on
the real continental coats and hats,
marched on the stage, with Miss Carey
Ogburn as their captain. They had a
short military drill after which with
barred heads, they sung the old, inspiring
songs of patriotism which never fail to
strike a responsive chord in any true
American $ breast.
Probably at no other stage OF the en-
teri aiimcnt was wilder enthusiasm
shown than when the Moore girls came
on the stage carrying Il lie size portrait
of the beloved President of the Normal
School, with the inscription, "What
Moore could we have done?' Surely the
Normal girls never lose an opportunity
of showing their love for, and apprecia-
ton of their honored President.
of n n
was not behind the rest in doing honor
to him for whom she was named, when
the immortal Ben passed across the
stage on his famous trip to Philadelphia,
munching his rolls the while, and later
when he was bringing down fire from
heaven.
| We feel sure Vance would have carried
off the prize, had there been one offered
so wei! did her four fair representatives
present her claims to the audience. The
young ladies put aside their dignity for
! once and dressed as in the days OF" Aud
Lang Syne,' their lady hood, the idea
being, Of course, to emphasize the fact
that Vance was the baby county. Miss
Norma Hardy Carl led banner on which
were these striking words, civilians.
boro, the oldest Post Office in the young
est county," Misses Shaw and Bullock
carried a life size portrait OF North Caro-:
mas best loved son OF lame, which spoke
forth the name of the county.
Miss Celestial Gill recited in the most
charming baby manner a poem of her
own composition, which we quote in full:
Guess who we are
If you but knew
How little we feel
In all this crew,
You'd wonder why our Mother dear
Has made us come in spite of fear.
Our brothers and sisters, ninety-fve,
And every one of them alive,
Have come with us to let you see
How the Baby would not be
Left out in the dark and cold,
For you see we are ten and SIX years
old.
Cotton tobacco, rye and wheat,
Peas, corn, oats and melons sweet,
And everything else that's good to eat
Mother Carolina, with lavish hand,
Has given to her baby land.
Far and wide our Mother dear
Has sought NAMES for these children
But to her youngest she gave the name
OF her best loved son Of fame.
Do you still wonder who are we?
Look at the picture and you shall see.
Her delightful rendition of the above
bro ught down the house with storm OF
applause. Vance has cause to be proud
Of her representatives.
From time to time a chorus of about
thirty voices discoursed sweet music to
our ears. Especial mention is due one OF
the choruscs, "The Normal Bell" which
so captivated the audience Nor is this
to be wondered at when it is stated that
it was led by Miss Bessie Shaw, who is
easily conceded to be one OF the sweetest
singers among the students. Henderson
maxwell feel proud of her accomplished
daughter.
The browning number on the program
was a scene from the General Assembly
| at Raleigh. The members of the Senate
and House would have been put to
shame could they have seen the dignity
with which these young sages carried on
this Legislation.
The cause of the Joint session was to
consider question OF grave and vital
import, viz: bill for the appropriation
OF $50, 900 to the State Normal and In
dustrial School The bill was presented
in all due form and then followed heated
discussion of the reasons pro and con.
Those opposing the bill were sadly in
the minority and all were soon won over
with the exception OF one gent lefnan
who held ont almost to the last notwith.
standing the able and convincing afgu-
ments brought forward by the stronger
faction. SO wild with enthusiasm did
the legislators become that when the
time for voting came they passed bill,
approprating not $4,000 but $780,
600 to the school in question. This bill
was passed by an overwhelming ma.
| scheme VOL prIp 1
even in the minor details, for they had
little pages running hither and thther
The last number on the program was
n tableau which was most charming in
its effect. The fairest flower from each
county was chosen and 90 such fair
tlswers made bouquet OF exquisite love.
illness grouped with artistic taste, as
they We're, around the State Seal, which
was supported on either side by a repre-
sentative OF the a. and NJ College and
the state University, while the banner of