Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-10-05
AMHERST FAIR.
NORTHERN HANCOCK COUNTY
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
BIGGEST AND BEST EXHIBITION IN IT'S
HISTORIAN AGRICULTURAL
FAIR.

The fair OF the Northern Hancock agri-
cultural society at Amherst closed the
fair season in Hancock county for this
year. The up-river fair is purely an ag-
ricultural exhibitions good, wholesome
country fair, without the modern fea-
I lures which make the so-called 'agri-
cultural fairs' of to-day a travesty on
the original country fair. And that
purely agricultural fair still appeals to
the public, is proven by the annually In
creasing crowds at the Amherst fair.
The up. river fair too is doing another
and a greater work than that of pleasing
the crowds-it Ia stimulating the agricul-
county towns, improving the farms and
the farmers, adding to the productiveness
OF one and the prosperity of the other.
The impetus given to farming il proven
by the fact that each year the quality and
quantity OF the agricultural exhibit have
shown decided improvement, until this
year finds the town ball all too small to
advantageously display the products,
which for quality and variety rank with
the best.
The fair vas supposed to open Tuesday,
but the rail-, of that day prevented, and 1t
was decided 10 continue the fair through
Thursday. Chis necessitated the post
ponement of the ball until Thursday
night, as the dancing is held in the hall
which must first be cleared of exhibits.
Some who vent to he fair Wednesday ex-
ha hal INT n
went home disappointed, but they adver-
tised the fair to others, and the second
day saw as big an attendance as the first,
while the dance seemed to suffer nothing
because of the change OF dates.
ON THE GROUNDS.
In the fair inclosure, which was in
charge OF Charles p. Silsby, the fakirs did
a good business and the crowds were
amused. The cane stands, shooting gal
lery, the knock down-the- baby game,
ETC., each received its share OF the pub
lie favor. The trained seal "Polly" and
her companion the alligator went through
their little acts and "talked" for the peo-
pie.
An enterprising show company from
Ellsworth pitched it's tent on the ground
and captured few dollars. In connec
tion with this show Alvin Haney, OF
Ellsworth Falls, gave an open hair exhibit
tion OF tight wire walking, which pleased
the crowd nightly,
But the star attraction OF the fair was
"Rube' Hilton, the comedian trick BIZ
cycle rider. "Rube" found an apprecia-
tive audience, which greeted his first APP
pearance with uproarious laughter, and
kept him doing the tumble act until he
had to stop from sheer inability to sit
down tendaT!y without hitting sore
spot. Thee 20 got stripped down to rid
ing costume and gave the crowd an exhi-
bition OF frst-e!ass trick riding.
Monagasn's band, OF Ellsworth, which
played during the two days Of The fair,
helped to eniivun ~ tins and added
much to the fair
The exhibition OF stoct, w hin the
grounds was much larger than usual.
DRAWING CONTESTS.
The drawing contests OF cattle and
horses on both days of the Ia were OBJ
jeets OF much interest. John Lymourner
OF Ellsworth, Benjamin Warren, OF Ed
dington, and John Haslam, OF Mariaville
acted as judges on oxen, ana Mr.. Lynn
burner, Clifton Woodward, OF Ellsworth,
and S. S. Goodwin OF Amherst, Oh horses.
The results follow:
Oxen.
Seth A. Remission, Amherst, first,
1926 pounds.
J. P. Grover, Amherst, second, 3,s14
pounds.
Pair Horses.
Ernest Roberts, Amherst, first, 5,l32
pounds.
w. E. Richie, Aurora, second, 5,o55
pounds.
Single Horses.
Walter Richardson, Aurora first, 1929
pounds.
Ernest Roberts, Amherst, second, 3,o3l
pounds.
BALL GAME.
There was ball game w Wednesday after
noon between teams from Franklin and
Eddington. The Franklin team won
score q to II.
IN THE HALL.
The town hall never looked better than
it did this year, with its decorations of
red, white and blue, and the ''hags OF all
nations, the wealth of quilts, and rugs
and mats which almost hid the walls, the
tables loaded with flowers, fruit and veg
etables, and the array of art and fancy
work which filled the stage and formed
pleasing background.
The hall was in charge OF c. f. Silsby,
assisted by John Mcdonald, yice-president
ofthe association. Secretary A. w. Silsby
was one OF the busiest men in the hall.
Tho h inf hu boII n