The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-11-23
The State Fair.

efforts made to make the State Fair
of 1898, surpsss in both exhibits
and attendance that of 1887, there
was failure in both, We are sorry to
say. This failure cannot consistently
be laid at the door Of the officers OF
the Association, for they did every
thing in their power to make it
otherwise. The failure to come up
to the fair of 1887, in exhibits can
be accounted for on no other grounds
than careless, and almost criminal,
indifference on the part of the people
which is too often seen, not only in
reference to the State Fair, but in
many other praiseworthy enterprises
and institutions having for their OBJ
ject the upbuilding of the industrial
interests and the advancement
of the material progress of our
State. The people seemed to
have left this potent factor in bring
ing prominently before the eye and
thus claim the attention of those who
are seeking fruitful fields for the in
vestment of brswp, brains and CAPT
tai, triplets which 60 hand in hand,
to languish and die unaided and un-
assisted. The State Fair is lot only
intended to be what many claim for
it-a place of assemblage where
friend can meet friend annually and
recite the little nothings which have
happened to each, during the time
since last they met. It has higher
aims, nobler purposes and more in-
portant functions. 1t aims to be the
means of stimulating a generous
rivalry among the agricultural, the
mechanical and the industrial life of
the State by providing a means were
the products Of the several depart
ments can be advantageously ex-
hibited and from this exhibition the
successes Of the one can be initiated
aud the failures of the other avoided;
It's purposes are to inculcate spirit
of progress and enterprise into every
department of business activity and
knit capital and labor into stronger
aud frmer bonds of brotherhood in
the great battle of human existence
and human prosperity, and it's func
tions are to develop the vast and de-
versifed resources which nature has
bestowed with an unstinted hand
upon our State by drawing to the
attention of those seeking homes or
those seeking investments to the
inviting prospects which our State
offers. Were it only an occasion for
the exchanging of greetings, as
pleasant and enjoyable as the feature
of the fair is, We say that if this
were all, then it deserves to perish
and die. But as we have said before
this is not all and its other more i'm
portant missions appeals strongly to
State pride and State patriotism for
all classes and condition of citizens
to put forth every effort to make the
next State Fair, one that will be an
honor to the State and true reflex
of our every day life.
What the exhibits lacked in quan-
tity they more than made up in
quality and some of which were
really meritorious.
The attendance was large, but of
course, not as large as it was last year.
The falling off in numbers can be
accounted for from the fact that
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday,
the three best days of the fair, were
very disagreeable. 1t rained all
three of those days and on the last
named, it not only raiped but it
poured in incessant torrents, which
kept many from going to Columbia
who would have otherwise done so.
1t took stout hearts to wade through
the mud and slush and brave the in-
clement weather to visit the fair
grounds and it is surprising that as
many were on the grounds as did g..
As usual Lexington was we'll rep
resented both in exhibits and attend
arce, and as usual carried eff many
premiums. We give below list of
some of the exhibitors from this
county who received premiums, as
far as We have been able to learn up
to the hour of going to press There
are others who received premiums
but we have been unable to learn
their names. If those receiving
premiums will send q list to this
Office of the articles and the class Of
premiums, we will cheerfully publish
it. The list we have is as followe:
D. F. Eird, 2 year old colt, I'd.
J. Walter Dreher and ". Q NJ.
L