The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1900-10-12
The FaTmVille Fair Of
1900.

After months of earnest and careful
work Of preparation, Farmville opened
the gates Of its Fourth Annual Fair tC
all who honored her by their presence
on the morning of the 10th. The
exhibition rooms had been converted
into bowers of beauty, and we doubt IL
Paris itself offered more convenient or
comfortable homes for sightseers, or
things to be seen.
The indoor exhibition was indeed
creditable to those having its arrange
ment in charge, Out of the grave of
dear but dead past, antiques of mar
vellous variety were exhumed, and the
present generation permitted TO listen
to the tones of great grandma's piano,
the hum of her spinning wheel, the
thud of her loom and whiz OF her rule,
to gaze on the features of those who
gave grace and charm to the Olden day,
and to examine the silks they wore,
the ware they used on their tables and
the decorations which made their
homes attractive. If there is an NIPPLE
ment, known to the farming world,
which was not exposed for their in-
spection, we just don't know it, and if
they could not find wagon to suit or
a buggy, they need not consult another
market
In the ladies department there was
an array Of the artistic and beautiful,
dazzling to look upon. Their fingers
must have been as busy as the needles
of our knitting mill. Our mothers
wrote the history of their day in tapes
try, and so could the mothers of maid
ems Of this day. With faultless per-
lection they reproduce fruits and flow
ers Of garden and field, retaining deli
cate tint and tracing which had been
so wondrously drawn by the hand of
nature. Crowds fingered about this
booth, and were reluctant to turn away.
Pianos and organs crowded the space
allotted to them, anc recommended
their virtues by their own tones.
Dry goods and notions were artisti-
cally displayed, and no doubt many a
maiden would be wOOed to the counter
from behind which they came.
Drugs and their store companion
looked almost good enough to eat, and
candy with cOngenIal CONNECTIONS took
on new beauty in their Fair dress and
exhibition home. King Alcohol sat
upon two thrones, and tho his lips
were sealed he was no doubt heard by
many. All these things and more
were gracefully grouped in the commo-
dious, well lighted and well-arranged
salesrooms OF the Star Warehouse. Its
next door neighbor to the West, the
Planters, furnished attractive home for
farm and garden products, other than
tobacco, and though we have passed
through a trying and most distressing
summer drought, the pumpkins and
potatoes were large and we'll developed,
the corn well filled, the wheat firm and
heavy, the fruits matured and luscious,
the canned goods peerless, and the
whole array a silent but eloquent tri-
butte to the worth of Southside Virgin
ia soil.
In the Middle Warehouse were ar
ranged the many samples of tobacco
which give world wide reputation to
this section of Virginia. The color was
there, the size, the texture and the
richness. No where in the State could
more attractive exhibit have beeu
made.
These sister warehouses were built
for business, pure and simple, but are
so located, and so arranged that togeth-
er they make delightful pleasure
grounds as well.
THE OPENING HOUR.
In the full flush and glow of October
sunshine, as glorious as that in which
the immortal Webster basked, as he
delivered his immortal tributes to the
Virginia October sun, from the South
ern poriico of Virginia's capitol, the
3rd Farmvile Agricultural and Me-
chanical Fair was opened.
DIR. Harding invoked Gods blessing,
and then Rev. Mr.. Thompson, in words
few but we'll chosen, presented Judge
II. w. Flournoy, who delivered the
formal address of the occasion. He
began IN humorous vein by telling the
farmers "what he didn't Know about
farming" and then elaborated what
he thought he knew about farming, "
and under this head applied sug
gestions of practical value. The Judge
was accorded most respectful and at
tentive hearing, and at the close was
literally applauded. These ceremo-
MES over, and the crowd scattered for
sightseeing and general enjoyment.
From all hands came unqualified ex-
pressions of approval, and the air was
filed with encomiums like these: "The
hest we ever had" mo section can
heat us.u "Hurrah for Southside Vir'
ginia.n "Three cheers for Farmville's
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