The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1919-07-25
CLIPPING BRINGS MEMORIES OF
OLD BOURBON FAIR.

1cdiS dSO the Oiu BOURBON FAIR,
at that time the oldest agricultural
fair in the United States, was the
Mecca to which hundreds turned
each year, for there they renewed old
acquaintance of the long ago, and
made new ones. For many years it
reigned supreme as the greatest fair
in the country. In late years it dis
appeared and with it the old-time
hospitality that made Bourbon coun-
ty famous
A few days ago THE NEWS man,
in hunting through a pile of clip
pings, came upon one relating to the
old Bourbon Fair, printed in the
Ninth Legion, published at Cincin-
natl by Samuel Pike, one of the pio-
neer publishers and editors of his
day. The article, which bore date
of Saturday, September IL, 1860,
under the heading 1.-THE Bourbon
Fair" is reproduced below, believing
that it will be of interest to the read
ers of THE NEWS:
"The Bourbon Fair.
This grand affair commenced on
Tuesday last. The morning was I'm.
favorable; still respectable crowd
was in attendance. On Wednesday
hundreds who would have been there,
were attracted to Lexington to hear
the Nations favorite address the
people, and consequently, the turn
out was not so large as usual. On
that day, however, it was given out
land the report gained credence,)
that the Hon. John c. Breckenridge
would be present on Thursday, and
perhaps, address the people. This
was enough to arouse the people of
Bourbon and the surrounding coun-
ties, and early Thursday morning
they began to pour in from every di-
rection, and long before noon there
were more people present than we
ever saw assembled, upon the same
grounds, on any any former occasion.
"The day was unpropitious, yet
the display of stock was all that
that could be reasonably expected,
and everything passed off harmoni-
ously and to the satisfaction of most
persons present. ....
1.-THE great feature of the concern
was Industrial Hall, a large circular
building in which all the works of art
and industry were displayed for ex-
amina ton. We were on the grounds
but a few hours on Thursday, and
could give this grand feature of the
fair only a partial and very imper-
feet examination. w w. Pixies Ro-
tary Printing Press in full motion,
throwing off impressions at the rate
IF 1000 per hour, and we were
pleased to learn that he was the re-
,ipient of all the premiums offered
or the different kinds of printing,
'ffered by the Association. The
blankets, jeans, quilts, counterpanes, |
md other specimens of ladies' han
liwork, were beautiful and could not |
veil be excelled by any competitors,
nd some of the specimens of en-
'roidery were truly fine. Indeed,
verything in that department was
bout as good as it could be, and we
My regret that we did not have
ime to give it a more extended ex-
and notice.
ITO the politeness of our old
riends, w. w. Mitchell, S. M. Hib-
er and A. M. Brown, Esdrs., we are
Indebted for polite attentions and the
reedom of the Fair grounds during
UT visit. They are gentlemanly
Ulcers and discharge their respect
re duties in a manner. highly credit
BILE to themselves and the society.
After having dined sumptuously
it'll some Covington friends, at the {
oard of a Junior member of the
ike family, we left for home in the t
age, where we arrived about dark
4 Thursday evening.
Notwithstanding we were highly I
eased with all we saw while there, t
e cannot avoid thinking that our t
ourbon friends will have to do bet i
r another year, or fall behind their ?
Other societies have U
rung up in the adjoining counties
Id in different parts of the State,
hich bid fair not only to rival, but II
excel old Bourbon in agricul- d
raj, horticultural and mechanical e
splays, and are consequently at d
acting large amount of public at e
ntion. 1t is not for us to say in "
nat particulars the Bourbon Fairs
all be modified. We leave that to
e members; but we say in all can D
r, that our Bourbon friends must .
TX well to their laurels, or their
ighbors will outstrip them in all u
at pertains to the glory of such II
ca
m