The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-04-01


garden began looking around 70 see
what he could find. The farmers soon
woke up to the fact that they had
some prize articles and the result was
fine exhibit Of all kinds and varieties
of garden and farm products, that
compared most fayorably with that Of
any county fair. The ladies depart
ment showed the ladies Of Dorset
grange TO be experts with the needle
and their exhibit Of articles useful and
ornamental was very attractive as was
also their culinary department. The
novelty Of Grange Fair brought out
good crowd, people came from ad-
joining towns, prompted by curiosity,
meeting with warm welcome from
the committee in charge and finding a
show worth seeing and expressed their
surprise and satisfaction. An admit
tance was charged and the proceeds
divided and given as premiums.
Since then successful fairs have
been held, taking in exhibits from the
chicken farms and farm yards add
ing to the interest taken in the exhi-
,bition.
Perhaps one Of the most amusing
entertainments Of the grange in the
earlier years was the Mock Trial when
such members as Judge Nichols, our
honored centenarian, Geo. w. Farwell,
John Manley, Sr., and others Of that
clSss were members and took part;
Bro. Charles Williams being arrested
and tried for stealing a keg of cider
from Bro. Rollin Sykes. He was given
fair trial and found guilty by the
jury Of six fellow men. don't just
remember but believe the Court gave
him some good advice and released
him, he promising to reform.
Some of you may say ! am preiu-
diced, in favor Of the ladies. In my
Judgment the housewives exhibition
takes the cake over all the other en-
tertainments that the grange has ever
held yet giving due credit to all the
others. 1t was lot Of work but what
10 we have that somebody has not
jWmked hard for, except nothing.
The hall was transformed into a
regular fairy-land, with booths on all
sizes in charge Of housewives and
maidens in costumes exhibiting arti-
cles used way back long way toward
the year one, counting from the land
ing of the Mayfiower. The articles
were both useful and ornamental and
some were from foreign countries. The
products Of our maple trees attracted
much attention while they lasted. A
variety of refreshments were on sale
70 meet the taste Of the most fastid-
ioEs appetite, baked beans and buck
wheat cakes with maple syrup, for
those who wanted something more
substantial
The social gatherings Of the grange,
With the usual refreshments, whether
in The nature cf an oyster supper or
the harvest feast, haye played prom
inent part in keeping up the interest
Of the members in the work Of the
order and since dancing has been made
q part OF the social program Of the
grange, there has been no lack Of
interest
Visiting neighboring oranges and
attending Pomona Grange meetings
has been a pleasant feature for those
members who were able to improve
tee opportunity offered, one Of these
DECISIONS long to be remembered, was
vixen some thirty or more of US at
tended the dedication Of Mt. Anthony
G.Gnge Han, when it was my pleasure
TO turn out with my four-in-hand
sleigh taking in about twenty-five Of
the number. We found the road over
the mountain drifted so that even four
'hoi ses coo'd not pull the load through
the drifts and when we landed at the
top we had feeling Of relief that our
trouble was over but we soon discov-
cred our mistake. After adjusting two
good runner chains we started down
the mountain and no sooner were we
fairly started than the sleighs shot
ahead throwing the pole horses, and
We had a good start for that hole on
the lower side Of the road, but the
leaders knew that my voice meant
business and they Strengthened the
sleighs into the road and the side pull
brought the horses to their feet, after
il was all over some one in back want
ed 70 know II We were not driving
pretty fast, but those who were near
the front we're too scared 70 scream Il
they had had time. The cause of this
episode was a smooth glade Of ice with
a light covering - snow, which clos
qed the chains and prevented the
horses getting q foothold have been