Pike County Democrat, Volume 24, Number 15, Petersburg, Pike County, 1 September 1893 — Page 1

This Is fair week and Petersburg and her citizens are in their best attire anu on their good behavior. The city is crowded with visitors who have conte to visit the city and witness the races and take a look at what Pike county produces. ThisA is the twenty-third annual meeting of the Pike county agricultural society at the fair grounds in this city. The fair grounds being conveniently located uear the city, well shaded and with many improvements, has come to be known as the

model fair grounds of the state, and which is no doubt true in every par-r ticnlar. There is an abundance of shade, and everything is so arranged. Bu to bo convenient for both exhibitor ®nd visitor. The water supply being firstclass gives the people who attend plenty of that which quenches thirst. The association this year is officered as follows: President, Leslie Lamb vice-president, Isaac R. Lett; secre'tary, J. W. Brumfield; treasurer, W. A. Oliphants ; superintendent, Joseph Newkirk. The different departments areiu the hands of competent superintendents, who arc accommodating and painstaking iu arranging the exhibits, which are in a splendid shape for the visitors to look at. The fair opened up Monday evening with a grand rush. Exhibitors began arriving early in the day with horses, cattle, sheep, fowls, vegetables, fruits, iarm products, pastry and other articles tor exhibition. In the floral hall Dr. Lamar was busy making entries with the handiwork of the ladies. It is truly a grand sight to go through this department and see the fine paintings, needlework and other handiwork of the artistic women of Pike county. The agricultural hail is jammed full of jams, jellies, pastry, butters, and canued goods, which was also prepared by the energetic women of Pike county. And the display of appies, peaches, pears, ouious, potatoes, corn, wheat, oats and other farm products is equal to that of any other county in Southern Indiana. Take

into consideration the extreme dry farming season and you will say that these departments are well represented, probably not as large as in former years, but the quality is good as far as it goes. James Chew is the superintendent of these departments. In the equine department the exhibit Is as fine as it has ever been. The classes are well filled up with all breeds of horses. The light and heavy

draft, the roadster and the general purpose horses are well represented. Take this department as a whole and it is better represented this year than ever before in the history of the association. These departments are superintended hy I. R. Lett and S. J. Haines, who are giving their immediate attention to it. If you have not taken a look through these departments yon have missed tfie best part of the lair. Iti the cattle department you will find the Jersey, Shorthorn, Herefords and Holstein breeds. The department is well filled with choice stock, the major part of them being registered stock aud very fine. Pike county farmers are taking much interest in raising firstclass cattle in the past few years, and here can be seen just wha< breeds the farmer should care for. This department js in charge of Will Doty, who is in every way competent. L. B. Oursler has charge of the sheep department. All the different breeds are shown from the coarse wool to the fine. The classes are well fillet! and the exhibit a good one. Mr. Oursler also has charge of the swine department, which is also -well filled with the Berkshire, Poland China and Chester White breeds. This department is probably better represented than ever before. A great many exhibitors from a distance having entered stock for exhibition. Promt

man with the grind organ is also on the grounds raking in the nlcklcs and dimes. Then there is the sideshow with the monkey and the wheezy old hand organ, which is a killer on the first jump. The big pumpkis, squashes and watermelons m-se quite a fine showing in agricultural hall. They are without doubt the largest that have been exhibited here for many years. The canned.fruits, pickles and jellies have increased in entries over last year. There are a number of entries in corn,both while and yellow, which are very fine. Ties, cakes and bread make up an excellent display in the same department, which shows that the “belter two-thirds” of the families of our fanner friends know just, what tickles the palates of the husbands. Dr. Lamar, superintendent of the floial hall, says the exhibits far exceeds that of any fair ever held in the county. Quilts, “crazy” and all other 1 kinds are there by the score, while in fancy needlework the display is simply elegant. In paintings and crayon work the entries are very large and

the display would do credit to fairs of greater magnitude. A number c4 the entries are by home people, while a number are from Oakland City, Washington and other neighboring towns. „ Horses and colts, and more horses and colts, of all sizes, styles and strainrs, from the heavy draft to the light harness horses. A number of the entries in these classes are from a

nent stock men from Indiana and Illinois are here for the purpose of showing up their stock for selling purposes. Ttie poultry department's in the hands of H<m/^^dTBetheH. Chickens, turkey^ducks ail'd geese are very well represented, but not near as well as it should be. The coop room is too small, anil what is there can not be seen to good advantage. This is not the fault of the superintendent, who has done all that he cauin order that the exhibits can be so placed as to make a respectable showing. In the implement and mechanical departments the exhibits are very small. The principal drawback being that there is not sufficient room in which to make exhibits under roof. Many merchants and mechanics wanted to make exhibits this year, put the afccomu|odations were such as to discourage them from doiug so on account of the weather, which was rather inclement during last week. Tbis department is ia‘ the hands ol T. K. Flemiug. Tlbe speed ring is under the direction of Leslie Lambj S. J. Haines and , T. K. Fleming, There are probably I fifty fast horses entered iu the races for this year, and up to today the races have been very good. Today (Friday) the big races will come off when some fast time is expected. The majority of race horses here have been making the big circuit and are ia good fettle to give the people some idea of wbat fast time is and how it is m ade.. Take the fair all in all and it is good, considering the year of many disadvantages to the farmer and the closeness of the times. The patronage so far has been verv good, the crowd yesterday being very large. The stand men are here as nsual with circns lemonade and boneless fish, with pop-corn and gebo and all other foip attachments. The swing

(Jistance, who are liere showing up the horses from their stock farms. The entries in all the classes are very well filled and probably up to that of former years. NOTES. Get ready to take in the big fair to-day. There is no doubt of the success of the fair. Plenty of stands, red lemonade and boneless fish. All departments well filled with good displays. Osborn Brothers have a flue display of boots and shoes. George Eisert has a corner On the soda water trade at the fair grounds,

Call and see George at his "Koruer” stand near floral hall. The boys with the score cards are doing a-rushing business. The fortune wheel and all gambling on the ground is barred. Mrs. Charles Awienus and Miss M. L. McGarrah, of IMncetou, and MUs

Fills McCormick, of Oakland City, have displays of artistie work in floral hail. Lafayette Thomas, Washington township, got the blue ribbon for yearling colt.

This is a big day at the fair. But to-morrows attractions will be much better. Time is too limited this Week to give a list of those taking premiums on stock, etc. Billy Brock was at the fair Wednesday with his fine trotting staliiou. His horse is a dandy. ilewston Armstrong, of Jefferson township, carried off first premium with his fine draft stallion. The fair managers are working hard to make a btg success of the exhibition. Luck be with you. The special premiums will be awarded to-day and to-morrow. Don’t fail to see the turnouts. Two big shows and two swings make lots of amusements for the little children—and some big children. II. McCain, Joseph L. Brentou, aud Blaize Bros, have splendid exhibits in the poultry department. The department is crowded and the exhibits are larger than ever before. Patterson & Alexander, the hardware men, have au excellent display of stoves and other lines of goods on exhibition m the floral hall. They also have an exhibit of pianos and organs. John B. Young has his herd of Jersey cattle at the grounds. They are fine and took off several premiums. Mr. Young is quite a cattle lover and has some excellent stock on his farm near the city. The exhibit of Herschel Richardson’s in the floral hall is one of the finest ever seen here for years. Herschel is not over seventeen years old yet his paintings and crayon- work

have the work of the master hand. Don’t fail to see portrait work executed by him. The Petersburg band is furnishing excllent music for the fair. The band coutains some of the best amateur musicians in the state, and who will in the near future make a mark in the musical world. The first bicycle sulky made its appearance on the track Wednesday. A colored driver '"brought in a fine string of horses Wednesday morning, and made his first appearance with the sulky in the three-minute trot J. W. Wilson has placed a display of Indian relics on exhibition at the floral hall which he gathered up while in the Cherokee nation. The work is very fiue and is well worth your white to make a survey of the many articles displayed. "Uncle Si” has been cavorting around over the fair grounds this week like a two-tear-old. He has taken special pains to interview Dr. Lamar, Jim Chew, Will Doty, Leslie Lamb. Dr. liethell and Tom Fleming as regards their departments. He has been death to circus lemonade and peauuts, and, occasionally was seen

talking to some very pretty girls. Look out for his article on the fair. All aboard for the fair. The watermelon man is on the ground. ‘^Jwo throws for a nicklc and down goes the nigger.” The races are very good and the track in splendid condition. The judges are kept busy making awards in the several departments. The cow-boy who has never been farther west than Illinois is on‘ the grounds. The Democrat is under obligations to the superintendent of the different departments for favors shown. Every race should be drove out, or the judges should change drivers* Make them show their speed in every heat. S. C. Wyatt has a fine lot of hogs on the grounds. He is quite a prominent slock raiser of Pike county. Don’t forget to call around and see, him. —

One of Ihe finest displays in the way of fruits at the agricultural hall is that,by W. E. McEtderry, the fruit tree agent. He has all varieties of fruits grown, and they are indeed very fine. Mac takes great pleasure in explaining the different varieties.

Farmer. Shoulti.Take a'Uol daf. The policy of “all work trd no play,” adopted and practiced by many farmers, is not a commendable one. It dulls toe senses, shortens one’s days, and makes life less enj:yab)e. There should be a greater aim in life 1 than piling up money for soute one to Iwrangle'over.after^you are goue. This advice does ndt apply with equal force if on y one person is the worker and takes pleasure (in curtailing expenses to the poiut Of avarice, but when he controls the action of others, especially of his own family, th i matbecomes more serious, as it th( n becomes slavery in a not very mild form. A day or twojjspent at the county fair may bo product1 ve of much actual good. New implements are seen; seeds, plants and fru ts observed that, if introduced, may mean increased yield and profit. New breeds of domestic animals tre on exhibition, old frieuds are met and new acquaintances formed, aitd the

See the curiosity at the agr icultura hail in the shape of a cucumber. It is at least seven teet long and,! much resembles a crawling snake. Big John won first money in the three minute pace on 'Wednesday; Cloverport second and King Parole third. The race was very tame from the fact that one or two of the horses were held. Let ’em go. in the three-miuutc trot, Wednesday, Harry Lee took first three straight heats. Tom Pilot got second money and Elmore Chief third place. The race was very exciting from start to finish. Best time 2:37. The Democrat gives the following special premiums at the fair this week : One vear’s subscription for the best wheat; one year’s subscription for the best corn : one year’s sub

scription for the best butter; one year’s subscription for the best lot of potatoes, and one year's subscription to the oldest married couple not novt tak>n$r a eounty paper. Don’t forger that if you carry off the red ribbon you are entitled to The Democrat; one year, *

visitor gains something to think and ponder over lor many days to follow. But don't wait for the lair set son to arrive. If the boys want a ha if holiday for hinting, fishing or other innocent pasttime, give it to them. It will make more willing rrorkera V

when they return,* Our rational holidays ire Jar more numero is than in our grand-fathers days, a,ad unless work is very pressing they should he days of freedom frc m the arduous labors of the season. Don’t plead tha; important work r;ust bo done on those days, for the beys and men, and women too, look forward to these days with a great deal of interest and expectation, and if there is an appearance of trying to eeprive them of their pleasures, disco i dent is bred. Instead of fighting against picnics, excursions and neighborhood visits be one of the leaders in getting them up and making them a success. It will make you more popular, a nd you will be healthier and happier than if you simply remain at home and growl. Life is too short to te spent “in one demnition grind.” Mrs. Charles Patterson d ed at Louisville last Saturday. Darret Patterson left for Ijonisvillc Monday to attend the funeral, services.