Success

County fairs properly conducted, ■ hough. not exactly essential to the prospority of oommunities, go far to promote frieudly iivalry, stiuiulatiug people to excel in agriculture, in niechanical industry, in merchandizing and in trials of speed of nian's noblest servant. No man knows unless he is brought iuto cotnpctition with another, whether bis is the best stocTc or the best machine. He might grow gray in the happy belief that lie was the roost successful farmer in the county where he lived- and a poor farmer at that- provided he went not bevond the limits of ' the soil he proudly points to as his own, and saw what his fellow-man was doing. He would live on, ignoraut of the world about hiin, conceited, and vainglorious over his success. It is by bringiug his products to a common center, distinguished as a county fair, and arranguig thetn for comparison that ha learns there are others equally able, and i perhaps superior, to hiraself. By this comparison, ho rises abovo tho i anee of the idea that no one else ia quite so srnart as himself.. Comparison is a great leveler of self-pride. At a fair the owner of an article grown or produced by his or her hands, coming into oompetitiou with others, soon learng all the wisdom is not confined to himself, and he goes home a wiser if not a better man. He ioses the vanity he had, becomes a pupil and bcgins to climb the road to higher degrees of proiiciency in his pet branoh of study. TUESDAY. This, though the day advertised as the opening of the annual meeting of the Washtinaw County AgricuHural and Horticultural Society for 1879, is not a day for visitors. It is utilized for the putting into place artioles designed for exhibition and gotting ready for those who may come to see. WEDXESDAY. Everything was in its place early in tho day. People began to arrive, and at noou the attendance was unusually good. The attraotions in the afteruoon, besides those indoors, were rope walking and trotting as per prograiume. The forty niembera of the Pinafore troupe under the guide cf Harry Hill, E-iq., attracted considerable attention from their uniform dress together with their youthful countenancos. While these things were going on our reporter was inaking a tour of FLORAL HALL. and for the benefit of the readers of the Argüs, notes some of the many article s on exhibition. In many departments there was uo one in attendanoe and, unable he ia therefore to do justice to all. It is too much to expect reporters will go a-hunting to discover those in charge of this or that oxhibit, for the privilege of giving it a notice. Wo begin with PAIHTISOS. Miss Kate Hogers offers a collection of portraits paiuteJ by herself at her studio in this city, No. 7 corner División and Ana streets, comprising oil paintings of the late Joshua G. Leiand from a photograph, David M. Finley and O. E. Sweetland of Lodi, ïioni life; a landscape view of the Yosemito Valley ; a costume study of a Venetian Page of the IVth century taken from Ufo; two fruit pieces painted froin nature ; four flower panels also from nature ; and a dog from life. DEY GOODS. In glancing over the display of dry gooils we were partioularly attracted by the immense display of Messrs. Baoh fc Abel. Never before huve wo ever seen suoh a large exbibit of rich dry goods at a county fair. Our attention was first called to the display of black and colored silks. We were shown handsome silks at 70, 80 and 90 ets. Heavy dress silks. at $1.25, $1.39 and $1.56. lleavy colored dress silks at $1.10. We must admit that Bach & Abel lead in silks. Our attention was next ealled to their display of dress goods. We were shown a pile of black cashmeres that reacbed to the roof. We asked what the price was and were informed, very much to our surprise, that they were only 45 ets. per yard, and all wool, 3ü inches wide. We were also shown cashmeres at 50, 60, 70,80,90c and $1.00. We think it impossible to beat their prices on cashmeres in Detroit or any other city. Iheir display of shawls and cloaks was the largest and best we ever saw. We were shown cloaks frora $3.00 to $30 00, also dolmans and circles as high as $40. Their Cainel's hair and paisley shawls at $20.00, f30.00, $40.00 and $50.00 were very handsorae. Our attention was next called to their display of ties, laces, haudkerchiefa, kid gloves, buttons, &cnone the least attractive among the msny dttractions in this department. CLOTHIN&. Douglas, Henderson f Co., have a fine Uplay of ready-made goods, coiiaioiip.'x f ulsters, a reversible coat, men and youths' suits. A show case f'ull of geniemens' wear comprising neckties of he thousand-and-ono styles, kerchiefs f various colors, suspenderá, hosiery, kid gloves, a line of beautiful and desiable artioles. Another haudsome exhibit of readymade goods is from the well-known ouse of A. L. Noblo, where all the laest and most fashionable garinents are ffored to an appreciative public. A cowcase replete witU articles indispenable to the outfit of a gentleman atract the eye of many visitors. The Star [ouse is very creditably represented. Mack & Schimd unite in this departuent, with a caso of ladies' appa rel, emptingly set forth and arranged with matchless care and fastidious taste. CARrETS. Wiues & Worden present an exceer1ïgly er editable assortinent of carpetngK, consisting of body brussels, tapesry, three and two-ply ingrain ; cantón rstraw matting, drupgets, crumbcloths, russel and vonetian stair carpeting; ame in carpet bordering; plush, brusel and cheuille, cocoa, and card mats, il eloths and stair rods. Also on ition a sample of how carpeta can be : latched by the hands of Mrs. i on of Lodi, who does all this work fur i the firra. A cluster eoibracing tapestry brusse!, with floor, stair and border all matching, attract particular attention. The department, sixty feet of space, doublo that of aiiy other is very tastily arranged. Chas. Fantle places nine varieties in thia department on exhibition. SEWINO MACHINES. J. F. Schuh exhibits the Davis, American, St. Johns, Crown, four of the twelve he sells, and for lack of space is unable to place any moro before the fair observers. The Davis sews from lace to leather without change of stiteh or tensión ; practioally self'-threading and has the most complete attaohments. Tliree operators wero busy showiug the ir.erits of the maeliinea exhibited by Mr. Schuh. I. L. Grinnell exhibits the Singer and White. Si OVES AND HARDWARE. This department is vvell representod by Mr. J. I Sehuh who introduces two specimens of the Garland coal stove ; Pullman Cook, Yale Cottage and Kranklin grate. A fair assortment of shelf and tinware are also iu Mr. Schuh's corner. Eberbacb. & Co., Bhow an assortment jf Crown Jewels, &c. ICUSIOAS VSTKUMENTB. Mr. A. -ppy iu the fact that the orgnns he reprwínts, the Clough aud Warren, justreceived the state fair premium at Detroit, has three on exhibition of different sizes and styies, worth $325, $225 and $200. These organs are finished ia the best possiblo style. D. F. Allmendinger enters three parlor organs of his own manufacture, looated in this city at prices of 1GO, $150 and $85. BAK ER Y. Almost every known variety of appetizing breads, biscuits, cakes, cookies, &c, are offered to the gaze of the public by S. Hendrickson, a State street dealer. DRUGS. H. J. Brown & Co., are the only exhibitors in drugs. A beautiful case arranged in splendid style is filled with goods in this line and is a creditable showing for the house. T RnT'n Trv Six entries wrere made for the 3 minute race, as follows : Dog Nichols, g. g.; Frank, g. g., owned by James Kelly of Northfield ; Lady, b. m., owiied by Jacob Hoffstetter; To zer Boy, b. g., owned by Hoffstetter; Lady EL, g. in., owned by F. Huson ; Bill, b. g., owned by T. Sutherland of Pittsfield. Herewith is the result of speed : Tozer Boy 2:57, first premium $10; Billy 3.03 12, second do., $7 ; Lady H , 3:03 1-2, third do., $ó ; Gray P„ 3:02 1-2, fourth do., $3. . THUHSDAY. The day opened with a soft wind, indicative of rain. As noon neared signs of rain became more and more visible in the southern horizon, culminating in a short, sharp shower about 11 A. ir. VÍ8Íting people sought shelter and escaped the wet. Soon the sun shone, the atmosphere was cleansed, the dust growing very obnoxions wns laid, and averybody seenied glad the shower had come. AU the forenoon long the influx of visitors arrived, There were the "old man" and "old voman ;" the young man and his girl, the boys and misses. It seemed as if the country had depop ulated itself for the occasion ; the very vvoods full of 'em, let Ioo6e upon the city. 'Busses, carryalls, hacks and carriages drive a thriving trade ; hotels crowded ; streets full of inoving humanity. Our reporter besought himself agaiu to the grounds, and visita the THE FRUIT DEPARTMENT, Though not so full as in former years, contains better specimens tban usual. James M. Hill, of Scio, exhibits 23 varïeties of apples from Tompkins Co. Kings to the Eoxbury Eusset. Mr. MacDonald shows nineteen specimens of grapes, a beautiful assortment, luscious, tempting fruits. Other specimens on exhibitioa we were unablu to learn their owners. AGKICULTUBAL IMPLEMEMTS. In this departaient there was an extensivo display. The Buckeye dril] was represeiited by three drills, one combined with fertilizing attaohmenl and broadcast seeder and cultivator combined. A Buckeye combiced reaper and mower, tho Adriance reaper, two specimens; Adriance mower, a Buckeye mower, a Centennial pony or one-horse mower made in New Hampshire; A. W. Britten, Ann Arbor, agent. Moses Rogers a Standard mower of Iiookford, 111. make. Ten specimens of the Advance plow made in this city by Ann Arbor Agricultural Works; the saine company show four straw cutters, three churns, four corn ehellers, three cultivators, horse rake. CARRIAGE DEFAIITMEIÍT. C. Walker Bro. exhibit four beautiful oarriages, embracing one Deinocrat wagon, one Brewster top buggy, one three spring phaeton, a beauty, and one platform wagon. Sohairer Bros., of 8a,line, exhibit ono three spring top phaeton and one Brewster top wagonArksey, of this city, one three spring phaeton, one side spring top, one open buggy. SHEEPS - FINK WOOLS. Hood & Door of Sharon, carried off ïll the premiums on fine wool sheep, axcepting ono second premium on a three year old ram awarded to Mr. rownsend. Their stook is bred from 3cherbino and Williaoison of Middlebury, Vt. Also from the James stock from same locality. This firm was iwarded three premiums at state fair. COWS AND 8TEERS. A pair of three yeirs old white steers awned by D. Sutherland of Pittsfield nd which took first and second premium are worthy of special luention. One weighs 1000, the other 1800 lbs. rhey are entered as fat cattlo and re3eived first and second premiums at Ypsilanti fair last week. Mr. S. exhibits five specimens of graded stock- fat iattle. John W. Nanry of Superior exhibits jearling buil, of Durham stock weighng 1200, and was awarded first premi:im. It is a superior specimen of. the nals specie. üthniel Gooding of York exhibita a l cow witU etilf of Jersey stock, not a , bandsome critter but possessiug all tho pointe of an excellent milker. She was mvardod first premiuui. Other worthy specimens failed to bo noticed owing to iuability to find the owners or any ono who could give our reporter the desired information. VEGETABLE DEPARTMENT. ouiue oí tne anieles in this departuient were in hugo proportions. Beets big enough to last a large family all winter ; squash large as nearly all outdoors; ouourabers of protracted length ; potatoes in extended variety and sizes. Nine samples of butter were offered ; several cheeses from tho Pittsfield manufactory, and a good howing of other vegetation. It was hard work to get mucu iufortnation in tbis department. A BIG IIOO. The biggest specimen of porkdomever met the gaze of our reportar, was to be seen for a nickel. We learnod it was reared by Jobn Stoddard of Marión, Livingston oounty, Blioh. The proprietor asserted the weight of his animal to be 1173 lbs., uud any non-believer was wolcoine to test the porker's weight, to prove he was not a truth-prevaricator. It was a barrow of the motber Berkshire breed, crossed by Poland China, and got by a thoroughbred Essex. He is alleged to be the biggest hog of four legs, of bis timo, and we are not now prepared to dispute the allegation. Anyhow 'tis a big hog, of color black and eighteen moiiths of age.