5 



SECOND DAY. 



Janesville, October 2d, 1851, 

 The second day of our Fii-st State Fail- opened delightfully this morning, 

 agi'eeably disappointing many who, from the soughing wind and gathering clouds 

 last night, anticipated a rain storm. What rain fell during the night was just 

 sufficient to lay the dust, and the fresh westerly breeze soon cleared the sky of 

 every cloud. The meeting of the State Society in the Com-t House last evening, 

 was fully attended, and the discussions on various mattere of business quite 

 animated. The Committees, to examine and award the Premiums, were ap- 

 pointed, and the hour of ten this morning fixed for the commencement of their 

 labors. 



The first event of the day was the Ploughing Match. This came off' in a 

 level field, a quarter of a mile east of the Fair Grounds. There were ten entries, 

 two with Oxen, and the rest with Horses. The ground was divided into quarter- 

 acre sections, and one allotted to each competitor. The start was made at nine 

 o'clock, and in just twenty-six minutes Mr. J. Milton May, of Janesville, com- 

 pleted the task, coming out a-head of the lot. It was adjudged, howevei-, that 

 the best work was done by Alexander & Ainslie, of Rock County, and 

 the first premium awarded to them ; !Mr. Mav receiving the second. A pair 

 of working Oxen, owned by Mr. Jackman, of Janesville, excited a good deal of 

 admiration by the rapid manner in which they got over the ground during the 

 Ploughing Match. 



As soon as this matter was settled, the Viewing Committees went to work to 

 examine the various entries. In many of the departments, where the entries 

 were few, the duty was soon discharged ; but in others, where the competitors 

 were numerous and the merits of the difterent articles exhibited almost equal, the 

 whole morninof was consumed in the task. From twelve to one the Committees 

 were busily employed in making out their reports, and after a hurried repast all 

 flocked to the Fair Grounds to hear the Addi'css of Chancellor Lathrop. This 

 was dehvered in the Floral Tent, which was crowded to suffocation, and made 

 but an indifferent speaking-room. In spite of this drawback, and the fiu'ther 

 disadvantage of an annoying hoarseness, the Chancellor continued to keep his 

 audience — closely packed, and standing as they were — earnest, attentii'e and 

 deeply interested, from the commencement to the close of his Address. I will 

 not attempt any sketch of this admirable discourse, since it is soon to be pub- 

 lished in full, but will content myself with saying, that if the State Fair produced 

 nothing else than the Chancellor's Address, it would have amply repaid the 

 Society and the Farmers of Wisconsin for the time, money, and labor expended 

 in getting it up. 



