84 



nature entirely lost in mistaken attempts at gaudy art. In designings 

 true art copies nature, and nature looks to the blending of colors, and 

 an arrangement of foliage that is always pleasing ; and any great de- 

 parture therefrom, in the artist, is ahvays shocking to true taste. 



*' We advise exhibitors to take a leaf from the ever-open, and easily 

 read Book of nature, and artistically weave in more leaves of plants, 

 and trees, among the showy flowers, which are the gems of their de- 

 signs. All jewels require an appropriate ' setting ;' and the only set- 

 ting of flowers, in a simple boquet, vase, basket or design, is green 

 foliage of the same plants or others, that do little violence to nature. 



" How many, who visited the beautiful show grounds at Milwaukee, 

 thought of the availability of the gloriously tinted 'autumn leaves,' that 

 made the noble remnant of natural forest the most exquisite treat of all 

 to the patriotic lover of the beautiful in nature ? Had a few of the ladies 

 of Milwaukee prevailed on husbands, sons, or lovers, to gather a store of 

 these gorgeous ornaments, and then wreathed them, in tasteful, natural 

 arabesque, around the show tables and the tent ceiling, an eff'ect would 

 have been produced, as gratifying as it would have been creditable and 

 full of the beauty of novelty, congruity, taste and harmony. 



" Had this been done, (and if it had been suggested, it would, doubt- 

 less have been executed,) your Committee, who have been compelled to 

 judge more as critics, than as satisfied admirers of your Floral Depart- 

 ment, might have had an excuse for throwing more of the praise grow- 

 ing out of enthusiasm, into this their hasty and unstudied report. But 

 to the ladies of the Wisconsin city or village, near which the next State 

 Fair may be held, we confidently commend the arrangement and display 

 of another year, in this, which should ever be made the most brilliant 

 and tasteful part of these great State Exhibitions." 



PAINTIXGS.— Xo. OF ExTRiES, 55. 



Judges. — William L. Utley, Racine ; Benjamin F. Hopkins, Madison ; 

 Alfred L. Castleman, M. D., Delafield, 



Best specimen of painting in oils ; Alfred Payne, Racine. Diploma. 



Second best specimen of painting in oils; Miss Mary Francis Smith, Mil- 

 waukee. Diploma. 



Best specimen of painting in water colors ; Mrs. David Johnstone, Mil- 

 waukee. Bronze medal. 



