74 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



At the Reformatory School in Eldora manual training very na- 

 turally and logically occupies a large part in the curriculum. The 

 exhibit from this school was fine and many articles of furniture 

 made by the lads would be a credit to any furniture making estab- 

 lishment. The Mount Pleasant home for insane and mentally af- 

 flicted had one of the finest exhibits of the home canner's art that 

 was ever prepared for any fair. It included every fruit and vege- 

 table grown in Iowa — which means a pretty long list. Visitors 

 gazed upon it in wonder and amazement, marveling at the ability 

 of the workers that prepared it. 



The children at the Home for Feeble Minded at Glenwood sent 

 a fine exhibit of fancy work of their own making, canned fruits 

 and vegetables, and a display of basket ware so perfect in work- 

 manship and beauty of design that it called for ciuite a stretch of 

 the imagination to accept it as the actual handiwork of children 

 supposedly mentally incapable of concentrated effort in any line. 



Fort Madison came with an abundant stock of woven rugs, and 

 large numbers were sold to visitors. Knoxville had an exhibit of 

 brick, tile, etc., that was as good and durable as can be found man- 

 ufactured anywhere in the state. Twelve institutions in all were 

 represented. To give up this annual exhibit, as was talked of at 

 one time, would be an injustice to the inmates of the various insti- 

 tutions and deprive the public of the one best method and oppor- 

 tunity — outside of personal visits of inspection — of acquiring 

 knowledge of the daily life and work of the inmates. 



PEOPLE ENJOY MUSIC. 



Fair visitors seemed to find a world of enjoyment in the music 

 furnished by nearly a dozen bands, orchestras and other musical 

 organizations. From eight o'clock in the morning until ten at 

 night it continued with scarcely an interruption. Whenever one of 

 the many bands and orchestras appeared it was the signal for a 

 gathering of humanity eager to listen and enjoy. The cattle and 

 horses were judged in the Stock Pavilion to the lively accompani- 

 ment of orchestras. Visitors to the exposition and agricultural 

 buildings viewed the exhibits and enjoyed the music at one and the 

 same time. The fancy steppers and the high jumpers performed 

 to music at night and the trotters raced to the strains of bands in 

 the afternoon. The Thaviu Band with accompanying grand opera 

 singers and Russian ballet dancing introduced a new and some- 

 what novel note given to Iowa people only at infrequent intervals. 



