656 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF- AGRICULTURE. 



Second Day —Thursday, October 26, 1854. 



Womandom in the ascendant! 



Early in the morning an enlivening scene was presented in the ladies' de- 

 partment, or that devoted to domestic manufactures. The ringing of merry 

 voices, the flitting about of fairy forms, the glances of bright eyes, and busy 

 play of pretty hands, all denoted that the womandom had entered the lists 

 in earnest. The display of needle work, knitting, pressed flowers, etc., was 

 really beautiful, evincing the most refined taste as well as consummate skill; 

 the useful and the ornamental alike challenging universal admiration. 



Among the works of art which found a place under the awnings we were 

 particularly struck with several specimens of daguerreotypes from the room 

 of Mr. McKinney, of Dubuque, which for elegance of finish would fairly 

 rival, if not equal, the most superb specimen to be found in the largest 

 galleries of the country. In the immediate neighborhood of these were two 

 large glass showcases, filled with stuffed birds and pickled ' 'sarpints, '* 

 all looking as natural as life, and attracting very general attention; the 

 work we are informed of a Fairfield gentleman, whose name we were un- 

 able to learn. 



At 11 o'clock, Mr. Dixon, of Keokuk, who had been appointed for the 

 purpose, was conducted to the stand, and commenced the delivery of the 

 first annual address before the association. The address was about an hour 

 in length, and was all that might have been expected from the accomplished 

 and experienced author. As it has been ordered published, and will soon 

 be before the public, it would be useless to attempt to give a synopsis of it. 

 At the conclusion of the address the association adjouned until 2 o'clock. 



THE EQUESTRIAN CONTEST. 



At the appointed hour the fair contestants, ten in number, accompanied 

 by their cavaliers, entered the ring under the conduct of Chief Marshal 

 Ware. For a more satisfactory account of this brilliant feature of the fair, 

 we shall have to direct the attention of the reader to a subsequent article, 

 in which we shall attempt to convey a faint impression of the scene. At 

 the termination of the riding, and with the unanimous concurrence of the 

 ladies, judgment was deferred until a second trial could be had on the fol- 

 lowing morning. 



Third Day.— Friday, October 27 , 1854. 



The morning up to the time of ten o'clock was occupied in electing officers 

 for the ensuing year, and in fixing upon a place for the meeting of the next 

 Annual State Fair. Fairfield was fixed upon as the place, and the second 

 Monday in October as the time. Colonel Claggett was unanimously elected 

 president; D. P. Inskeep, of Wapello county, vice president; J. M. Shaffer, 

 secretary; and C. Baldwin, treasurer; P. L. Huyett, corresponding secre- 

 tary; and a large number of directors, whose names will be published 

 hereafter. 



At ten o'clock the ladies, accompanied by their escorts, again entered 

 the ring. Their spirited carriage, the confidence which beamed from every 



