FIFTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VII. 657 



eye, and the smile of pleasure which lighted up each fair face, reassured 

 the throng that they were genuine pluck, and eager to enter upon the new 

 contest. 



For full particulars see another article. 



At the conclusion of the riding the Association assembled for business, 

 and after a brief session adjourned, and thus ended the First State Fair of 

 Iowa. 



FEMALE EQUESTRIANISM AT THE STATE FAIR 



Ten thousand persons present! Two days' contest! Exciting scenes! 

 Unbounded enthusiasm! The "Hawkeye Girls" forever! 



Our readers will please excuse us for pretending what we really are on 

 this occassion, all excitement and enthusiasm. Honored with a prominent 

 position in the proceedings, and having had a full view of the whole exciting 

 scene, from a most favorable point of observation, we feel that we owe it to 

 the public, as well as to those who were present, both participants and spec- 

 tators, to attempt a description of this most thrillingly interesting and sub- 

 limely beautiful spectacle which has ever been presented within our borders, 

 if indeed it has ever been equaled in the history of the county. 



For the information of readers from abroad, we would premise that the 

 immediate, moving cause of the contest to which we refer, was a magnifi- 

 cent prize (a lady's superior gold hunting watch), which had been provided 

 at the private cost of the president of the association, Colonel Claggett, 

 whose gallantry as a gentleman is equalled only by his public spirit as a 

 citizen, to be awarded for the "best specimen of bold and graceful female 

 equestrianism." The proposition orginated with a lady of this county, who 

 we regret to state, was prevented from even witnessing the triumphant result 

 of her suggestion, much less take an active part in the contest, as was her 

 original intention. 



The afternoon of the second day of the fair was the time fixed for the 

 trial of skill, gracefulness and courage among the fair contestants. At the 

 hour of two o'clock p. m. , ten ladies, splendidly arrayed in long and sweep- 

 ing riding habits, with feathers and ribbons to match, each acompanied by 

 her cavalier, entered the ring at a dashing pace, galloping around in long 

 column until they reached the front of the committee's stand, where they 

 were halted and wheeled into line by Chief Marshal Ware. The committee 

 appointed to arrange the order of proceedings and to make the awards was 

 composed of the following persons: J. M. Morgan, chairman, Des Moines 

 county; Judge Lowe, of Lee; Col. T. H. Benton, Jr., of Johnson; Colonel 

 Trimble, of Davis; Mrs. P. L. Huyett, of Jefferson; Miss Albertson, of Lee; 

 and Miss Inskeep, of Wapello. 



The president. Colonel Claggett, made them a brief address, in which 

 he complimented them for their splendid appearance, thanked them for the 

 pleasure which he was sure their performance would afford to all present; 

 congratulated them on the courage which they had shown in setting so noble 

 an example; dwelt briefly upon the advantages and attractions of superior 

 horsemanship; and concluded by admonishing them against the dangers of 

 reckless riding, and endeavoring to impress upon them the fact that excel- 

 lence in female equestrianism consisted in coolness, self-possession, grace- 

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