506 



NEW EPv GLAND FARMER. 



Nor. 



en below, will show the respective merits of the 

 teams. • 



The spading match was certainly the most ex- 

 citing, if not, indeed, the most interesting of the 

 trials. It took place at half-past ten o'clock, im- 

 mediately upon the conclusion of the plowing 

 match. The ground was marked ofiPinto 13 lots 

 of 100 square feet each, and every lot was occu- 

 pied by a stout Irishman, who, with shouldering 

 spade stalked, to and fro. A triumphant smile 

 wreathed the lips of each adventurous man, as if, 

 in anticipation, he already enjoyed the reward of 

 a hard earned victory. Firmly grasping the han- 

 dles of their agricultural weapons, they awaited, 

 all eager for the fray, the signal which was to ush- 

 er them to glory, or to defeat. The signal was 

 given by the band — it was the Roxbury Brass 

 Band, by the way, which performed on the occa- 

 sion — and off they started. Brandished by such 

 powerful hands the spades did wonders. The 

 heavy sods disappeared like snow in the morning 

 sun ; and big drops of perspiration dripped from 

 the faces of the workers, and watered the earth 

 whereon they trod. 



"They dug like brave men, long and well." 



Excitement was intense, and bets ran high 

 among the bystanders. Such spading was surely 

 never seen before in New England. The task of 

 the last man was accomplished in about half an 

 hour from the time of starting. 



At half-past eleven the drawing match occurred, 

 but a few rods from the scene of the other per- 

 formances, on the Boston road. The place se- 

 lected for the trial was an elevation, where the 

 road ascended at an angle probably of three or 

 four degrees. But four teams were entered for 

 competition. They belonged to Messrs. Timothy 

 Tucker of Milton, B.V. French of Braintree, A. 

 D. Weld of West Roxbury, and George Babcock 

 of Brookline. The task required the drawing and 

 backing of a load 4000 pounds in weight up the 

 before mentioned hill. It was accomplished by 

 the oxen with comparative ease, and in very hand- 

 some style. 



At a few minutes before 12 o'clock, a procession 

 was formed at the exhibition hall, and marched to 

 Rev. Mr. Lamson's church, where an address was 

 expected from Rev. F. D. Huntington, of Roxbury. 

 The church was filled, the galleries being lined 

 with beautiful ladies, who smiled their favors 

 upon the fortunate crowd berleath. A voluntary 

 from the choir introduced the services. Hon. Mar- 

 shall P. Wilder then briefly but eloquently ad- 

 dressed the congregation. The divine blessing 

 was next implored by Rev. Mr. Babcock, of Ded- 

 ham, and an original hymn, composed for the oc- 

 casion by Rev. Wm. P. Lunt of Quincy, was sung. 

 The orator of the day, Rev. F. D. Huntington, 

 was then introduced by Mr. Wilder. 



Mr. Huntington proceeded to deliver a remark- 

 ably beautiful, eloquently written address, of 

 more than an hour in length ; during that time 

 the thoughts of the audience were riveted wholly 

 upon the words of the speaker. His remarks 

 were of a nature calculated to do good among 

 those for whose benefit it was intended — to 

 awaken the farmers to a just sense of their re- 

 sponsibilities as men, and to incite in them the 

 ambition and energy to acl. The school house, 

 the church, the town hall, and the homestead, 

 were made the text of his remarks, and they fur- 



nished topics for much useful and interesting in- 

 struction and advice to the assembled farmers. 



We have before us a full report of Mr. Hunting- 

 ton's address, but an unavoidable press of matter 

 obliges us to -refrain from publishing it. A volun- 

 tary by the choir succeeded the oration, and then 

 a benediction was pronounced by Rev. Mr. Samson. 



A procession was again formed, and marched 

 two by two, in a pouring rain, umbrellas up, to 

 the dining hall, which was in the upper part of 

 the new building erected by the Society. Here 

 their hearts were gladdened by the sight of a 

 bountiful collation, which had been provided for a 

 thousand people, by Mr. Howe, well and generally 

 known as the courteous host of the Phoenix House 

 in Dedham. After being seated, divine blessing 

 was invoked by Rev. Mr. Sewell, and then began 

 the joyful clatter of knives and forks. The dinner 

 was an excellent one, and ample justice was done 

 to the viands by the hungry crowd. After the 

 sharp cravings of hunger had been satisfied, the 

 reports of the Committees were read. — Journal. 



KEEP THE FARMER'S FESTIVALS 

 PURE. 



We agree most heartily in the opinions ex- 

 pressed below by the editor of the Union Demo- 

 crat^ at Manchester, N. H. These autumnal festi- 

 vals have, in a great measure, taken the place 

 of the musters, which at length became so corrupt, 

 so evidently the hot-beds of vice and pollution, that 

 they were suppressed simply by the common voice, 

 without the aid of legal enactment. There is 

 enough at these Agricultural Fairs to engage the 

 whole attention of thinking and sober-minded peo- 

 ple, in the articles exhibited, and the address and 

 speeches, and in the cultivation of social inter- 

 course and brotherhood, of feeling among them- 

 selves. We should be glad if circus companies, 

 showmen, pedlers, auctioneers, &c., made no 

 part of the collection on these occasions. We 

 would, at all hazards, keep out every species of 

 dissipation,- either by gambling, drinking or bet- 

 ting, and everything else that should have the 

 slightest tendency to corrupt the heart. We 

 would have the orators, on these occasions, select- 

 ed as far as possible from among the farmers them- 

 selves, or at least from those who own and arc en- 

 gaged in cultivating the soil. Political matters 

 have already been incidentally introduced, and on 

 one or two occasions have Av e^ji igh broken up the 

 harmony and usefulness oflBI exhibition. We 

 forewarn our friends of these dangers. The ad- 

 vent of these Fairs need not be heralded with 

 trumpet-tongue abroad ; all they need is a fair no- 

 tice. If they are worthy of attention, and well- 

 conducted, tliey will gain the popular favor — il 

 not, let them sink into oblivion. 



We protest against this attempt to degrade the 

 State Fair to a level with the monstrosities and 

 nostrums of showmen and pill-making. It will be 

 no humbug. The citizens of Manchester are do- 

 ing, and will do everything which can be done to 

 promote the success of the enterprise, and the 



