APPENDIX. ix 



industry and patience of those whose skilled fingers wrought so 

 assiduously for the pleasure of all who came to see and enjoy their 

 handiwork. The bread, butter and cheese exhibited b}- the ladies, 

 gave proof positive that their cakes were not all dough, and that 

 they could perform their part at the churn and the cheese-tub as 

 well as the cows at the milk-pail. 



Here were exhibited the apples of Messrs. Ellsworth and Carruth, 

 the pears of Tjder and Earle and the grapes of Batchelder and Lane, ■ 

 so ver^' tempting that I think it cost many of the fair Eves a mighty 

 struggle to refrain from tasting the fruit forbidden by the placard, 

 *' hands off." 



A pleasant feature of the occasion was the gathering from all 

 classes of from three to four hundred persons in their new and com- 

 modious hall. Here, having gratified the appetite, and had a social 

 chat with friends, the company' were in a fitting mood to listen to 

 eloquent remarks from the Hon. Alexander H. Rice, of Boston, and 

 the Hon. George B. Loring, of Salem. These gentlemen spoke 

 learnedl}', agriculturall}', gushinglj', and well they might speak well, 

 for they were well paid for their efforts on the spot, by the presenta- 

 tion to each from the ladies of Barre, of one of those magnificent 

 cheeses which would last a man his life-time unless too man}' mice 

 were nibbling at it, or too many hangers-on were moving round for 

 a bite of the precious morsel. 



By the report of the treasurer of the Society, it appears that the 

 Societ}'^ is in a prosperous condition, although during the year their 

 hall, with all the personal propert}' stored there, was destroyed by 

 fire. The insurance companies which had issued policies on the 

 building promptl}- paid their losses, and a new building has been 

 erected, ninety-six feet long and .forty-eight feet wide, with a pro- 

 jection thirty-six feet by fifteen. 



Early morn of the 26th gave promise of a cloud}- daj-, but as the 

 sun came up the mists and clouds disappeared with the early dew, 

 leaving us a daj' as lovel}- as could be desired. This was exclu- 

 sively devoted to that noblest of animals, the horse. Stallions, 

 draught-horses, matched horses, family horses and trotting-horses 

 were all trotted out for exhibition, showing their pedigree, their 

 blood, their training, their docilit}', their bottom and their speed. 



Some thirt}' years ago, when I perambulated the hills of Barre and 

 vicinity in a doctor's gig peddling pills, — when Ginery Twichell, 

 since member of Congress, but now in the more honorable position 

 of president of the "Worcester County West Agricultural Societj-, 

 used to collect and express the annual returns of the elections on 

 horseback to the metropolis, — when Barre had as good facilities for 

 communication with the rest of the world as any town in this 

 2 



