APPENDIX. xxxiii 



the fat woman ; live snakes ; the happy family ; " R. T. JMuss " Ward's, or 

 somebody's else wax figures, — and a hundred and one other things were 

 to be seen, and the price of admission only twenty-five cents, still, every- 

 thing was orderly and quiet, and during the entire day we heard no 

 profanity or obscene language that would shock the ear of the most fas- 

 tidious, a fact that speaks well for the farmers and mechanics of Bristol 

 County. 



The show of cattle was remarkably good. There were the Shorthorns, 

 Jerseys, Ayrshires and natives, all showing care in breeding and good 

 keeping. I hardly expected, from what I knew of the soil of Bristol 

 County, to see so large and fat cattle as were presented for exhibition. 

 One pair of oxen, owned by Jonathan Slade, would be hard to beat by 

 even the river counties. Two pairs of Shorthorn oxen from the farm 

 of the lunatic hospital at Taunton show that the managers of that 

 institution know how to select and keep good oxen. There were fine 

 specimens of bulls, cows and young stock, showing that the farmers of 

 this society do not mean to be outdone in the quality of their 'neat stock. 

 The show of sheep was good. Six lots were on exhibition. One lot of 

 six Southdown sheep were fine specimens. 



The show of swine was not large, but of good quality. The show of 

 poultry was the finest I ever witnessed. I undertook to take the num- 

 ber and the varieties presented for exhibition, but gave up in despair. 

 I think " Burnham," of hen-fever notoriety, if he could have been 

 present and witnessed the show, would have taken off his hat. 



After examining the stock, I presented myself at the building where 

 the manufactured articles, fruits and vegetables were displayed, and, 

 paying my entrance fee, was admitted. The mechanics of Bristol are 

 entitled to much credit for the variety, quality and number of articles 

 they exhibited. Almost every kind of manufactured goods was on 

 exhibition, and the exquisite finish of the articles speaks well for the 

 skill and ingenuity of the mechanics of Bristol. I had supposed, from 

 the long drought and the light soil of the county, the show of fruits and 

 vegetables would be meagre and of poor quality. But in this I was 

 happily disappointed. All the varieties of vegetables were there in 

 profusion, large in size and excellent in quality. Of fruit there was a 

 large amount and of fair quality. 



At three o'clock, P. M., there was a show of horses on the race- 

 course, both for figure and speed. There were several trials. Style 

 and good motion seemed to be as requisite as speed. There were some 

 fine specimens of horse flesh on exhibition, mostly young. Not one ring- 

 boned or spavined old plug was seen on the course. They might have 

 been reserved for the last day of the fair. 



