WORCESTER SOCIETY. 145 



into our service, and with him, applied ourselves to the duties 

 devolving upon us. 



The butter presented was less in quantity than on some pre- 

 vious occasions, and consisted of fourteen lots entered for pre- 

 mium, and one for exhibition. 



Of those who entered butter for premium, six had failed to 

 comply with the regulations of the society, and of course their 

 claims were passed over in silence. To the remaining eight 

 lots the committee proceeded to apply every test known to 

 civilized butter judges — they smelled and tasted the butter, 

 viewed carefully its color, and then, while the chairman stood 

 aloof, placed their heads together and turned out the following 

 premiums : — 



To Mr. Silas Bailey, of Boylston, they award the first pre- 

 mium — a piece of silver plate, with an appropriate inscription. 

 For an inscription, the committee suggest the following: Wo- 

 man's rights — to win the prize; husband's rights — to take it. 



The second premium, of $6, Mr. L. B. Hapgood, of Shrews- 

 bury, can have by calling for it. 



The third premium, of $4, we assigned to Mr. Amos F. 

 Knights, of West Boylston ; while the butter presented by Mr. 

 Willard Allen, of Holden, was considered worthy of the fourth 

 premium, of $3. 



The fifth premium we did not think fairly earned by any 

 competitor and consequently direct the treasurer to retain the 

 same for the use of the society. 



Thus having disposed of all the funds intrusted to their 

 tender keeping, the committee lost that anxious and important 

 look which had set so long upon their countenances, and, un- 

 bending a little, they desired their chairman to sound one note 

 in praise of lot No. 14, offered by Mr. William S. Lincoln, of 

 Worcester, of 14 pounds. It was certainly a most beautiful 

 lot of butter, and had the quantity come up to the rules, viz., 

 twenty pounds, could not have failed to secure a premium. 

 Mr. Prentiss, of Auburn, presented a lot of eighteen pounds, 

 too late for entry, but the committee say to him with pleasure, 

 that with one exception, they saw no finer butter on the tables. 

 A trifle less salt, and strict compliance with the rules, would 

 have secured him one of the highest premiums. 



George S. Taft, Chairman. 

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