xl REPORTS OF DELEGATES. 



and when fed to cattle, was eaten with readiness, showing a keen 

 appreciation of its good qualities. 



Another unusual feature of the exhibition was the collection in 

 Antiquarian Hall of various old-time relics, forming a very respect- 

 able museum of curiosities. The Old Colony abounds in articles of 

 this nature, and these were willingly loaned by their owners for the 

 purpose of adding interest to the fair. The articles were, for the 

 most part, well arranged and labelled, so that it was an easy matter 

 to see and understand this exhibition of reminders of bj'-gone da}^. 

 Very noticeable were the souvenirs of Webster, his trusty gun and 

 sporting implements, the sword of Washington worn by him at 

 Braddock's defeat, and a powder-horn bearing the date of 1756. 

 Old books and papers were collected on a table in the centre, con- 

 spicuous among them Bibles bearing the imprint 1599 and 1619. 

 A Greek and Latin lexicon printed at Antwerp in 1588. In a locked 

 glass case were collected and arranged many articles of much his- 

 toric value. Among these I noticed the inkstand of Peregrine 

 White ; a hammer brought over in the "Mayflower" ; tongs, sugar- 

 spoon and steel} T ards recently excavated from the cellar of the old 

 Governor Winslow's house in Marshfield ; a brass box bearing the 

 date of 1497, with a cover curiously divided, suggesting some 

 scientific purpose. 



The hundreds of articles like thpse mentioned, and the courtesy 

 and consideration of those in charge in explaining and adding a 

 needed word of information, made Antiquarian Hall a very inter- 

 esting, enjoyable, and profitable part of the fair. 



The after-dinner speeches were introduced by President Baker, 

 who stated that this Society, in its ten years' histoiy, had secured a 

 membership of 1,029, disbursed in premiums $6,500, possesses prop- 

 erty valued at $12,820, and has a debt of $5,087. 



The Marshfield Society is a standing proof that a really first-class 

 exhibition can be maintained for a series of years, and draw large 

 crowds, without the questionable features of the track and horse-race. 



All honor to the officers of this Society, who are thus conscien- 

 tiously and perseveringly maintaining a higher standard of moral 

 excellence in the management of its fairs, than prevails in most of 

 our societies. 



Metcalf J. • Smith. 



BARNSTABLE. 



The thirty-third annual fair of the Barnstable County Agricultu- 

 ral Society was held on the society's grounds at Barnstable on the 

 nineteenth and twentieth days of September. The weather was 



