50 



were entered a single horse, double and single horse teams, and 

 a single ox team. In the opinion of the judges the ploughing 

 and drawing were both of unusual excellence. 



The first performance in the programme for Thursday after- 

 noon was the Sack Race of 15 rods, for which tiiere were three 

 entries — Thomas Buchan of Hyde Park, Robert Scott of Hyde 

 Park, and an Indian b}- the name of Moses Bass. Buchan ran 

 the distance very easily, stopping once or twice for his compet- 

 itors to catch up witli him, and won the first prize of SlO. 

 The second prize of $o was taken by Bass, who made the dis- 

 tance by short jumps. The remainder of the afternoon was 

 devoted to tlie races on the track. 



On Friday, the first performance was the grand cavalcade of 

 all the horses on exhibition on the track, making a fine displav. 

 At 12 o'clock a procession w\as formed under the direction of 

 Capt. Thomas Decatur of Jamaica Plain, Chief Marshal of the 

 Exhiliition, wdiich marched to the excellent music of the H3'de 

 Park Band to tlie tent, where an elegant and substantial col- 

 lation had been prepared by Thomas D. Cook of Boston. After 

 prayer by Rev. James H. AViggin,of Medfield, Chaplain of the 

 day, the conapanj^ were invited by the President, Hon. John S. 

 Eldridge of Canton, to partake of the repast. At the conclu- 

 sion of the dinner the President made a brief and appropriate 

 address of welcome and congratulation, and introduced the Hon- 

 orary President of the Societ}', Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, as the 

 orator of the occasion. Mr. Wilder then gave a very interest- 

 ing sketch of his recent tour in California, which was listened 

 to with deep attention, and which will be found in full at the 

 commencement of this volume. 



Rev. E. Porter Dyer of Shrewsbury then read the following 

 original Poem, which was received with great favor ; — 



Mr. President and Ladies and Gentlemen : — 



Such fame of Norfolk County Fair 



Had reached me in my mountain home, 



Said I, I surely niuM be there! 



And therefore am I come, 



As modern students everywhere 



Would visit classic Rome, 



To be a learner at the feet 



Of Farmers raised to Moses's seat. 



