85 

 FANCY ARTICLES. 



The Committee on Fancy articles would report that they 

 found a large number of fancy and useful articles spread 

 upon the walls and tables, to decide upon the merits of 

 which was no easy task; yet they remembered " that a thing 

 of beauty is a joy forever" in the works of Art, no less than 

 in those of Nature. While oui:' thoughts and acts in these 

 days of financial embarrassment are necessarily turned to 

 the practical, it is pleasant to see in the specimens of skill, 

 taste and handiwork of our wives and daughters, an evidence 

 that this department of our annual exhibition has received 

 a due share of their attention. 



The Great Author of all beauty has given us an example 

 in the construction and adorning of His works, of ornament 

 the most lavish ; and who does not know their influence to 

 elevate and enoble our nature, otherwise tending to selfish- 

 ness and that which is groveling. The influence arising 

 from works of taste is not confined to the few, but to all who 

 are privileged to look upon them, so that all who have de- 

 signed or constructed a beautiful article may feel that they 

 have added to the common stock of the world's happiness. 



Various useful articles of worsted knitting work were con- 

 tributed by Mr. S. Wallis, of Fitchbtirg, and we take great 

 pleasure in noticing this branch of industry in our midst, the 

 quality of which is said not to be excelled in this country, 

 and moreover shows us that we are not dependent upon the 

 foreign manufacture. 



Your Committee will hardly reach a tithe of the articles 

 in this department on exhibition, and they feel called upon to 

 say, that a large number of contributors would have received 

 premiums if it had been in their power to bestow them. 



We award the following premiums, viz: 



M. A. Beckwith, aged 65 years, for stand wrought in 



beads, 7000 in number, $1,50 



M. Dora Whittemore, landscape painting in oil, 1)50 



