i89o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
7o7 
A MODEL STATE FAIR. 
Jerseyman Sings the dories of Waverly’s Un¬ 
approachable Attraction. 
Two years ago I left ray work at a critical time and went 
to enjoy the “ farmers’ holiday ” at the Waverly Fair. I 
gave an account of what I saw there, but it seems that the 
officers of the fair did not like what I said, a bit. The 
secretary read a paper at Trenton the following winter in 
which he cut my poor report into rags. I naturally con- 
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drank over 1,000,000 quarts of beer ! Now, if they had not 
had the beer they would have been forced to drink water 
and we all know what a terrible drought we have had this 
year. By saving 1,000,000 gallons of water from consump¬ 
tion, the society secured that much more moisture for the 
soil. Great heads they have I Then again, just see how 
carefully these folks are guarding the true interests of 
the Jersey farmer. This mess of beer sold for 150,000. 
Now, if these folks had not invested their money in beer, 
they might have put it in the savings bank! Just think 
what a horrible thing that would have been. It Is this 
terrible “ Banking Power ” that is crushing us out. The 
managers of this fair are wise when they invite us to 
cripple the savings banks and thus help agriculture. 
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burnt cork and put a wig on his head. Then he stuck it 
through a hole in a canvas curtain, while the fine young 
fellow shown at Fig. 311 urged the ball-players in the com¬ 
pany to walk up and throw base balls at the hole. Now I 
say I was proud of my race when I saw that white man 
“blacking up ’’ in order to make royal sport Tor the crowd. 
You won’t find a black man high enough in the scale of 
intelligence to put on flour or whitewash and stick his 
head through a black curtain. Hurrah for the Caucasian 
race, say I! It’s bound to show its superior intelligence 
anywhere, and just think what a rousing good thing it is 
for these young men and boys to throw those balls. You 
see, every time they hit the gentleman’s head they get a 
cigar. This is a great thing for Jersey agriculture, because 
it develops the cabbage crop. I saw one or two small boys 
sneaking off behind the shed to smoke some of these cigars. 
That’s right—there’s nothing like giving the rising gener¬ 
ation a good start. 
There were many celebrated men on hand. Two typical 
exhibitors are shown at Fig. 312. The gentleman with the 
“The Cup that Cheers and Inebriates.” Fig. 30S. 
Mbits were most complete. There wete, in all, 43 entries, 
each utilizing au average of about 15 kegs per day. A 
picture of the prize-winner is shown at Fig. 308. The 
society may well pride itself on this exhibit. I never saw 
a more complete one, aud the managers show that they 
know what New Jersey agriculture ueeds by encouraging 
it. It is estimated that during the entire fair the visitors 
Two Leading Exhibitors. Fig. 3 12. 
numbers, among such originations, several of fine size, 
great beauty and excellent quality. 
He has also given much attention to the grape, and now 
has a large number of seedlings, mauy of which have 
shown fruit for several years. On September, 23d., 
specimens of nine of these, upon which uames have been 
provisionally bestowed, were received from him for ex 
“ Bound Together True and Strong.” Fig. 306. 
eluded that I was not careful enough to point out all the 
main features. I made up my mind that I would do the 
thing full justice this year. In order to make my report more 
complete, I got a young artist friend to go along with me 
to take pictures of the best exhibits. I hope my efforts 
will be appreciated this year. 
I can heartily say that this was the best show that I had 
ever attended. The managers are to be congratulated on 
securing such a lot of first class attractions. 
The main entrance had evidently been plan¬ 
ned with the utmost care. A little picture, 
Fig. 30fi. will show how carefully the com¬ 
fort of patrons was guarded. I tell you it 
is hard to realize what a neighborly feeling 
it gives one to get into such a pleasant com¬ 
pany as that. Your neighbor’s form and 
shape are forced into you so pointedly that 
you can’t possibly rub the impression out. 
It is a great thing to have farmers “ welded 
together in one powerful mass.” Another 
good thing -was that this crowd provided 
profitable employment for some fine fellows 
who could not make wages at digging pota¬ 
toes or cutting corn. To be sure, some of 
our friends failed to find their pocket-books 
when they unjointed themselves inside the 
gate; but they might have been foolish 
enough to take the money home with them, 
anyway, so it, was all right! 
1 asked my friend to make a sketch of the 
most striking view he could find on the 
grounds and his picture is found at Fig. 
307. I am very glad to see that our agricul¬ 
tural society has decided to drop out all 
such little things as “ordinary farming” 
is made up from, aud go in for something 
big. Let’s all quit hoeing and plowing and 
digging and go to raising trotters. That’s where the money 
is, if the example and influence of the New Jersey Agricul¬ 
tural Society are good for anything. I feel called upon to 
publicly express my appreciation of the efforts this society 
is making to lead us out of our present “ depression ” at a 
2:30 gait. I tell you that race track at Waverly indicates 
the very foundation of our agricultural wealth. 
Next to the trotting and gambling, the beer saloon ex- 
“A Model for Jersey Youth.” Fig. 309. 
The exhibits in the whip “department” were few, but 
very select. A picture of the prize winner is shown at 
Fig. 309. I regard this man as being one of the smartest 
citizens I ever saw. He had a most delightful voice and 
his manners were highly polished. Let a boy stand and 
listen to him for half au hour and I will guarantee that 
he can learn more smartness than he could from our min¬ 
ister in six weeks. If I had a son, I believe I would let 
him quit work and follow this man about the fair circuit. 
I believe in a liberal education, and this gentleman’s re¬ 
marks were certainly very broad and liberal. Of course, 
every mau needs a whip. I have noticed that those who 
keep a whip handy for their animals, are the very ones to 
give their wives and children a clip when it seems to be 
needed. The American nation is saved by the American 
home, and the well organized and well-trained home does 
tjHC Vic*/ of t~l- y 
The Agricultural Fair is an Exponert of 
Agricultural'Thought.” Fig. 307. 
“ Hit the Nigger’s Head ! ” Fig. 3 11. 
high hat was a person of the highest respectability—his 
big diamond plainly indicated that. The other gent did 
his best to maintain his reputation. 
If I had more time I would mention a few more features. 
As a whole, the fair was a model one. The only thing I 
criticise the management for is the fact that it still persists 
in giving a little space to exhibits of stock, implements, 
and fiuits and vegetables. Now this, in my humbl e 
opinion, is all nonsense. These little petty 
exhibits only get in the way of the grand 
and elevating displays that I have men¬ 
tioned above. The managers have shown 
themselves so keenly alive to the needs of 
Jersey agriculture that I can’t possibly 
understand why they don’t see at a flash 
that people don’t care about these simple 
things when they can throw balls at a white 
man’s head or drink beer out of a dirty 
glass. Better give these things up, gentle¬ 
men, and devote your entire space to your 
specialties of trotting, drinking and money¬ 
changing. With this mild criticism, I am 
done. Success to the New Jersey Fair ! It 
is saving New Jersey. A JEBSEYMAlt. 
“The Caucasian Race Must Rule!” Fig. 310. 
double service: as we all know that the whip is the greatest 
civilizer in the world, it follows that the mauagers of the 
New Jersey fair know what they are up to in this line. 
I tell you I was proud of my race when I saw the gentle¬ 
men pictured at Figs. 310 and 311. There were 13 of these 
splendid and useful devices, but the one shown iu the pic¬ 
ture took the prize. This man had “blacked up” with 
SOME NEW MICHIGAN GRAPES. 
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T. T. LYON. 
Mr. C. Eryle, of Pawpaw, Michigan, whose 
farm lies upon some of the highest portions 
of what has come to be known as the Law- 
ton fruit region (about 30 miles from Lake 
Michigan, and therefore not within the 
Lake Shore fruit belt proper), was among 
the first to comprehend the importance of 
elevated location and consequentample “air 
drainage,” for the successful growing of the 
peach and other comparatively tender fruits. His eminent 
success in such pursuits is widely known. He has for many 
years been experimenting in the origination of new varieties 
of the peach, both by selection and by artificial cross-fertil¬ 
ization. aiming primarily, to secure, along with other 
valuable qualities, increased hardiness of the fruit buds. 
Time is yet needful to fully determine the degree of suc¬ 
cess he has attained in this last particular ; although be 
