136 WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY . 
enveloped our city and vicinity, that the old fellow had to remain 
satisfied with what he had seen last week. The weather up to 
Saturday night was all that could possibly have been desired, and 
every one hoped that we were to have an uninterrupted succes¬ 
sion of fine days for the fair. But the sultry weather of Saturday 
foreboded rain, and as night came on the clouds gathered in the 
northwest and southwest and the bright flashes of lightning fore¬ 
told the coming storm. Sunday dawned in a way that was de¬ 
cidedly disheartening. The leaden sky grew heavier and heavier 
as the day advanced, with occasional patterings of rain. With 
early night the rain came and poured steadily in unceasing tor¬ 
rents till noon yesterday. The rain-fall was accompanied by the 
most vivid flashes of lightning and heavy claps of thunder that 
followed each other in rapid snccession. So long continued a 
thunder storm has not been known for twentv-five vears. From 
%J a/ 
Sunday afternoon till Monday noon the thunder and lightning 
were frequent and at times of the very heaviest description. Mon¬ 
day morning the rain poured down in torrents, falling steadily in 
heavy sheets. At noon there was a cessation in the storm, and 
the sun almost broke through the scattering clouds, but soon 
retired behind the thick veil as the sky again darkened with the 
portents of continued rain. Soon there was a sudden breaking 
forth of sunlight and then the clouds and the sun strove for the 
mastery with doubtful success. Yesterday afternoon the clouds 
came and went, but the sun seemed to promise better weather 
to-day when he retired from view.” 
Tuesday, the day of the formal opening, the weather was more 
promising, although somewhat fickle, “ alternate rain and sun¬ 
shine prevailing/’ The grounds were in terrible condition from 
the three days of incessant rain, and but few visitors were present 
to listen to the President’s opening address, which was delivered 
at 2 o’clock P. M., in front of the executive office. The office of 
entry was kept open until 9 P. M m hence the class books could 
not be delivered to the judges until Wednesday morning, and 
then, as usual, few of those selected answered to “ roll call,” but 
the board was fortunate in securing efficient persons to fill the 
vacancies, with little trouble, the superintendent of each depart- 
