100 
WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
portion of desirable works of art pre-engaged that to make a 
c; editable display was practically impossible. 
This statement is made, not in the spirit of complaint, but 
by way of explaining a fact, which might otherwise be attrib¬ 
uted to the wrong cause, and of calling the attention of the 
executive board, and the city of Milwaukee, to whose liberal 
action the society looks for the means necessary to the improve¬ 
ment of the grounds, to the imperative necessity of some bet¬ 
ter provision than has yet been made for this very interesting 
and attractive department of our annual exhibitions. 
Notwithstanding the general failure of the art department 
as such, it remains to be said, on the other hand, that the hall 
dedicated to its use was crowded to overflowing with a great 
variety of articles into the manufacture of which art more or 
less entered, and which, but for the above mentioned deficiency, 
would have had no place on the grounds at all. For example, 
Messrs. Mathews Brothers, A. D. Seaman, and Stark Brothers, 
gladly occupied a section with really magnificent displays of 
elegant furniture, carpets, window curtain material, etc., etc. 
Messrs. J. J. Birchard, N. Brick and Groldsmith & Co., occu¬ 
pied an opposite section, in like manner. These strong and 
popular houses vied with each other in the attractiveness of 
their exhibitions and were successful in drawing crowds of 
interested observers. 
Messrs. Blair & Persons, and Frackleton & Co., were there 
with a fine show of cutlery, glass and china-ware ; and Nied- 
ecken & Co., made a splendid exhibition of blank books and 
general binding -among them, a set of blank books for Mitch¬ 
ell’s bank, said to have been the best set ever gotten up in 
Wisconsin. At all events they were beautiful specimens of 
the binder’s art, and worthily received the award of a silver 
medal. 
Among the numerous other articles admitted to the hall, 
fine assortments of gold and silver electro-plated ware, surgi¬ 
cal and dental instruments and apparatus, trunks and valises, 
millinery and ladies’ clothing, embroideries, etc., shell work, 
