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STATE AGEICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 
OPENING ADDEESS. 
By Hon. DAVID WILLIAMS, President. 
Genllemen of the State Agricultural Society and Fellow Citizens : 
We ought to be grateful to the Giver of all good that we are permitted, 
under such favorable circumstances, to assemble in peace at this the annual 
return of the farmers’ festival. I congratulate you also on the condition of 
the weather. All the elements seem to combine to make it pleasant. While 
in former years we have been somewhat unfortunate, we are highly favored 
now. The earth, too, has been bountiful in yielding every product of the 
soil, and, in addition, we enjoy, to-day, health, peace and prosperity, for all 
of which let us be devoutly thankful to the Giver of all good. Let us also 
bear in mind to whom we are indebted, under God, for the peace which we 
enjoy, and let all hearts be filled with gratitude to the brave boys in blue. 
To those who have fallen in defense^of our rights, let there be a monumect in 
every loyal heart. I welcome you to the opportunity here offered to study 
all manner of agricultural problems. Do not neglect it, for there is much 
food for thought and study in the field opened to us. While some object to 
a part of our programme, let me remind them that there is not a more beauti¬ 
ful sight in all nature than a horse put upon his metal. Why not try his 
speed or endurance ? You try a machine. You must test a horse to know 
his powers. You try a draft horse, a roadster; why not try a thorough-bred ? 
His motion is quicker, his style is different. We propose to test his speed. 
Gentlemen, I ask of you that, during the progress of the Fair, you guard 
every department as well as your own private pockets ; for, unfortunately, 
we have a thieving gentry among us. Avoid a swell-mob or any unnecessary 
crowd. Gentlemen, with these remarks, I welcome you to all we have to 
offer as an exhibition, and I now proclaim the Twelfth Annual Fair of the 
Wisconsin Agricultural Society open. 
The Secretary then called the names of the gentlemen constituting the 
Awarding Uommittees, and the working machinery of the Fair was at last 
under full headway. 
The Trials of Speed by trotting, pacing and running horses were spirited 
and gave great satisfaction to the tens of thousands who witnessed them; 
and, so far as we have been able to learn, nothing occured to mar the perfect 
good order which everywere prevailed. 
The Ladies’ Equestrianism was more than usually spirited, there being ten 
competitors, all of them superior riders. 
those two features of our State Exhibitions, though objectionable in the 
minds of some good friends of the Society, seem, under all the circumstances 
