The Western Democrat

ONE OF THE "CURIOSITIES" AT THE STATE FAIR.—The Editor of the Fredericksburg (Va.) News attended the State Fair at Richmond week before last, and has written some very spicy letters, telling of all the strange sights he witnessed. He says:

I was more amused with the "Young Ebony Saxe-Horn Band," which came with me on the cars, than with anything else. There are seven little negro boys, between 5 and 10 years of age, natives of South Carolina, and real white-eyed, thick-lipped, genuine darkies, but excellent musicians. The son of the gentleman who owns them is "leader." He is 8 years old. When asked to play, he punched the small darkies to wake them up, shouted "No. 2," and the whole set struck up "Lilly Dale," and played it beautifully. It was enough to make a horse laugh to see their white eyes almost starting from their heads, and all blowing away for life. Every now and then they would relapse into a nap, and seemed as happy as possible. The owner kept them for his own amusement, and seemed as fond of the blacks as of the white boy. I regarded them as seven of the most remarkable people in the State—not excepting Gov. Wise.

The Fair has fatigued me more than usual, because I nearly broke my leg by stepping into a coal vault, left open on the sidewalk. I thought of suing the city, and asked a lawyer here if I could recover. He said my leg might recover, but he didn't think I would. If I did, he advised me to take shin-plasters, which were as good as suspended bank notes for a bruised leg. I asked the same friend what would induce him to join one of those benevolent societies, the Fire Companies, which are always fighting, and wear red flannel shirts in the street. He said he might join if he had the rheumatism, as red flannel was believed to be good for it.