Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-02-08
1arienIturaI lsfaoing.
From the New England Farmer
HORSE RACING At CATTLE SHOWS,


HORSE RACING At CATTLE SHOWS.
Mr.. ED1roR,-Can you tell US how 1t
happens that within a year or two, the
time of our cattle shows, instead Of being
devoted to the legitimate objects OF such
gatherings, is devoted to horse racing!
And not only that, but a large part OF the
money raised and set aside for prizes,
given for the best specimens OF female
equestrianism Is il possible, that, in
this enlightened age, we are willing to
sustain horse-racing, with all its attend
ant evils too numerous to mention! that
which our good fathers and mothers have
labored to warn US against, and to shun
as the places where vice and immortality
did abound. This practice has been dis
countenanced by the good and moral for
ages; and now, that it presents itself in a
new form, under the name of cattle shows,
thousands, both old and young, are in
attendance; the grey headed, who ought
to be too wise to be seen there, and the
young and thoughtless, who drink in the
excitement of the hour, with all the evil
they see and hear, as they would the most
luscious sweets. Horse-racing has be-
come the most important part of the per-
formances, beside which, an able and well
delivered address would be called poor
and insipid, and not worth listening to.
1t is said by way of excuse for all this,
that it draws crowd, and it pays, and
this is all that can be said in favor of the
thing. All very true. So it would draw
q crowd and doubtless pay, to have a
puppet show, Jim Crow dancers, circus,
or something of that sort, but do you
think it would tend to promote the noble
art of agriculture? For one, I think
otherwise, and am determined to raise my
voice against the increasing evil. More
than once when / have witnessed the
races, have been led to remark that the
ladies would do better to be at home,
making bread or butter, or still better, be
able to bring a specimen of those articles
to the fair, that they might compete for
the prizes offered, rather than to show
themselves mounted on a fast horse to
run race that the crowd "that pays
may have an opportunity to crafty a
strange curiosity that seems to exist in
the breasts of the Yankees.
We might ask the managers of these
societies that annually throw away their
money on this racing business, this CUES
tion-are you expending the money
committed to your charge in manner
calculated to give permanent satisfaction
And of the members of these societies ]
would ask, are your officers spending
your money as you wish to have them
Are you willing to have forty or fifty
dollars paid for the best specimen o.
"horsewomanship," when your wife OF
daughter receives but three or four dol.
lars as the highest premium given for the
best butter, cheese, or bread? No, and
hope the officers Of all the agricultural
societies viii consider well what they are
doing before they conclude to give away
half or quarter, or in short, any of the
money which is distributed in premiums
to those who can best run or race a horse
Pray remember those who have exerted
themselves to raise fruit and vegetables.
tomake bread, cheese, and butter, to bring
specimens of their handiwork, that your
halls may be filed. And if any person
should prefer horse-racing to bread and
butter, or fruit, then I say, let him have
his fill and live on that as long as he can
for he does not deserve any Of the breat
or the butter.