Smyrna times., 1856-10-22
0riginal Artitle,
THE FAIR AT DOVER.

"Hls COW and cattle were MS only care,
And his supreme delight country fair"
MR. EDIToR,-
Aly Dear Sir: had the honor--for such
esteem ito attend the late Agricultural Fa
held at Dover. With many things was pleas
ed not a little. The articles displayed for ex.
hibtion by the ladies-of course do not refer
to hoops, but those more modest, useful aud be-
coming articles Of" handiwork" and "handi-
craft" for which the gentler sex is SO remarka-
ble-evinced much taste and ingenuity, and
deservedly commanded general admiratiou.-
The gentlemen's department-owng TO the un-
favorable character of the seasons for the pur-
suit of Agriculture, as well as the agitated,
and | might add distracted condition of the
country, was thought inferior to former occa-
fons.
Notwithstanding " "much people" were pre-
sent from almost every part of the county and
State, and were perhaps as we'll satisfied as,
from the circumstances, could have been ex-
Pected. But we think we venture not too far
when We say that whatever defect NAV have
teen supposed to exist, was amply compensa-
Ted for in the beautiful, Instructive and eloquent
address delivered upon the occasion by Gen.
Tench Tilghman, of Talbot county, Md. He
made many happy allusons to the early agri-
cultural history of Delaware, marked the pro.
sress Of that arr to its present prosperity, and
10 conelusion-to his honor be it said-paid
most beautiful tribute TO our Holy Christianity,
Moda rxyho al o ho,
high and enlightened position. In no attitude
does man appear so august" as when he en-
dearors to direct the mind from nature up TO
natures God, or seeks to teach his fellow man
to rely in all the enterprises of life for success
upon Him whose kingdom ruleth over ALL
But, Mr.. Editor, there was one feature of that
Fair, from which you will pardon me when |
dissent. Agriculture, esteem as the most |
enabling pursuit that ever engaged the atten-
lion of civilized man. AS was justly observed |
BY the orator of that day, :: to dress and to
keep" the soil was the first great vocation of |
man while in that moral purity and perfection |
in which he was originally created. And, if l
mistake not. Cicero somewhere remarks that
a
gentleman than manuring and tiling the soil. :"
lis not, then, to Agriculture that would form
exception I; no, it is not to Agriculture-but to
thst which is foreign from and subversiye of
the dearest interests of Agriculture-to that
which must divide and divert the mind of the
agricultural community, and prove fatally pre-
judicial to their future and Ultimate prosperity.
You, Idoubt not, sir, already anticipate met
is 10 that Race Course-ior know of no mora
name by which to designate it
spon which. vain, silly and ambitious men, bows
and even girls, torture beyond their natural
speed- for the idle diversion of crowd of
men. boys and girls, equally vain and silIy-
M, horse, that most noble and sagacious of all
aaizuals, which was given US by our benevolent
Creator for purposes consistent with the wants
Of ra ,ionai,i humane and intelligent agents---it
ia 10 this that / form and urge a most unon,,;
6ed exception. 'att ss1 " za.Faia anf
4 howmenof enlightened Christian sentiments
for such the majority of those holding and
Offering prize for such unmitigated cruelty
Claim to possess-can reconcile these things 10
the religion Of our Divine Exemplar, for nv
part, sir, am unable TO tell. England ma,
have her .scock-fghts ''-FraDce, Spain and
Portugal, THAR y bull fghis,'''i and Rome her
gadiasorial lsombats, but how Intelligent Anne
ilcan citizens of the State of Delaware, in
eighteen hundred and fity-sIx. can patronizr
and reward premiums for this relic Of barbarity
Il
Il 5--as % all sober minds pust allow il to bc--s,
confess, sir, far beyond my humble powers OF
s0lutioa. From what standard. pray. sir, can
tAey be reckoaingi Surely not from that vol
nne which eBjoins, Do justly, love mercy and
walk bumby before thy God--for how wonder.
pnsly perverted must be the vision Of such as
can siscern either justice, mercy or humility in
sacA hsrharoas divisions But I urge this ex-
ssPslon, SIR, becaase Of its illegality. Illegal
ffs 80 81 E.fe