Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-09-25
County Fair.

ciety held its annual meeting at Barton
last week Wednesday aud Thursday.
Friday the " Fair ground Company" had
several races or trots for purses.
The Fair was said to be successful in
point of cattle on the first day, people on
the second day, and fast horses and fast
men on the third. OF the latter we hear
there were only seren arrests on the last
day. only seven--there might have
been fifty On the whole, we hear it
said the fair was not satisfactory to agi i
culturists, and we think the PRESENT ten
dency is downward. and must be so, and
should be. We recognize the importance
and general utility Of Agricultural Fairs,
when the object is to promote emulation,
aud Of course greater excellence in the
products of the county. Premiums Of
fered for excellence in the various arti-
Giles raised or made in our country will
have tendency to bring these produc-
lions to perfection. Let the best OK, the
best COW, the best sheep aud hog, and
horse receive the appropriate premium,
and good will be the result. We say sue
cess TO such societies, may their useful
ness be increased an hundred fold. But
we are somewhat panied to hear that our
county societies have departed from the
original design so far that farmers are
suspicious and do not bring forward their
products as in days gone by, Formerly
they were held alternately in various
towns in the county, and visitors were al
lowed free access to their inspection, and
Of course a kind Of emulation was crea-
ted between the towns, each striving to
have the one held in their town the most
successful every way. We can see no
good reason for abandoning the old
practice. But our society have for the
last three years held its fairs up one
Of the worst hills to be found in the coun-
". the object of which must have been
either to drive the people away or to
patronize a race course" We know
many Of the members of the society to
be high minded honorable men who
would not be party TO horse racing, or
any other species Of gambling, and we
are led to believe that they must look
upon the subject in far different light,
we think a mistaken one. But we Sc
riously apprehend, and So far as our in
tuence goes it shall be to make our APP
Prehension true, that if the society would
do the greatest good to the country, it
must return to its original practice, hold
It's fairs in different places in the coun-
~, and give all fair chance to compete
for the premiums.
At all events it must cut itself entirely
aloof from horse races, " fair ground
horse shows" or good men and moral
men, those who have any regard for the
morals or temperance Of our citizens will
be compelled to give it over into other
hands. Horse racing or trotting is no
for the benefit OF the county in any sense
At the last race the principle prizes wer,
Won by Canadians, but even if they were
not, the immortality and intemperance pat
ronizcd, and encouraged, (though an oc
casional arrest is made for drunkenness
infinitely overbaiance the premiums ever
If you throw the fast nags" into til.
other scale. We admire the noble horse
lie is one ofthe greatest blessings Of Go,
to man. But '.fast horses are pernicious
Facts will prove that more injury ha
resulted TO young men from fast horses
than all other stock put together. Thos,
who get Interested in them patroniz,
and keep them, are almost to mai
incorporate or gamblers. There ma,
be here and there a solitary exception, bu
we are satisfied the exceptions are rare
Look at those in your small towns VIII
are identified with these species Of prop
erty, and honestly decide if this position
be not true. A wealthy father-in-Iaw
mot a thousand miles off said to tn
owner Of one of these fast nags, If yol
will take that mare out into the wood
and shoot her, will give you a Thousand
dollars" Although the reason was no
given, we think there is no great difficult,
in divining his meaning. He feared tina
intemperance or vice would in the en-
prove his great injury or his ruin.
The legislature has very wisely Out
lawed all these practices. Sect. s {
Chapt. 10 Of Compiled Statutes, thu
reads:
Attracting, running, trotting or pacin
Of any horse or horse kind for any bet Q
wager of money or other valuable thing
or for any purse or stake made, is here
by declared a misdemeanor, and the par
ties, contrivers, aiders, and abetor