Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-09-26
The State Fair and the Vermont Press.

cultural Society. We have published the ar !
tlcle in fail in another column, as we could not |
bdge it without marring its symmetry. Sew
rral other journals in the State have followed |
N the wake of the Free Press, and have made |
the same and additional charges against the |
Society. They affect to feel neglected by the
managers thereof, hence some ;heir structures
are couched in language which betrays pettish
ness savorinp strongly of personal pque. The
tone of one of these articles-not the one we
take from the Free PreSs--Is such that it would
preclude notice had not similar complaints made
III different terms appeared in its contemporaries
From the general spirit of these articles, no
less than from the conversation Of some men
we could name, VIC should Judge i; was some
what extensively believed that me Vermont State
Agricultural Society was an Institution for fill
ing the pockets Of its managers with money,
drawn from the pockets of the masses, inclnd-
ing the editors Of certain newspapers. They
seem to forget that it wac not specially organ
lied for plucking by every man who can get
chance at it. Hence it would appear that their
chiefest source of difficulty is their exclusion
from the circle Of those who they would have
the public believe are engaged R conducting
that deleclabIe operation. On no other hypo.
thesis can we accouat for the peculiar phase
their hstilty assumes.
Tkose who know the historyof the Vermont
State Agricultural Society, are well aware Of
the difficulties which have surrounded il from
It's commencement, and Of the opposition it has
had to encounter. 1t is probable that no exhi-
btion would ever have been made as State
"A Al. L.. -
pTislng individu ais been found who were will
ing TO erect the necessary Buildings and enclos-
ures, relying upon the sums received for adms-
sion TO remunera,e them for their outlay. In
this manner the" FIRST Two Fairs were held in
this State No premiums were offered as there
were no funds of any description upon which to
predicate them At this period the Society APP
piled 10 the Legislature for aid, such as had
been granted to similar associations, in other
States. Blu, the people had not then been
brought up to the point of making twenty thous-
and dollar appropriations for home institutions,
to say eothIng of objects two thousand miles
distant.
Feeling the necessity Of making some ad-
vances, and being deslrdus of OH, ring premiums
as an lnducement for the improvement Of stock
and other agricultural productions. the Direc.
tors adopted the bold step of Offering gener-
Gus premium list, relying upon the receipts for
admissions and memberships to re- imburse them;
at the same time they guaranteed these prem
iums by their individual credit. 1t was a haz-
ardous experiment. The contingency of good
weather during the Fair was all the reliance 10
which they could look. In this manner they
have continued to hold Fairs for five successive
years. During this time they have accumulated
abou, three thousand dollars as fund to re-
lieve 'hem in case Of failure from the weather
or from any other cause. Their time has be en-
given freely. Not dime have they received
for their time, labor and risk, save their actual
travelling expenses.
Under such circumstances it can be readily
perceived that the managers of the Society have
been unable to advertise extensively. The
risks they have necessarily assumed, not for
their own personal advantage but for the good
Of The cause in which they have been engaged
were ABOUT as mnch as men enjoying only the
moderate income of Vermont farmers, could be
asked to take. Having its origin in desire
TO benefit the agricultural and other industrial
interests ofthe State, they lookedwith confidence
10 the voluntary assistance Of the press Of Yer
monl for encouragement. Its managers have
supposed, enormously perhaps, tina, the farmers
and mechanics who compose the bulk of sub
scrlbers to the different journals in the State,
would look to the columns Of such journals for
information calculated to assist them 10 their
several callings; and that the press of the State
would not expect TO be paid, as for advertise
ments, for announcing matter Of news the
holding of Fair. she list of premiums award
ed, or other ma,ter'oi special interest to the
agricultural community.
10 the matter oil civility, of the want of which
complaint is made, it does not seem that the
Society is very great sinner. In 1854 and
1855 invitations were sent to all the editors in
the State, and arrangements were made for
their conveyance by RAILROAD free OF expense.
But not one in five of the fraternity in The State
attended the Fair, or took any notice of the in
vliatlon. Al all times editors have been adj
United to the Fair free upon their maxine
themselves known as such to the Treasurer.
We think that there are hut few among them
that would not Initiate the course of the manag.
IN declining To repeat many times the expert.
ment ut sending invitations shat were never &C.
knowledged. Several journals have sought ia
make II matter Of reproach to the Society tina,
Band in this State was not employed at the
Fair, In preference To Band FROM abroad
Whether this charge is made in ignorance, or
merely is used as pteiext for exciting eppo.
silon to the Society for sinister purposes. we
cannot say We will chariably adopt The for.
mer construction. The Society have no,hine
whatever to do with employing the Band fur
Their than this Its managers contract with in
divld"als in the town where the Fair is TO b.
neId, 10 furnish grounds, enclosures, halls
stalls, forage, police, music. marshals, &c.
Those citizens of Montpelier with whom thu
contract was made hired the Band employed
As to the wisdom of this choice the Society il
IN no wise responsible for IT,
One journal complains because there was NJ
address delivered at The Fair, and of the omis
sion Of the Society to publish transactions
Others think that too much attention is devote
10 horses and lrotting. On ali these poin,
there is roem for differences of opinion. bu
their consideration 10 unnecessary in this ar,i
Gle
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