The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-10-07
Iiosss Ssir. sud Agricultural Exhibition.

We are ut the height Of the season Of
horse fairs aud agricultural exhibitions.
They all seem To be-, as usual very success.
kl, whether they nre under the auspices Of
National, State, or only county Organlza-
iions. There il evidently something IN
these exhibitions which appeals most pow
eriuly TO the national tastes and sympathes.
They attract larger MASSES of people to-
gotber than any other class OF entertain
ments.
They have the salne irresistible charm TO
Americans that bull fights have 10 the
Spaniar,a. great races to the English mon.
ster musical festivals Ia the Germans, and
grand irtes 10 the French
We are au agricultural people, the great
body Of our population being dependent di-
rectly upon agriculture Tor their subsistence.
and all other interests being deeply interest
ed in, aud affected by. whatever promotes
the prosperity oil the larncr. Asa general
thing, too, those engaged IN agriculture are
prosperous. and when they have gathered
In their summer haryests, and icel that they
have well earned little relaxation after
hard labors, they rarely lack the means to
crafty their moderate aspirations for pleas.
urc. hut there must be- something utlllta.
rian. even in the pleasure Of an American,
lie DOES nd feel easy at the idea that II day
should pass by without making SOME con.
,rlbution 10 his material progress These
exhibitions afford him Il happy compromise
between his usual routine Of employment
and his desire Tor recreation, lie can gain
a, them new ideas Of the great pursuit o'
tillpg the soil from hIs brotlcr farmers s,c
rev implements. and find stmulants to his
ambition and rivalry IN the collections of
superior stock which are assembled for his
inspection.
i'ut, whatever degree oi pleasure and i'm
proycmcnt may thus he derived from such
sources. and whatever charm may bc thrown
over these a,sembagcs, by the array OF tai
ent which they not unir'qacn,y call togeth
er, and the mastery addresses which ar, de-
liycrcd at lhrm. II cannot hc concealed that
the principal interest ot those who attend
thee exhibitions seems 10 be. after all. cen.
trc in the trials 81 speed OF horses, which
form one at their most prominent features.
Love Of excitement Is an inherent principle
OF our natures, and il iiuds one Of It's most
agrreahlc qualifications IN witnessing he con.
t,sts OF our iayor,tc animal While horse
racing is taboocd 10y our laws, and irown,d
down 10y the moral sentiment OF III, commu.
nifty, 1t possesses u fascination almost ire
sis,iblc. Nothing rous,s IA human feelings
and sympa,hics like u struggle in which two
skilliul antagonists contend with all the en-
crgies OF their natures for supremacy. The
passengers of steamboat are willing 10
risk even their own lives rather than So
rival boat pass them ON one Of our rivers.
The canvass OF two strong candidates for
public Office awakcnS So great an interest
that thousands become willing to devote
their whole time for weeks 10 the success Of
their iavorite. While the individual tastes
Of men 60 far to determine the character OF
the struggle which shall arouse their sympa.
thcs nearly all will find some sort OF CON
test TO interest them.
The tournaments OF the knights Of the
olden time enlisted the attention Of the elite
OF whole kingdoms. The sanguinary taste
On the Romans was bes, graiiiicd in the ter
rife death struggles OF their aladlators. The
Grccians delighted 10 crown the victors Of
their Olympic games. Santa Anna h never
so happy as when be is witnessing wha, is
now adays grandiloqucu,ly termed a poul
try tournament.
II, however. ii mus, h. confessed that our
national tastes have keen relish for horse
racing. ii is a sourc OF qualification that
public sentiment has demanded that ihcs,
exhibitions should he fred IRON the con.
,aminating and cOrrup,ing influences aSoci-
ated with the turf. While our pcople eujoy
J,.,l.v az n - lipl,sf uunili,s a H.