Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-10-13
Auicultural Hairs.


Wsdnssday, ......-..-. $500 oceoosr -. leee
Agricultural Fairs
h Fair q shs Lynchburs Agricultural Socis
3, Vim spsn o. Tuesday: the Fairs At Richmond
end Rstsssbars will follow Immediately therssf
tsr, and Or he next month the papers Of almost
every sscsioa Of the Union. will be allcd with &C.
coanes II the exhibitions in their immediate neigh
borhoodA j A ws are just now in the midst Of
the ssasoa d Agricultural Fairs. . few remarks
CONCERNING them are not inappropriate. A Phil
ade,pAia oo,saporary. in An excellent article on
the subject, says there is evidently something in
these exhibitions which appeals most powerfully
to our national tastes and sympathies. They at
tract larger masses ofpeople together than any
other class Of entertainments. They have the same
irresiss;b,s charm 10 Americans that bull fights
have 70 che spaaisrds, great races to the English
monster musical festivals to the Germans, and
grand fetes to the French.
We are an agricultural people, the great body
Of our population being dependent directlv upon
agriculture for their subsistence and all other in
terests being deeply interested in, and affected BY,
whaaevsr promotes the prosperity Of the farmer.
y
cultars are prosperous. and when they have gath
cred in their summer harvests and feel that they
have we'll earned little relaxation after their
hard labors, they rarely lack the means to crafty
their moderate aspirations for pleasure But
there must be something unitarian. or at least
pretension 10 utlitarianism, even in the pleasure
of On American. lie does not feel easy at the
idea that day should pass by without making
some contribution to his material progress Those
exhibitions afford him happy compromise, be-
tween his usual routine Of employment and his
desire for recreation. lie can gain at them new
ideas Of the great pursuit Of tling the soil from
his brother farmers, see new implements. and
find STIMULATE 10 his ambition and rivalry in the
collections Of superior stock which are assembled
for his inspection.
But, whatever degree Of pleasure and improve
whatever charm may be thrown over these assem-
blages. by the array Of talent which they not I'M
frequently call together, and the mastcrly I'd
dresses which are delivered at them, it cannot be
concealed that the principal interest of those who
attend these exhibitions seems to be, after all,
centersd in the "trias of speed" of horses, which
forms one Of their most prominent features. Love
Of excitement is an inherent principle of our ma
lures, and it finds Of its most agreeable grati-
fcations in witnessing the contest Of our favorite
animal While horse racing is frowned down by
the mora sentiment of the community it possess
es q fascination almost irresistible. Nothing
rouses the human feelings and sympnthies like
struggle in which two skilliul antagonists con-
tend with all the energies Of their natures for SUI
premacy. The passengers Of steamboat are
ready 10 risk even their own lives rather than see
a rival boat pass them on one Of our rivers. Tho
canvass of two strong candidates for public Of
fee awakcns so great All interest that thousands
become willing 10 devote their whole time for
weeks " the success Of their favorite. While the
individual issues Of men go far to determine the
character Of Ire struggle which arouses their sym
pathies, nearly all will find sort of Contest
to interest them. Thetournaments Of the knights
Of the olden time enlisted the attention OF the
elite Of whole kingdoms. The sanguinary taste
of the Romans WAS best gratihed in the terrific
death-struggles " their gladiators. The Grecians
delighted to crown the vicors 1t their Olympic
games. Santa Anna is never 80 happy as when
he is witnessing what isnowa ysgrandiloqucnt-
" termed poultry tournament"
IL, however. it must H. confessed that onr ma
tiuna tastes have keen relish for horse racing il
is source of qualification that public sentiment
has demanded that these exhibitions should be
freed from the contamnating and corruptug in
Huences associated with the turf While our
people enjoy display of the highest qualities Of
the horse they are unwilling to countenanec the
wild frensy Of gambling excitement. which is nh
almost inevitable accompaniment Of the regular
race-course. The trials Of speed" Of our cxhibi-
tions. - fer possible give national enjoyment,
under auspices which prohibit Decentralization;
and The standard Of taste and appreciation Of the
horse is elevated by the variety Of tests to which
his qualities are subjected.
1t is important that those who have charge Of
these exhibitions should be on their guard against
makiag them too exclusively arenas Cor the mere
exercises # the racc-cosrse. Speed is great
quality; bst there are others. also, quite rs we'll
worthy of consideration
Tho Prospect for Douglas