Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-10-20
For the Journal.
VIA, Ind. Oct. III. 1859.


hibitions. That they are beneficial.
and calculated TO promote the welfare
Of our community, we are not willing
to acknowledge. or, at least, we do
not understand in what way. Are
they calculated to introduce stock OF
the best quality into our county, Per-
haps they are:bu men who are truly en-
ergctlc, and interested in the improve
meat of stock, will certainly be ever
seeking after the very best OF stock
whether there be county fairs or no.
Is the exhibition of agricultural i'm
'plements. etc. an inducement to me-
chanics to execute their work in all ex-
cellent manner? 1t may be but
honest workmen. and men of genuine
taste, will do the same. with no other
inducement than money. in exchange
for their labor. On fair ground,
may be seen quite display of vege
tables, grain. etc. and every man,
awake to his own interest in domestic
affairs. may find corn and pumpkins in
his own field at home. that would COM
pete with any at the fair.
At the fair may also be seen dis
play of the skill and ingenuity of WON
an. striving to excel in her sphere of
mechanism; hoping to find red, or at
least, blue ribbon tied to n certain
Quilt or something else that belongs
to her, or is sample of her mechan-
ism. And thus, man and woman.
alike in this matter. are manufacturing.
cultivating. laboring. economizing and
competing; and it is all for naught.
Let us consider the expense of onr
county fair. We will not take into
consideration the expenditure of mon
cy, for fair is not like "show,"
that takes the money ont of our coun
try, but they leave it with us, and,
perhaps, barely enough to pay the
premiums. etc. We wish to consider
the time. lol Franklin said, "Iime is
money" suppose the average mum
Der OF men in attendance during our
county fair to be 800. land doubtless
there were that many, allowing them
$1.00 per day each. it would amount
to 81 200; and our county must be
minus that amount. or that which l.
equal to it. Counting time. no man
really made any thing. even those to
whom premiums were awarded. We
would ask. who is benefited by fair
OF the agricultural society? Is the me-
chanic benefited by it? Many per-
sons will he unable to buy pillow or a
cultiva'or, in the Spring, perhaps be-
cause they spent $500 at the fair. Is
the merchant benefited by it? The
"high-liied" gentleman can not pur-
chase a coat or pair of pants for they
have spent $500 at the fair. Is the
editor benefited by it? 1t is true he
prints bills and advertiSes for the So
ciety. and is paid for it. but doubtless
100 persons are deprived of taking hi,
paper. by spending $3.50 and perhaps
twice ,he sum. at the fair. l. the farm
er or any one else benefited by it,
We think not. No doubt but educa
ton will feel the influence ami lee sup
pressed by our agricultural fairs.
As for moral influence being exert
ed, we consider that the throng of a
fair presents a reverse to every thing
moral. Horse trotting for premium
(money) is neither moral nor agricul-
tural. What genuine farmer would
give one farthing more for horse that
can trot fast than he would give for
one that can not trot fast? The man
can not be found who would desire a
fast trotting horse fora scrviceable
one No. horse trotting no more be-
longs to agriculture than foot-racing
belongs to horticulture.
Playing cards for money is gam
bling; horse racing for money is ac-
knowledged by all wise men to be
gambling horse trotting is not ac-
knowelged to be so. but horse racing
and horse trotting are synonymous.
and. things that are equal to the
same thing are equal to each other: -
therefore it must he gambling.
Finally. considering the opportuni
ties offered for our young men to spend
their money, and to be thrown into
bad company. and the tendency it has
to create u disposition in every one to
loiter away his time.-we are ready to
conclude that county fairs, or fairs OF
any kind. are not what they pnrport TO
he. AMI that they are depres sing rather
than elevating.
Some may refer us to the rapid i'm.
provement of the country, and the
great improvements of patent rights,
to substantiate this matter. But the
country will he improved as it is pop
ulated. and patent rights are not