The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1863-12-10
From the Prairie Farmer
Societies-.What Can be done
for Them.

FROM the Irairle FARMER.
Agricultural societies--What Can be done
for Them.
The season of agricultural fairs is now
entirely over 1t is we'll for all of US
who are interested in such matters, and
we believe that such is the case with
most of our readers, to take calm retro
spect, survey the ground all over, and
see wherein they have been successful
and wherein failures, and make up our
minds as to what course to pursue in re-
gard to them in the future. We are
aware that several of our cotemporaries
have already commenced the discussion
of the matter, taking diffe' ent views and
arguing to different conclusions. One
prominent eastern paper that has quite
an extensive circulation in the west, as
sumcs the position that the days OF the
usefulness of these societies are mum
bered-that they have accomplished their
mission and must hereafter be counted
as among the things that are passed. 1t
is startling conclusion. and one for the
sake of the good of agriculture, we hope
does not extensively prevail. Still it is
a conclusion that one would not unlikely
arrive at unthinkingly, from the condi-
tion in which many Of our agricultural
societies are now found, and the real fall.
! ing off 10 interest that has been appa-
rent at many Of them the present season.
! Financially our fairs have been success
full. Many of them have been so in al
most every particular, while others have
! been little better than dead failures. We
have ourselves attended a large nun Der
of these exhibitions the present season,
as We have indeed the last six or seven
years, and know that from seeing about
the sarle display at different fairs for
yearly every day for weeks, the ncvelty
wears off, and but for the new faces our
own interest would almost subside. But
ones own feelings in such case should
not be taken for the feelings of all pres
ent For to most local visitors there is
much that is new, much that is interest
ing and profitable. In the first place
then a writer upon this subject should
make the allowance above indicated,
which is not so very easy thing to do.
Again, the mere fact Of lukewarmncss,
a lack of interest, however plainly mani
fest, is not of itself sufficient proof that
the time for the demise of these socie.
ties is at hand, or that We should put the
knife to their throats. First, the cause
or causes Of this disease---we can call it
nothing else-should be sought out. If
such cannot be removed, if too deeply
seated for cure, or if fairs are really fail
uras from old age, from having had their
time, and accomplished their mission,
then it is useless to try to resuscitate
them, and the sooner they are abandon.
ed, and the time and money necessary to
carry them on is saved, the better.
Taking the position that there is some
thing wrong in the management rather
than in the principle of these societies,
it is for us to state wherein such wrong
management consists-from whence ari-
ses the want of interest. Prominent
among the causes, we would place incom-
petent officers. We place intelligence as
the first qualification. Sincere love for
the cause of progressive agriculture,
should be second. A generous, accom-
modating, kindly nature, that makes
friends with all whom brought in contact
having no disposition to exercise ami
mostly against any locality or individual
serving the whole county, as we'll as
the particular township which they hap
pen to inhabit, or few personal or infu
ential friends-in short, q thorough con
+ scentious, upright mind, should consti
tute auother-all crowned with good bu
! sincss qualifications. There are set o
men who are called smart, who will turr
! this way and that, try this system au'
that system, acknowledging at the tim
r. that they are wrong in principle, but tha
such course will bring money into tn
treasury. Horse racing will draw-a'
$ the towns people. for miles around, vii
d come for trot. Bogus jewelry peddlers
t or latter day gamblers, at s25, or more
y each, will make nice sum in the agere
n gate. Every five legged calf, two-head
Y, certain means Of present comfort alta .suppelf
/ at the same time facilitate the rapid distribution
among the people of the most important an
popular document ever promulgated by the eX
ecutive Of this nation. The work will be read,
for distribution about the 5th of December. Al
| persons the description above named desiring
to avail themselves of the terms of this Offer
will address S. WHITTIER, Chicago, Ill p. G
Box 229i.
II CHICAGO, Nov, %, 1868.
/ LIST OF LETTERS
DEMAINING in the Post Office at Tipton OF
IL II lay f nar a,ph