Litchfield enquirer., 1866-03-08
FARMERS FESTIVALS.

----s---As>---~>.-s .'i FARMERS FESTIVALS is,,eai if sri. ss;t+.i @.-~--a sas i~si4ze-- fsi,.tis i We have received | pamphlet containing ar
 account of the Second Annual Festival of the
 farmers of Berkshire County. Mass, held al
 Lee, Dec. 18th, 1883. We are, much pleased
 with the plan and its development as there
 manifested. and VI hope that the officers of oul
 different agricultural societies in this county
 will not be slow in following co good an exam.
 pie, and that the first ia Litekfeld County may
 not be second 1T. point of interest when com pared with any other. aJg 7 A few extracts from tue Berkshirs Repor,
 will give the design In view and the mode oi its accomplishment: o,..,a .r e.ssst.s..
 ..; 'Thsineedhas long been felt among iutelli-
 gent farmers, of more 6pportnnities for social
 culture byi those whose prsyipcs t ia to bs til
 lers of the soil and. acting on this thought
 many of ethe well to do safmers of Befkshire county have favored the project Of an annual
 festive gathering at some date. near the holi- days of winter. To 0 O; Psrkins. Esq, sol Bsckss. and few associates belong the honor of iasti,d,ing this pleasant pastims The irst gathering was held year ago in Lenox. Thi. year tue Presidents of the. three Agricultural Soeietiessin the county acted as g Committee of Arrangements. and were very successful.- .- The company met in, the morning. and few
 hours were spent in greeting old friends and
 forming new ones. Mr. Flint. from Boston, Secretary of the Board of Agriculture, and
 many invited guests from other distant towns
 were present. s.seaiJ e.s4 .4 .svsai i0 .G1.-i,,
 After tlls hearty discussion of substantial
 dinner. MT, Perkins, the Chairman. wished all 2 Merry Chrissmas' and al' Happy New Year.. and in ' fsw appropriate remarkss welcomed the gusais to thyif pleasant entsrtafnne1t. H.. said 1t is meet that the farmsrs .should, pause in his cultivation of the soil. and saltisate his social nature. And iarnslrss wives should isass the cares of home at home. and come togethsr tor . social good time. It is to ocultivate our social nature that we are met tt this simss I give you as . seutiment This Farmers Fss
 tiyal., Then followed toasts and sentimepts
 sita short speeches. From these vs sselact ., sentiment and extract from letter of Prof. 8roscom. of Williams College: .i..,,,,, i. ,.'t ,.. The social and political inausncel of the farmer as promoted by intercourse and associa- tien.' ~ . -, =. Direct combination of single class fer po-r litical endsis liable to be prejudicis| to the, public welfare; Dot 50 these secondary objects which snliven opinion and develop power ". The influence of our agricultural fairs and fes-. tivsls, in drawing out farmers. in-tsaching them their power, uniting them in sentiment, and
 stimulstiag them to more disciplined aud thor ough exertion. cannot be easily over estimated.
 All that adds to the inauencs of a class by teaching thsm their strength, developing it and
 increasing it is most legitimate and valuable sslfcuiture '@iIf.2 7d. T, snsyana,.r !,a : s.,
 It is from this point of view. that most prize your festival. The farmers of Bsrkshirs are capable of doing much for themselves, for local and public in terests, and that they may do it, they need by in tercourss tefesl each ,oth- CT mentally, to be insufficient with, wide and, liberal views to. break.a~ay' occasionally from the home 6reside, cheerful as t is and by ep- 'larged society, quicken and deepen the flow of thought .+.,.;4L edi as9,raj oj -oa s.rGtl
 A poem was read by Mr. Warner of Stock bridge, and with music the time passed i'll 3 F M. when supper was announced aa One huu- drsd and sixteen sat down ts his meaE Brief addresses, music and conversation filled dp the remainder of fhes evening" When the; report is 50 entertaining we knowiihe participants had .ajoyous and profitable day, and We look for. ward with pleasant anticipations to the tims when ia this county wsamay s1jey similar priv iileges. .gs' -Iil4 shsit sa} sqsa9A ct osIa .4s
 " .sa.z -1L1.1L4 : .aslL.ll... z..is aj1 !i49
 | l,sj, re,t, xtn x o.,,S : '