St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-11-22
Horse Racing az Cattle !ShoirS.

Horse Racing az Cattle !ShorS.
\ correspondent of Portage county,
Ohio, writes in regard TO Agricultural
Fairs as follows:
Some nine wears ago the northeast
portion of our county, embracing four
townships, got tired and disguised with
the management of our county fair,
which had been prosperous, but was
finally turned into race course with Ill
lis usual 6ain of attendants, with side
shows, SWINGS, dice, DC The people Of
these townships determined TO get up a
purely agricultural fair excluding every
thing in the shape OF a side show and
horse racin.. The result Is, after trial
of eight years, the society fiourishes, and
lis members increase. II has 4 larger
attendance than any other fair in tins
vicinity. and only ten cents are charged
for admitiance with the privilege OF 60
ina out and In when one chooses one
dollar buys a family ticket for the three
DAYS, This fall 100 family tickets were
sod. besides the one dollar fee paid by
competitors But one man has ever been
known 10 climb the fence 10 obtain an
entrance. and he, 10 save time IN walk
ing around the grounds went directly 10
the ticket Office and paid his dime No
ar,lent spirits have ever been allowed on
the grounds; one man applied 10 the
president for the privilege OF selling wine,
remarkin- that il WAS such a. Is used 10y
churches for the communion. We'll, said
the president. | think il had better be
used for that purpose The grounds and
buildings. IA ACRES OF groundl are all
paid for, and the society has money un
hand; =, there Is one iair conducted on
correct principles, and it pro~perS-
/ We thank our correspondent for tins
pertinent statement on topic that l. Just
now and VERY justly -. of much interest
among the rural population Read the
following extract from 4 Rochester g'al,er,
Western New York, III relation 10 The
Livingston county Agricultural Fair,
where there WAS a gool exhibition oi
thoroughbred cattle, sheep, &c-, but
these were only glanced At. while the
crowd pressed round the track 10 see the
trotting for premiums" The sweep
stakes trOtiing and whisky 50 excited the
drivers. that there was i narrow escape
from . fight, says the Rochester paper As
follows:
l;ut the better counsels OF few cooler
headed friends OF the parties prevailed,
and this outbreak of feeling, and the
far for 1867 closed together. Such
SCENES are the legitimate result OF the
horse RACINE which within few Years
ha> CROWN TO be a leading card II nearly
every agricultural lar. The evil has
been growing upon us until Ii Is almost
impossible 10 get decent show OF farm
, products, implements or anything else.
The large premiums 20 TO horses kept fur
racing, and sporting men anu jockeys
, gobble the funds OF the society, ;and ii
too many cases lead the officers by theil
hoses. Gambling and betting. drunken.
ness and profanity are getting TO be a,
common al county fairs as III any race
course in the country, and Imen who re
gard their character OF any account are
obliged TO keep away or be accused o
: countenanclng these growing evils 1t i:
: urged that all this trottlng Is necessary Il
5 increase the number and improve th,
T breed OF fast horses. Whatever the re
Il suit may be with horses, il Is plain tina
. the number OF fast young men and wo
men are increased with an unnecessar,
rlpiditv. while their morals and man
ners are not in the least improved
These remarks DO not apply TO the Liy
- in.ston county fairs, more than TO 9th
ers- Indeed, this society are making ei
forts again 10 get into the old track, AM
IF have their exhibitions for the benefit q
= the agricultural inieres. of the communi
L ty. and the same thing Is discussed Il
i other counties but II Will be some year
7e before the societies will get over the ei
5. tects of their mistaken policy If W
> must have horse races, let them 20 b
N that name, and let those who favor tleI
N attend, but let our agricultural fairs b
he 80 conducted a. TO answer the ends fu
r which they were established, and 50 tia
a no man need fear TO take his wife an
c, SONS and daughters TO them
r. We most cordially commend the T,
'e form inaugurated IN Portage Co, o.,
IA all our readers who are concerned in COZ
al ducting and sustaining county, stale, ,
ed New England fairs Let horse racir
on and all --side shows such Is are ind
nd Gated 10y our correspondent, be eniireI
IL ignored, and If il be found, which y
l. very much doubt, that cattle shows ca
oe- moi be kept up without horse-racing Al
lis kindred attractions then let them
tul down, for this would be far better, III:
ze to sustain such demOralizing institution
ice 10y and among our moral population.
he Congregational
To-
iei Al a recent railroad celebration. 1
ie- following sentiment Kyas rix-n I'D