Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-11-13
State Fairs. and Fairs Generally.

state + airs, ana AIRS uchordhJ.
In The October number We ventured a
fcw suggestions on this topic That pa
per has been extensively read, aud we are
gratified that its sugges ions have met.
with almost universal approval from the
class OF men on whom ultimately We must
mainly RELY for success. But Will any re.
formation be affec,ed2 Willitbe atiempt.
ed2 While our fairs sre-so conducted as
to make money the measure Of success,
and indispensable TO IL, we can hatdly
hope that those who are responsible for
them will boldly and reselutely set them
selves agninst the introduction Of side
shows aud other vicious accompaniment
We know that in the great battle Of life
this common error prevails. The success
Of every man is measured by the smount
Of wealth be possesses, not by the number
Of hearts he makes glad neT by the works
of love and mercy wisre< ~ rr~y< have
wrought. ....
But supposing that our Board desire a
reformation 10 this regard. can they sue
ceed without additional legisla,ionY We
are not positive, but We thiok they lack
the power to forbid side shows and other
vicious exhibitions and practices. Let
the provisions which have worked so we'll
for camp meetings aud other religious as-l
semblles be extended to agricultural fairs,
aud while they are at IL 10 political meet
iRgs also. Let US have tAe power-the
right, TO control our surroundings, and
then If We do not, tue responsibility will
be our own. IfN 81.
The Indiana State Fair has passed
Else here are several illusions 10 il In
this argument we may be permitted to say
in addition that IL was not what we de-
sired. The visitors Of former years missed
much Of farm products, that onee gave
great interest to the seysal departments.
There were machines Of great merit, and
there were some fruits, and some beautiful
works OF art, but in these departments
the display was meagte. There was
cause Tor this, which at future time we
will discuss moro at larger, Al present we
will only say that by the majoFity OF those
who attended this was no, regretted
Why? Simply because they went to of.
tend he races. Perhaps in The above es-
innate We may have over stated the rela.
tive number of those who irent to attend
the races, but we are not mistaken when
we say that majority Of these In atteud-
anee each day gave no nttepiion TO any
thing else. lithey strolled through the
several halls, IL was merely mechanical,
and reminded US Of the Introduction Of
the preacher whose text was. "The world.
tho flesh, aud the devil p-."I will pass
quickly over the world, touch lightly on
the hesh. aud hasten to tho devil as fast
AS possible Many an ussopbisiicated
couutry youth who shouId have made The
machinery aud implumeu's study, who
! >hpnfi <Ey yE<n ,<~rk~1 ss.e srsck
PENS aud heard t90A,snelr and c0aaOis-
GUS discuss the ''poinisr Of the several
varieties Of stock who should have in-
quited how such tesults could be reached
aud then eoue hone with NoRrB WEST
ERIN FARMER in his pocket with one TO
follow hlm monthly. aud with n noble am
billion to dig aud drain, TO feed aud cross
until be should be ible to bring better
specimen OF his hapdisotk- allured
FROM the gate directlyto the ring, fran
which he never moved until night drove
him away; Aeeced by The gamblers-who
were there in iVrce-Of every spare dollbr,
and worse than that, Of the virtue with
which he entered lie has taken his frsi
lesson in gambling, aud happy will he be
II the saored influences Of homo shall be
such that the lesson does not prove the
beginning Of course Of vice and inIamy.
Aud all this under nv guse Of an Ag-
ricultural Fairl Preachers wero there,
elders aud deacons were there, and the
young man hardly suspected that he was
In gamblers dons We will add, In jus.
tice TO the better class who were allured
by the professions of the fair, that they
felt it due to themselves to apologize for
their attendance, with many a promise
never TO be caught again in such u net.
Already there sfo those who propose to
use their infueuce with ,ifo next Lcgisla-
tnre 10 prevent the usual appropriations.
They say that hone racing shall not be
fostered by their taxes. 'h
For the present We close, only asking
this question:: caa we afford TO array
agail ST our annual foaiivals the thousands
Who believe gambling wrongY Can we
afford TO have the best men Ia society an
tagonistie 20 us, merely to gain the pa
tronage OF the lurlY ln this paper we do
not propose 10 commence a war upon the
lovers Of tho cruel sport, though indeed
we have no boot TO ask Of them. but We
do demhnd that forever hereafter We shall
see excluded from cur Stats Fairs-Fairs
that Ars iargeIy spdyxsd BY the money OF
the Slate every sfrc'aAvf'Eaniblug aud
.ruaft,, Aka .,o ,.of neatly dana with
this subject : N. W. Farmer ~