Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1868-10-16
THE STATE FAIR.

Owing to our County Fair occurring the
same week OF the Slate Fair, we were un-
able to give so much time TO the latter rs
we desired to.
We went down on Friday. and spent sew.
eral hours at Che cattle grounds and in the
halls. The display OF agricultural imple-
meu,s was large. Some good cattle we're
also to be seen. OF the Devon, Durham,
and Jersey breed.
The principal attraction at the grounds.
seemed to be the agricultural hoi Sc irot.. -
for there were some ten thousand people in
attendance. Who seemed 10 be all talking
horse.-
After Witnessing some Of the ''jockeying"
of the low drivers who spent much tune and
wcaried the noble animals, which uniortu-
nately were placed in their charge. in chat
fering for position and then preventing a
fair start. and seeing the gambling and bet.
ting. the bantcring and swearing. We voted
the whole thing a nuisance. We concede
that 1t Is desirable to improve the stock
to raise good horses rather Than poor ones,
and that speed Is desirable quality an =
horse--but when speed can only be tested
BY races, and horses coly be handled b,
low and unprincipled jockeys who will sell
a race for a few dollars. then It dccsn-
crates into an evil which should not be
coantenaneed by any people. We took
more pleasure IN examining a bag dapple
gray stallion, which We ss~ there, and which
weighed 2250 lbs. IL was OF scotch CLYDE
breed. and a horse OF fine proportions. Its
girth was feet. 3 inches; and t~enty-on
fee, clear around breast and stern he stand.
IL hands > inches high. and measures = feet
inches across the stine and feet across
the breast. The fore arm 10 "a inches a.
round. and the shoe about 9 inches long
and > wide He requires bride two
feet an length. He did not appear logy,
bu, more 1.-THE and limoer than some Of the
nags that were brought on to the race course
with their limbs all bsndaged up. a, though
required hopping TO hold together. Why
is not strength as Important a poin, in a
horse. 10 an agrIculturist. rs speed
The truth !, the horse irotting part OF our
cattle shows Is the catch penny part, put in
To cater to that taste OF human nature which
we admit is coramon 10 all, and which is
based upon the love of excitement. Il il
that one sided par, Of our nature which
prompts one to take sides in contest be.
tween opposing force.-wbcthvr a cock
hght. or dog tussle, a horse race. or q
q game OF base ball.
IL seems to that Improvement in the
breed OF horses may Dc attained without so
high speed. Besides. where - the prac-
teal benefit in the higbes; rate of speed. TO
the farmer? lie NAV be led to raise fast
horses TO get high prices FOR them. bu, i; is
rather pecarious stock. at the best.
The exhibition IN the City Hall vas very
fine and required q longer time to do lust.
ice TO it. than we had at our command. We
cannot enter upon n descI iption. Oxford
county bore off the palm on big .qua,hes
under Elder Dunhsu's culture The Elder
sat near, as pleased with the wonder the y
excited, as a mother at the praise OF her FIRST.
bonn. One city chap, carried away b, the
big one, declared that IL could no,
have been the growth OF single year. and
asked the Elder bow many years be had
been raising it. SIX. At least said the
Elder. with all solenni,y. and then the city
chaps wonder ceased.
The Fair was grand success. financial.
" and other wise.
No; the leas; profitable exercises Of tho
week were the discussions a. the Farmers
meetings. in the evenings. We shall give
such reports OF tLem as we are able TO pro.
cure.