The Montana post., 1868-10-09
ABOUT FAIRS.

Fairs are by no means of modern ORR
gln' on the contrary they have been an
institution, in nearly every country,
since time immemorial, and are believed
10 be coeval with commerce itself They
were originally in the nature of mar
kets at which articles were not only
offered for exhibition, but where there
was much Traffic in the various pro-
ducts brought from every portion of the
country. Among the earliest fairs known
IN England, and we are indebted for the
information to the American CycIouss
dia, was that of the priory and hospital
OF ST Baltholomew's. in Smithfeld,
London. This fair was founded ia the
twelfth century and lasted for three
days in each year, during which
II was visited by great cons
courses of business men from
every portion of the kingdom, who re.
sorted to IL for the purpose of makiug
sales and purchases. In the thirteenth
century the fairs OF England attained
to their greatest importance. sirce which
time other facilities for commercial in
tercourse having increased. they have
diminished in number and influence
Large fairs are still held annually. how
ever not only in England, but in Scot
land, Ireland, Wales, and in the various
countries of continental Europe. France
has an abundance of fairs. most of
which derive their Importance from the
immense commercial transactions for
which they form the basis. At the fair
OF Guibray, for instance. which was
founded in the eleventh century. the
annual sales amount to between three
and four million dollars. The annual
fairs IN Amsterdam and Rotterdam are
made the scenes of great rejoicing, and
any who should there see the sour
kraut fancicrs parading the streets, sing
ing and shouting as If they had recently
conquered the country, would be ready
10 believe that the Dutch had Just taken
Holland, IN good earnest But the most
important OF European fairs are those
OF Hermany, and most conspicuous
among these are those of Frankfort on
the Main, Frankfort on the Oder, Bruins.
wick, and Leipsic. The fairs of this
latter city date from the fifteenth CEN
turv, and are held three times per wear
that is, AT New Years. Easter. and the
Feast OF st. Michael IL is estimated
that during the Easter fair go 600 per
sons are assembled. and that the value
OF the goods exchanged is $50. 600 600.
Russia holds several large fairs yearly.
the aggregate value of the goods
brought to which is estimated at
Sl5O,O0O,OO0 The earliest Amer
ican fairs of which we have
any knowledge are spoken of
by Prescott in his history of the cons
quest of Mexico. The greatest of ther
fairs mentioned by him were held atthe
City of Mexico, at which it was estima-
ted that between thirty and forty thou
sand visitors We're present. The same
author chronicles tie fact that the an
cient meas of Peru Instituted fairs for
the facilitation Of agricultural ex-
changes
The fairs o! which we have been
speaking are all OF a commercial nature.
and have been among the principal in
strumentalities which have advanced
the development and civilization of the
world. There has been money in
them, and, though gold may be SLAM
derOusly denominated the root of all
evil, il has in this case proved itself a
most powerful missionary. Operating
through the medium of these fairs. il
has attracted the merchants of the Afri-
can coast TO France, brought the Turk
TO Germany, induced the Asiatic TO visit
European Russia, and caused certain
sympathy to spring up between the va
rious portions OF the old word. Certain
periods have been established at which
"A nation has, so to speak, opened one
great shop of its own, at which visitors
from abroad could examine and pur-
chase all the products of the nation, 10
the best advantage. To this great ma
tional mart the commerce of other coun-
tries has been attracted, and from il has
taken away not only the Injuries and
conveniences offered for sale, but a Ger
tain portion of the ideas and principles
of the people under whose auspices the
fair was held.
But in the United States, fairs are of
the nature of exhibitions. rather than
markets, and are held every fall in every
county and State of the Union, and in
many OF the Territories. OF the inn
portance of these fairs we hnve previ~
ously spoken, and do not deem it neces-
sary 10 repeat our remarks. They adj
vertise that country in which they are
held. instruct its citizens in their own
resources. promote a spirit of emulation
among producers. and give a holiday to
the people. Either one of these qnali-
ties would be a sufficient recommended
tion tor their continuance and increase.
To CORRESPONDENCE" III. r."
You are evidently an Independent cuss,