The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-09-14
The galladin,11.
RICHMOND. IND. SEPT. i4th. 1869.
Wayne County Fair

AAnuuioCGueES, altu tHc LuutcS, tUOu
bless them J all-all to contribute to-
Matchmaking our Fair to come off at Cen.
terville, from the 5th to the 9th of Oct
inclusive, similar to the first agricultu-
raj, mechanical and horticultural exhib
itions that we used to have in times
past, when farmers cane together to
compare their products their views in
regard to different cattle, and different
modes Of culture, ETC.. when our Ladies
brought specimens of their handiwork-
quilts, embroidery, knitting. The pro
duets of their dairy-butter, cheese;
sample Of the contents of their pantries
preserves, jelly, pickles, etc when all
our m echanics brought specimens OF
their craft, and thus added something to
the general took and general interest
of the Fair. This is the kind of an ex-
hibition that twill pay" everyone in
satisfaction, complete and perfect. We
shall, from week to week, before the
time for holding the Fair arrives, urge
each and every citizen CT the county, to
do all that he or she can possibly do to
make it a success, by taking something
of their own making or raising to Cen
terville, and fill a niche with it. This
will not only add to the variety but
each and every one will feel interested
because they will have materially assis-
ted in making the Fair.
Just here we cannot help endorsing
tue following sensible remarks on 'Agri
cultural Fairs which we find in the
III earth and Home" of Sept IS. That
paper says, in speaking about trotting
matches and the jugglery Of betting
men, "who are usurping influence in the
CONTROL of fairs and conduct which are
putting the needs Of ordinay farmers at
discount, and making such disposition
of the grounds and of the attractive
features Of our great fairs to ALLEVIATE
the sympathies Of those who are in most
need Of encouragement, and whose inter
ests should call for the livelicst concern
of boards Of agriculture.
We have nothing to say against fine
horses, we believe, moreover, in horse
shows where rare trotters may be match
ed, and where our progress in this di-
rection may receive fullest recognition.
But we do not believe that any special
interes. should he made to ovcrshadow
the boarder and general interests Of
farmers, as body, at the annual fairs
instituted for their advantage.
Good fair roadsters and draught-
horses, with all that relates to their
breeding, should be a matter of concern
to every farmer, and the fairs should
give him opportunity to see these and
their qualities but a gaping seething
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in hand watch
ing the shades of difference between a
two-twenty or two-twenty-five nag ,on
whom bets are pending, crowds the
farmer out of his sphere, and give over
the fair organized in his intre st to those
whose needs and educational proclivi-
ties are met every week on the Union
Course, or the more respectable Pros
pect Fair Grounds. -
No agricultural fair should be without
its fine horses, any more than church
without its music but it is lamenta-
BILE condition of things when the church
cannot get its complement Of worship
pers without an opera choir, and when
State fair cannot pay its bills without
matches between crack horses with
crack drivers.
In the one case vital religion goes to
bles, and the beef cattle, and the COWS,
and the farmers go the same way
There is o debauchment of this sort
overtaking the whole management of
our larger fairs, which earnest-minded
farmers would do well to heed and
check, We trust they will
abandon the present system of inviting
prominent politicians, or lawyers or lit
erary men to deliver 'orations' on the
closing day Of fair. This is sort Of
embroidery as snowy and worthless as
opera music in the churches. If farm
ers would only have the courage to
sit down to o cold cut of the best NUT
ton, and the best vegetables and fruit
on show, and call up the growers Of
them to tell how they did it, they would
be good for something-which cannot
be said of the bucolic orations with
which our fairs usually close nowadays.
We wish well to fairs, but we wish
better to farmers and the sooner they
have the courage to put the fast-horse
managers and the distinguished orators
adrift, and take the homely things which
make to their own thrift in their own
hands, the better for them and the bet
ter for agriculture !" @ -A'a