Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-07-17
THE CHRONICLE.
elarksvine, Saturday, July IL, 1850.
AGRICULTURAL FAIRS.

tiiC NVhAiHtnt VI INV DAtNloh iSiNo
doubtless relnehibers away in the dim
past, q fair, in'jor = hear { his native
town. In some Kingdoms it was, and
is, a special privilege granted t1wn,
as it brings in the inhabitants, strang-
ers and money. Its return in some
places Is annuai ! in others, atwiceor
three times during the year. Some
specific name, according to the most
prominct feature of the, fair. is al
ways given. There are, therefore,
horse fairs, cattle, sheep, and other
fairs, but, strange as it may seem or
sound, there are also book fairs, like
the Mcssc at Leipsic, in Germany; or.
fur fairs, like the one held at Nish-
N)w-N ovogerod, in Russia. But,
certain concoInitants are, and always
were, to be met at all of them. Promi
nent among these, the play, the
slcight of-hand performer, the clown,
the double-hcaded calf, the fat woman
and ether monstrosities, and last,
though not least, the dancc--all per-
formances which take away, rather
than bring. Itis charged that in
Ireland fair is not a fair without a
fight but this we cannot testify,
never having seen an Irish fair. AT
the Mcsses at Leipsic-which contin-
ues month and includes the sale of
all the products of Europe as we'll
Asia, inclusive Of new publications.
inhabitants from all parts of the world
Generally wearing their peculiar ma.
tional costume) can be found, who
come there for the purposes Of table
and commerce.
just when America, or rather the
United States commenced to hold
fairs, especially agricultural fairs, we
have not tho means at hand to ascor-
tain: they were, however, introduced
in the early part of the present cen
tury, and after a few years suspended.
We remember q State fair in New
York as early as '43, and believe it
to have been the second or third in
the series. Now, most, of the States,
and in these, again, most of the coun-
ties, hold annual agricultural fairs,
making the exhibition of farm pro-
ducts, domcstics manufactures, stock
Of all kinds and farm machinery, the
general and dominant features, but, by
no means excluding the above-men-
toned concomitants, with, perhaps,
the addition of gambling and things
worse.
We are among those who hold that
great good may result to State or
county from proper exposition OF
its various products; we believe, also,
that those products which lead and
are most remunerative in the State or
county--to the farmer and mechanic
should lead in the exhibition and
receive the highest premiums; we
further believe that o successful fail
can be held upon Legitimate fouu-
dation--in other words, it is unneces.
sary, nay, positively hurtful, to a
community in which a fair is held, tc
introduce exhibitions and practices Of
Questionable character. Money
large receipts, are not always fail
critcrian to judge of the success Of {
fair. The managers may desire
money land it is necessary that it b
forthcoming in order to pay the pre-
miums offered), because, even in of
icring premiums, calculations arr
made on entry fees, or gate money, o.
membership ices--but it is not thu
sine qua non. IF we have a just con
ccption of good and successful fair
it is something like this: First, u sc
lect and well-adapted place for tn,
occasion, provided with the nocssar,
buildings in which to expose such ar
ticlcs as need protection against tn
weather. and against light fingers, OF
as it is now scientifically called, epic
mania. Second, sheds or building
for agricultural machinery that wi
he injured by rain; the proper stall
for all kinds of live stock; musi
stand (for there should be music); a
amphithcatre, if practicable (by n
means an absolute necessity and tn
proper offices for the conductors {
directors of the association. TIL
highest premiums should be give
for the most artiul articles or animal
such as require great labor, exit
skill and years of time to produce
This grading Of premiums is yer
nice point, requiring experience an
skill to do we'll. There will alwa,
he many persons who desire to pu
chase (and, by the way, sale and ba
Ter were prominent points in all legi
innate fairs at first); therefore, an o
portunity should be given, eth
public or private, or bring buyer al
seller together, aud thus dissemina
what one may have to sell and q
other TO buy. Premiums are offer
60 stimulate men TO produce the We
best of It's kind or class; hence t
greater perfection of tho stock of t
present day and in degree, of t
improved and perfect implements n,
in use. The end is not yet,--[C