The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-11-11
Our Cattle Shows.
A BruEr REVIEW OF THE FALL rEsrrvrrIE


The fair season Is about over; and In
summing up the reports from the different
societies, 1t seems that there is In all, or
nearly all, n very perceptiblo diminution
of tho enterprise and interest which first
established them. The reason for this
state of feeling Is often asked. and rs Of
ten unsatisfactory answered. Was 1t the
novelty Of tho thing which attracted the
crowd with their contributions ut first ?
And arc We as people so fond Of change
that we cannot maintain an institution
which, If rightly managed, Is very useful,
without something new, strange and ex-
citing each year, to keep up the interests ?
1t seems so; for rs u general thing the
principal attraction Is something apart
from what was originally intended tO con-
stitute q part of the show; usually n
horse trot. The address, for some reason
hard to state, proves failure. inasmuch
as It neither draws nor holds listeners,
The procession, which some years ago
was one of tho main features, are now
nearly all after the saIue sample of the
one where the baud, which was employed
to escort the or,,tor of the day 10 the ng-
ricultural grounds, was followed by two
gentlemen arm In arm. man with bum
die, another with an umbrella, and half a
dozen boys intent on the music. The ad-
dress was by distinguished speaker. ON
an interesting subject. and II advertised as
an evening lecture ut the principal hall
would have drawn crowded house. But
as It was. very few indeed listened. The
show in the hall was In some instances
very good, In mono remarkably 30. and In
others barely respectable. In several
cases the village ladies have for many
years exerted themselves, for the credit Of
the rociety, to have fine display In tho
hall; and thinking oil tho trouble came
upon them, without their getting due ap-
probation. and hearing that the moro re-
mote members unjustly complained that
the village folks appropriated all the best
places. they. have held back to give their
more distant friends chance, and the re-
suit Is vacant space, which, frequently. the
merchants have good-naturedly filed up
with bright colors and beautiful fabrics,
which make brilliant display, but, COM
ing down to the nicely Of tho case, arc
not Just fitting contributions to an agri-
cultural fair. Many of the life members,
dispIeased at the way things are managed
or influenced by some petty personal feel
ing, which they should be noble enough
to overlook for the general good. not only
mako no contributions from their ample
stock, but do not even lend the influence
Of their presence at the address and din
ner.
At many places the grounds are too far
from the business part Of tho town, which
Is one reason of the lack OF visitors; peo-
pie dread the harum- scarum. dusty drive,
and much TO tho detriment of the societys
purse many stay In the streets who would
gladly visit the grounds II they wcro
within walking distance. =
As general thing there Is no lack OF
n crowd In the streets. All crowds have
their characteristics and those Of fairs are
particularly striking from the prepon-
dercnce Of people from the back towns,
who make point Of going to cattle shows
fthcy do not leave tho farm at any other
time during the year. There Is tho do
voted man, bless him, carrying the baby,
with his wife hanging on his arm. The
swain and his sweet heart ENJOYING their
candy and gingerbread, and the sights In
the shop windows At the samc time. The
"fellcr" and girl who performs the
achievement of getting their dinner at q
hotel. The moan man who, brings his
hard worked partner and tho children rc-
luctantly, and leaving them on q corner !
of the street don't speak 10 them again AL
day; while with his oompanions he smokes |
and chats. and goos into the hall, and vis-
ih tho grounds, and wonders whom he |
comes round ut night that wife and little
ouss arc all cross, tired and hungry. and
have not enjoyed tho day. Thsn there b
tho nico looking. well dressed man, who.
careful Of his dimes, whom tho gongi
sounds for dinner slips into the cheap %.
loon round the corner for lunch, and