Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-08-23
Agricultural and Industrial Fairs.

character and effects or are they de-
generating in both, is question
for the careful consideration Of oil
classes in the community.
The first institutions of the kind
doubtless originated with aud were
almost entirely confined to the agri-
cultural portions of the neighborhood
in which they existed. Their design
was to create and promote an AMIGA
bic rivalry among produccrs of every
description to excel in the character
and quantity of their products, and
in the method by which they were
produced. The premiums offered
were not intended to compensate the
successful competitor for the labor
and pains necessary TO perfect his
product and bring it into notice, but
were designed as insignias Of supe-
riority, which would lead others to
greater efforts to rival and if posi-
BILE, excel.
These gatherings were anticipated
with pleasure for months before
their arrival, and almost every fam
lily was nursing with peculiar care
some member of the stock yard or
laborng with untiring assiduity upon
some particular product, which at
the next fair would do credit to
their care and skill, and stimulate
and instruct others TO emulate the
example,
The articles for exhibition were
mostly of a useful rather than an
ornamental character. The stock
and poultry yards, the stable and
the pigsty, the orchard and the gar
den were all expested to furnish
their proper quota for the occasion
The productions OF the. housewife
and her daughter claimed and Justly
received a share of notice and fair
need of praise. The dairy, the
loom and the spinning wheel were
all made doubly productive by rea-
son of this incentive, and the charac-
ter of the products themselves were
improved in proportionate degree.
The Improvement of stock being
one of the prominent objects, horses
of course were included, but all stock
exhibited were expected to be owned
if they were not raised by the ex-
hibtor, and they were examined and
appraised in reference to their fat
ness and adaptation for the particu-
lar business which they were expect
ed to perform.
Such gatherings were of great
practical benefit. The farmers with
their families and friends were drawn
together by a common impulse, and
citizens of every calling were wei.
coined to u great annual party.
Social intercourse and good feeling
were promoted, and every succeeding
year proved the success of the exper.
iment by the great increase of exhib.
tied articles with corresponding
increase in the quality and value.
The introduction of mechanical
products undoubtedly adds attrac.
tons to the exhibition, and is not
exceptionable where the articles are
Of home manufacture and of tried
and general utility. The only fear
is that itiDerant vendors and agents
of foreign articles or those of doubt
tul utility, will seek, for their indi.
vidual emolument, to make the fair
a medium for advertising their
agency, and pocket premiums which
should go to the maker instead oil
the vender. The farmers and the
manufactures who have furnished
the purse may justly feel indignant
at the distribution Of its contents
among a lot of hawkers and ped
dlers who have had no agency in the
production of the merchandise which
they sell.
That fairs until within very few
years were morally, socially and fl
nancially benefit. We think cannot
be questioned. That they have
ceased to be progressive in either o
the above effects, we think cannot.b'
denied.
What is the CAUSE? There may
be many. We venture to sugges
one, and that one 10 the general in
PRODUCTION Of the race courses, anC
the time, money and influence de
voted only to that object. Thi
opens broad field Of discussion, ant
the opposers Of the course must ex
pect strong opposition, and facts ant
experience must settle the matter
The question here is not as to tn,
morality and expsdiency Of race
courses ond races, by themselve
conducted, but whether they shoulC
occupy any place in the annual ex
hibition of which we are comment
ing. The man who goes upon a rae,
, ground used for no other purpose
goes with his eyes open, is volun
tary participant in the operations
) and if his pockets are picked, hi
morals corrupted or his bones bro
ken, he can only regard it as the lie
gltimate result of association witt
, piek-pockets and rowdies if he take
his family he voluntarily takes tn
risk, and cannot complain of tn
, consequences. The quiet either
r who takes his family to see the vari
f Gus articles of skill and industry
which are taken together to com
, pete for the premiums, to the fund
of which he has largely contributed
must deprive them Of that treat al
together, or expose them and him
self to the coursensss, vulgarity anc
profanity which 10 always an attend
ant upon gambling, and to the acct