The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1872-11-21

new, to behold the feat of walking, per-
formed by an expert of the fairsex, who crossed
from one point to another, and returned blind
folded. The spokesman Of the enterprise rpo-
litcly informed the assembled multitude that tho
accustomed usage Of gathering compensation
would be dispensed with, suggesting. at. the
same time, the propristy Of rewarding highly
perfected skill, or as lie had it, "of paying re-
spects to the lady," by purchasing tickets Of ad-
mission into sundry exhibitions, of Which the
fair walker was proprietrcss.
Another of these institutions, known in the
vulgar tongue as side-sho'cs, advertised to show
the largest married couple in the world, ufeasur
ing nearly eight fcetin height, and another still,
possessed q man, who under the denomination
of Fire-King, performed wonderful feats with
fire. Another offered, for a small sum, to show
the largest boy and girl in christendom. There
is nothing remarkable about these shows, save
the extravagant style in which their exhibitions
are described, and the host of sweeping asser-
'tions, with which their banners were full.
There were, it is asserted, ihroads made upon
the pockets of several, doubtless the work of
pick-pockcts, who, seizing the advantageof the
confusion attendant upon such an aggregation Of
all kinds Of people, invaded the fair grounds for
purposes of depreciation. We beg pardon for
the presentation of o suggestion just here which
is, that the attention of the South Carolina Ag-
ricultural and Mechanical Association might be
turned TO advantage, to the suppression Of the
various gambling enterprises with which the
fairgrounds were full Cannot this.'bc attended
to, in consideration of the rinsautary effect e1-
erted over our otherwise demoralized people.
Statesmen spend long years of labor to the end
that decentralization may he ferretted from its
lurking places in the minds of their people, and
shall Fair Association, in an official capacity,
do anything to increase it? Cannot race match
es be gotten up and run at any other times and
places Cannot these private gambling enter
prises be kept from the fairgrounds? Cannot
our Fair be o moral Fairs Why let public and
private corruption stare US in the face, while at
tending .the Fair? We are confident that our
Temperance brethren will agree with us in the
assertion that it is ON insult to the Fair-going
people, an insult to our mothers, and wives, and
sisters, who 60 tc the Fair, that liquor-dealers
ore permitted to locate for the time, upon the
premises owned by the Fair Association. At
one time it was not allowed but the reins of dis
cipline have been slaclened.
The result of an alteration between the NUM-
cipalauthorites of Columbia and the Fair Asso-
citation was the proposed removal of the place of
meeting to Charleston, but tho discordant par
ties have come to terms highly advantageous to
the Fair Association, so the Fairs will still be
held at the State capital. Further description
of the Fair is tiresome, as things which delight
the spectator, when recorded, weary the reader,
and it may be said of the Fair as the Queen of
Sheba said of Israels splendor, that after having
told all of consequence, "the half has not been
told.''- ~ 80 . ...... ..