The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-06-12
For Tile 1Egis Dc Intelligencer.
THE Approaching Agricultural Fair.
FALLsToN, May 30th, 49,

rALLSloN, May ootn, 1914.
Mr.. EDITOR: Being present at the LAYING out
OF the Agricultural grounds the other day, near
your pleasantly located town, take this oppor-
tGnity to congratulate all interested
The location is certainly n very desirable one.
A broad eNpansc of beautiful country lies spread
out over the surrounding hills and dales. Nearer
ana more distant, even to the very horizons
edge, are scattered the large and hospitabe look
ing farm houses, carpeted about with the ever
varying delicate shades of green, whether ofluX-
uriant wheat, of freshly sprnging oats, or amid
the browner fields the newly planted corn; while
through the valleys, and surging up along the
hillsides the clumps of oaken forests, never so
beautiful rs at this season, irresistably attract
the Imagination of the bcholder but Just as his
fancy is drcamily replacing beneath their billowy
masses of foliage and along their rocky messy
streams the aboriginal occupants, the Indian and
the deer, his wandering eye alights upon the
beautiful suburban cottages that adorn the
neighboring hills around Bel Air, and he sud
denly returns to civilization, and the rich prom
Use of the future. In the bright October DAYS
the farmers teams, in long procession, from
the less remote and more distant sections of the
county, come crowdng in at the gates of the
fairgrounds; carriages and rougher vehicles are
pleasantly commngled, while the embrowned
features of the farmers, the paler faces of their
wives, and the rosy checks OF youths and maid
ems all light up with unusual smiles of Joy and
expectation. How such holidays are needed
Farmers holidays, social comminglings, that
shall show us the benefits of community of in
tcrest that shall call forth in the soul generous
unselllsh rivalry that shall devclopc our feelings
outwardly from a selfish home CENTRE where the
heart, pressed in and concentrated through
long life, grows selfish and misery.
On the rising ground is to be built the eapa-
cious and lofty building, with its broad ana
strong pOrchcs at its second and third stories,
whence even through the haZy October air the
most distant portions of the ground are clearly
visible. Within the capacious hall will be seen,
in every conceivable FORM the beautiful, the
useful, the luxurious and the comfortable. The
beholder cannot decide whether he would rath-
er be one ola committee of award on paintings,
embroidery and flowers on bread, butter cheese
honey and domestic wines, or called upon to
taste the tempting luscious fruits that he can
scarcely keep his hands from, though on no com.
mittee. The walls are everywhere tapestricd
with the comfortable, beautiful fabrics, the han
diwork of the farmers wives, wrought from
their woolly stores during the long winter even.
ings, made warm and soft for the comfort of the
family, artistic and beautiful for admirng eyes
at the fair.
The pens of stock and the cages of fowls GOV.
or a large area and call forth the admiration and
wonder of the crowd. Every farmer, however
admirable may be his own contribution, sees
thousand beautiful animals and birds that make
him feel the poverty ofprevious efforts, and fill
his mind with new resolves, some of which he
will realize in the coming year. And horses
Who can blame the lovers of fine horses? Ofall
the animate creation placed under the dominion
ofman in heetness, symmetry and beauty, in gen
tleness of disposition, nothing is comparable to
the horse. 1t is true that the inordinate love
OF horses leads many a man to ruin that many
HORSEPOWER feeds the man eating horses of Do
med that eat up first his wife and children and
finally himself, yet We cannot but respect this
passion for horses, and only wish that it were
under better restraint. But on every fair ground
there must be race course, and all other ar
engagements made in some measure subordinate
and contrlbutive to our admiration for the horse.
AT fair where attended, young ladies exhibit
ted their equestrauship, the best rider, the sec.
ond and third best receiving appropriate premi.
ums. You may be sure the exhibition called
forth world of enthusiasm, and the fact that
It was upon the programme largely increased
the attendance. This was in section of
country where there is scarcely saddle to a
farm, and as an accomplishment among the
ladies' riding is almost unknown.
How would love to be one of committee on
viewing growing crops in this region of coun-
try. | have thought of great many desir-
able positions in life, to me unattainable dig
mites, but l believe to-day, that of all these,
from shop-keeper in confectionery store
up to the presidency, nothing is comparable to
a committeeship on growing crops. During the
summer every farmer who thinks he has some
thing remarkable, whether of wheat oats, corn,
or potatoes, the best garden, thrifty, newly
planted orchard, an acre of reclaimed swamp
land, the best improved farm generally, drops q
note to the secretary of the Agricultural society
that such is his conviction, and he wishes that
the committee on gardens or orchards, as the
case may be, would call and authenticate his
favorable opinion of his own labors.
Now to be member of these travelling COM
mittees, to go about to the farmers houses, do
you not think they will experience smiling well
comes and hospitable entertainment? No mat.
ter If their mission be to see an acre of reclaim
ed swamp land, if there is anything on the place
that is beautiful they must see it, that is sweet
they must taste it, from the flower beds in the
front yard, the wines and preserves in the cellar
cupboard, to the sweet notes of the piano, and
the harmonious voices of the girls. This is as 1t
should be, and as they meet the same reception
everywhere, the influence against an impartial
judgment goes for nothing.
The fair continues about three days; on the
morning of the third day, occurs the blowing
match. There is really nothing about fair
of more solid interest to me than the blowing
match. am aware that my tastes are net elias.
steal in this respect, that horse racing and foot
racing won palms in the ancient games of Greece
and Rome and that do not at this moment re.
call ever having read ola blowing match in any
language but good homely English. level
track Of sufficient extent is chosen to give each
from one fourth to one. half an acre,
and the strong armed SWANS, each with his favo-