Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-09-25

AGOmparisOn-The Berkeley
Exhibition Equal ifn0t SUI
periOr 10 Any.
the Editors Of The Independent /:

pcrIOr 10 Any.
To the Editors Of The Independent
Inasmuch as there is considerable
discussion among our own people as
to the merits Of the management of
the Berkeley Fair, probably CON
tTast upon strict and impartial ex-
animation with neighboring fairs
might prove beneficial to home folks,
and we trust not injurious to others.
have visited both Winchester and
Hagerstown in the hope of learning
something myself, and to see how
closely my fellow-citizens could COM
pete with the enterprising farmers,
mechanics and housewives of Wash
ington and Frederick counties.
So far as stock is concerned, there
is no perceptible difference. Thus
far the herds of Jefferson county
have proved victorious wherever they
were taken, and they have been at
Martinsburg as often as elsewhere.
Agricultural, garden products and
fruits have had but slight represen-
tation at either of the Fairs, and in
fine-arts, plain and ornamental nee
die work, and in the house-keepers'
departments the representation at the
Berkeley Fair was far superior in
quality and point of excellence to
both Hagerstown and Winchester
To be sure, either af these two coun-
ties can do better, but the contrast
shows that our people have interest
ed themselves in making a creditable
exhibition as much if not more than
their neighbors.
g -, accommodation are con-
cerned in buildings, offices and sheds,
neither the Baltimore, Frederick,
Carlisle, Hagerstown or Winchester
grounds have half as good. SO far
as attractions in the shape of trials
of speed exciting and amusing scenes,
the Berkeley Association spends more
money and furnishes a number equal
to any two of them. The attractions
furnished at the Martinsburg Fair
are not excelled anywhere. Some
people are bound to find fault, and
the talk about the cruelty of the
gander tournament is a humbug.-
The loudest-mouthed people on these
subjects will hunt longer and pay less
for stuffed goose for dinner than
more silent persons. They won't cut
a chickens head off or pick a feather
out of a bird nor crack an egg shell
for fear of injuring probable chick,
but set them down to free lunch
and the late-comers would go hun
CRY, /. e, furnish Il free fair and see
who goes in first. However, let the
Directors have dead goose the next
time and your humble servant will
take second joint, and leetle of
the examining, Mr.. Boyd, if you
Place" and let Blondel attend to tell
the story.
Now for the management. Here
fifty cents admission was charged,
with return checks to come and go
on. In Hagerstown they charge fifty
cents, and if you go out you must pay
to get back. In Winchester they
charged twenty-five cents and no re-
turn check. So Hagerstown and
| Martinsburg are even on that, with
a point in favor of " inchester; but
here exhibitors are charged ten per
cent. of the premium, give one stock
ticket and furnish hay and straw
free. In Winchester they charge
stall rent of one dollar per head for
llOloto anu CdtllC, dtlu cCNCllty -HNC
cents per head for swine and sheep,
thus making up off of exhibitors
what loss there may be on cheap adj
mission, and making the exhibitors
pay for furnishing attraction to peo-
Pile at low rates. Thus, taking it al
together, Martinsburg has the adj
vantage in management, and | con-
tend at no place is more liberality eX-
tended than by the Directors of the
| Berkeley Association. Those who
have been finding fault cannot sus-
| taih themselves by referring to other
| fairs.
1t is time to quit fault-findins land
to come up side by side with those
who have so bravely struggled to
make the Home Fair a success. If
you were opposed to the location, the
time for that fight is past-because
you punished your child yesterday is
no reason for lasting, continual re-
| sentiment. Some persons have to be
disappointed, and some must yield
| in this world of varied, various and
conflicting thoughts and opinions
Contrasted with our neighbors, we
are doing as well, if not better, than
they. No more can be asked. If we
keep even we are doing well, and
Berkeley always sends larger delega-
tions to Winchester and Hagerstown
than they do tous. They should en-
deayor to equalize this. The people
of the Cumberland Valley have al
ways turned out nobly.
| Very respectfully, &c.