The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-10-22
FAIRS.
rnrln omoIs Avn rAnN nIsvony,

While industrial exhibitions, az ex-
hibitions purely, are of comparatively
recent date, those fairs { latin feria, hol-
iday) or exhibitions for the purpose Of
efiecting sales Of the productions
placed on view, have an origin that
antedates modern history. Fairs have
been held at stated intervals and in
certain localities in the earliest ciyiliaa-
tons, both in Europe and Asia They
are supposed to have originated IN re-
ligious gatherings, which first gave on
opportunity for tho exhibition and sale
of wares TO large numbers of people.
In the writings Of the Greeks and Ro-
mans We find many accounts of such
fairs. The German name "mcsscn,
from mass, also indicates this religious
derivation OF the custom rs well As the
name. SO important did these institu-
tions become, that, in later times,
special courts were established for the
consideration and determination of
questions Of law and equity arising at
fairs.
DATE OF THE oprdIN or FANS,
Fairs were introduced in France and
southern Europe about thirteen hun
bred years ago. Among the more celc.
bratod of the earlier fairs were those OF
st. Dennis, instituted by DOgobert ) ID
629, and those Of Aix-la.Chopcllc and
Trayos dating from about A. D, 500 A
little later A. D, 1856, they were intro
duoed into Great Britain by Alfred the
Great At the end of the tenth cen
tury they had become well established
and very common throughout northern
Europe
FAIRS IN GREAT BRlTAlN.
The priory Of st. Bartholomew re-
cieyed n patent from Henry l., A D,
ll33, permitting the establishment Of
an annual fair continuing three days
and later fifteen days, commencing on
tho day appropriated to their patron
saint, and this fair was sustained until
about 1858, u period of 722 years, when
it was discontinued
The English hir at Weyhill is noted
for its display of sheep; that of St.
Faiths, near Norwich is distinguished
by the numbers of Scotchc attic exhib.
tied and sold; at the fairs Of Ipswich |
are sold lambs in August and butter
and cheese in September, Cattle fairs
are held at Ballisnasloc, Ireland, aud
Donnybrook fair has long been cele-
bratcd for the jolliiy and pugnacity |
which distinguish its visitors
FRENCH FAIRS
In France, the fair Of St Dennis WINS
discontinued in 1850, as were several
othor of the then most important Fronch
fairs after the establishment of perna.
nent markets. That Of Beaucairc, held
during one week of July in each year,
was instituted about six hundred years
ago, and has, in latter years, attracted
two hundred thousand visitors from all
pats of Europe and even from Asia
and Africa, the salos reaching, it il
stated nearly 100000 francs each
season. The fair at Ciuibray has been
in existence about eight centuries, it is
n market for woods, WOODEN and fine
horses,
OTHER EUROPEAN FAIRS,
Fairs arc still held in Holland, and
they serve not only as means of secur-
ing extensive trade, but they nre on
loyed by the people as important holi.
days, Germany is noted rs tho mod !
'en home of thia pocpliar institution.
The principal are those of Leips.c, dat
ing from the twelfth century, which are
held three times in each year--at New
Years, Easter,and Michoilmas; Frank
fort-on the-Main; Franklort.on the
Oder; and Brunswick.
THE GREAT RUSSIAN FAIR
OF Niahni Novgorod is held in Jan.
uary on the river which is then
frozen over and tho ice capable of bear
ing heavy loads In July another fair
is held, principally for the sale of
horses; and the August fair, which con.
unues twenty-five days, is the largest in
the world, the sales amounting to mill
lions of dollars.
FAIRS IN ASIA AND AMERICA.
Asia has several annual fairs of great
Importance, That held at Mecca, when
the annual pilgrimage takes place,
being the most important and extern
siye, A fair Of equal magnitude is held
in India, at llurdwar on tho Gauges,
where.a quarter Of u million people as.
semblo annually, On tho western con.
tinent no such great assemblages are
known, IL we except the exposition of
this year, which being an international
exhibition, canscarcely be dcnominatcd
o fair.
THE MEXICAN FAIRS.
According to Prescott's "History of
the Conquest Of Mexico" fairs were
held in the principal cities of Mexico
every fifth day (thero having been no
shops) and were thronged, "a partic.
ular quarter" says Prescott, twas at.
tached to each kind of article. The
transactions were conducted under the
supervision of magistrates, appointed
for the purpose. Traffic was carried ON
partly by bartera and partly byarcguloted
Of different values This con.