The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-06-20
InE FARMERS, PICNIC.

been a very large gathering "u' Vi
the rain. though we have heard no
complaints about the shower. 1t was
too welcome a rain to be complained
Of even though it did keep us home
from the woods. 1t is now planned
to try again next fall.
In our Judgment one such quiet
social gathering Of the farmers would
be worth 10 ordinary county fairs,
where our young men gather to spend
their money on foolish chance games
or to be heeced by sharpers who have
lost a rich uncle and want to give
away Il large fortune. At fair you
have dust, tame bears, dirty cider at
only five cents per glass, ginger bread
nd infnitam, and a dirty, dusty
sweaty crowd, wandering around in a
fuitless search after something worth
looking at; while at picnic, in the
cool shade of the wood, one can find
rest, have a good visit with friends
receive some useful hints from his
brother farmers, and go home with
lust as much money as he came'
which very seldom happens at fairs
even to the winners Of premiums.
We are not very favorably Impress
ed with our county fairs, and may as
well spit it out now as ever by insert
ing a page or two on the subject, from
DR.. Cranes book on popular mnse-
ments:
An Agricultural Fair now means
pillow, a pumpkin, q gig, and two
hundred and fifty trotting horses.
These fairs are almost invariably con-
Quoted with especial reference to the
racing, and not unfrequently are en-
gineered wholly by the jockeys them
selves.
It will hardly do for us to adopt the
sneering philosophy Of Democrtus' ana
find nothing but matter Of meniment
in the sins and follies Of our fellow
men; nevertheless, these annual coun-
try gatherings have a comic side which
one must be very blind not to see
The first note Of preparation IS the
posting Of immense placards, printed
IN as many colors as ever Josephs
coat knew, and offering premiums
ten cents for the best plow, five cents
for the biggest pumpkin, twenty cents
for the latest pig, and one thousand
dollars for the horse that can tfoI
around certain circle in the shortest
in tie possession Of long-leggcd colt,
reads the flaming proclamation with
delight, and straightway redoubles his
diligence in training his colt and him
sell" for the grand occasion. When
the eventfnl day comes he presents
himself on tie spot, sure Of winning
the prize, and of seeing bis name eX'
allied in the county paper next week
He finds nineteen other gawN lhdl,
yiduals there with nineteen other colts
and the same ambitious expectations.
When they have paid their proportion
of the money which is to become the
prize, and have entered in a book the
names Of their horses-names, by the
way, to devise which has cost many
severe mental eliorts--a strange mar
writes the name of horse never be.
fore heard Of in that locality. The
contest proceeds. The strange man
who had been so still and tacitum VI
to this moment, suddenly discloses
amazing energy, and shows himself al
adept in all that pertains to the impor
tant business in hand. lie knows
tricks that make the astonished rus
tics open their eyes wide with admira
ton and dismay.
The strange man and the strang'
horses sweep around the circle anC
rush to the goal in triumph, while TIN
twenty are seen struggling far in tn
rear, amiserable conglomerate of dust
disappointment and profanity.
The victims return home, the wise
ones satisfied with their recent eXpe
rence, and determined to sell thei
sulkies and break their horses to tn
pillow. The fools, on the other hand
are sure that now they know all abou
It. They have seen a professor Q
high art, and burn with ambition to b
Ike him. They buy little caps of tn
same pattern, stick their hands i
their pockets as nearly as possible i
his style, and converse only in tn
phrases current in the stable. Thei
manners, as well as their clothes
smell strong of the horse. They dc
vote their whole minds to the cause
They know more about the last rae
than the last war, and are more fami
lar with the names of fast trottel
than with those of our great states
men and generals. They can explai
the pedigree of some favorite nag in
more satisfactory manner than the
can their own, and take more pride i
it. The tavern is the school wheI
they pursue their professional studies
and the sages of the bar-room and I'll
philosophers Of the barn are their il
structoFs, In some cases idlenes
low company, and drink produce the
natural fruit; the property inheritc
from the dead or dishonesty obtaine
from the living is squandered, the vi
tim graduates as hostler, and, Ill
some deyotee Of olden time, cons,