Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1878-11-29
County Fairs.



A good fair has an influence on the coinnu-
nifty similar to that eNerted by good town or
city on the adjacent jewellers. Especially is
this true of county fairs. The greatest draw
backs of agricultural life xse its isolation, ita
lack of knowledge of what Is going on IN the
world, its lack of method of cooperation, its
Lack of stimulus that comes from the compHr-
ing methods of work, modes of life and re-
suits of laburs, 10 the farmer and the ftr-
mer' ) family the autumn fair Is great eti-
ucator; as good as half year of city life
The farmer sees the results Of the best meth
DDS of agriculture, and stiaightway seeks TO
learn them. The agricultural college profess
sor may speak and write obsequently about
the necessity of the rotation of crops. or the
virtues of different kinds of fertilizers, but his
worxl will not have one iota of the weight with
the ordinary farmer, so far as inducing him
to use such methods himself is concerned, of
the sight of Que bushel of splended wheat or
corn at a fair with the placard attached tell
ing of the immense yield of such grain to the
acre Us the result OF mis- neighbor's scientific
farming. The farmers boys see the beauti-
ful animals which are so well carett-ior horses
and cattle may become, and their ambition Is
stimulated 10 care for their own fam animals,
and TO possess fine horses and cattle; they see
specimens Of the various kinds OF labor-saNlng
machinery for doingiarm work ana itdawns,
upon their minds that farm life need not be
such urudgers after all II II We're ohiS
rightly managed. The farmers Wife, too, Is
incsllcuiahly benefited by her observation and
experience III VI llstt IA Siit
had TO LOOK at things with the faiiSueing
charge of sunbuIned baby in her arms, aud
TWO or three little tow heads clineing to her
skirts? Her horizon Is immensely enlarged as
She looks on and sees how big The world Is
and how many kinds Of people and things
there are in it, She sees the products OF the
/ skin of those who have learned the real secret
of successful farm life; the golden butter, the
delicious preserves and jeilies, the crisp pick
les, the snowy, fasky bread, and the rich
golden cakes, and the hundreds oil other pro-
ducts of skilled fingers of women Who make
all these delightful things rom the initeiiais
furnished by the farm, anu lier aiitoi.io i Is
stimulated and aroused to do likewise, ana as
result preparation of food Is ever aflerwam
better aud mere intelligently attended 10; she
Investigates washing machines ana wasnlhg
compounds, atent churls, sewing hiachil5s
and knitting machine, and the very knowi-
edge that all these things are made 10 tighten
her foil makes her more intelligent ana calla-
Bile; and BY no means the least OF the auVan-
tages the farmers wife derives Is taal nom tne
observation of the dress ofthose who have more
access 10 the fashions than she. She makes
more mental observations which Will AID her
in dressing her children tastefiiiiy and .oin-
farfably; she gives her own 0veiskiIt a urn
or a twist that vastly improves her appearance.
and she resolves that her girls shall have new
hats for the winter, seeing she cannot posi-
bly, alter their old ones into the fashionable
shape. All these considerations aching upon
tie different members of any community are
really ut the basis of active exchange of in
dustfies, which is the life OF any community,
and absolutely essential to It's progress. From
the display OF material wealth and industrial
resources at fairs and expositions, and from
study of the character of those Who are con-
oeined in organizing and directing them, the
citizen is filled with hope for the future of his
country They are the best answer possible
TO the political and social croakers, who
would have us believe that nothing but bank
r1icy and ruin and starvation are before us rs
IA people, unless some of the gland remedies
which they advocate be applied to cure the
country's evils. In country where so many
offs inhabitants sit under their own vine and
iig-rree, possessors in fee simple OF soil that
Yields such haIvests ofco and oil and wine,
and everything that Is for the use and pleas
ure of man, eserything that is pleasant to the
eye aud good for food; in a country whose
mechanical industries are in such a state OF
development as TO such wonderful exhibits
of the productions of human ,kill and indus
try as are TO be seen in the great expeditions
given by the more important cities OF our
land, where its inhabitants yearly assemble
IN such friendly crowds 10 compare notes OF
progress and to exchange words of friendly
greeting-he must he blind indeed who does
not see promise for future prosperity and hap
piness, and for the stability ofou free insti-
buttons in spite of all the prophesies and overt
acts of time serving politicians to the con-
tary