Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-04
Alexandra Fair Notes.
Correspondence of The Stdr.l

ALEXANDRIA, Va, Oct. Sd, 1879.
The scholarly author Of the biographical
notice of Theocritus, the father of Idylr- .
bers and the translator Of tina. aum-
remarks:-" The truth .r na TIA, 's son,a S,nG
Oh pas aot,, ne Arst form OF poetry What
n,oio no. Hal, when we reflect that the eldest
VI the human race reckoned their superiority
py thelr nockS and herds. Men were all shep-
W HTaus pat two thousand years have wrought
MS1He51sl changes. The shepherd has given
ne ssso to the more prominent pursuit, that OF
q agrtculturist or farmer, and the keeping of
locks now more frequently Is secondary bust
ness, and dependent on the success of the till
Ing OF the SOIL Even little more than hhn=
dred years ago the tending OF flocks was not so
far past away but that Shenstone could plead
estate In the matter OF fame among men, In
this wise:
Distinction. titles, rank and state
In this change the show OF the fieecy flock
would be naturally smaller than that Of other
stock. There are some five or six pens OF South
downs Of good quality and some pens of grades,
OF these two or three pens Of Cotswold, and
ABOUT as many OF merinos Of extraordinary
quality. This is all, and yet, possibly this is a
larger representation Of the real sheep growing
interest hereabouts than the other farm stock
has. The display OF wooden cloth manurac.
tuTed In Ibis state was truly fine one. The
quality.
The samples of corn, both of white and vel
low, are remarkably good. and the pumpkin and
squash show Is also rather extra
The display of fruit is very much larger than
last year, and Is largely apples. There are also
quite large number of varieties OF very fine
pears. There are few grapes and peaches, the
season being too far advanced for much of a
display OF the latter fruit. But this fruit show
show | understand is largely made up from
samples brought from the north, and therefore
shows too much for our region.
!, But as whole, the fair is a good one, and as
.hey are made up usually, IL ought to satisfy its
IrlendS and managers. But, like all agricultu-
RAJ fairs IN the one grand essential 1t was want
Ing. lone thing thou lackest,' farmer, and
thaG is right purpose, fit GROWING motive
In the holding of these fairs. The st1mulant to
grow fine crops and stock is quite proper, but
these should be made subsidiary to stimulating
to the attainment of better and higher man.
hood. Manhood is the true aim and end of this
lie, and literary exercises should form the ap-
years ago the writer urged in the public prints
the making OF literary exercises, the reading of
prize essays, the chief feature of the farmers
fair, and ne is happy to see that in one locality
IN the state OF virginia, where the Piedmont
fair is held, cash prizes are offered for essays
This season the Alexandria fair offers diplomas
for the best essays on given questions relating
to farm operations. Give us the largest pre-
effort to develope the best man.
According to the most learned chronologists.
Hesiod the poet, tiourished two thousand five
hundred years ago, a man OF the justest princi-
pies and sentiments. The tone OF his poem en-
titled Works and Days. would put to blush
the sentiments OF this prottigate age. What
correct and noble sentiment is this:
Ear b. st is he whom conscious wisdom guides,
Who first ard last the right and fit decides"
We must have integrity and Intelligence as
possession OF the mass Of the people. Good So
ciety, government, and the stability of our In
st1tutions depend upon it. lisa.
NEW ENTERPRISE Billiards and pool free
at Godfrey Randalrs, 1345 street north