Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-09-17
Agricultural,


The Coming Fairs.
We are now in the midst of the season of
agricultural fairs aud cattle shows. Before
tho next issue of our paper, the Windham
county fair is to he held. Although these ex-
hibitions In u few instances arc less fully at
tended than formerly, as u general rule they
continue to draw as large crowds as hereto
fore. and the number that are being held ap-
pears to be ON the increase. A State or coun-
ty without its annual agricultural fair, il there
is any such, is Il rare exception From the
first week in September until after the middle
Of October, there is probably not day, ex-
copt Sundays when, in different parts Of the
country, dozen or more fairs are not being
held. We have seen notices of five in this
State that are to be held on the same days rs
our county fair and moro than two dozen
will be held on tho same days in New Eng
land.
There can hardly he two opinions rs to the
utility Of these exhibitions; they have done
much to stimulate farmers to their best efforts;
they have contributed materially toward the
great progress that has been made in agricul-
ture during the last half century. Yet some
of the accomplishments that usually attend
the fairs are moro questionable. A large
amount of money, in the aggregate, is every
year drawn from the pockets of gulliblo peo-
pie by class Of men who make q business of
following the fairs FOR that purpose. Our own
town and county fairs have not been entirely
free from the impositions of this class of
men The Ohio Farmer saws:
" One of the "Whecl of Fortune" men.
last year. told the writer of this that he paid
$1,000 for the privilege of three days at a GER
tain fair, and then cleared y 100! And this
is only n small per cent. of the money lost by
the persons who patroni2e the wheel The
fortune wheel is only one of a thousand in
genious and deceptive devices used to entrap
the unwary, every one of which is an out
rageous fraud. We beg of our readers now,
at the outset of the fair season, to frown
down this swindling and robbery in every way
possible. Don't go near them, and keep all
others away over whom you have any inhu-
ence. If the managers of fairs will license
these frauds in spite of the repeated protests
of the press and good men everywhere, there
is but one way left TO stop them-and that is
TO take away their patronage. These big Ii
cense fees are all paid by the gullible patrons
of the fair, and the managers certainly know
this and we want the people to know it, too.
The amount Of money taken out of the peck
cts of farmcrss sons every year, in this way,
is II heavy tax upon the farming industry, to
sny nothing of the moral aspects of the ques-
ton.
While everything of gambling or swind-
ling nature should be dscountenanced, and,
if possible, excluded from the grounds, hon
est agents, manufacturers, merchants and
mechanics should be encouraged TO exhibit
their wares. If our county fair should be
made rs much mechanics fair as a farmers,
would not both classes be mutually benefited?
Would not the interest in the exhibition be
enhanced, and consequently the receipts in
creased? If these shows were less exclusive
ly agricultural, they might be more attractive
MS well rs more instructive. The exhibition
of curiosities, ancient relies, specimens illus
trating any department of natural history or
science, as geology, mneralogy, entomology,
botany, etc, would be appreciated 10y intelli-
gent farmers and others, and if larger premi-
ums we're paid for such things the money
would come into the treasury again and more
with it, A lot of skillfully- handled stuffed
birds, like Il few that have been exhibited at
the county fair, are moro attractive to most
persons, rs a show, than potatoes or pump
kins. The rare plants and flowers that are
sometimes seen in the floral halls may be of
less utility than squashes or ruta- bagas, but
they are worth more for a show. The exhi-
bition of variety of articles, including those
not strictly agricultural suits greater vare-
ty of tastes, attracts greater number Of wish
tors, and adds TO the income of the society.
1t is n fact that considerable portion of
the people found at the fairs care but little for
the ordinary products on exhibition-not a
few hardly look at large share of them.
They go more to see each other and for hol-
iday than for any other purpose But is it
not possible to add to our county fair such at
tractve features that this class of people
would attend as much to see the exhibition as
for any other purpose One new feature
that we hope to see adopted is public speak
ing-dscussions, essays or addresses, by
home talent. 1t may be necessary to have
distinguished speaker from abroad for the at
traction that is in a name, but that need not
interfere with what is proposed; there is
plenty of time during the two days of the
fair for both. We should be disappointed if
the most valuable facts were not brought out
by the home speakers.