The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-07-27

WICK MonthIY magazine Tor July.I
Already We are In receipt of the premium lists
Of a few county, district and State agricultural
societies, and these remind Us of some things thst
We designed to say before the time for our
autumn fairs Long years since, when We first
took an active part in conducting agricultural
and Horticultural shows, they were the faamers'
only summer holidays. On the 4ih of July, hay
ing was in progress, thunder showers were about
and feared, and harvest about commenced, 90 the
boys could not be spared, at most only an hour
or Two earlier than usual, just for run to the
village or call On the young ladies that lived
few miles aw ay over the hill, where they
were anxious to see a new horse the old gentle
man had purchased, or an improved plow, both
OF which were forgotten until mother inquired
rather roguishly next day the color of the new
horse.
To the county fair all looked forward with a
good deal of pleasure, for it was TO be q Jolly
time not for an hour or two, or half day, bat
for two whole days, at least. The heavy work
for the year was then over; the wheat land was
ready for the grain, if not already sown, but the
time was usually 30 arranged as to bring the
annual holiday after wheat sowing, so that the
farmer and his family and hired help could enjoy
few days of leisure without feeling that any
thing was neglected or suffering but rather with
that complacent, comfortable assurance that by
season OF successful toll they had earned hol-
iday and rest.
To these fairs the men carried the best stock
in the town. or county, or State, and the choicest
fruits and vegetables, while the ladies made CAV
display OF quilts and rag carpets and needle
work, and bread and butter and cheese, which
made no small part of the exhibition In addi-
Clon TO these, the manufacturers of ploWs and
threshing machines, and corn-shellers and straw
cutters, displayed their wares in motion in one
corner Of the field, and kept up continual clat-
ter, much to the amusement of the boys
This was the old-fashioned fair TO which the
farmers and their wives and the small boys and
girls hastened in the farm wagon or the Sunday
democrat, the larger boys choosing their own
company, if they had fair chance. The day
was spent pleasantly in visiting friends and
neighbors, seeing and discussing the wonderful
things on exhibition, eating water melons and
drinking sweet cider, the two latter n0t being
included in the ticket of admission, bat sold 1t
moderate price by some embryo merchant Of the
neighborhood, and poor OF pcnulious must have
been the one who refused to invest a few pen
mics for such luxuries at fair time Occasion
ally, however, the bin Of fare vas varied by a
more luxurious entertainment, and peanuts and
colored lemonade, which always claimed the
special attention and captured the purse Of the
young people.
Things, however, have been changing for he
last quarter Of century, and these changes have
seriously affected the chancter of our animal
fairs. The hardest Of our farm work n now done
by machinery. The sickle was driven nom o.
harvest field by the cradle, and this held its tri
umph but little while, and retreated inelori-
onsly before the reaper. Eeyfhes were tnruea
into pruning hooks long before the sword 4
transformation for which good men have been
looking and longing in vain. The y0une lS6ies
o. the farm no longer boast OF the number of
pieces contained in the quilts they lase peced bul
presen! 10 their admirers evidences az axs ID
painted crockery II b no longer blue d0gs and
yellow Hons worked IN wursted md siik thSf
hang IN the best room, bat = Diploma ffom the
academy or high school, The boys no lonrer
brag much about breaking steers, but talk wissIt
4 not undestandingly. oE chemistry and evols.
uon, ana trade and roadstefs. Railroads haFe
opened rp the country % that famed gien OF
reached ~ excursion trains ns easily ana cheanlv
- FORMERLY the county fair. The Old fAlr erodnd
- therefore deserted By the young. and tie 81
are passing awsy tie attendance is small. ~
receiPss me.gye, and the ofacers srs emberrsned
ana ma = dlnscnis e PAY pFeniums and meet
gen allow exhibilipns Of . doubtful charncier.
ana The poorest Kind Of RAmbIinx. 10 he disvv,rl
o. many of the best ffiends &C she annrrInsis,sS
while the object eupRht-- maney--h seRlorn
secured TIE resnli i thai many glais -
cc9ny ssaoc1anons ore 1nAnci1lly enibarrrsD1N
and are at = toes 10 know What meaue - -. y,
pay on old debts and meet current exnensse
The oaIy safs way. Ne think, b % secuFs - -.
hin1tion ~ The highest poaaihle merif nn6 -
up0n tne infeIligenee a fke peu1Ie H,F ~ 5',R
pon. The Cd day. uf2 aoes ns5Ver ,a -
ana e = wise % atmif ths C, c0nlhrm - -
s..szso circumstance md uless Dc p =
mpak naeziznkione exkihlfiona r1ssi1S r.. = 49,
s1ppoxk 5oNe q - ann1sI - - ~
mal n III u - = 49, Z >. =. :
slzI1.aI - - 8 - = s =