Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-08-05
Our Agricultural Fair.

Mr.. Editor Can anybody of ordinary
observation doubt that our once glorious and
popular Fair, as place Of reunion and fest
i've exchange Of Joy and good cheer, is about
to be numbered with the things of the past
and can any one of reflection and good sense
fail to discover the cause in the unfortunate
management of the executive committee?
The first fatal mistake was in excluding
from the attractions and entertainment Of
fered by the Fair the "open-to-all' trotting
race, and combining the entertainment in this
direction to mere scrub-racing by unframed
horses-mere school-boy sport. This was
done ostensibly 10 discourage gambling rs
temptation TO our virtuous youth, collected
together on the Fair Grounds. IL was re-
sisted by the element Of common intelligence
in the Society," but the sanctified element
being in the ascendency this great moral
dogma prevailed, and the once popular and
attractive Rockville Fair resolved itself into,
strictly speaking, a pumpkin dton.
This was bal enough, but worse was to
come in the shape Of II change in the popu
lar admission rate of twenty five CENTS
Some one, with the best purpose we have
not the least doubt, but with an unfortunate
ingenuity, devised plan for coupon ticket,
or a three-n-one ticket, worth thirty three
and thirl cents coupon il You bought
the whole ticket, thus forcing the patron to
buy the coupon ticket for dollar or the
single admission ticket for fifty cents. This
neccssitaicd a great many persons Ia pay
fifty cents Ia go In the gate to Fair where
there was not even decent horse race 10 he
seen II looked as if il was the purpose Of
the management to clean up ali the loose
change in the county without the slightest
regard for the qtid pro quo. Now, Barnum
a - fnI a.l
edge of entertaining the public is proverbial.
He crowds the largest possible amount Of
attractions together that he can and reduces
the admission fare to the minimum rate, the
aggregate Of which he expects the profit
from.
Gentlemen, you must put the price Of ad-
mission 10 twenty-five cents for adults, all
vertise the races open " the world, adopt
handsome and attractive shOw-bill, and
run the Society on practical principles, suit
able 10 the time, or we must expect 10 see
this cherished institution ofour county fall TO
the ground with all its hallowed reminiscent
ces and laurels Of the past faded and with
cred upon It's tomb.
Your coupon ticket, outside of It's being
a dO,tbtfM expedient, was not Ineligible in
its purport, and the "wayfarer could not
read as he ran" and TO our certain knowl-
edge IL was the cause oil great deal OF DOth-
er and annoyance. One instance was the
case Of young girl, fourteen years old, who
was included in the group for whom cou-
pom ticket was purchased Three dollars
worth OF coupon tickets were purchased for
the family, the young girl being Included
There not being room In the carriage for all
she took the train, getting 10 the gate at the
Fair Grounds with the crowd and being
alarmed ut the commotion she sought 10 go
into the Grounds, stating 10 the gate keep
or, who is an intelligent candidate for Coun-
ty Commissioner, the circumstances Of her
position, and notwithstanding she told him
her ticket was on the way he would not let
her stand just inside Of the gate until the
carriage came, but charged her fifty cents 10
go in, and the money.she had been collect
Ing together TO spend on little things on the
! Grounds. EARNEST.