The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-09-16
STA YING AWAT FROM THE FAIR

Speed trials. or Agricultural Horse trots. .
have become prominent feature of agricul-
tural exhibitions. A certain class of our
people have objected to this feature, on ac-
count of the odor of gambling. chieanery
and profanity connected with it. Very
many of our most worthy citizens will not
attend the fair on account of this. Now the
question is: Are the speed trials and influ.
ences connected with it sufficient reason to
justify any one in Withholding their patron
age from the fair?
In deciding the question certain facts
must be justly considered. Among them
are these: The fair is for everybody--that
is, 1T is designed to promote all our industri-
al interests. 1t cannot be denied that the
raising of horses possessing speed, spirit and
endurance, is an important feature of our
agricultural industry. 1t is just as nndeni-
able that the breeding of this class of horses
has been promoted by speed trials at fairs.
The beauty and value of all the horses in the
country has been increased to an incaloulable
extent by the improvement OF horses for the
race course. There is scarcely man or boy
with soul so dead that his enthusiasm and
qualification is not aroused at the sight of a
beautifully formed horse, with limbs that
carry him swiftly as the wind, and muscles
with the endurance of STEEL The horse is
the noblest and most useful brute servant
and friend of man, and it is not to be won
dered at that men and boys regard him so
highly, and take so much pridein his capa-
bilities, and love to draw the reins behind
him while he outstrlps the wind.
All good people must and do regret the
gambling aud other low influences that have
been and are now more or less connected
prejudice and lack of exact knowledge of
the matter has greatly magni6sd the extent
Of these evils. No good can be accomplished
in the way of removing them by staying
away from the fair. No one who attends the
fair can be charged with countenanc-
ing the evils of betting and profanity by
their attendance any more than the farmer
who grows grain can be charged with pro-
noting the gambling on the boards of trade.
The facts are, that evils and evil men do ex-
list; but God makes his sun to shine upon
the evil and upon the good, and sends his
rain upon the just and the unjust. Jesus
talked with the abandoned woman of Sauna
ria and the Pharisees charged him with eat.
ing with publicans and sinners. Evil and
good will mingle at our fairs, and it would
be pharasaiosl in us to draw our white m
garments close about us and refuse to attend
the fair, because one Of the prominent fea-
lures is the trotting.
| have often staid away from the trottine.
but never staid away from the fair for that
reason. There is always enough in other
departments to occupy the attention and fill
the mind. Let US keep in mind that the
fair is for everybody, and that oil legitimate
interests must be considered, and that to
make success of the exhibition it must be
universally patronised by the people. Hun.
dreds 90 to the fair simply to see the trot-
ting, and do not care even to look at the ag-
ricultural and mechanical products. Hun
dreds of others 60 to see the products of the
soil and machines and other articles of me
chanical skill, and the fruits of domestic in.
dustry. Let us indulge towards each other
proper spirit of christian tolerance, if not
Of kindness.
The idea of duty in attending the fair
should come home to the conscience ofevery
intelligent man. The Agricultural Society
and its annual exhibition promotes the ma
terial and social good of ell, and has entitled
itself to the good will and patronage of all.
He who withholds either fails to discharge
an imperative duty, and is open to the |
charge of not loving his neighbor as himself |
r. F. ROBERTS, Sec'y.