The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-05-04
NO. A
Something About County Fairs.

| Now that our people, both city and county
are becoming interested on the subject of the
approaching fair, and are, we hope, making
preparations the result of which will give us
the finest exhibition we have yet had the fol-
lowing sketch taken from the Baltimore
Sun OF lecture recently delivered in that city
will prove specially interesting
AT the monthly public meeting of the John
Hopkins Historical Society FRIDAY night Mr.
b. j. Ramage, OF South Carolina, read a very
interesting paper on the history of fairs and
markets anu their relation to the Atlanta ex-
position. Markets were held twice a week III
England for the sale OF produce and mercban-
disc. Fairs or larger markets were held year
ly. The same custom has prevailed in France,
sandwich lslanus, Mexico, everywhere, and is
not OF church origin, as many suppose, al
though the church has exerted a regulating
force III many countries, as in the carniya.s OF
Italy. by cOplous extracts from early En-
gllsn laws 1t was shown that fairs had to BIZ
held every third OF twenty miles apart. as
twenty miles Was days Journey, and one
third OF the day being spent going to the fair
ana one-tnlru returning, some time must be
allowed for trade at The market. Laws were
MADE 10 prevent ferestalllng or the riding out
OF the market town by the consumer to pur-
chase directly from the countyman on his Way
to market Instead OF buying through the re-
TALL Trader Ibis and similar measures OF
municipal protection were frequent. The
buyer paid toll to the clerk OF The market
before taking his purchase away, but the mer-
chant PAID nothing ior his stand. This was
10 prevent secret contracts, by which,
Ia tner ignorance OF weights and meas
ures, the buyer might be cheated
Markets were opened by the ringing of A
IL. y1I1f,l chn6
there. Matters OF dispute were summarily
settled IN the court OF pie p0udre, so nam
ed from the Latin pedls puivere, or foot
powder, probably from the fact that the
country-men came with Undiscovered feet
English market customs were transpanted
here III every colony. In Virginia. by the
law OF 1749, fairs had TO be held in every coun-
ty, and ten miles distant from each other.
commissioners appointed the market days,
which were different in neighboring places
Courts were to be held in these towns Now
court days are intended for sales of country
produce.
Further south fairs and markets are under
State and county control The world fairs at
Philadelphia, Vienna and Paris mark the
union OF the world in trade and are harbingers
OF universal peace and good will. The Allan
ia exposition has likewise bound together
North and South, revealing to each the needs
and advantages Of the otner. After brief
description OF this exposition, Mr.. Ramage
closed with a picture OF the favorable effect
on national development which it is Ger
tain to produce.
AfterWard other members of the society de-
scrlped The customs and laws of markets in the
other parts OF the Union, as the cattle" and
horse shows" OF New England, and the coua-
ty agricultural fairs of the West. In Michi-
gan prize Was presented to the handsomest
girl present. Premium are offered in many
States Tor excellence of exhibit OF farm and
domestic products, for the farmers stock and
his Wifes bread, cake and fancy articles. Ex-
POSITIONS now are for exhibition OF products.
Markets III the olden time were for direct sale,
but our modern fairs lead, of course, ultimate
ly TO the same thing.