The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-09-06
A Fair Suggestion.

Innoticing the exhibits of womans' work
at the fair, it is seen that the superfiuous
and ornamental are almost exclusively
shown One might infer that women are
not practical in their tastes, while it is true
that most of them are obliged to be severe
ly-so. If the day should come when more
of the results of her domestic skill might
fill up the Halls, a great deal might be
learned by comparison of achievements,
and the Fair become more than show,
and of the nature of an institute
The question arises, what is the most
important class of woman's handiwork?
And if it be decided that what she can
make to eat is her highest attainment, by
referring to the premium list of an Agri-
cultural Society, we see what are the in
ducements for her to display the results of
her, skill in baking, picking, jelly-mak-
ing etc, and the total amount of premiums,
if she should secure them all, amount to
the munifcent sum of $9.75, which is less
than the third premium for fast trotting
horse. In looking farther we find also
that the total sum offered in premiums on
domestic manufactures is $500, which is
less than one first premium on fast horse.
We presume that no one win object to the
assertion that the quality of bread, and
every day cake, and pie-erust is of infinite
ly more concern to the welfare of mankind
than the speed that can be attained by the
phenomenal horse, which only a sporting
man has an ambition to own; and the de-
mand for good cookery is so constant and
imperative, that reformers, statesmen, cler-
gymen'everYwhere improve every occasion
from platform, in pulpit, and in print, to
relegate this TO woman as her specially,
the labratory where she may forever ex-
pertinent and achieve, the field where, af-
ter the few first lucrative offices are filed,
she may have undisputed possession; and
she is advised, urged, exhorted to make
the cook book her domestic Leyiticus.
It.msy not generally have been found
out, but women know that it requires more
care and better brains to raise bread than,
to raise garden truck, yet the sweep
stakes ON bread gives but fifty cents pre-
MUM on. any kind, while three dollars are
is less importanttha women be stimulated
to make three kinds of fancy cake, whose
preparation is too expensive in time and
material to make it a staple article, than
it is to know how in the best manner to
make kinds that are harmless and whole
some for daily use, even by the children.
Yet who ever saw any such cake at Fair?
BUT it is scarcely the fault of the gentle
men of the Agricultural Society that the
premium list is not oftener and more care
fully revised. 1t does not give as much
premium for the best millinery as it does
for the best pig; and not any at all for the
best specimen of laundrying or the neatest
made shirt. Perhaps because they know
that factories for doing both are gradually
doing away with the ironing of shirt-bos-
oms at home or the making of the gar
ments there. Yet there are multitudes of
women who must and will do these kinds
of work in their homes, and should be en-.
couraged 10 do them in the best manner.
A revision is needed to conform to the
changing fashions in family work and do
mestic articles, and a more intelligent ad-
justment of prices to encourage excellence
in those Industries most vital to the vel
fare of the people, and pertaining to the
prosperity oSthe producer in mechanics,
agriculture and the domestic arts.
Horse racing and the encouragement of
fast driving, does not in any sense advance
the interests Of people, but encourages
vice and ministers 10 their degradation.
The lessons gratuitously given to boys and
young men by the practice of betting at
the races, and exhibitions in athletic sports
are 70, edeplored. The young lad who
stands by and sees money doubled by
stalking it on the winning horse, or the
running of the professional in the ring, is
in danger of losing his relish for honest
labor, and of concluding that to get liv-
ing by the slow process of farming, or any
other toll that demands an equivalent of
hard work, is out of date, and that he has
learned an easier trick of getting money
than his father, has taught him. Gambling
has become a wonderfully fashionable
vice, if the amount bet at the Fairs can be
taken as evidence, and 1t is more danger
orfsly fascinating even than drinking. If
the Agricultural Fair is dependent upon
the races for sustaining its interest, would
it not be better TO let. it die easily and
u paturalIy than to keep it alive by such an
unhealthy ssimulanti Better that the fine
cattle, the occupants of the stalls, and the
cunning work of ingenious fingers be left
at home than that they should be the
excuse or the occasion ofbringing together
SO much that is rePrehensible and contri- |
bufive to immorality.