The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-10-24
Brother Tmkham on the Situation.

Our readers are aware Eve think that
our brother of the Freeman does not al
ways agree with US, nor we with him.
But when we do harmonize it is sight
to see-we go the whole figure. Speak
ing of the alleged New England fair at
Manchester, Brother Tinkham says:
elf some of the agricultural editors are
not more careful Brother Hoskins will lose
the prominent place of distinction he is
credited with filling in connection with
the New England Agricultural Society.
While at their circus at Manchester,
very prominent agriculturist of New
Hampshire remarked to us that Secretary
Needham told him that Dr. Hoskins was
the only enemy the society had among
the agricultural editors of New England.
We asked how about Brother Cheever of
the Nep England Farmer. Oh he had
been talked with, and was convinced he
had been wrong in his course. Last week
Dr. Hoskins, in the Waterman, printed
some of our remarks on the fair and some
from the Rural New Yorker, in a sort of
master.in.chancery taking-testimony-style,
as he was not there, and we think the tes-
timony will not materially alter his pre-.
vious opinion. He might have added bit
from Brother Cheever, which does not
look as if he had been seen to any very
considerable extent. Brother Cheever
remarks: Side shows and beer shanties.
In this department the society has GER
tainly excelled itself, though strictly
speaking there were no side shows this
year, the very most central portion of the
grounds being given up to this class of
exhibits, with the attendant bedlam of
disgusting vocal and instrumental screech-
ing and banging. Even the speaking at
the presidents tent on governors day,
was repeatedly interrupted by the deafen.
ing noise from this central show. There
were several innocent exhibits, however,
in this class, such as fat hog of man.
moth proportions, several curiously de-
formed domestic animals, and few ma.
tive wild ones of interest, exhibited by
quiet well-behaved people, who doubtless
made as much money as the outlandish
brawlers who seem almost utterly devoid
of respect or decency. OF beer and ale
stands we counted nearly fifty, and we
were told that licenses were sold for a very
much larger number; but there was very
little drunkenness on the ground. Whether
the licensees found they had overdone the
business by competition, and 30 watered
their stock till it lost its SAVIOR, is ques.
ton more easily asked than answered.
They all complained of losing money, as
the amount of their sales fell short of the
license fees paid for ground rent
"But the doctor might have taken more
testimony. Here is what writer says,
~ hat ha h.
England Homestead, which is rather plain
speaking also. To-day, as step inside,
what a change To the right and left,
long lines of towering tents, the walls of
which are covered with illuminated pic
lures, and under their shades, open sheds,
with tables on which walters toss glasses
of ale to men and boys alike. hurriedly
pass on reach an opening beyond; pause
and query Have | been misled | went
to menagerie once-yet this would be
but an insignificant apology for one-or
am | within the Enclosure of some mighty
variety show2 Impossible. l am told
that this is "the great New England
fair" but where? l am directed to the
rear, and in the shadow of these tents
1 find the cattle. l pass on and soon
arrive at fine-looking building within
which | am told is bench show of fancy
bred dogs--so important to agriculture
pass to the center of the ground. The
track is new, built of sand and impossible
10 keep in decent condition; hence the
horses labor heavily to perform their part
l take a further general survey. The
grounds are new, taken from brush lo
unmechanically cut; the merciless stubs
protruding as signals to move with care
The thousands of tramping feet soon sti
up the parched dust, which, towards even
ing, rises with the wind. Grumblinl
men and disappointed women leave in dis
gust the Great New England Fair"
To this Brother Tinkham adds: ale
the good work 60 on till those who man
age our fairs, no matter what be thei
rank or station, learn to know and fes
that the farmers of New England war
neither schools for gambling nor drunl
enness under the name of agriculture
fairs.' And let all the people say, Amen
By the way, was that every prominer
agriculturist of New Hampshire" I'll
brave Colonel Riddle, who thought
could "clean us out" -?