Mexico weekly ledger., 1883-09-27
THE MEXICO FAIR.
Synopsk Of q sermon by Rev. DIR. j. C.
Armstrong.

Armstrong.
aye have done worse than your
fathers."-Jer.
The Rev. DR.. j. C. Armstrong in
troduced his discourse with the re-
mark that every institution discovered
from religion had a downward ten
dency. This was true Of the theatre,
which was first resorted to to illus
trate religion. Its second object was
education, and its third entertainment.
1t had departed from all except the
last. When a new drama is present.
ed. it is not the religious OF educated
that pronounce it a success, but the
galleries. The same may be said of
our light literature. Once the novel
was historical and philosophical; but
now it is only sentimental, and senti-
mental in a way that makes it moral
graveyard.
Continuing, the reverend gentleman
said he had picked up a paper with
the following heading: premium
list Of the Agricultural and Mechani-
cal Fair Association" He did not
know who were the directors Of this
institution. He had refrained from
inquiring, lest it should be said his
thrusts we're personal. As far as he
knew the fair had been conducted by
these gentleman in just the way the
public desired. Doubtless If the
people had wanted a different kind Of
fair, it would have been furnished.
1t gave him pleasure to say that in
the past the fair directors had guard
ed against the sale of intoxicants on
their grounds. Every kind of sin
knocks at the fair gates, and it was
his intention to have complimented
the present board for resisting the en-
trance Of liquor but in formulating that
compliment he had discovered it was
due to the judges Of the county
court and the high license tax OF the
Downing law, and not the directory.
He did not object to fairs. People
needed entertainment, and agriculture
and industry encouragement, and he
was willing they should have them
but he had been much interested in
studying and Analysing the list Of
premiums, and was free to say that
such a list was not in interest Of NOR.
atty. The directory have done
"worse than their fathers" Premiums
to the amount Of. $500 in the aggre.
gate were offered to better all sorts o.
production and, in studying them had
classified them: For agricultural ant
mechanical products, including lady's
~needlework, paintings, &C., there wa
offered $312-bareIy ten per cent. o.
the whole for that which gave title tt
the institution. For live stock Their,
was appropriated s2800-very liberal
but how out of all proportion. II
the soil for bread and haryest-God'!
best gift-S3. To the Woodworking
farmer, toiling for his daily bread
! for the best display of farm products
r of corn, grass, wheat, potatoes, &c.
So. His neighbor, who kept a rae
horse, Jared better. Is not this plac
ing a false estimate on the results o
employments? Live stock receives
$2700-sheep, $40 hogs. $50; mules
r S149; cattle, 1915; horses, $234O
Y We are nearing the kernel. Divid
/ the horses into two classes-thos
that do our work, that plough, an
draw our wagons, huggies and cal
, riages, and these constitute 999 Q
4 every 1000 Of our horses; and pu
: into the other class the comparativel
few rae horses that exist among us
$14O0 for the last and 1882 for th
! first, and the conclusion is irresists
q BILE that the race horse IS the soul {
t the premium. Oh, if our work horse
could feel the shame that has bee
put upon them, they would hereafte
{ refuse to pillow. While this is don,
our mechanics are passed withor
a notice. We have carriage and bugg
8 factories, and a foundry. Carpenter
: who are struggling to earn a livel
hood, who need encouragement, b,
: get none. Then there are saddlel
: and harnessmakers, nurseries, boz
and shoemakers that get not q dolla.
t He had spoken only of the financi
aspect of the premium list. He lie
a the moral effect to be treated b
!. other ministers. 1t was sufficient
suggest that no community can Ion
survive such transportation of r.
h wards. What he hoped was tn:
e what had been said might work in
= provement. There is need of reli.
y ion and the cross in everything b,
let it be remembered that respons
is bility for what has happened res
IS not alone upon the directory. Soc
"a ETY. must also sustain its share.
Communicated.
5a g.; A Pleasant Reunion.
On Thursday, Sept. 6, one of the mo
. pleasant family reunions ever held
Normal, ILL.,, took place at the residen'
of Mrs. C. M. Stuart. The brothers al
c;Sfaro bod by communicable, o~~o,