The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-09-26
H,NrFoR THE FAIR SEASON.
BY AGRICoLA.

With September the fair season
inaugurated hence a few nlnt III,
about the fair will be pertinent. IN
nr;mary signifcation of the word
"a holiday" from the Latin far1d, ,an'
as a holiday. if nothing else, its ob
servance among farmers should b
General. Farm life through sum
mer is necessary isolating. Ever
the wife or boys must "go to tn
store" unless the day be rainy; 10
the work must be done at all events
Rut fair time comes after the rusi
of work is ever, the haying and bar
yesting are done, and the farmer ha
nothing of great Importance to DO
He needs rest; he needs to hold IN
tercourse with his neighbors anc
talk over farm methods, the success
and failures of the season see wha
others have to show for multitude 0
farm. garden and dairy products
their horses and cattle, and farn
implements, and enjoy himself gen
erally. This is one valid reason why
whv fairs were instituted and why
the farmers should attend them.
But if we glance over the country
as far as our acquaintance extends
we shall find not a few who never
attended the agricultural exhlbl
tious of their town, county or state
The reasons are various. One dosen'
believe in them, and stays at home
preferring to forego what pleasure
and instruction there may be, tc
paving "the quarter" or whatever
The amount required to enter. Such
men have no faith in anything unles:
II is a free exhibition. They lack
enterprise, and care little whether
the fair is a success or a failure.
Another used to go; but some old
grudge against one of the officers, ol
his previous failure to take premiums
make an impossible barrier between
him and the fair grounds. There Is
too much "hoss racing" for HIM
and he don't believe in that, so be
remains at home. Given a few
such men in any community, and
the local fair would soon fall into
bad repute. and the gates would be
closed. Perhaps the way premiums
are awarded at some fairs has much
to do with the absence of the farm
ers: hence word on judges and
judging.
One thing is very certain, awards
are not always made in accordance
with merit. This may arise from
either of two causes. First, partial
itv; second, ignorance. We have
no respect for a man who, as Judge,
can be influenced by money or talk,
to record decision contrary to what
he actually knows to be the truth IN
the case. Yet such men do some
times find their way upon these
committees. 1t is, therefore, very
natural that one farmer who knows,
by what other and experienced
Judges say, that he has been wrong
ed and deprived Of an award unjust
ly, should refuse thereafter to lend
his presence or influence to the fair.
Partially kills many agricultural
exhibitions.
But ignorance must also be taken
into the account 1t may seem
strange that a committee should
ever be chosen to Judge stock, hav-
ing on it single member who could
not tell one breed of cattle from
another. But such cases we have
known. The third man, if he be
such an one, is but figure head
yet his ignorance may place an
award where it does not belong,
partiality being not once thought of.
But such men will not be chosen,
providing proper care and proper
time is taken in making the selec-
ton. Sometimes it happens that 10
attempt is made to choose judges
until the hour arrives for them to be-
gin work, and then such are chosen
as happen to be at hand, the fact OF
their entire fitness or unfitness for
the duty being overlooked. 1t is
useless TO hope for justice when such
a course is adopted unless fortune
wills it that three exceptionally good
men for the work happen to be on
the spot. No; Choose judges be-
forehand, and let only thoroughly
competent ones serve.
A very. satisfactory method is fol-
lowed by some agricultural societies
in having but one Judge for each
class ovr division, as the case may re
quire and he to be from without the
jurisdiction ofthe fair; that is, from
without the county if it be a county
fair. The point is TO be sure of get
ting a man who is not an exhibitor
and is not necessarily acquainted
with the owners of the animals OF
articles he is to Judge. Partially
would then be quite out of the ques
ton, and if he have the reputation
of possessing a thorough knowledge
of the qualities and characteristics
of animals or articles implicit conf
dence could be placed in him by
exhibitors and they be assured thar
injustice would not be done.
1t is a sad commentary on tn,
management of many fairs that th,
public, from whom they must have
their support, have lost confidence
in it. They have come to thinl
that certain few will get the premi
ums, and they stay away, or at leas
do not exhibit. When such is th,
case the first and best thing for tn,
managers to do is TO seek to restor,
that confidence by selecting such
men for judges as the public car
trust and as have knowledge of tn,
work they are performing.
Mr.. Sullivan Swears on.
The cheerful information MO-, ,al