Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-01-24
Agricultural Fairs as They Are.

4
100000 Of our people attend one or
more of them. What tremendous iRhu
ence they exert upon the habits and
morals of the Natien, and how impor-
tant that this influence be only for
coed? The American agricultural fair
is unlike any other and the intention
of the originators was only praisewor-
thy. Nothing was admitted that had
| tendency to demoraliZe. The winning
| of premium and its value was sec
ondary consideration. The people gath
cred to get acquainted; to have little
social intercourse; to compare notes and
perhaps learn something from each 9TH
er; they made it y sort of Harvest
Home" But gradually all that has been
changed.
| During each of the past few years l
have attended very fairs, and have
noted with much anxiety and alarm the
growing tendency to admit hucksters.
tricksters, whisky sellers, gamblers and
low and indecent shows, until very
many fair grounds have become places
where pure-mindsd boys and girls can
not attend without danger of pollution.
l did not exaggerate in the article be-
fore mentioned; unfortunately for the
good same of Michigan, the facts were
not all told-aS witness the following:
At jackson two years ago L saw on ex-
hibition a perfectly nude negro wallow-
ing in tank of mudl Last fall at De-
troit, in a low show licensed and pro-
tected by the society, among other OBJ
ljectionable things was exhibited nude
l fap laf think. anch pXhihitinno
sanctioned by the State Agricultural So
ciety for the pure-ininded people OF
Michigan! 1 wish Michigan were alone
in her shame, but other States are as
bad, and some worse, even going SO far
as to permit houses of prostitution on
their grounds.
These people pay large sums for ad
mission and the privilege of plying
their schemes. No matter. 80 the man
ayers get the money, how much is swim
died out of the visitors and how demor-
alizing the showl The officers at Ora d
Rapids received $500 for the license of
the wheel of fortune on the grounds, but
the proprietor told me he cleared above
all expenses $4,000, SO he must have
taken from the young and inexperienced
over four dollars for one. Do the officers
realize that every one of these scamps is
as sharp and desirous of making money
as they themselves, and that it is safe
to say they will fleece the ignorant and
unwary out of $40 for every 81 paid the
society? Do the officers realize that
in licensing them they really become
partners with them in their nefarious
business? That by permitting them to
come on the grounds they give them re
spectability and standing, thus making
it much easier To entrap the youth than
if i'll the city streets.
| Let me entreat the officers and direc-
tors, ia the name of honesty, decency
and morality, and in behalf of the future
character of American farmsers, to stop
at once all these Objectionable practices.
Hereafter so conduct the fairs that you
can safely trust your sons and your
daughters alone upon the grounds with
out fear of contamination. Gentlemen,
l wish you could see it best to shut off
Fthe grounds all horse-racing, chariot
racing, og-hghting, hurdle racing, and
everything degrading.
wish you might have moral courage
sufficient to shut off all Intoxicating
| liquors, including ale and beer. 1t is
not pleasant sighti to see scores of
men staggering about the grounds, and
| it is not good to have the tempta-
tion always before the boys. Make the
fair grounds neat, pleasant and inviting,
the fair highly refining and so educa
tional that its tendency shall be to
make your sons and daughters better
men and women and better farmers and
| farmers wives.
Do you say. These objectionl features
il not allowed inside will be clustered
all about on the outside? | answer.
Such is not the case where the expert
ment has been tried, and even if they
| were to come, they would not do tithe
the harm there as on the ground, and
besides, the law is against such things
and you can compel the proper officers
to see that the law is strictly enforced
and they art suppressed. "You cannot
make such "a fair pay" Then as no ed
ucation is much better than vicious
one; and if it be true that fair con-
Quoted so as to be only good in its influ-
ence and without robhing the people
and cursing the country for all time to
come. won't pay; don't for God and hu
manity's sake, don't try to have fair.
But this is not true, it is foul slander
of the honesty and intelligence of the
people of any State or community. The
money derived from these sources is
more than balanced by the Don-attend-
ance of decent people who stay away
rather than countenance such debauch-
cry. A few fairs are conducted without
any of these shameful associations, and
they are among the most successful of
any, the New York State Fair standing
proudly at the front. What they have
done you can door else one of two
things is true. Either you have already
by your disgraceful exhibitions demor-
allied the people; or else you don't un-
derstand the business; and in either
case you had better resign and let some
one with more brains and more moral
honesty try what can be done, or else
better, hundred times better, let the
fairs fail.
Prof. Peter Voltz, of Allegheny City
was found at midnight lying dead on a
| railroad bridge. He had been killed by
a bullet and his pockets rified.
Senator-elect Payne gave the adverti-
sed supplementary reception and ban
euet to the Democratic members of the
Ohio Legislature. Republicans were
invited, but did not attend.
The dispatches which Mr.. Nelson, the |
private secretary of Speaker Carlisle, is
furnishing To the nress are eXcitinp