Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1884-02-08
The Agricultural Society

Montgomery" is out again with some adj
vice 10 the managers OF the Agricultural
Society, who from absence Of Intelligent,
practical management" have robbed it Of its
pristine glory.
Is it really Montgomery speaking here, or
is it only one in Montgomery? This is i'm
portant for us to know-one robin does not
make Spring. Anonymous letters and
illusions | have always thought were not
worth noticing. If man has not the cour-
age to put his name to his opinions and as
sertlons, it looks as though he felt there was
weak place somewhere on his side. AS no
one whom we met approved the sentiments
Montgomery" expressed in1bis first article,
published some time ago, and some of the
Farmers clubs even passed resolutions con
demning his statements, no one took any
more public notice of the matter The peo-
pie of our county do not want the papfx
they pay for filled with useless scrawlings.
But since he has returned 10 the charge with
new vigor after Il long rest, lest silence
might be construed into assent to his asser
tons, will say something on the subject
He sets out in his first article by saying,
at is apparent to all that the glory OF the
Agricultural Society is thing of the past"
is this fact? Let us pause moment and
lJ)h DdCA anu sec Wltit buuL ptSL ElOIH wins
and learn how it compares with that Of our
present Fairs. There comes up before my
minds eye az | write vivid picture of one
Of our past Fairs, and see tin all its glory,
spread out before me. 1t was held in the
grove adjoining the Catholic church, which
at that time, think, belonged to Mr.. Sam'l
Il. Stonestreet, whom we may consider the
originator and father of the Society.
A piece Of yard-widc white cotton was
stretched along the top of the front fence
that enclosed the lot TO give it style and
hide the show from the boy who did not
want to pay at the gate. A large tent or
two were erected on the grounds for the
exhibition Of fruits, vegetables, flowers,
&c. And before the Fair was over all the
fruit, cake, preserves and dainty products
Of the kitchen were eaten up or carried off
by the rapacious small boy and other visi-
tors, who thought this part Of the Fair was
glorious, indeed. This led to many com
plants from the exhibitors, who would de-
clare they would never bring anything TO
another Fair. We had a band Of music !;
yes, the soap man and same side shows, too
The stock was kept in rail pens adjoining
the fence at one end Of the grove and con-
sisted Of some Hydcr Ali horses and colts,
with few Black Hawks and cattle When
they wanted to try the speed of the horses,
they took them out on the road adjoining
the Grounds and racked them up and down ),
the competition generally being between
saddle horses. The only trotter we had was
Mr.. Henry Hurley's "Yankce Girl" She
was the queen Of our turf and had 10 show
her trotting gait all alone, as there was Meth
ing that could compete with her. When
the opportunity offered itself, the Grounds
that the Society now hold were bought and
occupied
A short time ago, among some old papers
! found a copy Of tine county paper publish
ed in Rockville, in 1855, that has u full ac-
count Of the Fair and premiums awarded
that year by the Society. II was held on
the 18th and 18th of September, and il is
stated the weather was very favorable and
attendance good 80 there could be no
drawback TO a good display. Let ms take
a cursory glance and see what they had
For the fastest trotting horse premium Of
50 was awarded TO VIM. Braddock. Many
doubtless remember the horse we'll great,
rawbone, iron grey, called "Clod Breaker"
How many horses would we now get on the
track If that was the largest premium offered?
For the best quick-draft stallion So was
awarded 10 w. T.. Houser for Black Hawk
and for several years after the only trotting
there was at the Fair was contest between
Black Hawk and horse called Moss Grey
For the best double-team So was awarded to
Berritt & Burch, OF Washington, D. G. For
the best iour-horse team, So, to Mr.. Alfred
Spates, Of Cumberland, and for superior
reinmanship, 50, TO Mrs. Alfred Spates. -
Only two heavy-draft horses Of any kind
seem TO have been exhibited, no hogs and
but few cattle, the greater part Of them be-
ing Mr.. 5. L. Stonestreets Deyons The
display Of sheep seems 10 have been fair.
have added them all up, and the whole
amount Of premiums paid at this Fair, races
and all, was only $4,000 and out Of this
amount 20 premiums, amounting 10 xS4.50,
were donated 70 the Society. And why din
khese bera-hcarted gentlemen donate thf
Unount to the Society unless they truly
kpught the Society could not afford To pay
what would be now paltry sum n
donates premiums 10 the Fair now ?
l1u ulut0ntlT, nos Ct Dsut0mttr IN Hits
do these compare with the last two
&pns Of our Fair, held, too, under the
avorable circumstances For the
and races Of our last Fair we plid
Ut q dollar Of which was donated,
contracted by former Boards,
lon the standing debt, al n a
kemmms Of 1892, we paii The
neking in all paid bk ::
kides the expenses
the exhibition
aged in the
are laTgel