The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-08-28
Reformation in Fairs.


and millions of our people will have
been in attendance and will have
been Influenced for good or evil
We are all creatures of circum
stances; we obtain our knowledge
by observation and experience, and
our habits are mostly formed by
our associations; what a powerful
influence, therefore, must these
mauy fairs exert upon those who
attend them, especially on the
youth, and what a mighty instru-
mentality are they in fashioning
the morals, manners and methods
of the American people, and how
very important is it that they be 30
conducted as to exert their intiu-
ence for good.
In too many instances the mana
gers have seemed to lose sight of ev-
cry object except to make money,
draw the largest crowd, and show
the largest balance after the gates
were closed and expenses paid. To
accomplish this purpose they baVe
admitted on the ground all sorts OF
people who were willing to pay a
large price for the privilege. Huck-
sters of all sorts create bedlam
while crying their wares; gamblers
with every device, from the ring
board to the wheel of fortune, are
allowed to tempt and rob the un-
wary; mountebanks, swindlers, and
disreputable shows are met with
everywhere; often dance-houses
abound in the most frequented and
decent places; horse-racing, in most
cases, is made prominent feature,
and women with little modesty and
less virtue are hired to exhibit
themselves in the horse and chariot
races. Whisky and other lntoxica-
ting liquors are openly sold or Civ
en- away in direct violation of the
law.
We know this is an extreme pic
ture, but some fairs have been
worse than this, and unhappily
there are few or none that have not
allowed some of these very demor-
alizing and Objectionable features.
Fairs are very educational, and
such surroundings have strong
tency to make the girls immoral and
the boys dishonest, lazy, gambling,
drunken rowdies; and in very Sc
rious earnestness we ask, can we af-
ford to permit these things longer
to be done5
The fairs are public institutions,
and the managers are only the
trustees elected to conduct them,
and we must insist that the first,
the leading, the only idea should be
to benefit, to elevate and ennoble
our people, not to make money at
the expense of all who attend. We
appeal to the managers to shut out
all these bad and demoralizing
practices from the grounds, and if
the people refuse to patronize and
sustain decent fairs, let them fail.
Ignorance, however gross it may be,
is far better than vice, aud it is
high time that we should turn over
a new leaf in the management of
fairs, and have them as they should
be, so moral, elevating and pure
that we can safely trust our chill
dren there without an escort, or else
let US have no fairs at all.
Our fairs should go q step fur
ther, and instead of being held |
merely for social intercourse and
amusement, they should be series
of object lessons, from which much |
useful information could be derived.
the best products of the soil |
grown by different persons and pro-
cesses, should be sown side by side,
and careful statements be made,
showing just how each was grown.
Fine animals, both thoroughbred |
and grade, should be shown, and |
accounts should be given of how
they were bred, fed and cared for.
The same animals shown as year
lings, two-year-olds and older, in
different years, should be carefully |
weighed each year, and statements
made, showing how much feed had
been consumed to produce the gain.
The best fruits of different kinds
should be placed side by side, cor
rectly labeled; specimens of healthy
and diseased trees, cabinets of in
sect enemies carefully arranged,
should be shown with the fruits or
grains on which they feed. The
grounds should be tastefully laid
out and ornamented, and kept neat
and tidy. A thousand ways will
suggest themselves by which the
people can be both interested and
benefited. Every convenience
should be provided for the comfort
and happiness of the visitorsi such
as plenty of good drinking water,
seats and shade. The refreshment
should be under the
control of the managers or should be
let to responsible parties, and
committee should see to 1t that the
people are supplied with good,
wholesome, clean food at reasona
BILE prices,
Altogether, Messrs. Managers, it
is no excuse for you to say that if
evil practices are lhere, you 90 not
know of them 1t is your business
to be vigilant, to see everything and
know everything that is taking
place. We appeal to you to give
us hereafter such fairs that parents
may delight to come and bring
their whole families, with no fear of
contamination of habits or morals,
and to which they may look back
with pleasure and long for return.
Give US such fairs as shall be
blessing instead of curse to tn e
attendants--Rural New Yorker.
Popping the Question.
Winnipeg Siftings; Popping the