Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1884-02-29
the Management Of Fairs.

AhiS ". -. ~
At the recent winter meeting Of the
Michigan Association Of Agricultural
Societies, Mr.. Frank Little, secretary
of the assoc alton, delivered an address
on the management of fairs. After
deprecating the practice of inviting
politicians to be present and make
speeches with a view of drawing a
crowd" he said: "How is agriculture
promoted in the slightest degree by
balloon ascensions, negro MINISTRIES,
harlequin shows and mountebank per
forn,ances? We are free to say that
agricultural societies do not exist for
the purpose af furnishing employment
and salaries to officers and employees !;
or to increase the trade of railroads,
merchants, hotel-keepers, saloons
boarding houses; or to grant facilities
for foreign and promiscuous shows,
Should any society in this state that
has been organized for any good pur-
pose allow itself to be in any measure
controlled by such influences?
Certain philosophers claim that the
character of a people may be estimat-
ed by their national amusements.
Amusements are matter oftaste, and
nature ard habit have much to do in
fixing their quality Thus it is said
that the native Englishman, whether
peer, peasant or laborer, will Away
sacrifice dav for ho1se-race Or
prize-hght. The Frenchman delighte
il the g1yeties of the ballroom TIM
Spaniard in a bull fight, and the Italia
in a hand-organ and puppet show.
An American woman SAID that "her
husband would sit Cd a barbed wire
fence all the afternoon and never finch
or move muscle, to see a base ball
match, or an agricultural 'hoss not
but when he went with her to church,
he couldn't sit still in soft cushioned
pew fifteen minutes without wiggling
and squirming all over the Seat"
The character of the side attrac-
tons and amusements that are allowed
upon the fair grounds should receive
careful attention. An agricultural fair
is not variety show, hippodrome,
ampltheater, Or a circus. They may
pay rent money into the treasury OF
the society, but it is the price of yield
ing up what IS manly, respectable. and
of good report; and striking hand, and
going into partnership with whisky SELL
ers, gamblers, vagsbond organ grind
ers. and vulgar tramps. Societies,
whether STATE district or county, that
prolong their existence from year to
year through such agencies, and are
not otherwise sustained in attempting
to carry out the real principles and
objects for which they were formed,
rest upon an uncertain and sandy
foundation and their utility and useful
ness may we'll be questioned.
While sor ieties can not meet cur
rent expenses and pay premiums with
out an income equivalent thereto. and
certain unobiectionable outside attrac-
tons may properly be admitted, yet
the nearer agricultural fairs are kept
true to name in every particular the
better they will be every way, anG
their influence more potent. Besides,
there is danger that many persons
otherwise interested in all agricultural
exhibition do not attend because GER
tain vulgar shows seem to be promi-
nent leading features Of the fair.
1t may be said that officers of fairs,
as such are not special guardians and
conservators of public morals, and that
the people must take care OF themsel-
yes inside as well as outside the fair
grounds. Granting this, yet the re-
sponsibllity rests upon US as good clti-
zens to protect society from harm in
every possible way. and not to lend our
influence to, approve, or grant facilities
for doing aught which tends to under
mine, corrupt, or degtade our fellow
men.
Young people of both sexes, in large
numbers, frequent the annual fairs. A
dram drinking, irr2verent, and dis
solute society, says: LET the boys
and girls have a good time ; they'll
soon be old and have trouble enough. !"
In other words, leave them free to con-
sort with low, vicious companions. To
drink, smoke, gamble, swear and idle
away their time. Remove them from
the influences OF respectable, orderly
Christian home, and away from all pa
rental authority and restraints. Turn
them loose upon the town, and the
more obnoxious and disgraceful their
conduct the better "time" they are sup
posed to have. Weneed to take earn