The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-11-18
The E'air in Columbia.

There was an immense gathering of people
from all parts of the State in Columbia last
week. For many reasons, the people have
cause to be proud of the exhibit, and Columbia
should feel proud of having SO many visitors
within her gates. Nod doubt thisg gathering was
both profitable and pleasant to great Number
Of visitors. as we'll as q financial success to the
hotel keepers and many other business houses.
But there is another side TO this picture. In
the first place, we believe that Il large amount
of money was appropriated from the public
treasury to make this Fair Il success and to
make il advantageous to the individual citi-
zen. Have the managers of the Fair been true
to their trusts? This is a question which we
cannot answer, but Of one thing We arc quito
sure that their intention to do we'll is not 10 he
doubted. Assuming that the managers of the
Fair and the dispensers of our money are not
like jurors, above the criticism Of the press, we
hope that we may be excused for a remark or
two, which will be based chiefly upon reports
as published by the Register. We know moth
ing of the Fair Of our own knowledge.
In the next place, We believe that the Fair
managers licensed all sorts Of gambling, or
other snarcs into which the nwary country
man IlllNib !" Nftsib hiV h'SS'N y" ~"
money. Intoxicating liquors were to he found
ever present rs Il temptation to the hungry,
tired visitor, and as Il consequence, many good
men, and many others not quite So good, con-
Quoted themselves in such a way as to bring
rcm0rsc and shame upon hcmSclvcs-on"
mans rcmorsc being SO great that he threw
himself on the railroad track and was killed
by the passing train.
In the next place, the city was full of police
men On watch, and those visitors who had fall
en- victims to the mean whiSkcy, the sale OF
| which the city had authorized, or when Il
stranger was caught gambling without Il Ii
ccnsc, all these people were taken before the
| Mayor, where he extracted, for the benefit of
the city, from the pockets of these unfortunate
| visitors the heaviest penalties, and to add to
the further inhospitaiity of the city, the Reg
i&te1' makes a joke of the whole affair, and pub
fishes the names of some of the poor creatures
who had fallen victims to the snarcs which the
city had authorized to he set up, and to catch
whom the city had hired a host of policemen.
In the next place, a large proportion of cur
people object to h0rSc-racing. We confess that
we have not the slightest objection to the trial
of the animals speed, and we are not able to
sec any harm in Il horse race of itself. But in
Difference to the scnsihilitics of others, and be-
cause crilS DO often Io!loV ITS q consequence, we
think the racing might we'll be discontinued or
else the appropriation from the State treasury
should be withheld.
To read our exchanges, it would seem that
the gathering at Columbia was as much of a
grand gamblers reunion, as it was of q Fair
for the promotion of the mechanical and agri-
cultural interests of tho State.
We have been a stcadfast supporter of tho
State Fair, but there is Il limit beyond which
we cannot 60. When the regular authorized
and countcnanccd gambling takes Il very
prominent part in the programme, and which
must prevent man. of the purcst and best pee
pie of the State from attending, we must pre-
test. If the accounts We hear Of the Fair
give q correct account Of the doings and
happenings at Columbia last week, then VIC
think it was no credit to the good people OF
tho State.