New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-17
A Fair COMMITTEES MISTAKE.

The ominous rumble OF intestine strife comes
from Adams County, Ohio. Doubtless the ma
jority of The Tribune's readers have seen short
account Of the trouble there, but few moro
words can do no harm, and may produce much
good. While the combat deepens in Adams
County, Ohio-whie the wrinkled front OF war
spreads through a county which never before
knew anything harsher than the top crust Of good
salt-rising bread-while this is going on in Adams
County let other counties beware
1t seems that at fair recently held in Adams
County the managers so inludlclouS as to
offer premium for the best loaf of saltrising
bread. Now if there is thing that the women
Of Adams County pride themselves above
another it is their ability to make good salt-using
bread. Give an Adams County woman little
-four, and some water, and small quantity Of
milk, and the other ingredients necessary, and
she can turn out loaf of salt-risng bread of
which she is not ashamed. To the stranger
visiting the Adams County household she may
apologize for the baked potatoes, and explain
that the lard was not hot it should have
been when the twisted doughnuts took their we'll
known plunge-bath in it; in a burst of confidence
she may admit that this is only a pic<cd-up
meal just like we have every day" but she does
not apologize for the salt-rsing bread; there it
is-it speaks for itself; she does not boast Of
III,
there are a dozen slices on the table, two more
loaves in the pantry, and another batch" covered
with the local paper rising by the kitchen stove
60 ahead and sample it, she is willing to await
your decision.
Naturally, in county made up Of such salt
rising bread experts. there a great awakening
when it announced that liberal premium
would be awarded to the best loaf of that variety
of the staff of life The good housewives be-
stirred themselves, and the result that the
fair managers were almost swamped with light,
white and flaly loaves. But they managed to
provide place for them, and when the time
came for making the awards they informed the
trembling committee on bread that they were
expected to do their duty. The committee on
bread meekly prepared for sacrifice. Each woman
who had entered loaf was there. The committee
decided which was the best, and one member
who had considerable Spartan blood in his veins
tied on the blue ribbon. Simultaneously it was
discovered by the assembled women that the
exhibitor of the winning loaf was relative of
the Spartan.
Then arose what is described in the words of
the dispatch as commotion." Spectators
claim that language is inadequate to fifty de-
scribe the scent-we certainly shall not ate npt
it, The committee hemmed in and could not
escape 1t held hurried consultation and the
Spartan rose and pleaded for hearing. He
freely admitted that the decision was wrong
He plucked off the offending blue ribbon with
his own hand, He knew nothing about bread.
he told them. Twenty years ago he might have
been fit for the position, but his days as pread
expert were past. He was an old man, broken
in health and spirit, and he asked to be allowed
"a 90 away and spend his few remaining days
hi in neapp
said, made the claim that there was any Spartan
blood in his veins-it was the work of enemies.
The women did not believe him. but they let HIM
On and appealed to the managers. These gentle
mon were thunder struck but they at last found
a man with hardihood enough to reach through
q window from the outside with ten-foot pole
and attach a ribbon to another loaf This only
served to deepen the commotion. Night came
and the disappointed breadmakers repaired 10
their homes but they did not forget their grew
Tto rar has zone right on more
than one hundred families are at swords points
GAYS tbe dispatch and still worse, at least
one engagement has been declared OIL"
Rut little remains to be said: the moral for
other fair managers is all too obvious. IL mas
been declared by those who ought to know, that
the most dangerous position man can hoid ouV-
side Of the army, when actually engaged III "ar'
is that of chairman OF the awarding GULF
mittee at a baby show. and the wise man VINO
WAS once in that position and provided laSe
ooohoree and n locomotive for his escape alter
making his decision has always been admired;
hut IL would seem that the Judge on saltrlslnG
bread has no pudding. The course OF the man
arers of the many county fairs now being held
is Main: do not offer prizes on saltrising bread
ct;cl, "a the shorthorn two-year-old. the tub Of
creamery butter and the three minute trotting
race.