The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-09-16
The Fair.

fair weather last week and fair at
tendance was reported each day. The
agricultural end of the enterprise
was not observable to any consider.
able extent. On entering the gate
several acres devoted to display of
agricultural machinery, etc, was
vacant, there being but three harrows
and a wheat drill in sight. The
main hall, the "Mitchell Memorial
Hall' presented dismal account of
empty cases and stands compared to
the displays of former years. The
enclosure for exhibits of the farm had
a few packages of grain, some fruit
and vegetables, the poultry depart
ment being the only feature of
agriculture" that was we'll represent
ed. Pigeons and canary birds were
especially numerous. The cattle
stalls were mostly empty. Horse
stalls were filed with racing animals.
The sheep and hog pens were empty,
there being about dozen hogs and
eight sheep to represent the smaller
live stock Of the farm. There was
fair display of Jersey cattle but other
breeds we're missing.
But what the fair lacked in farm
attractions was made up in gambling
devices. The pool sellers at the race
course made the air vocal with their
tin tan. trb-u.lations as they ratified
off the bids and called for others to
speculate" "It's no longer betting
but "speculating." On the public
grounds tables were scattered round
with various kinds of gambling
devices and piles of silver money
surrounded by throngs of eager men
aud boys laying their money on the
figures and-losing it. This whole
gambling business is violation Of
law as much so as breaking into
houses and robbing the inmates, and
it is the grand jury's sworn duty to
inquire into it and find true bills
against every one who was connected
with it. The constables will answer
when they appear before the ''grand
inquest" that they know of no viola
tions of law. Pool selling was made
illegal Except at agricultural fairs;
farmers, it was believed by the legis-
lature not to be far enough advanced
in moral culture and civilization to
be injured by pool betting.
In the race ring the Roman Chariot |
and riders were introduction the |
program. This ancient feature in |
craftsmanship consisted of a couple |
of circus riders driving at full speed |
standing in stout dearborns. The
riding was circus performance OF a
thin legged man in tights and black
stockings, and an athletic woman
dressed in short skirt with a pair of
fine shapely legs in red stockings.
They stood up on the backs Of two
horses each and went round the track
at full speed. There was a hot air
balloon TOO sent up each day and
when it had risen coupel of hundred
yards a man jumped out with a
parachute and q woman Immediately
after, the parachutes letting them
down easy.
The absence of agricultural
machinery is accounted for by the
manufacturers agreeing together to
no longer place their machines on
exhibition at these so-called agricu.
tural fairs, the expense and trouble
far out.running the advantage they
derived from such exhibits. From
the look of things at this fair it
would seem that farmers had about
reached similar conclusion. The
last legislature appropriated $4,000
of the peoples taxes to be divided
among z of these gambling tourna-
ments, misnamed agricultural fairs.
That $4,000 would have paid the ex-
pease of holding two days Farmers
Institute in every county in the state
which would have been of very great
benefit to agriculture. which is good
deal worse than thrown away to pro.
mote the villainy which grows out of
gambling. This Elkton fair has be-
come a disgrace to the county and
fit companion piece to our saloons.
If the religious teachers can show no
better results than these after two
hundred years of work in the county
they had better close their churches
and burn their bibles for the social
trend is towards purgatory and not
paradise.