Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-10-12


The managers Of the Woodstock Fail
who have been noted for the skill will
which they have managed the affairs o
that institution, slipped up badly whel
they advertised Hunting's circus as al
attraction-not tor the fair but for them
selves. Why didn't they call it an athletic
gymuastic and acrObatic contest, will
fancy riding relieved with light comedy
They nov realize that there is sOmethln Z
ia name especially when that name II
a circus. All the same we hope they have
the nerve TO go ON with their work. III
here we were quite struck on Hunting
aud did not mind the circus bit. $50
StQaRiOn Daily Necs.
The above extract from the Stanton
NeCs expresses the situation very briefly
aud pointedly. Much talk has been ct
dulged in about the authorities # our
Agricultural Society having circus upon
its grounds. A full statement OF the
facts will do no h,rm. The circus was
about advertising for an exhibition on
the commons, and had already secured
license for the purpose, when the COM
mittee appointed By the Directory of tn Q
Agricultural Society secured it as a special
attraction. Their action was reported to
almost a full meeting of The Directors and
unanimously endorsed. Careful ING liriss
were made as to the nature of the exhl-
bltiOn, aud whether any public gamblers
were with the show. They were assured
that there was nothing immoral about
the show and that there was no gambling
unless a cane board would be con-
sidered gambling. The committee
refused to allow the cane board
The advanced agent, the business
manager and the proprietor were all mott
fed that the society wanted nothing of
an immoral or obscene character and each
assured the FAN officials that there would
be nothing of the kind.
They kept their word and the worst
feature of the whole matter was that it
was called a circus. Almost one half the
exhibition consisted of gymnastic exer-
cises such as are now taughtin our church
schools, and in what particular it differed
in morality or propriety from the ex-
hlbitions Of Myrtle Peek or Pawnee Bill
to which no objections were made, it
would take a much sharper critic to point
out.
The most of the talk about the i'm
morality was started by one or two meu
who are strongly in favor of having
gambling upon the grounds. They would
go to one class and complain of the great
immortality of the circus and to another
class and complain that the Fair was too
much like Sunday school and that they
wanted Directory that would permit
gambling. The writer of this article is
acquainted with stock holders of the FAIR
and will say to these men and all others,
that there will be- no licensed gambling
on the Grounds Of the Shenandoah Coun-
ty Agricultural Society. 1t matters not
who are the Directors, the law prohibits
these games and there are number OF
stock holders determined to see that the
law is enforced. The object of the Board
of Directors, in which almost every Chris
tian Denomination is represented, has
been to give our county an exhibition
which would interest and benefit our peo-
pie, and would injure no one. For years
they have excluded all gambling and
whiskey selling and the crowds which
attended the Fairs we're orderly and we'll
behaved. 1t was an occasion of reunion
offriends and thousands of people have
enjoyed these annual Fairs.
The Directors of the Society can proud
ly point to the exhibitions which have
been given, and challenge the country to
name an agricultural society, where
greater care has been exercised to protect
all classes of people, and prevent immor-
ality of any kind. Notwithstanding the
large crowd which attended on Thursday,
we did not hear of a single arrest or OF
misconduct of any kind. We, however
trust that good will grow ont of 1t. Tie
ADVOCATES of gambling might possibly
have succeeded had they changed the
Directory in a moro quiet manner, and
haye installed their wheel of fortune, and
other bunco, men upon he-grounds before
they were suspected, but now having
exposed their game, they are defeated
and deservedly so.