The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-09-20
Why Agricultural Fairs Become
Failures.


Mr.. EDITOR The Fair season is upon us again
and with it good deal of speculation as to how
to keep up an interest in Fairs, and why it is they
are not as well patronized now as few years ago.
The managers have had a good deal to say about
the side-shows, fakrs, &c. &C., but it seems to me
that the real cause has not struck them yet. The
bad management of the Fair and the dishonest
treatment OF eXhlbitors Is the cause OF the small
attendance compared with few years ago. |
cannot snow TINS better than TO give some oil my
own experience as II visitor and exhibitors at
FAIRS. In 1857 exhibited two mares and colts
and stallion, and also induced some ofmy
nelghbors TO exhibit stock at ElEton Fair. My
stock was well bred and in fine condition Upon
one mare ana colt got ilrst premium, upon the
other nothlng' with winch was satisfied. The
stallion was entered IN the general utility class, IN
winch there were fourteen horses, among them
some very me ones ""eh the award was made
the hrst premium was given TO one OF the most
INFERIOR horses IN the class ana when the pre-
mluhs were published was awarded a second
premium ihstead Vi Il hrst us a"ardeo py the
Judges upon mare ana colt, when the STOCK was
examined. On investigating the matter found
that the STATION tnat got the hrst premium De-
iohgeu 10 one Oh the stockholoers ana managers
ana ne travelled right WIN the Judges "heh they
eAalhlileu 'he s'och' anu suppose the! thoushI
ne shoulu nave 'he i'lst premium resaruiess Vi 'he
stock' III res"ru 10 the mare ana colt Iouiid
that announcer stockhoider had one that they
thousht shouiu nave hau tle hrst premium ana
50 the chahge was hade' MY experience louhd
was 'he experience oI quite NUMBER Oh others'
never called upon any premium never visited
'he rair puV once siice' he'ereAhlpitedan STOCK
never encouraged any one else 10 eAhlplt-so
iiiuch ior Eik'oi' hot all toid elther'
eAhlpiled the s''iiie stanton at BEL All theheNt
week ana tnefe were put tnree horses III tne
class' oeNe'"i persoiis s''iu W me gu nave 'ne
tillhs All your OWL way you nave uecioedls the
i''ies' noise Vi the Three. nut "heh the award
was iliaoe INC hrst premium was gwen W announcer
horse' io"hu the hofse that sot the HIST pre-
iiil'iiii oeiohseu W II slochholuer anu hahaser
anu one vi the Judges was MS soh-ih-aw' ana OF
course MS morse would nave 10 nave the hfst pre-
hiluin' lhis enoeu III! experience WIN bel Ar
nave frequently peeh an eNhlpitof at oH1ofd
fiir. PERSONALLY nave no reason 10 complain
sometimes got hrst premiiim' sometlmes
ho'nlhs' put was saIsiied pu' nave heard otheis
complain ana expect from just cause
II Is 'hs Aiiu vi uea'inei' 'l'' mas hi''he SIOUX
Il stranger III 'heir staiis. lie" years ago IL was
"ihiost iipossipi'. 10 se' room iof the STOCK on
eAhloitiol' ho" the! "le occupleu prlucipalis os
the ordinary driving morse. Ihese fairs nave
come oo"h srauu'iiy 10 some lruit httie ma
chihers' le" sloe-sho"s anu d morse race. Inc
hofse face mas peen 'he principai feature oi'hter
est iioi sole tune anu 'hes nave peeh 81 poolis
Hiahaseu tha' people nave pecoine "inlost us
susteu WIN 'hehi' oAioru IL entl'ieo W TIE hrst
premium In this respect there mas been the poorest
management OF races there OF any fair nave ever
visited, with the exception OF last spring. then
they were promptly ana correctly managed Inc
lah before IL was nearly TWO O'CLOCK before the
hrst class was called, ana almost nall past TWO
before there was neat trotted' then the matter
was drag all the afternoon until mght, WIN the
races unhnshed 10 be hnlshed next morning and
witnessed by only Few, tne majority having
been cheated out OF What they mad spent their
time ana money 10 see. Ihere Is no reason why
race should not De started at the appointed
time, as promptly as any other business Ii peo-
pie are kept walthg until tney are worn out ana
provoked ana then sent away disappointed, they
don't feel much ike returning the next season
The members OF oxford have been talking OF in
PRODUCING some new features OF interest to attract
the people, for instance prominent speakers. 1t
has not been long since they had Mr.. Tanning
on the subject OF temperance, and the long
WHISPERED Popullst, PETER from Kansas. But
they did not prove to be drawing cards.
In Maryland they are trying to induce the diff
terent political candidates to visit the fairs.
Politics are too cheap, especially the wind work,
TO pay an admlnlsslon 10 near political speech.