Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-10-13
OBSERVATIONS At A FAIR.

~
ia grand ohjcct-lesson, and our boys
and girls should be encouraged to begin
early with some exhibit Of their own
production, ar that has received their
care and attention. The boy will be lar
more likely 10 grow up with n taste Tor
poultry-keeping, who has been encourag-
ed to exhibit = coop OF chickens he has
been Instrumental In rearing. lie VIII
visit the fair with keen eve TO detect
any points OF interiority or superiority
In other exhibits, and thus he becomes
an expert Judge In his line. Perhaps he
NAV be given calf, which he feeds and
tends with the intention of taking II to
the fair. hoping OF course to receive
premium. Without question his cali
may b. the best one exhibited, and u"
receives first premium. But suppose
some other hoy brings the best calf he
will not f,il To see the points OF differ
euce, and althC ugh he lo'es the premium,
ne " II, resolve not 10 he beaten again.
An this l. nm educator, and the boy
grows to man, taking pride 10 his local
fair.
But are these the conditions under
whirh most Of our hovs grow IN: Are
our loo Il. our town or county fairs IN"
educators along these lines they should
BE-. or 10 they become propagators OF
evil: Spent part of two dsvs recently
on the grounds Of one of our foremost
agricultural fairs. and freely confess !
was painei at what | saw. A large ma
ioritv OF the crowd was made up of hoys
and girls, Young men aud Young women;
but where were they, and In what most
interested: | spent som" little lin" IN
places that did not Interest mH In The
least. simply 10 learn what the benefits
derived from our fairs really are.
passed several times through the cattle
pens. and do not recall single Young
mAn looking over the stock on his own
account, or q father with his bows, point
ing out the different breeds. | saw one
bov running n tread-power, and would
have enioyed answering series OF ques-
tions as 10 its use. This was one boy,
but where were the ninety and niney
Hating for moment beside the mer-
ry-go-rouud. listened 10 the persuasive
arguments OF the proprietor. nud the
thought came, Al have lived fiiy years
aud never had ride on the mcrry-go-
round" As the machine halted for
fresh recruit. heard one little fellow of
perhaps IL. in the boastful tone ot men
whom all of us have seen, who with
handful OF money seemed In haste 10
spend the last cent. declaring he had
come from home with 81 80; aud "a
nearly "a could Judge IL was about all
gone, while the day was but just begun
Do YOU condemn the mcrry-go-round,
some one will ask: No, 10 seems To prove
very amusing thing, and strange as "
may seem. have seen old gray-hes ded
men aud women ride time after time.
But the thought came TO me, where Is
the father ot that boy; What business
has bov Of that age in such place
alone. with money 10 spendt Had his
father been with him, and paid ten cents
for one ride, aud then assured the little
fellow he could not afford 20 spend any
more money there, how different the in
| huence'
Near by we found table stuck full OF
| itck-knives, and beside IL & man CRYING
Three for five, or seven for ten =
which meant that for five cents a boy
was given three wooden rings TO top
over the knives II he could, or seven
rings bv paying ten cents. Boys any
where from ten years In young men were
fairly tumbling over each other To get
chance 10 spend their surplus silver, and
nine out OF ten walked of sadder, II not
wiser.
One could but wonder. as one after an
other OF the country boys came up, and
pulling of their coats, swung the heavy
! hectle that accompanies the striking
m chine" how many Of them could be
hired 10 cut corn Just now when farmers
70 so much In need ot little extra
hip: "The fool aud his money are soon
parted." II was not difficult 10 see that
| tho owner of the machine controlled the
height 10 which the board would rise
hv the dextrous application OF a little
device. allowing now and then one TO
win lust 10 lure on dozen more.
These are but few OF the doubtful es-
Establishments saw. and The wonder Is
that officers OF our agricultural societies
will allow such things on their grounds.
The fair referred 20 had many commend
able features.
The display OF vegetables was not
equal TO last season in some lines, hut in
Others was better than usual. | saw
some OF the largest Hubbard squash l
have ever seen anywhere, while pump
kins were nothing. The poultry display
was very fine, and the boys department
seemed quite well filled. The ladies dis
play of fancy work, paintings, etchings
and samples OF culinary art was fully
as good az usual. The display OF farm
machinery was meagre, more interest
seeming 10 centre in horse powers, corn
harvesting and corn cutting machinery
than almost ANYTHING else. few sheep
and swine were there, but | judge the
owners will leave them at home In the
future, unless better shelter Ia provided
Both hogs and sheep were sweltering IN
the sun iu open pens, the owners hsVing
In some instances covered them WIN
branches OF trees, as r slight protection
from the intense heat.
The same thing was true OF many cat
tie and horses. | shall not soon foIget
the experience | once had In this line
We had a valuable Guernsey bull that we
kept in the stable. We took him TO the
county fair, and, as now, the days were
! exceedingly warm. But one night there
came up hard rain, and the bull took
fearful cold which came near running
him. Farmers should not he expected
, 10 bring livestock 10 any fair and leave
them thus exposed.
There were some fine Jerseys ano
Guernseys, one herd Of Holsteins, and
two or more Ayr,hires, besides SOME
Devons. and | noticed several pairs ol
oxen and steers.
Quite collection If Percheron horses
and colts, and by the same breeder, =
good show Of Shrtland ponies and theil
colts. Taken all in all the fair was al
average one, ana well attended.
D The history Of all agricultural associa
I tions has been that 80 long as effort
were made 10 make them great display
! OF livestock, farm products, implements
etc, depending on these for attractions
o the fairs were successful; while the in
PRODUCTION of questionable features IN
wrought their ruin,-Correspondent o
Country Gentleman.